DIARY OF EVENTS 2003 JANUARY - doi photography competition

DIARY OF EVENTS2003Important Note: Dates hereunder do not denote the actual dates on whichthe respective events occur, but refer to the dates on which they are reportedin the local print media, which is normally on the morrow.JANUARY• 1 January 2003 President Guido de Marco heaped praise on the organisers of the charityextravaganza L-Istrina, as money continued to trickle in, three days after a record Lm882,420 wascollected last Saturday. The figure at noon on Tuesday 31 st stood at Lm884,175, with proceedsexpected to shoot up following a number of auctions due to be held over the coming days. Prof. deMarco also paid tribute to the services offered by the charities benefiting from L-Istrina.• 1 January 2003 Finance Minister John Dalli described the foreign investment registration schemeannounced in the 2001 budget as an ‘overwhelming success’. He said that targets for the end of theyear had been achieved by June 2002, when Lm200 million in money held abroad had already beenregistered. Mr Dalli said that in future the tax authorities in different countries would be in a positionto exchange information.• 1 January 2003 Tourism Minister Michael Refalo said he expected tourism figures for 2003 to beclose to the 1.22 million record figure set in 2000. Dr Refalo was speaking during a visit to three-starMetropole Hotel, four-star Diplomat Hotel and five-star Westin Dragonara Resort.• 2 January 2003 Malta’s political and ecclesiastic leaders, members of the judiciary and members ofthe public called on President Guido de Marco to exchange New Year’s greetings. Prime MinisterEdward Fenech-Adami and Leader of the Opposition Alfred Sant both focused their speech on thechoices that the country will be called upon to make this year.• 2 January 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami exchanged greetings with Auxiliary BishopAnnetto Depasquale at the Archbishop's Palace in Valletta. Mgr Depasquale reciprocated Dr Fenech-Adami’s greetings in the name of the Archbishop, Mgr Joseph Mercieca, who was indisposed.• 2 January 2003 Economic Services Minister Josef Bonnici visited workers at the Marsa power plantand the Pembroke reverse-osmosis plant. The Minister said that Enemalta was replacing over-groundcables with underground ones. He also announced further investment in the water distribution centresplanned to improve ground-water quality.• 2 January 2003 A spokesman for the Malta Communications Authority said that there were strongindications that ‘a number of organisations are interested in providing a broad range of electroniccommunications services now that the market has been thrown open’. The services liberalised from 1 stJanuary 2003 include fixed and mobile telephony services, paging services, and international gatewayservices.• 3 January 2003 A statement by the Ministry of Economic Services announced a reduction in the priceof petrol, with prices for diesel and kerosene going up. The price of lead replacement petrol andunleaded petrol went down to 38c7 and 35c7 per litre respectively, that is, a drop of nine mils per litre.The price of diesel went up by 1c1 to 24c9 per litre and that of kerosene by 1 mil to 12c8.• 3 January 2003 Enemalta Corporation Chairman Robert Ghirlando announced that work on afeasibility study on the laying of a gas pipeline between Malta and Sicily had reached an advancedstage and is expected to be concluded in the coming weeks. He said that such a pipeline would costbetween $120 million and $140 million and take approximately 18 months to build. The study is beingcarried out by SNAM, a subsidiary of Italian oil giant ENI, together with Enemalta.

• 3 January 2003 The Malta Communications Authority published a report on the consultation processregarding price controls applicable to telecommunications services. The document, ‘Price ControlReview - Report on Consultation and Decision’, may be viewed on the MCA's website atwww.mca.org.mt Free copies may also be obtained from the MCA.• 3 January 2003 ‘Malta and Gozo day-by-day’, a guide for tourists, is to be published on a monthlybasis as from this month, its publishers, Impact Public Relations, said. The magazine, originallylaunched in May 2002 as a bi-monthly magazine, includes information on events taking place duringthe month, in English, German, French and Italian. It is distributed on a complimentary basis to fourstarand five-star hotels and to Malta Tourism Authority information offices.• 3 January 2003 Fr Gwann Frendo OP, who worked at the Dominican mission in Albania for the lastsix years, died in Albania. He was 65.• 4 January 2003 Economic Services Minister Josef Bonnici said that a US-led attack on Iraq couldhave a negative ripple effect on the world economy, including Malta. Prof. Bonnici said that a warcould severely affect Malta's tourism, especially if the war were prolonged.• 5 January 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that Monday’s Cabinet meeting woulddiscuss a motion that Government would be tabling in Parliament, stressing the need for Malta'smembership bid which will be decided in a referendum. Dr Fenech-Adami said, "I still don't have afixed date for a referendum because I have to factor in everything, including the parliamentary debateon January 13. I have to understand what the Opposition wants," Dr Fenech-Adami said. The PrimeMinister was speaking at Villa Arrigo in San Pawl tat-Targa.• 5 January 2003 President Guido de Marco conferred the Gold Medal of the Malta Society of Arts,Manufactures and Commerce on Judge Giovanni Bonello in recognition of Bonello’s outstandingoriginal research and publications on Maltese history and the history of art in Malta. Judge Bonello isCavaliere della Repubblica, an honour bestowed on him by the Italian President, and Knight ofMagisterial Grace of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.• 6 January 2003 The European Union's Commissioner for Enlargement, Gunter Verheugen, isexpected to visit Malta at the end of the month for talks with the Government. The visit would enableMr Verheugen to personally monitor developments at a time close to the holding of the EUmembership referendum.• 7 January 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami announced that the EU membershipreferendum question would be: “Do you agree that Malta should become an EU member in the nextenlargement on May 1, 2004?” Dr Fenech-Adami said that a motion being tabled by the Governmentin Parliament next week will recommend that an EU referendum be held "soon and at the opportunemoment", and that the question should reflect the electorate's "common, equal, secret and free"decision. The Prime Minister was addressing a press conference at the close of a Cabinet meeting. Anaudio recording of the Prime Minister’s address to the press can be accessed on the DOI website at:www.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/newspage.asp• 8 January 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that the Government wanted tostrengthen its relationship with Unesco. Dr Fenech-Adami was speaking to the UN organisation'sDirector General, Koichiro Matsuura, who was on an official one-day visit to Malta. Mr Matsuura alsomet Education Minister Louis Galea, visited the restoration centre in Bighi and called on PresidentGuido de Marco.• 8 January 2003 President Guido de Marco gave his clearest hint he would do his utmost to ensure thatthe referendum result was respected by all sides, saying those who disagreed with the people's will hadno right to impose their opinion. "Divergent views are the basis of any democracy but once the peopleare called to have their say, their opinion has to be respected. As the President, I have to defend thepeople's decision. Whether I agree with this decision or not is irrelevant," Prof. de Marco said. ThePresident was speaking at a reception for the media at the Palace in Valletta.• 8 January 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg said that Malta's Mediterranean partners have fullyunderstood that European Union membership would not take anything away from Malta's commitmentto the region. Dr Borg was speaking at the 10th Ambassadors' Conference at the Westin Dragonara, StJulian’s.

• 8 January 2003 Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said that the Police Board is to start functioningon March 1. Dr Borg said that the Board would be able to react to complaints made to it by membersof the public about police behaviour, and would also have the power to investigate on its owninitiative, whenever a situation arose which could tarnish the image of the police. The Board wouldalso oversee the corps' disciplinary procedures.• 8 January 2003 Government expenditure for the January to November 2002 period was higher thanrecurrent revenue, pushing up the structural deficit to Lm109.6 million compared with a deficit ofLm96.2 million a year ago. Provisional statistics supplied by the Central Bank of Malta report thatgovernment debt outstanding at the end of November stood at Lm1,047.8 million, up by Lm1.1million, or 0.1 per cent, from Lm1,046.7 million outstanding at the end of November last year.• 8 January 2003 Tourism Minister Michael Refalo warned that war in the Gulf and terrorism wouldhave a more disastrous effect on the tourism industry than either the September 11 tragedy or the firstGulf war. "Despite an excellent fourth quarter for 2002, which confirmed Malta's recovery, blackclouds hang overhead," he said. Dr Refalo was speaking after an extensive tour of the IntercontinentalHotel, in St George's Bay.• 9 January 2003 President Guido de Marco said that a diplomat’s duties today go beyond internationalrelations but should include promoting Malta’s economic interests abroad. Prof. de Marco wasaddressing the 10 th Maltese Ambassadors’ meeting at the Palace, in Valletta. An audio recording of thePresident’s address can be found on http://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/archive/PMaudio/presidentambas.asp• 9 January 2003 The Malta Environment and Planning Authority is to introduce new procedures on themanagement and disposal of oil sludge and other hazardous waste generated by the ship-repairindustry. All oil sludge off-loaded from ships will now be stored in rigid containers, which will beproperly marked and transported to a designated site at Maghtab.• 9 January 2003 Health Minister Louis Deguara said that patient representatives were to be includedon a management board that was to be set up at Mount Carmel Hospital in the coming weeks. DrDeguara said that this would give patients a voice in decision-making and ensure that their interestswere covered. The Minister was speaking at the opening of an extension to the hospital’s YoungPeople’s Unit, which was recently refurbished.• 9 January 2003 Agriculture Minister Ninu Zammit said that the demand for fruit trees has shot up bymore than 250 per cent since 1999, rising from 4,358 to 11,611 this year. Mr Zammit was speakingduring a visit to the nursery at St Vincent de Paul residence for the elderly, set up three years ago withthe help of the Agronomic Institute in Bari, Italy.• 10 January 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami inaugurated the newly refurbished St AnneResidence for elderly women at Gozo General Hospital. Dr Fenech-Adami said that the Governmentwas addressing the different needs of the health sectors in both Malta and Gozo. The Lm700,000project includes an extension to the home which will increase accommodation by 35 per cent to 81residents.• 10 January 2003 A meeting of the House Business Committee agreed to debate through the whole ofnext week the motion on EU membership and the question to be put at the referendum. Dr LawrenceGonzi, Leader of the House, said that this was a very important debate at a historic moment for thecountry.• 10 January 2003 Tonio Casapinta, Honorary Consul for Malta to the Czech Republic, was recently theguest of Czech President Vaclav Havel and Mrs Havlova, at Prague Castle. Mr Havel and MrsHavlova, founders of VIZE '97 Foundation, invited Mr Casapinta to the castle in recognition of hiswork on behalf of the foundation.• 10 January 2003 A spokesman for Malta International Airport said that, during the last quarter of2002, international passenger movements at MIA had increased by eight per cent. The spokesman alsoreported a five per cent rise in aircraft movements.• 10 January 2003 The National Statistics Office said that the number of passengers using the Gozoferries this summer rose by 4.5 per cent over the previous summer. This is an increase of 51,007passengers over the same period in 2001. The total number of vehicles carried by the ferries increasedby 12,251 to 280,622, a 4.6 per cent rise.

