Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Please accept, Mr Ambassador, my sincere thanks for your kind words.  I take this opportunity to kindly request you, on this special day, to convey my greetings and best wishes of good health to President Vaclav Klaus and the people of the Czech Republic.

There was a time when the Czech Republic belonged to a larger entity, demarcated by the Berlin Wall.  It was a time when the Czech Republic did not form part of the European Union.  All that, has drastically changed for the better.  However, history should be remembered but never forgotten.  Otherwise we commit a blunder.  Our younger generations, in particular, should not take everything for granted as if nothing had ever happened.

Malta and the Czech Republic are today proud members of the European family, a family based on solid principles and values.  We have just celebrated five years of European Union membership.  During the first half of this year the Czech Republic assumed the responsibility of the EU Presidency.  It is symbolic that the Czech Republic has chosen as its motto “A Europe without Barriers”.  I have noted with great satisfaction some important achievements such as the launching of the Eastern European Partnership which I am sure will serve not only to strengthen cooperation in the field of trade and energy security but also in the promotion of democratic principles and better governance.

Allow me to extend my congratulations to the government of the Czech Republic for the proper execution of such a delicate and difficult task which is now nearing its end.

EU membership has also changed our way of thinking, our way of doing things.  We have worked and faced challenges together.  There were differences as there were agreements.  But we never went our own way.  We decided and acted together.  I do realise that people, at times, are not pleased with the bureaucracy that such a large Union of countries present.  But this should propel us to work harder, to make things simpler.

Above all, our mission within European institutions should have one major focus, namely, the well-being of our citizens.  This is a time when many are undergoing serious hardships.  The global repercussions of the economic crisis are seen and felt by one and all.  This is a time when the European Union, the Member States themselves, have to put into practice the principle of solidarity.

Talking about practical and effective solidarity but on a different level, Malta, and indeed other countries in our region, expect that all EU Member States rally around in support in facing the predicament of irregular migration.  You were right, Mr Ambassador, in underlining the complexity of the problem.  This is a phenomenon with its own complexities and with no easy and quick solution.  No country can overcome this problem alone.  More than that, we have to stop the Mediterranean becoming a cemetery for people in search of a better future.  Malta counts on the tangible support of the Czech Republic and all other States on this issue.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Malta and the Czech Republic enjoy a strong and warm relationship.  There has been an exchange of delegations at the highest level and it is encouraging to see a number of initiatives bearing fruit.  We should keep on striving to face the challenges ahead.  In this regard, I cannot but congratulate and thank Mr Tonio Casapinta, the Honorary Consul General of the Czech Republic, for his untiring efforts in promoting further the bilateral relations between our two countries.

It is imperative to keep an ongoing pattern of activities.  The Czech Week, which is being organised, provides added visibility to our relationship.  More than that, our people will have the opportunity to understand better each other and to share experiences.  I wish the organisers all the success they deserve. 

I conclude by welcoming also the delegation from the Budgetary Committee of the Czech Chamber of Deputies.  Whilst underlining the parliamentary dimension in our bilateral relationship, I augur that the discussions between Czech parliamentarians and their counterparts in the Maltese House of Representatives will bear fruit and will lead to an ongoing exchange between the parliamentary institutions of our two countries.

May I now propose a toast to your health, Mr Ambassador, to the people of the Czech Republic and to our common pursuit in the search of peace and security in our respective regions and beyond.