Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Francis Zammit Dimech chaired the second meeting of the Council for Maltese Living Abroad on Tuesday, 5 February through video-conferencing, which was supported by Malta Enterprise office in New York. During the meeting, it was decided that next Convention for Maltese Living Abroad be held in 2015. This will be the 4th Convention to take place, the latest one held in March 2010.
Mr Lawrence Dimech and Dr Gejtu Pace from New South Wales, Australia; Prof. Maurice Cauchi and Dr Edwin Borg-Manche from Victoria, Australia; Mr Joe Sherri from Canada, Mr Bernard Scerri from United Kingdom; Mr Louis Vella from United States of America, Fr Alfred Vella from Malta and Mr Joseph Muscat from Gozo participated at the video-conference.
During the meeting Minister Zammit Dimech, as Chairman of the Council, highlighted the rapid achievements of his Ministry in realising the wishes of Maltese Diaspora following the establishment of the Council on 22nd July 2012.
The one-and-half hour meeting made it possible for members of the Council to participate in a fruitful and constructive discussion on various issues related to Maltese living abroad.
Minister Zammit Dimech announced the establishment of the Directorate for Maltese Living Abroad, within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and that Dr Raymond Xerri was appointed Director for Maltese Living Abroad.
A number of initiatives will be taken in order to strengthen the role of the Council. The Council is joining the Association of The Europeans Throughout the World and is setting up a Website for Council for Maltese Living Abroad.
During the meeting it was also agreed that proposals by council members concerning the draft law to establish a Maltese Cultural Institute should be presented by the end of March.
_______________________________________________
Il-Ministru tal-Affarijiet Barranin Dr Francis Zammit Dimech jippresidi it-tieni laqgħa tal-Kunsill għall-Maltin li Jgħixu Barra
Il-Konvenzjoni għall-Maltin li Jgħixu Barra mistennija ssir fl-2015
Il-Ministru tal-Affarijiet Barranin Dr Francis Zammit Dimech mexxa t-tieni laqgħa tal-Kunsill għall-Maltin li Jgħixu Barra minn Malta. Il-laqgħa saret it-Tlieta 5ta’ Frar permezz ta’ konferenza awdjo-viżiva bl-għajnuna tal-uffiċju tal-Malta Enterprise fi New York
Ħadu sehem f’din il-konferenza s-Sur Lawrence Dimech u Dr Gejtu Pace minn New South Wales fl-Awstralja; il-Prof. Maurice Cauchi u Dr Edwin Borg-Manche minn Victoria, Awstralja; is-Sur Joe Sherri mill-Kanada, is-Sur Bernard Scerri mir-Renju Unit; is-Sur Louis Vella mill-Istati Uniti tal-Amerika, Fr Alfred Vella minn Malta u s-Sur Joseph Muscat minn Għawdex.
Matul din il-laqgħa, il-Ministru Zammit Dimech, bħala Chairman tal-Kunsill enfasizza l-kisbiet li wettaq dan il-Ministeru sabiex ikunu milħuqa l-aspettattivi tad-Diaspora Maltija wara l-ħolqien tal-Kunsill fit-22 ta’ Lulju tal-2012.
Il-laqgħa, li damet madwar siegħa u nofs, għamlitha possibli sabiex il-membri tal-Kunsill jipparteċipaw f’diskussjoni kostruttiva dwar diversi materji relatati mal-Maltin li jgħixu barra.
Il-Ministru Zammit Dimech ħabbar it-twaqqif tad-Direttorat tal-Maltin li Jgħixu Barra, fi ħdan il-Ministeru tal-Affarijiet Barranin, u l-ħatra ta’ Dr Raymond Xerri Direttur tiegħu.
Waqt il-laqgħa kien deċiz li l-Konvenzjoni għall-Maltin li Jgħixu Barra se ssir fl-2015. Din se tkun ir-Raba’ Konvenzjoni u se ssegwi dik li saret fl-2010.
Ġie deċiż li jittieħdu numru ta’ inizjattivi biex jissaħħaħ ir-rwol tal-Kunsill. Il-Kunsill se jkun qed jingħaqad mal-Assoċjazzjoni tal-Ewropej Madwar id-Dinja u li tinħoloq websajt tal-Kunsill għall-Maltin li Jgħixu Barra.
Matul il-laqgħa kien miftiehem ukoll li jitressqu proposti sal-aħħar ta’ Marzu mill-membri tal-Kunsill dwar abbozz ta’ liġi li jistabillixi l-Istitut Kulturali Malti.