• 10 January 2003 Leading travel trade magazine TTG (Travel Trade Gazette) included a full-pagefeature on Malta. According to TTG, Malta was getting back on track as regards tourism arrivals.• 10 January 2003 A spokesman for the Malta Tourism Authority said that countryside walks beingorganised by MTA were proving to be increasingly popular with both Maltese and tourists. The walkswere launched as a contribution to the International Year of Eco-tourism programme last year.• 11 January 2003 During the annual exchange of greetings with members of the Diplomatic Corps,President Guido de Marco said that the Maltese would be the final arbiters in a freely expressed voteon whether Malta would join the EU. Prof. de Marco continued: “I believe that our political parties,whose legitimacy depends on the support of the people, will respect the sovereign will of the people.”An audio version of the President's speech can be accessed athttp://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/archive/PMaudio/presdiplomatic03.asp• 11 January 2003 In an exchange of greetings with members of the Diplomatic Corps, Prime MinisterEdward Fenech-Adami said that for Malta, membership of the EU was a natural continuation and not aradical shift from its past. He said that the successful outcome of the negotiations brought for theGovernment a particular sense of fulfilment. Video and audio versions of the Prime Minister's speechcan be found athttp://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/archive/PMaudio/pmdiplomatic03.asp• 11 January 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg members of the Diplomatic Corps that Malta wasextending its reach in the world through the setting up of Maltese embassies overseas and thewidening and strengthening of non-resident ambassador and consular networks. "With thisintensification of contacts one can expect valuable increases in trade, cultural and educationalexchanges," Dr Borg said.• 11 January 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi announced that the Housing Authority haddecided to remove any kind of means-testing from its schemes in order to facilitate access to theseservices for persons with disability. "This effectively means that the Government is launchinguniversality for persons with disability in the housing sector and from now on every person with adisability can benefit from the Housing Authority schemes.” Dr Gonzi was addressing a newsconference together with Housing Authority Chairperson Marisa Micallef Leyson.• 11 January 2003 Figures published by the National Statistics Office show that total imports betweenJanuary and November 2002 dropped by Lm6.4 million to Lm1,126 million when compared with thesame period in 2001. In the same period last year, total exports were up by Lm13.5 million toLm829.7 million from Lm816.2 million the previous year.• 12 January 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami observed that one of the most potentiallyinteresting achievements would be the successful exploitation of linkages between the maritime andairline sectors, such as the development of the ‘fly-cruise’ concept, with Malta at the centre of thisnode of activity within the Mediterranean. Dr Fenech-Adami was addressing a gathering ofdistinguished guests at the inauguration of Lufthansa Technik Malta, at the Company’s newlyrefurbished hangar at the airport.• 12 January 2003 Speaking about relations between Israel and Malta, Israeli Ambassador to MaltaEhud Gol said that not enough had been done economically between the two countries. However, adouble taxation agreement was being signed and this was a positive start. Mr Gol was interviewed byThe Sunday Times newspaper during a brief visit to Malta to exchange New Year greetings with therest of the Diplomatic Corps.• 12 January 2003 Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that a declaration on the Island regionof Gozo would be included in the EU membership treaty. Dr Gonzi was addressing a seminar on‘Gozo and the EU’.• 13 January 2003 President Guido de Marco enjoined students not to believe in a ‘fortress Europe’intent on keeping people out. He said that globalisation had to have a social dimension. Prof. de Marcowas addressing students taking part in the 14 th edition of the National Student Travel Foundation Mini-European Assembly on the theme ‘Illegal Immigration - Should Europe do more?’• 13 January 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that it was important to view EUmembership, not as a partisan issue, but one of national interest. "We have to stop focusing on

individual interests and take the interests of the nation into consideration," he said. Dr Fenech-Adamialso insisted that people should not think of the package negotiated simply in terms of money but alsotake into consideration the overall benefits of membership. The Prime Minister was speaking inSannat, Gozo.• 13 January 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami welcomed the Bishops' pastoral letter on theEU referendum. Dr Fenech-Adami said he felt the pastoral letter came at the opportune moment andrecognised that voting in the referendum on EU membership was a matter of national importance."What I felt was of crucial importance was the Bishops' appeal to vote according to a well-formedconscience which is in the best interest of the highest common good," he said.• 13 January 2003 Transport Minister Censu Galea said that the Government intended to introduce newregulations to reduce risks to people and property during the transportation of dangerous cargo. Hesaid that, as from this year, Malta would be adopting the European Agreement Concerning theInternational Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road, better known as ADR. Mr Galea was addressingparticipants at a course on the transportation of dangerous cargo organised by the Malta TransportAuthority.• 14 January 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami opened the debate on a motion for the Houseto authorise the Government to hold a referendum on EU membership. Dr Fenech-Adami said that, inthe referendum, the Maltese would have the responsibility to decide for themselves, their children, andfuture generations. An audio version of the Prime Minister’s speech in Parliament can be accessed atwww.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/newspageaudio6.asp• 14 January 2003 A statement issued by the office of the President said that President Guido de Marcohad always condemned the use of terrorism in its full extent, underlining the fact that, during hisaddress to the Ambassadors on the occasion of New Year’s Greetings, the President had said:“Terrorism offers no solution, whether this be propounded by individuals, groups, or a state.” Thestatement was reacting to articles relevant to the Middle East issue that appeared in sections of thelocal press.• 14 January 2003 Former President Ugo Mifsud Bonnici paid special tribute to Malta’s formerdelegate to the UN, Arvid Pardo, in a recent speech at the 57 th session of the General Assembly inNew York. Dr Mifsud Bonnici was speaking during the commemoration of the opening for signatureof the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.• 14 January 2003 The Malta Tourism Authority’s website www.visitmalta.com recently reached amilestone with 1,000,000 people having visited the site since its launch in October 2001. Most of thevisitors to the site are from the UK, Italy, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Spain and the US.• 14 January 2003 The German sports magazine Auto Motor und Sport, which has a readership of600,000, recently carried a five-page full colour feature on Gozo. The feature focused on a test driveof the BMW Mini One which was held in Gozo, but also included interesting facts and pictures aboutfestas and local cuisine, as well as information on car rental and accommodation.• 15 January 2003 President Guido de Marco said that the result of the referendum on EU membershipought to be respected by political parties. Prof. de Marco was speaking at the Palace, in Valletta, whenhe received Honorary Consuls General and Honorary Consuls.• 15 January 2003 Addressing the first ever conference on Maltese sign language organised by theDeaf People’s Association, held on the occasion of the European Year of Persons with Disability,Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi said there was nothing wrong with being different. “During2003, a year dedicated to people with disabilities, we must continue to persuade people that disabilitydoes not mean inability. To prevent social exclusion, we must work against discrimination, povertyand the lack of the provision of equal opportunities,” said the Minister.• 15 January 2003 Resources and Infrastructure Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that about Lm1million would be spent over the next five years on the upgrading of public areas around Valletta,including Merchants Street and St George’s Square. Dr Zammit Dimech was speaking during a visit tothe first phase of a rehabilitation project at Hastings Gardens, in Valletta.• 15 January 2003 Fisheries Minister Ninu Zammit said that problems between Tunisian and Maltesefishermen during the lampuki fishing-season last year had been followed up at the highest levels. Heannounced that a workshop on the issue would be held in the Tunisian capital in the coming weeks.

Mr Zammit was speaking during a presentation to Gozitan fishermen of funds aimed at assistingfishermen to improve their operations.• 15 January 2003 A report by the Auditor General on public accounts in 2001 reveal arrears ofrevenue, amounting to about Lm404 million at the end of 2001 still due to the Government and weakinternal controls across government departments resulting in a lack of safeguards of revenue andassets. The report, laid on the Table of the House of Representatives, stresses that was still an areawhere significant improvement could be registered.• 16 January 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that the Government was close tofinalising agreements with international giants Oracle and Microsoft who would both be setting upacademies in Malta where students could specialise in computer related technology. Dr Fenech-Adamiwas speaking at the inauguration of the first course being offered by the Cisco Networking AcademyProgramme.• 16 January 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi announced that, occupational accidents andill health had squeezed Lm14 million out of the economy last year. Dr Gonzi said that Malta could notsustain such an economic burden, nor could it afford such losses to its skills base. The Minister wasspeaking at a conference on ‘Occupational Health and Safety - Concerns into Actions’, organised bythe Occupational Health and Safety Authority at the Corinthia San Gorg Hotel, in St Julians.• 16 January 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea said that admission to the Junior Lyceum would nolonger be purely examination-based but would also take into account the performance of studentsduring their time at primary school. He said that the new system would be fairer on students. Dr Galeawas speaking at a meeting for parents organised by the Association of School Councils.• 16 January 2003 President Guido de Marco received committee members of the Association ofLibyans Resident in Malta. Association Chairman Abdulkadir Kabar condemned the bad behaviour,violent acts, and crimes committed by his compatriots. He said that certain incidents were tarnishingthe reputation of the Libyan community in Malta, causing Maltese to consider them in a bad light.• 16 January 2003 Economic Services Minister Josef Bonnici said that Reverse Osmosis waterproduction last year had reached 18 million cubic metres, that is the equivalent of half the total waterproduction. This year it is estimated that production from the plants would supply about 60 per cent ofthe total water supply. Minister Bonnici was addressing a conference on integrated water resourcesmanagement at the Institute of Water Technology in Luqa.• 16 January 2003 The Chairman of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, Andrew Calleja,said that the European Union would provide 400,000 Euro to MEPA for the training of its officials inenvironment protection. He said that the funds would be forthcoming following a twinning agreementbetween MEPA and two European Union countries, the UK and Austria. Mr Calleja was speakingduring the presentation of appointments to 16 directorate employees.• 17 January 2003 President Guido de Marco said that the three cities, namely Senglea, Cospicua andVittoriosa, were ‘living through a revival’. While on an official visit to Senglea, the President said thatthe city had given a valid contribution to the forging of Malta's history.• 17 January 2003 While inaugurating a Lm2 million extension to the Methode Electronics factory inMriehel, Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that the factory was a perfect example of how theMaltese could compete with the rest of the world. Dr Fenech-Adami said that the achievements of themanufacturing industry in Malta were primarily due to the stability in the country, as well as to accessto important markets, principally in Europe.• 17 January 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that an average of 600 substanceabusers and former drug addicts pay a daily visit to the Substance Misuse Out-Patient Unit at St Luke'sHospital. The Minister was speaking at the inauguration of the Unit's extension and refurbishment.Sedqa CEO Sina Bugeja said that many youths started moving towards rehabilitation after theircontact with the Unit.• 17 January 2003 European Court of Human Rights President, Luziks Wildhaber, paid a courtesy callon Foreign Affairs Minister Joe Borg. Mr Wildhaber was on an official visit to Malta, in light of Maltaholding the chairmanship of the Council of Europe.

