June 25, 2010

The 8th session of the Tunisian-Maltese Joint Committee ended, on Thursday in Tunis, with the signing of a memorandum of understanding, a co- operation agreement related to elderly, a co-operation agreement in agricultural research and education, and a document crowning the technical meetings between the Tunisian and Maltese experts in the health field.

Minutes of this 8th session, which opened on Wednesday in Tunis, were also signed.

In his address, Foreign Affairs Minister Kamel Morjane stressed the joint keenness to mobilise efforts to strengthen Tunisian-Maltese co-operation and contribute to enrich bilateral relations and bring the two friendly peoples closer.

"This Joint Committee is a perfect evidence of our strong partnership, based on such shared values as consultation, consensus and participation, as well as on a sincere will to give a fresh impetus to bilateral relations," also underlined the foreign minister who pointed out that results scored at this session show the diversity and density of relations between the two countries which have chosen to place their relations under the sign of confidence and efficiency.

Mr. Kamel Morjane also said that "Malta is an important strategic partner for Tunisia," given the historical and cultural ties binding the two countries, the tighter closeness and interdependence of their economies, their shared destiny in the Euro-Mediterranean space and similarity of the economic, political and environmental challenges they are facing.

For his part, Maltese FM Toni Borg emphasised the excellent climate of understanding and friendship that had prevailed during this 8th session of the Joint Committee.

He commended, in this regard, the remarkable results recorded on this occasion which will certainly boost bilateral relations and bolster co-operation between the two countries in variety of areas.

He highlighted, in this regard, the need to "carry on the consultation approach to ensure a sustained pace for the development of these relations," pointing to similarity of views between both sides on current regional and international issues.

He also said that his country will always be a strong ally of Tunisia in strengthening its relations with the  with the European Union.