Malta’s High Commissioner to New Zealand presentS his Credentials
Posted by: kaizenlog in Malta
FRIDAY: 27TH JULY 2007
NO. 1166
Malta’s High Commissioner to New Zealand presentS his Credentials
His Excellency, Mr Francis Tabone, High Commissioner for Malta to New Zealand presented his credentials to the Governor General of New Zealand, His Excellency the Hon. Anand Satyanand, on Tuesday 17 July in Wellington, New Zealand.
On arrival at Government House, His Excellency Mr Tabone was greeted with a formal Maori welcome. This included a haka powhiri, or ceremonial war dance, and the traditional greeting of the hongi, a pressing of the noses and forehead that signifies the breathing of common air as a sign of friendship.
During the presentation of his credentials, Mr Tabone spoke of the longstanding connections between the people of Malta and New Zealand. “We can trace the first Maltese settlers in New Zealand as early as 1848,” said Mr Tabone and added that Malta still honours the New Zealanders buried in its soil after the two world wars and “it is grateful for their role in the defence of Malta.”
Speaking of the more recent diplomatic relations between Malta and New Zealand, Mr Tabone noted that as part of the Commonwealth, both countries share common interests and values. The newly accredited High Commissioner referred to Malta’s commitment to the Commonwealth by hosting the last CHOGM and nominating its Foreign Minister Dr Michael Frendo as a candidate for the post of Secretary General.
A recently-completed bilateral agreement on a Working Holiday Scheme and another about to be concluded on Social Security indicated the ongoing collaboration between the two countries. Mr Tabone referred also to Malta’s role as European Union member state and noted that Malta will adopt the Euro as from January next year.
H.E. the Hon. Satyanand said that Malta and New Zealand were both island nations that participated constructively within the Commonwealth drawing on a common heritage and a shared history. “Malta is an important partner for New Zealand as a member of the European Union,” he said. “We look forward to strengthening our relationship with the European Union and its member states and we look to Malta as a friend within Europe”.
For the presentation of his credentials H.E. Mr Tabone was accompanied by his wife Mrs Anne Tabone and the Honorary Consul for Malta in Wellington, Dr Carmen Dalli.
While in Wellington, Mr Tabone held meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Winston Peters and other government officials. He also paid courtesy calls on members of the Diplomatic Corps including the British High Commissioner, Mr George Fergusson; the Chargé d’Affaires for the European Commission, Mr Maurice Maxwell; the Ambassador for France, Mr Michel Legras; the Samoan High Commissioner, Mr Asi Blakelock; the Papua New Guinea Acting High Commissioner, Mr Andrew Tumbu; the Cook Islands High Commissioner, Mr Tepure Tapaitau; and the Canadian High Commissioner, Dr Penny Reedie.
In Auckland the High Commissioner met Chris Carter MP and Minister for the Environment Government and member of the Foreign Affairs and Trade Select Committee, members of Parliament, members of the New Zealand and Maltese business Community. Mr Tabone was accompanied by the Hon Consul, Mrs Patricia Thake.
The newly accredited High Commissioner to New Zealand also met with the Maltese community in Wellington and Auckland.
DOI – 27.07.2007
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