• 17 January 2003 Mr Wildhaber was also received by Justice Minister Austin Gatt. Dr Gatt observedthat Malta has been a member of the European Court of Human Rights since 1987. He said that theEuropean Court serves as a role model and a guide to other courts.• 17 January 2003 In a written speech, Finance Minister John Dalli said that the euro had influencedMalta's monetary and exchange rate policy and the Government aimed to form part of the euro zone assoon as possible, following EU accession. He said that Government would do its utmost to meet theMaastricht criteria, while continuing to undertake the necessary structural reforms to achieve more realconvergence with the existing member states. In the absence of the Minister, Mr Dalli’s address to theFederation of Industry Euro Conference was read out by Mr Joe Scicluna, Permanent Secretary at theMinistry of Finance.• 17 January 2003 The EU has invited the Central Bank to nominate a representative to sit on each ofthe 12 committees of the European Central Bank in an observer capacity, as from next April. Speakingat the Federation of Industry Euro Conference, Central Bank Governor Michael Bonello said that thetechnical committees dealt with a range of issues, and that the Economic and Monetary Union and theeuro were key aspects of the Treaty of the European Union.• 17 January 2003 The Ministry of Justice and Local Government signed an agreement withmultinational computer giant Oracle providing for the opening of an academy in Malta. Oracle isinvesting $1 million in the setting up of the academy that, according to managing director Desi LopezFafie, has the potential to become a centre of excellence for the Mediterranean. During the signing,Minister Austin Gatt said that the Oracle academy would complement the recently-opened Ciscoacademy.• 17 January 2003 The Central Bank decided to leave the central intervention rate and the discount rateunchanged at 3.75 per cent. The decision was taken by CBM Governor Michael C. Bonello, followinga meeting of the Monetary Policy Advisory Council.• 17 January 2003 Quarterly surveys commissioned by the National Statistics Office in 2002 show thattotal domestic waste collected in the Maltese Islands dropped from 3,777 kilo in October, to 3,503 kiloin December. An analysis of findings also shows that 60 per cent of the domestic waste was organic.• 18 January 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami told Parliament that the referendum on EUmembership would be held in March. Dr Fenech-Adami was speaking at the end of the debate on amotion for Parliament to authorise the Government to hold the referendum.• 18 January 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that Malta would be receiving E110.8per capita per year in the first three years from the EU. In contrast, the Czech Republic would get E28per capita, Cyprus E32, Slovenia E42, Hungary E45, Slovakia E51 and Poland E60. Dr Fenech-Adamiwas speaking at the end of the debate on a motion for Parliament to authorise the Government to hold areferendum on the EU. An audio recording of the Prime Minister’s address to the House can beaccessed athttp://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/archive/PMaudio/pmclosesdebate.asp• 18 January 2003 Opposition Leader Alfred Sant said in Parliament that the Malta Labour Partypartnership policy was a better alternative for relations with the EU because it would enable Malta tokeep control of its affairs and to have flexibility in its policies. Dr Sant’s speech concluded for theOpposition the debate on a motion for Parliament to authorise the Government to hold a referendumon the EU.• 18 January 2003 The Motion to hold an EU referendum was approved with 34 government votes infavour, and 30 opposition votes against. The only absentee was Parliamentary Secretary EdwinVassallo, who is on his honeymoon. An opposition amendment against the holding of the referendumand for the EU issue to be decided at a general election was rejected by the same margin.• 18 January 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami wrote a three-point letter to the Leader of theOpposition inviting him for talks on the holding of the EU membership referendum and generalelections. A copy of the Prime Minister’s letter to the Leader of the Opposition appears athttp://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/newspressreleases-Parl%20letter.asp• 18 January 2003 Luzius Wildhaber, President of the European Court of Human Rights, praised Maltafor applying the European Court's judgements and conventions without any difficulties. Prof.Wildhaber, who was in Malta on a short visit, called on the President and the Prime Minister.

Following his visit to the President, Mr Wildhaber told the media that Malta would play an importantrole as it would hold the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.• 18 January 2003 The Government said that it had decided to call off its efforts to establish a strategicpartnership in e-government with the HP-led consortium or with any other third party, on therecommendations of the negotiating team. Instead, the Government has now decided that it is muchmore advantageous to adopt a vertical approach and enter into 'best of breed' partnerships and'twinning alliances' with major international firms on specific e-government related initiatives.• 18 January 2003 Maltacom and the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority have signed an agreementthat will strengthen co-operation between the two telecommunications companies. The agreement isfor the two telecoms companies to extend mutual assistance in various aspects closely associated withthe rapid developments of information and communications technologies and, more specifically, in thefield of the internet, multimedia, and wireless communications services. The agreement was signed byCYTA Chairman Stathis Papadakis and Maltacom Chairman Maurice Zarb Adami at the Maltacomgroup's headquarters, in Marsa.• 18 January 2003 European Union institutions will need 150 freelance translators and 250 in-housetranslators fluent in Maltese. Rebecca West, head of external translators at the European Parliament,together with Philippe Graas, head of the division of the planning of translators in the EuropeanParliament, were in Malta to draw up a list of contractors to do the translation work. The work thetranslators would be involved in covers all the EU institutions except the European Court.• 18 January 2003 Malta became a full participant in eContent, a European programme that supportsthe production, use and distribution of European content on the global networks, aimed at stimulatinginternet usage. The Ambassador to the Maltese Mission to the EU in Brussels, Victor Camilleri, hassigned a memorandum of understanding on Malta's participation. Further information can be obtainedfrom the eMalta Commission on info@emalta.gov.mt or the Malta Council for Science andTechnology on info@mcst.org.mt• 19 January 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that many local councillors know whatthe European Union is all about as they have worked closely with it and have managed to draw fundsfrom the EU's programmes aimed at helping Local Government. He said that the prospects of councilsgetting EU funds and assistance would grow when Malta joined the EU. Dr Fenech-Adami wasspeaking during a Mayors' conference organised to mark the tenth anniversary of the setting up oflocal councils, at the New Dolmen Hotel, in Qawra.• 19 January 2003 Justice Minister Austin Gatt said that decisions taken in the EU affected the Maltesepeople and the Maltese would soon have the opportunity to influence those decisions which wouldeffect them. Dr Gatt was speaking at the Majors’ conference.• 19 January 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi inaugurated a community and inclusion unitset up by the Eden Foundation, at Luqa. The unit will serve as a stepping stone for persons withdisabilities to one day leave the shelter of their home and live independently. Dr Gonzi said that it wasa great satisfaction to witness such major changes in the field of persons with disabilities. "We havemoved away from the sheltered mentality to an approach which respects and recognises the rights ofeach and every individual to participate in society. Eden has been the driving force in such initiatives,"he said.• 19 January 2003 Preliminary results of a nation-wide air quality survey have shown that sevenlocalities in Malta and Gozo do not measure up to the air quality standards of the European Unionbecause of high airborne lead content. The localities are Gzira, Pietà, Naxxar, Senglea, Fgura andBlata l-Bajda in Malta, and Fontana in Gozo. The survey was commissioned by the MaltaEnvironment and Planning Authority.• 20 January 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that, before any announcement on thedate of the referendum could be made, he would await feedback from Leader of the Opposition AlfredSant on the contents of a letter he had sent him shortly after the conclusion of the Parliamentary debateon the EU. Dr Fenech-Adami described his letter to Dr Sant as a unique and unrepeatable opportunityfor the two party leaders to issue an appeal for people to vote in the referendum and at the same timeagree on a date for the holding of a general election. The Prime Minister was speaking during apolitical activity in Siggiewi.

• 20 January 2003 Valletta mayor Paul Borg Olivier had talks with Roger Kaliff, vice President of theCommittee of Regions of the European Union, who was on a visit to Malta. The meeting, which tookplace in Valletta, focused on Malta’s participation in the Committee of regions and the role of theMaltese capital following EU membership. After accession in May 2004, Malta will have five electedmembers in the Committee of Regions representing all its local authorities in Malta and Gozo.• 20 January 2003 Refurbishing works are underway at the bus terminus at City Gate in Valletta. Theproject is being carried out in co-operation between the Ministry for Resources and Infrastructure andthe Public Transport Association. The Malta Transport Authority said that the changes made wereexpected to be beneficial to commuters.• 21 January 2003 Finance Minister John Dalli said that the Government was committed against moneylaundering and the financing of terrorism. He said that, following evaluation by the InternationalMonetary Fund and the World Bank, Malta now intended to extend the legal structures to casinos,accountants, auditors and estate agents among other sectors to enhance its fight against moneylaundering. Mr Dalli was addressing a seminar on 'The role and responsibilities of financialintelligence units in combating money laundering', at the Hilton.• 21 January 2003 Enemalta corporation made a loss after tax of Lm3.5 million in the year up toSeptember 2001 as a result of an increase in the price of oil and the strength of the dollar, theCorporation's annual report, tabled in Parliament, shows. The pre-tax loss was of Lm6.7 million.Projections also tabled in Parliament show that Enemalta expected to have made a pre-tax loss ofLm1.3 million in the year 2001-2002. A profit of Lm364,000 is projected for the year ending nextSeptember 30.• 22 January 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami, accompanied by Education Minister LouisGalea and the Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sport, Jesmond Mugliett, toured the Cottonerasports complex. Dr Fenech-Adami said one of the Government's electoral promises was to build threesports regional centres: Cottonera had become a reality and work was already under way on the othertwo.• 22 January 2003 Finance Minister John Dalli said that a total of 465 permits were granted last yearfor the acquisition of property by non-residents to the value of Lm32,731,077. He said that in 1997,168 properties with a total value of Lm5,651,520 were sold to foreigners. Mr Dalli was speaking at thelaunch of the Capital and Transfer Duty Branch e-services, designed for foreigners who want toacquire immovable property in Malta online.• 22 January 2003 Justice Minister Austin Gatt said that by March or April, 90 per cent of Governmentservices would be available online. He said that the introduction of e-government services was notonly indicative of the advanced pace of technology, but also of the improvement of the quality of life.Dr Gatt was speaking at the launch of the Capital and Transfer Duty Branch website.• 22 January 2003 The Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry for Economic Services, George Hyzler,said that the huge amount of legislative work to amend the Consumer Affairs Act has put Malteseconsumers on a par with their European counterparts. Dr Hyzler was speaking at an informationmeeting on sale of goods to consumers, held by the Consumer and Competition Division incollaboration with the Malta Business Bureau, at Le Meridien Hotel Phoenicia.• 22 January 2003 The National Statistics Office announced that the inflation rate in November lastyear was 2.55 per cent, down from 2.82 per cent in the previous month. The Retail Price Indexdropped by 0.11 points, or 0.09 per cent, in November over the previous month, reaching 119.29.• 22 January 2003 Anna Borg, the Employment and Training Corporation's senior executive on genderissues, said that the employment rate for women in Malta, at 31.6 per cent, is 22.4 per cent below theEU average. Ms Borg was speaking at the launch of the ETC's Gender Equality Action Plan 2003-2004, ‘Promoting Equal Opportunities in the Labour Market’.• 22 January 2003 Speaking at the same occasion, Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that theGovernment would be making available Lm100,000 to assist women with children below the age oftwo make use of child-minding services. Dr Gonzi said that the new legislative measures also providefor part-time workers to be offered training opportunities.• 22 January 2003 The plenary session of the European Convention meeting on 20 and 21 Januaryfocused on the functioning of the European Union institutions. In his intervention, Government

Representative Prof. Peter Serracino Inglott referred to the recently presented Franco-Germanproposal, describing it as having been intended as a bridge between two opposed approaches oftenreferred to as the intergovernmental and integrationist approaches.• 23 January 2003 President Guido de Marco said that the creation of new housing concepts in Florianawould lead to the re-population of the town. Prof. de Marco was speaking during an official visit toFloriana.• 23 January 2003 During a short visit to Malta, the Secretary of State in the Finnish Foreign Office,Ambassador Antti Johannes Satuli, paid courtesy visits to Foreign Minister Joe Borg and theChairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Dolores Cristina. Mr Satuli’s talks in Malta focused onMalta's preparations to join the EU.• 23 January 2003 Justice Minister Austin Gatt inaugurated the first mini-series of myWeb courses,attended by 900 persons who want to learn basic internet and IT skills. The classes are a JusticeMinistry initiative through the eMalta Commission, in collaboration with the Education Ministry.Further information on the subject can be found in the sitewww.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/newspressreleases-myweb.asp• 23 January 2003 Economic Services Minister Josef Bonnici praised the publication of the ‘Business-Planning Handbook’ by the Institute for the Promotion of Small Enterprise. He said that the handbookwas useful for guiding new entrepreneurs in setting up their business and also to help strengthenestablished businesses. Prof. Bonnici was speaking during a certificate presentation ceremony, atFloriana.• 23 January 2003 Economic Services Minister Josef Bonnici said that the number of jobs in themanufacturing sector in 2002 dropped by 146 up to last September. He said that 671 jobs werecreated, but 817 people had their employment terminated through dismissal, resignation, or retirement.Minister Bonnici was replying to a Parliamentary Question.• 23 January 2003 British High Commissioner Vincent Fean visited Dowty Automotive (Malta) Ltdplants in Mriehel, Marsa and Hal Far respectively. Mr Fean said that he was very impressed by thecompany's investment plans. He explained that the British High Commission would be helping toenhance the links between businesses based in Malta and educational institutions in Britain. Thiswould help businesses to make the best use of educational opportunities in the UK.• 23 January 2003 The National Statistics Office said that the latest Employment and TrainingCorporation statistics indicated that 7,516 were registering for work in December 2002. Thisrepresented an increase of 83 persons when compared to December 2001, the NSO said.• 24 January 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami warned that a ‘no’ vote in the EUreferendum would spell disaster and plunge the country's credibility to ‘rock bottom’. On the otherhand, said Dr Fenech-Adami, a ‘yes’ vote would instantly lead to a ‘mini-boom’ in the economy. ThePrime Minister was addressing a business breakfast organised by The Malta Business Weeklynewspaper.• 24 January 2003 Tourism Minister Michael Refalo said that talk or rumours of war, instability,terrorism and health hazards were enough for conference organisers to withdraw and cancel events. DrRefalo was speaking on the conference, incentive, and meetings sector of the Malta TourismAuthority, at St James Cavalier. On the occasion, the MTA presented the results of an in-depth surveyof Destination Management Companies it conducted last year.• 24 January 2003 Provisional estimates published by the National Office of Statistics show that at902,073, tourist arrivals in the first nine months of last year reflected a drop of 61,571, or 6.4 per cent,over the same period in the previous year. In September 2002 alone, the number of tourist arrivalsreached 125,320, a drop of 5,896, or 4.5 per cent, over the same month in the previous year.• 24 January 2003 Figures published by the National Office of Statistics show that, in September 2002,the number of cruise passengers arriving in Malta reached 44,538, an increase of 21,240 over the samemonth in 2001. In the first nine months of last year, the number of cruise passengers went up by69,405 to 257,294.• 24 January 2003 Three new Ambassadors presented their diplomatic credentials to President Guidode Marco at the Palace, in Valletta. The Ambassadors are: Mr Libor Secka, representing the Czech

Republic, Ms Byrganym Altimova, representing Kazakhstan, and Mr Jean Faltz representingLuxembourg.• 25 January 2003 The European Commissioner responsible for enlargement, Günter Verheugen, saidit would be a profound mistake for the Maltese to postpone the country's EU membership in the hopethat the conditions of accession would be better at a later stage. He added that a form of partnershipwith the EU would be an inferior option to membership. Mr Verheugen was addressing a joint pressconference with Foreign Minister Joe Borg during a one-day visit to Malta. An audio recording of thejoint press conference can be accessed atwww.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/newspageaudio7.asp• 25 January 2003 When addressing Maltese businessmen at the Chamber of Commerce, MrVerheugen said he was convinced that, after EU membership, Malta would be a much better place forinvestment. He said that, many decisions which had been withheld so far would be made followingmembership. An audio and video recording of Mr Verheugen speech can be accessed atwww.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/newspressreleases-verheugen+others.asp• 25 January 2003 European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Günter Verheugen urged theMaltese to look at Ireland as a role model so as to realise the vast opportunities offered by EUmembership. When Ireland had joined the EU, its economy had been much worse than Malta's.However, after 15 years of restructuring Ireland was now one of the most thriving of member states.Mr Verheugen was addressing workers at the headquarters of Union Haddiema Maghqudin, inFloriana.• 25 January 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said attempts should be made to present theEU issue in an objective manner even though it was being treated in a partisan way. "I was one of thefirst to say that the Party should have taken a back seat and a national movement should be set up toexamine this issue in the most objective manner possible in the best interests of our country," he said.Dr Fenech-Adami was delivering a speech at a Chamber of Commerce seminar on 'The Costs andBenefits of Malta's Negotiated Package with the EU'. An audio and video recording of the PrimeMinister’s speech can be accessed atwww.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/newspressreleases-verheugen+others.asp• 25 January 2003 Finance Minister John Dalli launched two schemes aimed at protecting investors.These are the Investor Compensation Scheme, and the Deposit Guarantee Scheme. The two schemesare financed by banks and financial intermediaries respectively, and the consumer will not be asked tocontribute to these schemes. Mr Dalli was addressing a press conference at the Malta FinancialServices Authority.• 25 January 2003 Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg and Local Government Minister Austin Gattlaunched another e-government service through which the public can apply for certificates on theinternet from the Public Registry. The website is www.certifikati.gov.mt• 25 January 2003 The National Statistics Office said that total fish landings at the central fish marketin 2002 amounted to 940,864 kilo, an increase of 99,575 kilo or 11.8 per cent over the previous year.The wholesale value of fish landings increased by over 13 per cent compared with the previous year,from Lm1,587,036 to Lm1,798,867.• 25 January 2003 The Malta Development Corporation office in France is organising a visit by agroup of French journalists to assess Malta's industrial investment potential with a view toencouraging direct French investment. Journalists from Le Monde, Le Figaro, La Tribune, Les Echos,Lí'Entreprise, Le Moci and Commerce International are to take part.• 26 January 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said in reply to a letter he received from theOpposition Leader that Dr Sant had shown contempt for the people's sovereign will when he suggestedthat a referendum should only be binding if 60 per cent voted ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. A copy of the PrimeMinister’s letter to the Leader of the Opposition can be found atwww.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/newspressreleases-reply%20to%20opp.asp• 26 January 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami launched the publication ‘Europe, yourGovernment's proposal’, during a press conference at Auberge de Castille, in Valletta. Dr Fenech-Adami said: “The document contains objective information about the EU and explains the specialarrangements Malta obtained.” The publication may be obtained from the Department of Informationor downloaded (in Maltese and English) from the DOI Website at www.doi.gov.mt/EN/archive/EU-

ook/eubookindex.asp An audio recording of the Prime Minister’s address at the press conference canbe accessed at www.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/newspageaudio8.asp• 26 January 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg said that the Nationalist Party in government wasrespecting the mandate it had been given by the people. The Government’s mandate was to revive thecountry's application for membership, negotiate the best possible package, and hold a referendum.• 27 January 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami criticised Opposition Leader Alfred Sant for‘opting to redefine the meaning of democracy’ when he proposed that the EU referendum would onlybe binding if 60 per cent of those who voted said ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Dr Fenech-Adami said: “We want tojoin the EU, among many other things, because we can ensure that democracy will continue to prevailin Malta.” The Prime Minister was speaking at Mellieha.• 27 January 2003 German Ambassador Georg Merten said that Malta's indecision on the EuropeanUnion was the major stumbling block for German investment. Asked whether a decision to pull out ofthe EU process would mean German investors would go elsewhere, Mr Merten replied: "I don't thinkthey would lose interest, however they would surely put Malta in a different category. You would havedifferent regulations from the EU."• 27 January 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that clients at the Government socialwelfare agency Appogg increased by almost one-third during 2000-2002, from 3,574 to 4,691. He saidthat the increase was mainly due to the restructuring of the agency and the investment that had goneinto all services, particularly children's services. Dr Gonzi was speaking during the Business Day forAppogg staff.• 27 January 2003 British High Commissioner Vincent Fean presented the Occupational Health andSafety Authority with publications and videos on Health and Safety. Mr Fean said that the material,drafted by Health and Safety experts in the UK, offered a range of advice that was relevant to Malta. Itincluded guidance on how to work safely with woodworking machines, how to run a public eventsafely, and even how to deal with the dangers of passive smoking.• 27 January 2003 The Staff Development Organisation in the Office of the Prime Minister, incollaboration with the Consumer and Competition Division in the Ministry of Economic Services, isorganising a training programme on European competition policy. The programme is being cofinancedby the French authorities through the French Embassy in Malta.• 27 January 2003 Claudio Grech, the e-government programme manager, announced that the onlineservice servizz.gov.mt had attracted 452 entries since it was officially launched in mid-November. MrGrech said that these entries consisted of 228 complaints, 136 requests for information, and 88suggestions.• 27 January 2003 Seven tourist guides took part in a two-week training programme in Assisi as part ofthe EU's Leonardo da Vinci Mobility Programme. The programme was organised and co-ordinated bythe Malta Tourism Authority's human resources and support services directorate, with thecollaboration of the Malta Union of Tourist Guides.• 28 January 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami left for a meeting in Strasbourg where hewas due to address a session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Malta is for thethird time since 1965 assuming the Presidency of the CoE's Committee of Ministers.• 28 January 2003 Justice Minister Austin Gatt said that Malta could be the first European country togain access to Microsoft’s ‘source codes’. With these codes in hand, local companies would be able todevelop software compatible with Microsoft that could be marketed abroad. Dr Gatt was speaking atthe inauguration of the state-of-the-art 'colocation' facilities recently set up by local e-commercecompany e-shore.• 28 January 2003 Regulations published in the Government Gazette provide for the setting up of acommittee, the ‘Ornis Committee’. The committee comprises of representatives of hunters' andtrappers' associations and bird protection organisations. The Parliamentary Secretary for theEnvironment, George Pullicino, said the new regulations should lead towards sustainable hunting andtrapping.• 29 January 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami addressed the Parliamentary Assembly of theCouncil of Europe, in Strasbourg. In his speech, Dr Fenech-Adami laid emphasis on the role of the

Council of Europe as a forum for communication between the EU and non-EU members of theCouncil. The Prime Minister was accompanied in Strasbourg by Foreign Minister Joe Borg who is thecurrent Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Council of Europe.• 29 January 2003 Agriculture Minister Ninu Zammit launched an information pack on the financialpackage negotiated with the European Union, aimed at producers and operators in the agriculturalsector. Mr Zammit underlined the fact that the package would result in financial aid amounting toLm77 million over a period of 12 years for the agricultural sector.• 29 January 2003 Ambassador Abraham Borg presented his credentials as Malta's new Ambassador toSwitzerland to Pascal Couchepin, President of the Swiss Confederation. The two discussed Malta'saccession to the European Union, among other issues.• 29 January 2003 The President of Malta and Mrs de Marco presented, on behalf of the MaltaCommunity Chest Fund, financial aid, specialised apparatus and white goods to various philanthropicinstitutions and individuals in need. The amount of Lm16,585 was distributed to 90 individuals andnine philanthropic institutions.• 29 January 2003 Malta's High Commissioner to Australia Ivan Fsadni and the President of theMaltese Australian Association of Canberra and Queanbeyan met Maltese families who were badly hitby the bush fires in Canberra.• 29 January 2003 A block of Housing Authority apartments under construction in Birkirkara is to beused as a test case for the use of energy-saving devices and for the drawing up of energy-savingguidelines for the building industry. Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that the projectconfirmed the Government's commitment to promote innovative measures that made the best possibleuse of natural resources and reduced harm to the environment.• 29 January 2003 Grand Harbour Marina signed a 1.5 million euro contract for the supply ofpontoons with Troikka Marine of UK. “Grand Harbour Marina has been designed as a world classmarina in association with Camper & Nicholsons Marinas,” said Walter Bonnici, deputy chairman ofGHM at the signing ceremony. When completed in July, the Marina will offer over 200 pontoonberths, all fully serviced with power, water, telephone and cable television.• 29 January 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami today announced that the referendum on EUmembership will be held on 8 March. The date was announced at the President’s Palace, in Valletta,after Dr Fenech-Adami presented the official writ to President Guido de Marco. The President signedthe writ that was then presented to Principal Electoral Commissioner Carmel Degariele. The questionput will be: “Do you agree that Malta should join the European Union at the enlargement due on May1, 2004?”• 29 January 2003 In a television Address to the Nation in the evening, Prime Minister EdwardFenech-Adami said that this was the first time since Malta gained Independence in 1964 that thepeople were being called to have a direct say on their future through a referendum. He appealed to thepeople to take part in the referendum and keep in mind the fact that the decision they took wouldaffect the future of all the Maltese for many generations to come.• 30 January 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami announced that the referendum on EUmembership would be held on March 8. The date will coincide with the date of Local Council electionsin twenty-three towns and villages.• 30 January 2003 262 persons will be contesting the upcoming Local Council elections: 125 for theNationalist Party; 117 for the Labour Party; 8 for the Alternattiva Demokratika and 12 Independent.The elections are being contested in 23 localities.• 30 January 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi described the Malta Council for Economicand Social Development as a ‘tool’ in the hands of the social partners for the country to find solutions.He emphasised that it was not a solution in itself. Dr Gonzi was addressing a one-day seminar forGeneral Workers’ Union shop stewards on the effectiveness of the MCESD.• 30 January 2003 The Malta Environment and Planning Authority launched a series of workshopsaimed at promoting environmental awareness in the manufacturing industry. The ‘Eco-BusinessBreakfasts’, as the workshops are dubbed, will also provide information and help industry interpret the

equirements of legislation, especially those laws stemming from the adoption of the European Union’sacquis.• 30 January 2003 The quantity of fresh fruit and vegetables passing through organised markets lastyear increased by 3.1 million kilos or 7.8 per cent, from 39.4 million kilos in 2001 to 42.5 millionkilos, the National Statistics Office said. The total wholesale value of fresh fruit and vegetables alsoregistered an increase of Lm470,000, or 6.4 per cent, from Lm7.31 million in 2001 to Lm7.78 million.• 31 January 2003 EU Ambassador Ronald Gallimore said that the package obtained by Malta was ‘afar cry from the one-size-fits-all comments that are sometimes heard’. He said no other candidatecountry could boast such an impressive achievement and he hoped that the Maltese would understandthis when they made their crucial decision. Mr Gallimore was speaking at the national conference onthe results of the negotiations between Malta and the EU held by the Malta-EU Information Centre.• 31 January 2003 Chief Negotiator Richard Cachia Caruana, who presented a roundup of thenegotiations, announced that the EU treaty was currently being translated into Maltese, as well as intothe other 21 treaty languages. He said that the treaty would be signed by the candidate countries onApril 16. Mr Cachia Caruana was addressing the national conference on the results of the negotiationsbetween Malta and the EU organised by MIC.• 31 January 2003 During the same conference, MIC Head Simon Busuttil pointed out the difficulty ofexplaining and reaching out to all sectors of society in a country that was deeply divided on the issue ofEU membership. Dr Busuttil said that he was not satisfied with the level of awareness, but it wasdefinitely far greater than it was three years ago.• 31 January 2003 Addressing the MIC conference, Foreign Minister Joe Borg said that the Maltesenow had the choice between taking the last step and formalising membership or ‘getting off the pathand throwing ourselves in choppy and uncertain waters’. No other applicant country came close toachieving the number of arrangements and unique results that Malta had managed to negotiate, said DrBorg.• 31 January 2003 European Commission President Romano Prodi categorically ruled out thepossibility that Malta could be better off by choosing some form of partnership with the EuropeanUnion in preference to membership. Any alternative to membership would be similar to the agreementsthat the EU was drawing up with North African countries, Russia and the Ukraine, he said. Mr Prodi'smessage was transmitted by video at the end of the MIC conference. Audio and video versions ofPresident Prodi’s message can be accessed athttp://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/newspageaudio10.asp• 31 January 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami urged the electorate to do its homeworkbefore making a decision on membership. "People should be allowed to evaluate the situation andshould not be confused by those who have a political agenda and whose sole intention is to sow doubt,"he said. Dr Fenech Adami said that people should not base their decision solely on their personalinterests, let alone that of their political party. The text and an audio version of the Prime Minister’sspeech at the MIC conference can be accessed athttp://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/newspage.asp• 31 January 2003 Justice and Local Government Minister Austin Gatt announced that Microsoft wouldbe investing an estimated Lm20 million in Malta over the next three years, an investment which waslikely to disappear if Malta did not join the European Union. Dr Gatt was speaking at a newsconference shortly after flying back from Paris where he signed a memorandum of understanding withMicrosoft on a number of areas of co-operation aimed at "rapidly transforming the island into aEuropean ICT-jewel in the Mediterranean".• 31 January 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami visited Farsons Breweries, at Mriehel, andwas shown round by managing director Louis Farrugia. Mr Farrugia told Dr Fenech-Adami that thecompany was prepared to meet the challenges posed by European Union membership because it hadbeen preparing for liberalisation of the market for the past decade. The company, which employs 478full-timers as well as other workers, is this year marking its 75th anniversary.• 31 January 2003 António Martins da Cruz, Foreign Minister of Portugal, wrote to Foreign MinisterJoe Borg to express Portugal’s ‘unconditional support’ for the candidate countries’ accession processto the EU. He said that Portugal’s own membership had brought with it ‘the consolidation of ourdemocracy and considerable economic benefit’ and expressed the wish that ‘the same positive effects

would be experienced by Malta’. The Portuguese Foreign Minister expressed the hope that Malta andPortugal would work together ‘on the pursuit of an ever improving future for the European Union’.FEBRUARY• 1 February 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that, once Malta joined the EU, thecountry would not experience any great changes because most of them had already been made. DrFenech-Adami was speaking at Pieta.• 1 February 2003 President Guido de Marco, who chairs the Commission for the Administration ofJustice, presented the commission's third report covering the period between October 2001 andSeptember 2002. Giving the number of cases that have been pending for five years and over, Presidentde Marco said that, up to January 15, 2002 there were 2,713 cases before the Civil Courts, 158 casesbefore the Magistrates' Court in its civil jurisdiction, and 81 cases before a Tribunal.• 1 February 2003 The Government has invested Lm500,000 in the arts and design institute of theMalta College of Arts, Science and Technology. Education Minister Louis Galea said, during a visit tothe complex at Targa Gap, that works included the construction of a new sub-station and the upgradingof the grounds around the institute.• 1 February 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami received Palestinian Foreign Affairs MinisterFarouk Kaddoumi at Auberge de Castille, in Valletta. Mr Kaddoumi also called on Opposition LeaderAlfred Sant and Foreign Minister Joe Borg.• 2 February 2003 President de Marco urged the EU to give priority to Mediterranean issues. He said:“The European Union must take Mediterranean issues off the back burner, and show political will toaddress the region’s urgent problems.” Prof. de Marco was addressing the EUROMESCO conference,in St Julian’s. EUROMESCO, the Euro-Mediterranean Study Commission, is a network of 39 foreignpolicy research institutes, based in most of the 27 countries of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.• 2 February 2003 Addressing the EUROMESCO conference, Foreign Minister Joe Borg said: “Maltafinds itself well-poised to contribute to the Euro-Mediterranean partnership and to ultimately ensurethe co-operation and co-ordination of policies of both the EU and the Mediterranean partners. We havedeveloped an acute understanding of regional tensions and of the challenges which our neighboursgrapple with on a daily basis.”• 2 February 2003 Addressing the same conference, Ambassador Alfred Zarb, who is the ForeignMinistry co-ordinator for Mediterranean issues, stated that enlargement accentuated the need forinstitutional restructuring of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, as advocated by Malta since 2001.“Participation of all partners at all levels must be ensured, and we should seek to restore the relativenorth-south balance after enlargement,” he added.• 2 February 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami urged party candidates for the local councilelections to double their efforts in their campaigns, and to take the opportunity to speak about the EU.Their campaigns should also focus on how the local councils could be strengthened through EUmembership, he said. If there were a sector of society that could appreciate and had understood whatEU membership could offer, it was the local councils, Dr Fenech-Adami said.• 2 February 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami appealed to all pro-EU lobbies to workcloser together and urged all organisations to pronounce themselves on membership. He referred to theparty’s new billboard that calls on everyone to forget their differences, and said that this was the wayto ensure the right decision. Asked whether the Maltese were mature enough to settle their politicaldifferences, he replied: “Even in the worst of times, I have had faith in the Maltese people. Time hasproved me right, and I think I will also be proven right this time.” Dr Fenech-Adami was addressing apress conference.• 3 February 2003 The Prime Minister appealed to people to forget their political differences and thinkabout the country’s future when voting at the EU membership referendum on March 8. Speaking at apolitical activity that launched the referendum campaign, Dr Fenech-Adami said this was not the timefor partisan politics. “People can make their partisan choice at the general elections. In the referendumwe are talking about the future of the country,” the Prime Minster said.

• 3 February 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg said in a statement that winemakers will benefit from2.47 million euros (Lm1.038 million) in EU aid. Dr Borg was reacting to a speech by OppositionLeader Alfred Sant. Minister Borg said that Dr Sant had quoted from a letter that winemakers hadwritten to Dr Borg on November 14 regarding the labelling issue, but had failed to quote the Minister’sreply to the winemakers.• 4 February 2003 Bank of Valletta Chairman Joseph Zahra said that the bank was prepared to takeadvantage of every opportunity that Europe could offer, including the possibility of expandingoperations by tapping niche markets on the continent. "Thanks to the investment the bank has made inthe area of internet banking, it is possible today for us to use alternative delivery channels so as toexpand our services beyond our shores and take advantage of new international markets that canbecome available to us," he said. Mr Zahra was speaking during a visit to the BOV Centre in Sliemaby President Guido de Marco.• 4 February 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that more and more Maltese wererealising the vast opportunities that lay ahead of them if Malta joined the EU. Speaking during awalkabout at Sliema in the run-up to the EU referendum, the Prime Minister said people were realisingthe historical occasion membership would be. "This is why we should avoid throwing away our future,especially after years of preparation," he stressed.• 4 February 2003 Discussing future tourism prospects, Tourism Minister Michael Refalo said that onemust remember that the last quarter of 2001 was severely affected by the September 11 atrocities.“While Malta has overcome the September 11 effect, we now have to contend with the threat andpossibility of war in the Gulf, a re-run of 1991 events, only more disastrous, if events take a turn forthe worse." Minister Refalo was speaking at the FTI Hotel Fair.• 5 February 2003 President Guido de Marco conveyed on his behalf and that of the Government andthe people of Malta messages of sympathy and condolence to the Presidents of the US and Israel,following the tragic loss of the space shuttle Columbia.• 5 February 2003 According to a survey commissioned by the Malta Hotels and RestaurantsAssociation, hotel operators overwhelmingly supported Malta’s accession to the EU. Just one per centof hotel respondents said that they were against membership, while two-thirds of restaurant ownerssaid they agreed with accession. The hotel sector had an overall response rate of 83 per cent, while therestaurants’ sector had a 43 per cent membership base. The results of the survey, carried out byDeloitte & Touche, were presented during the association’s conference.• 5 February 2003 The Leader of the UK Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament, Diana Wallis,said that Malta as a member of the EU could have a very important role. “Malta can be the link toNorth Africa and Arab states. You have a very unique position and this is a remarkable opportunity.My only question is: Will you embrace it?” Ms Wallis was addressing a conference organised by theMalta External Trade Corporation on the implications of non-EU membership.• 5 February 2003 Agriculture Minister Ninu Zammit said that a total of Lm320,610 is expected to bepaid in subsidies on tomatoes processed last season. The levies on tomatoes and tomato products willbe reduced throughout this year. To ensure that local producers maintain their livelihood, the subsidyon each kilo of tomatoes will increase. Minister Zammit was speaking during the presentation ofLm252,057 to three tomato processing companies: Magro Brothers, Vernon Foods and Farmers Food.• 5 February 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami announced that the regional unit had been setup by the Government and was already looking at the projects that would be submitted for EU fundingfollowing membership. Dr Fenech-Adami was speaking to supporters at Naxxar.• 5 February 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea visited the site of the new secondary school andsports complex in the limits of Kirkop and Safi. The school is projected to cost Lm2.5million, and thecomplex Lm2 million. The school is the first to be planned and constructed by the Foundation forTomorrow’s Schools.• 5 February 2003 A notice appearing in The Government Gazzette says that the Electoral Commissionhad announced that, on March 8, when voting for the EU referendum is due to take place, the pollingbooths would be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. It also announced that and that work on the opening ofthe ballot boxes would start at 2 a.m. of Sunday 9 th March.

• 5 February 2003 According to the National Statistics Office a total of 1,130 occupational accidentswere reported to the Department of Social Security in the last quarter of 2002. The OccupationalHealth and Safety Authority reported that two men had died as a result of accidents in the course oftheir work. Both had been employed in the construction industry.• 5 February 2003 Australian Update announced that Hollywood’s big-budget Greek mythology film‘Troy’, based on Homer’s ‘The Iliad’, is expected to begin shooting in the first half of this year inBritain, Malta and Morocco. The newsletter is circulated by the Australian High Commission.• 6 February 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that Europe's eyes were firmly set onMalta as the first among the accession countries to be holding a referendum on EU membership. Hesaid that he felt he did not have to wait for the other acceding countries to hold their referenda becausehe was very confident that his Government had managed to negotiate the best possible package withthe EU. Dr Fenech-Adami was addressing a rally for party candidates in the local elections.• 6 February 2003 The Prime Minister said that figures for tourism arrivals in January showed a six percent increase over the same month last year. Speaking during a tour of the new Intercontinental Hotel,he said that growth in the sector had been registered for the fourth consecutive month. Dr Fenech-Adami said this showed that the tourism revival was on course.• 6 February 2003 Luis Riera-Figueras, Director of DG Regio, the Directorate responsible for preadhesionpreparation, said that EU structural funds were only made available to member states andthere was no way other countries could receive them. He said: “So far as we have seen, Malta has ahighly professional team in place and I am confident it is well-prepared to make use of the structuralfunds”. Mr Riera-Figueras was speaking at a conference entitled ‘Regional funds and the MalteseIslands’, organised by the Malta-EU Information Centre MIC and the EU’s delegation to Malta.• 6 February 2003 Italian Ambassador Alvise Memmo refuted claims that Italians from Sicily wouldflock to Malta on the Island’s membership in the EU. "I honestly don't know what should prompt themto come here. The Sicilians don't even want to travel around their own country, let alone a foreignland," he said. Dr Memmo was interviewed by The Times newspaper.• 6 February 2003 President Guido de Marco received a delegation from the Federation of Industry, ledby its President, Joe Zammit Tabona. The two discussed the local situation in industry and itsprospects for the coming months.• 6 February 2003 Transport Minister Censu Galea said that the Transport Authority was hoping toconclude talks on the introduction of a night bus service throughout Malta in the near future. TheMinister was speaking in Parliament during the debate on the estimates of the Malta TransportAuthority.• 6 February 2003 A new emergency number - 112 - has been introduced to cover all accident andemergency departments. An agreement to this effect was signed between the Home Affairs Ministryand Maltacom. Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said that 112 was the only official emergencytelephone number in the EU.• 6 February 2003 The Department of Information is broadcasting an online feature regarding thedevelopments of Malta towards the European Union. The feature, Lejn Shubija fit-Tkabbir Li Jmiss(Towards Membership in the next Enlargement) will continue to be regularly updated through thepublication of documents, photographs and video/audio recordings. This information can be accessedat www.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/newspressreleases-malta-eupage.asp• 7 February 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea said that a report drawn up by a special committeechaired by a University professor in August 2000 confirmed that EU membership was a historic andunique opportunity for the University of Malta, Maltese students, and teachers. Dr Galea said that thereport, entitled ‘The University of Malta and Malta's entry into the EU’, was drawn up nearly threeyears ago on the initiative of the University.• 7 February 2003 According to the Central Bank's Quarterly Review, the Maltese economy grew at afaster pace during the third quarter of 2002, with real GDP rising by 4.1 per cent on a year-on-yearbasis, compared with 2.7 per cent in the previous quarter. Growth was mainly export-driven, as foreignsales of manufactures, mostly from the electronics sub-sector, expanded. The Quarterly Review isavailable on the CBM website www.centralbankmalta.com

• 7 February 2003 The number of new clients referred to the child protection services run by theAppogg agency more than doubled last year when compared to 2001. The agency said there were 486new clients in 2002 as compared to 211 a year earlier. The unit had 2,791 clients since its inception in1993. The team protects children from neglect and any kind of abuse, be it physical, sexual oremotional.• 8 February 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami appealed to all voters to hear the growingchorus of voices in favour of the EU, citing as examples the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Associationand the Chamber of Commerce. Dr Fenech-Adami said: "In the Chamber survey, even somebusinesses who said they would be badly affected by membership were in favour of it. This is what itis all about: the EU is not about what is best for the individual but what is best for the whole country.”• 8 February 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg said that the safeguard Malta has negotiated with the EUover abortion went beyond the concession Poland had just been granted in its accession treaty. "Wedefinitely got more because the EU has understood the sensitivity of the issue in Malta," said Dr Borg."In reality, we did not need it because the EU has made it clear that issues like abortion had to bedecided by the individual country concerned. However, as a safeguard the EU has agreed to give Maltathe maximum by granting a protocol, which is an agreement between the two sides.”• 8 February 2003 The EU and Malta have finalised the text of the EU accession treaty, largelyreflecting what was agreed at the Copenhagen summit last December, though some final modificationswith no budgetary impact were made. In the final text Malta has now managed to get a technicalconcession to raise the threshold for VAT exemptions for small and medium enterprises. The text ofthe accession treaty has now been concluded with the 10 acceding countries which, including Malta,are now expected to receive the full text of the accession treaty in the form of a document very shortly.• 8 February 2003 Finance Minister John Dalli said that a total of Lm291 million has been registeredunder the foreign investment registration scheme that closed at the end of December. A total of Lm55million had already been repatriated to Malta, with the remainder retained abroad. Nearly 11,000applications have been received for the scheme, announced in the 2001 budget speech. The amount ofregistration fee paid to the Government was Lm10.5 million. However, Mr Dalli said he still believed"substantial" foreign investments remained unregistered.• 8 February 2003 Transport Minister Censu Galea said that about Lm14 million from the Malta-EUfinancial package of Lm81 million would be spent on upgrading the road network in Malta and Gozoin the first three years of membership. Some Lm12 million of the Lm30 million in financial assistanceof the protocol with Italy would also be spent on the road network in the first three years afterratification of the protocol. Mr Galea was speaking at a news conference at the Malta TransportAuthority's offices in Sa Maison.• 8 February 2003 Agriculture Minister Ninu Zammit presented Klement Azzopardi, president of theFarmers’ Central Co-operative with a cheque for Lm27,664. The money forms part of the eight percent commission that growers pay to the middlemen at the vegetable marketing centre. Mr Zammitsaid that since the removal of the levies on agricultural produce seven months ago, the Governmenthad passed on over Lm1.3 million to growers, herdsmen and other producers in the sector.• 8 February 2003 APS Bank Chairman Lino Delia said that international organisations and local studygroups had made a number of proposals on reform of the pension scheme, both locally and overseas,including an increase in the retirement age to 65. Mr Delia was speaking during a seminar organisedby the Institute of Financial Services, at the Corinthia Palace Hotel, in Attard. The seminar was alsoaddressed by Jurgen Mortensen, an associate senior research fellow at the Brussels-based Centre forEuropean Policy Studies, and Finance Minister John Dalli.• 9 February 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that the Cabinet was expected to discussand approve the final text of Malta's EU membership accession treaty. The text of the EU accessiontreaty reflects what was agreed at the Copenhagen EU summit in December. Dr Fenech-Adami saidthat in the final text, Malta had managed to get a technical concession to raise the threshold for VATexemptions for small and medium-sized enterprises. The Prime Minister was addressing a pressconference, giving an overview of the first week of the referendum campaign.• 9 February 2003 During a public debate on the European Union and Education, Education MinisterLouis Galea said the EU referendum debate focused on concrete negotiations concluded by the

Government that would assist Malta to provide its citizens with a better quality of life. Membership,Dr Galea pointed out, would enable the free movement of students and teachers and promote cooperationbetween schools and universities.• 9 February 2003 Director of Fisheries Anthony Gruppetta said that more than 40 contracts to enablefishermen to upgrade their boats had already been concluded. He said that another 70 contracts wouldbe concluded in three weeks time, while another 40 contracts have still to be finalised. FisheriesMinister Ninu Zammit said the financial packet for this upgrading exercise amounted to Lm2.4million. Minister Zammit and Dr Gruppetta were speaking at a seminar on the EU organised by theNational Fisheries Co-operative Ltd and the Ghaqda Ko-operativa tas-Sajd Ltd, at St George BandClub in Cospicua.• 9 February 2003 Lynn Chircop, a virtual newcomer to the music scene beat tough competition withher song To Dream Again and clinched the top spot of this year's ‘Song for Europe’ festival. Her songwas composed by Alfred Zammit to lyrics by Cynthia Sammut. Lynn will represent Malta in theEurovision Song Contest, which will be held in Riga, Latvia, on May 24.• 10 February 2003 The mediaeval site at is-Simblija, limits of Dingli, is to be co-managed byFondazzjoni Wirt Artna and the Ministry for Resources and Infrastructure. The site comprises amediaeval church, a mill, ruins of a kitchen, and an open space. Resources and Infrastructure MinisterFrancis Zammit Dimech said that an agreement between the two sides sets out their roles andresponsibilities in the upkeep and surveillance of the areas rehabilitated and established as sites ofcultural interest.• 11 February 2003 Malta was given a 'modest' rating in an audit originally commissioned by theInternational Transport Workers Federation in 1999, measuring the regulatory capacity of flag states.In the study, flag states are grouped into four bands, from 'high' to 'poor', according to the extent andeffectiveness of their regulatory regimes.• 11 February 2003 The University of Malta welcomed 85 students from its various partner universitiesin Europe. A total of 210 Erasmus students will be spending a semester in Malta during this academicyear. Erasmus is an EU programme aimed at student and teacher exchanges.• 12 February 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami visited the Consolidated Biscuits factory, atMriehel. Factory chairman Albert Mizzi told Dr Fenech-Adami that the company’s export potentialwould benefit from EU membership because levies would be removed. Consolidated Biscuits was setup in 1982 as a joint venture between local and foreign investors.• 12 February 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that Malta would be empowered toeither approve or veto the EU's next budget in 2006. Dr Fenech-Adami said: "Once Malta joins, it willhave the same rights as other member states. I am sure that whoever is Prime Minister at that time willwork hard to ensure Malta gets what it deserves.” Dr Fenech-Adami was answering questions at asocial activity in Naxxar.• 12 February 2003 French Minister for Europe Nöelle Lenoir said that EU acceding countries wouldnext week be briefed on the Union's position over the Iraqi crisis following an emergency summit tobe held in Brussels on Monday 17th. The French Minister was interviewed by The Times newspaperduring an official visit to Malta. An audio recording of the joint press conference Ms Lenoir gave withForeign Minister Joe Borg can be acceded athttp://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/newspageaudio7.asp• 12 February 2003 Ronald Gallimore, Ambassador of the Delegation of the Commission of theEuropean Communities, said that the European Commission has a duty to provide people with relevantinformation as, what is being decided is Malta's future relations with the European Union. MrGallimore added that it was in nobody's interest, neither Malta's nor the EU's, for such an importantdecision to be taken on the basis of "unsound information". That could only lead to dissatisfaction lateron should the people realise that their irrevocable decision had been based on misleading information,he added.• 12 February 2003 According to a new study carried out by Prof. Ali Bayer and supported by theMalta Business Bureau Malta's economy would grow by an additional 5.9 per cent over the medium tolong term if it joined the EU. The study shows that non-membership would, optimistically, lead to astatic situation. The result of the study, entitled ‘Malta and the EU - the costs and benefits of

membership and non-membership’, was presented to the business community at the Corinthia PalaceHotel, in Attard. Prof. Bayar is a professor of economics and president of the Global EconomicModelling Network (EcoMod).• 12 February 2003 President Guido de Marco said that different opinions reflected a democracy inaction, where each other's opinions and decisions were respected. "In my role as President of Malta, Ihave to ensure that, within diversity, a sense of national unity is maintained. Our future depends onwhat contribution each and every one of us will be giving for tomorrow," he said. Prof. de Marco wasspeaking during an official visit to Pembroke.• 12 February 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi presented nine Occupational Health andSafety with their passes. Dr Gonzi said a reduction in the number of occupational accidents wouldbenefit not just the workers, but also employers and the country. Last year, occupational accidents costMalta Lm14 million and employers were now realising the importance of investment in this area.• 12 February 2003 Fisheries Minister Ninu Zammit said that Maltese fishermen would this year beteaming up to use purse seine nets to fish for tuna. Traditionally, Maltese fishermen have used longlines, knuz, to catch tuna. Mr Zammit was speaking during the signing of an export agreement for tunacatches with the two fishing co-operatives - the National Fisheries Cooperative Ltd and the GhaqdaKoperattiva tas-Sajd Ltd on one side, and Azzopardi Fisheries as the exporter on the other.• 12 February 2003 A three-year pilot project on successful small enterprises in several countries that isco-ordinated by the Institute for the Promotion of Small Enterprise is to be 75 per cent financed by theEuropean Commission. Project Nissos has been selected following adjudication by local and Europeanassessors. The project has a budget of 543,443 Euro (Lm228,000).• 13 February 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that the Valletta Waterfront projectaims to reduce congestion in Grand Harbour and provide a valid contribution to the country'seconomy. The project, being undertaken by the consortium Viset Malta plc, and incorporating a cruiseliner passenger terminal and a recreation centre, is expected to cost Lm10 million and be concluded by2005. The Prime Minister was speaking during a visit to the Pinto Stores, which are to be restored aspart of the project.• 13 February 2003 EU Budget Commissioner Michaele Schreyer said that Malta was likely to remaina net beneficiary in the next EU budget covering 2007 to 2013. Asked whether it was true that Maltawould become a net contributor to the EU after 2006 when the present agreement expires, Ms Schreyerwas categorical: “No, that is absolutely incorrect. It’s clear that new member states will participate inthe drawing up of the new budget. For the next financial package, Malta will sit at the table andnegotiate a package which requires consensus.” Ms Schreyer was addressing reporters at a newsconference in Brussels.• 13 February 2003 Croatian Minister for Europe Neven Mimica said that EU membership was anational priority and Croatia was doing its utmost to reach this goal. Addressing a joint pressconference with Foreign Minister Joe Borg, Mr Mimica, whose country is about to submit a formalapplication to join the EU, said that other alternatives short of membership would be pursued only inthe case of unfavourable developments within the EU. Mr Mimica said that the Croatian Governmentwas hoping the country could become an EU member by 2008.• 13 February 2003 Speaking on Malta’s neutrality, Foreign Minister Joe Borg said: "We have tointerpret the neutrality clause (in the Constitution) in the light of today's situation. Our positionremains that we are a neutral state, but we don't have a problem taking part in the EU CommonSecurity and Foreign Policy," he said. Dr Borg was participating in the Wilton Park Conference on‘EU enlargement and the future: the southern dimension’, held at the Westin Dragonara Resort.• 13 February 2003 Sea Malta's senior management team, led by the group's Chairman, Marlene Mizzi,briefed President Guido de Marco on a number of issues and developments in the past year during acall at the Palace, in Valletta. Mrs Mizzi said that the last financial year, "was one which has rewardedour efforts by positive results and proved that in spite of a number of constraints, Sea Malta was stillable to generate a black bottom line".• 13 February 2003 The Ministry for Justice and Local Government launched a scheme that allowsfines to be paid online. Payment by credit or debit cards can be made at www.les.gov.mt Justice

Minister Austin Gatt, who is responsible for e-government, said that 90 per cent of governmentservices would be online by the end of next month.• 13 February 2003 Economic Services Minister Josef Bonnici inaugurated the new premises of MaltaNational Laboratory Co. Ltd at San Gwann Industrial Estate. The laboratory is currently focused onfive main divisions, chemical, biological, forensic, engineering and building and construction. Eachsection has its own testing laboratory.• 13 February 2003 The Permanent Under-Secretary at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, SirMichael Jay, said that Malta and the UK should work to double the 300 Maltese postgraduate studentswho were currently studying in the UK. He spoke about collaboration between Britain and Malta in thefields of education, culture and research. Sir Michael was addressing a Question and Answer session atthe University.• 13 February 2003 The Malta-EU Information Centre announced that last month it had received over9,000 information requests related to EU accession, which is many times more the average number ofrequests of around 1,000 every month. Most requests were channelled through the centre’s info line2590 9192, whereas others were received via e-mail and fax.• 13 February 2003 The Malta Tourism Authority has launched its first global advertising campaign onthe Discovery network, one of the world's leading TV networks with a capability of getting into 200million households world-wide. The TV advertising campaign negotiated with Discovery NetworksInternational involves a 30-second TV spot, which has been dubbed in 24 languages and is beingbroadcast globally.• 14 February 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami announced that the Cabinet had approvedthe text of Malta's EU membership accession treaty. Speaking after a Cabinet meeting, Dr Fenech-Adami said that all that remained were some minor amendments to the treaty which would be made inthe coming days. He said that the treaty included two protocols between the Government and the EU,one on abortion and the other on the acquisition of property by foreigners. A Maltese version of thetreaty is expected to be finalised shortly.• 14 February 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami visited the Magro Brothers (Foods) Ltdfactory in Xewkija, Gozo. Describing the company as a success story, Dr Fenech-Adami said theincrease in its exports, from Lm100,000 in 1997 to Lm1 million in 2002, was remarkable. He said itwas evident that the company was up to the standard necessary to exploit the potential of becomingpart of the single market after membership. During the visit, Dr Fenech-Adami was accompanied byGozo Minister Giovanna Debono and the Chairman of the Core Negotiating Group, Richard CachiaCaruana.• 14 February 2003 European Commission President Romano Prodi said that he expected a "positiveand enthusiastic" vote from the Maltese electorate in the March 8 referendum and reiterated that noalternative to membership would bring the same benefits as membership. "The Maltese must at thismoment in time show they are so united that they can easily be active members of the EuropeanUnion." Mr Prodi was speaking to the media following an address to the plenary session of theCommittee of the Regions in Brussels, for which the mayors of the capitals of all acceding countrieswere invited. Malta was represented by Valletta mayor Paul Borg Olivier.• 14 February 2003 The Government issued a statement regarding the protocol on abortion to beannexed to the accession treaty for Malta's entry into the EU. The Government said that the protocolhad the force of law and was not merely a declaration, as was the case for Poland. The protocol, basedon the Irish model, reads: 'Nothing in the Treaty on European Union, or in the Treaties establishing theEuropean Communities, or in the Treaties or Acts modifying or supplementing those Treaties, shallaffect the application in the territory of Malta of national legislation relating to abortion".• 14 February 2003 Local Government Minister Austin Gatt said that the initiative by the Pieta localcouncil to rent a building at its own expense and offer it to the Police Force showed that financesprovided to the councils could be used for initiatives that went beyond the provisions in the LocalCouncils Act. Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg, who was also present, said that the Police Act,which came into force last month, emphasised that the police should consult Local Councils overproblems in the locality.

• 14 February 2003 The Justice and Local Government Ministry launched its new website, promisingthat it would provide a more efficient service. Justice Minister Austin Gatt said that the Ministry'soriginal website used to be accessed by 7,500 different users each month, with the number of actualhits being about 10 times that amount. The site featuring the laws of Malta, which has also beenupdated, was accessed by 2,000 users a day, 40 per cent of which were from overseas. The Ministry'ssite, which also has sections on local government and e-government, can be accessed through theGovernment's portal www.gov.mt.• 14 February 2003 Lufthansa Technik Malta has been contracted to perform C-checks of the Airbusfleet of Spanish airline Spanair. Lufthansa Technik Malta, a joint venture between Air Malta andLufthansa Technik of Hamburg, started operating last month, performing C-checks on Boeing 737 andAirbus A320 aircraft. Tirso Gonzalez, head of technical operations at Spanair, described LufthansaTechnik Malta is ‘an ideal partner as they offer high-quality workmanship and reliability’.• 14 February 2003 Malta, through the Ministry of Education, will be taking part in the UN Decade ofLiteracy 2003-2012. The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed the United NationsLiteracy Decade towards the goal of achieving education for all.• 14 February 2003 According to figures issued by the National Statistics Office, the number ofreported traffic accidents last year rose by 690 to 14,062 when compared to the previous year. Thefigures reflected a slight slow-down in the growth rate, with the number of accidents having risen by718 between the year 2000 and 2001. There were 1,312 traffic casualties in 2002, as compared with1,231 in 2001. Eight drivers, five pedestrians and three passengers were killed, equalling the numberof fatalities in 2001.• 14 February 2003 Both major political parties have decided to curb some of their activities over theCarnival weekend of March 1 and 2.• 15 February 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said he felt the responsibility of Maltabeing the first of the ten applicant countries to hold a referendum. He said that a ‘Yes’ vote wouldserve as an impetus for the rest of the candidates, while a ‘No’ vote would mar the process. Dr Fenech-Adami was speaking in Ghajnsielem, Gozo.• 15 February 2003 Jean-Luc Dehaene, vice Chairman of the Convention for the Future of Europe, saidthat a partnership agreement could never offer the same benefits as membership of an integratedEuropean Union. Mr Dehaene, who is a former Prime Minister of Belgium, said: “The choice is yours,but Malta has always had the vocation to participate in European life. Malta is part of Europe and it isonly logical that it becomes a part of the EU. The same thing applies to the Norwegians and theSwiss”. Mr Dehaene was interviewed in his office in Vilvoorde, where he also serves as mayor.• 15 February 2003 President Guido de Marco swore in Dr Lawrence Quintano as Magistrate in aceremony held at the Palace in Valletta. During the ceremony, Prof. de Marco spoke about thequalities of the members of the judiciary, stressing that every member of the judiciary had to have thevalue of integrity. Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami, Justice Minister Austin Gatt, Chief JusticeVincent Degaetano and Attorney General Anthony Borg Barthet attended the swearing in ceremony.• 15 February 2003 Palmer Johnson Malta, the super yacht-repair and refurbishment facility, at theDrydocks, accepted its first customer, the Alexander, three months prior to the facility’s officiallaunch. The facility is a 50/50 joint venture between the drydocks and US company Palmer Johnson.Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, who chairs the dockyards' task force, and Economic ServicesMinister Josef Bonnici, were present as the Alexander entered Dock 3.• 15 February 2003 Minister Ninu Zammit said that the Government was carrying out a survey on thestate of the country's rubble walls. Following the survey, the Government would provide assistance ofabout 500,000 Euro from the 3.2 million Euro the EU was providing as pre-accession funds for theRural Development Programme. The programme will receive an additional 8 million Euro of fundingonce the country joins the EU.• 15 February 2003 A labour force survey carried out by the National Statistics Office in September2002 found that there were an estimated 10,160 unemployed, compared with 9,883 a year before - anunemployment rate of 6.4 per cent in September 2002 as against 6.3 per cent the previous year. The

definitions and criteria used for this survey match international methodologies used by theInternational Labour Organisation.• 15 February 2003 The National Statistics Office said that a total of 3,178,113 passengers and 796,720vehicles had used the Gozo ferries during the year 2001. In a report on transport in Gozo, the NSO saidthat the largest number of crossings occurred during the summer months, when 6,795 trips wereoperated by the Gozo Channel ferries.• 16 February 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami referred to the introduction of the Euro thatwould be taking place some years after Malta joins the EU. Dr Fenech-Adami said that this wouldhave a positive effect, as it would eliminate exchange rate costs.• 16 February 2003 Hundreds of people braved the downpour and marched from Floriana to Valletta inprotest against a possible US-led attack on Iraq. At City Gate, a statement was read out on behalf of 12organisations that took part. No incidents were reported during the march.• 17 February 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said he was convinced that, following thecurrent spell of bad weather, the country would have a ‘new spring’ and ‘new roses’ following the 8 thMarch referendum. He said that there was a unanimous voice among leading operators of theeconomy, workers’ representatives, constituted bodies and investors in favour of membership. ThePrime Minister was addressing a political activity at Fgura.• 17 February 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that EU membership would mean jobopportunities for the Maltese. He said that Malta would have stability that would also ensure a betterstandard of living. Dr Fenech-Adami was speaking at a morning political activity at Qormi.• 18 February 2003 During a visit to the Zejtun Home for the Elderly, Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that, as a result of the rise in people's life expectancy, most modern states had to providecare for the elderly. "Ideally, the elderly should remain in their homes, leading independent lives.However, when this is not possible, the elderly have a right to live in an environment which mirrorstheir home," Dr Fenech-Adami said.• 18 February 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami left Malta for an official working visit tothe United Kingdom. Briefing the press prior to his departure, the Prime Minister said that he wasgoing to the UK at the invitation of British Premier Tony Blair. Dr Fenech-Adami’s delegationincluded Foreign Minister Joe Borg and the Chairman of the Malta-EU Core Negotiating Group,Richard Cachia Caruana. An audio recording of the Prime Minister’s address to the media can beaccessed athttp://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/newspageaudio-dep%20london.asp• 18 February 2003 The Minister for Resources and Infrastructure, Francis Zammit Dimech, said thatMalta is a small country with a vast wealth of cultural heritage going back 7000 years. He said that hisMinistry is committed to the preservation of this heritage and is doing its utmost to back the small butvery active conservation community. Dr Francis Zammit Dimech inaugurated the Paladini projectduring a workshop held at the Paladini Room, at The Palace, in Valletta.• 18 February 2003 The Head of the EU delegation, Ronald Gallimore, said that Malta was one of themost advanced countries in adopting EU legislation. He said that the EU delegation was spendingsome Lm4 million a year to help the public sector gear itself for membership. Mr Gallimore wasspeaking during the launch of a twinning agreement on maritime safety.• 18 February 2003 The Housing Authority said that subsidies for repair grants had increasedconsiderably, particularly in the case of the elderly. The Authority said that, during the last six months,it had paid out a total of Lm205,749.• 19 February 2003 Maltese Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami and British Premier Tony Blair metin a meeting that was the peak of Dr Fenech-Adami's visit to London. Earlier in the day, Dr Fenech-Adami had met with Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and also had an audience with the Queen.Throughout his stay in London, the Prime Minister was accompanied by Foreign Minister Joe Borgand the Chairman of the Malta-EU Core Negotiating Group, Richard Cachia Caruana.• 19 February 2003 Following his meeting with his Maltese counterpart, Mr Blair addressed a jointpress conference with Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami at 10 Downing Street. Mr Blair said that

he was delighted to meet Dr Fenech-Adami to discuss Malta's EU membership bid and thepreparations for next month's referendum. He said that EU membership would be a good thing forMalta and for the EU itself, and would bring prosperity to the Island. A video and audio recording ofthe joint press conference can be accessed at www.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/newspageaudiopm%20blair.asp• 19 February 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami described the meeting with Mr Blair asextremely positive. "Mr Blair has confirmed the full support for Malta's EU accession. He was alsovery clear that he sees Malta's future as an EU member, focusing on the Mediterranean dimension."• 19 February 2003 Speaking at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami atthe British Foreign Office, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw praised the Maltese Government forthe EU membership deal that it had managed to obtain. "I would really like to congratulate Malta forsecuring a deal that, on any basis, is excellent for Malta." Mr Straw had campaigned against Britain'sEU membership in the mid-1970s but now says that time had proved him wrong.• 19 February 2003 The Prime Minister hosted British businessmen at Malta’s High Commission inPiccadilly and gave them first-hand information on the Island’s investment potential. Dr Fenech-Adami told the British investors that, to date, Malta's success had depended largely on the stability andsecurity that had been the hallmark of Malta's national development. This factor would be consolidatedby EU membership in the enlarged EU, he said. A video and audio version of the Prime Minister’smeeting with Queen Elizabeth II, with Foreign Minister Jack Straw, and with British industrialists, canbe accessed at www.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/newspageaudio-pm%20straw+others.asp• 19 February 2003 A government statement said that Malta had the highest absorption rate for preaccessionfunds out of all the candidate countries. In respect of the allocation of structural funds, Maltahas been designated as an "Objective 1" area and therefore eligible for the highest rate of EU cofinancing.Most of Malta's projects will be co-financed by the EU at a level of 75 per cent. Otherprojects will be co-financed at a level of 70 per cent, the statement added..• 19 February 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg represented the Prime Minister at the EU Troikameeting with acceding countries and candidate countries regarding Iraq and the situation in the MiddleEast, held in Brussels. Dr Borg.said that Malta shared the European Union's position that the fulldisarmament of Iraq must be effected, as set out in UN Security Council Resolution 1441.• 19 February 2003 The Government and the Holy See have agreed that the post of Education Officer(Religion) will be a government official chosen from among the members of the Catholic Church.Previous to the agreement, the officer had to be an ordained minister; now the chosen officer can be alay person. Education Minister Louis Galea signed on behalf of the Government and the ApostolicNuncio, Mgr Luigi Conti, signed on behalf of the Holy See. A press release on the Church-Stateagreement can be acceded athttp://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/press_releases/2003/02/pr218E.asp• 19 February 2003 Justice and Local Government Minister Austin Gatt launched a public servicewhereby anyone in Malta can apply at his local council for his own personal e-mail address. Theservice is being provided free of charge and is part of a nation-wide campaign to help people becomemore computer literate.• 19 February 2003 Government MP John Vella, leader of the Malta delegation to the Organisation forSecurity and Co-operation in Europe, and Opposition MP Angelo Farrugia, are attending the secondwinter meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, being held in Vienna.• 20 February 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that Malta would lose its credibility ifa ‘Yes’ vote did not prevail in the March 8 referendum. Addressing young people in Paceville. DrFenech-Adami said that Malta had been discussing relations with the EU for the past 40 years and a‘No’ vote would make everyone lose confidence in the country and Malta would lose its politicalstability.• 20 February 2003 The Prime Minister toured VF Malta Ltd factory at San Gwann Industrial Estate.Following the tour, Dr Fenech-Adami said that European Union membership would consolidate thetextile industry in Malta and offer new opportunities. He said that it was currently only possible forthe textile industry to export to the EU without having to pay duty because of a concession obtainedthrough the association agreement signed in 1970.

• 20 February 2003 Electoral Commissioner Carmel Degabriele announced that, in all probability, anofficial result of the referendum could be announced in the early afternoon of Sunday March 9.Counting of votes cast in the local elections would not begin until the morrow, that is Monday 10 th .Mr Degabriele said this would provide a cooling-down period between the counting of the referendumvotes and those cast in the local elections. Representatives of both political parties have agreed withthis proposal.• 20 February 2003 Infrastructure Minister Francis Zammit Dimech visited the second phase of theupgrading of the bus terminus at City Gate, Valletta. The project involved replacing the road surface,better parking bays designed to cope with the new wider buses, new lighting poles, and betterdrainage, on one side of the terminus. The third and final phase is scheduled to start following thereferendum.• 20 February 2003 Transport Minister Censu Galea said that 40 bus-owners had ordered their new busfrom BMC Falcon Ltd. The buses are built according to Malta Transport Authority standards andincorporate features for people with special needs.• 20 February 2003 The European Commission is expected to recruit a total of 83 Maltese in a driveaimed at coping with the demands of an enlarged European Union. The Commission set out theprinciples that will guide the institution as it recruits staff from the 10 new member states due to jointhe EU on 1 st May 2004. Further information about careers in the European civil service is available ateuropa.eu.int/epso• 21 February 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that the EU would be allocatingspecific funds for projects in Gozo. He said that these funds were being forked out by the taxpayers ofthe rich member countries to assist those EU regions that were lagging behind in terms of economicdevelopment. Dr Fenech-Adami was speaking at the ‘National Conference on Gozo and the EU’,organised by MIC.• 21 February 2003 Speaking at the same conference, Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono described thepackage that the Government had obtained from the EU as ‘significant’. She said that theclassification of Gozo as a NUTS 3 region was a clear breakthrough.• 21 February 2003 Foreign Affairs Minister Joe Borg reminded those present at the conference that,thanks to membership, Malta would be eligible to five seats in the EU's regional committee. Thismeans said Dr Borg that Gozo will be represented on the EU's institutions.• 21 February 2003 Mr Richard Cachia Caruana, who is the chairman of the Core Negotiating Group,gave an overview of the negotiations. He said it was the first time that an international treaty hadrecognised Gozo as a region. Mr Cachia Caruana was speaking at the ‘National Conference on Gozoand the EU’, organised by MIC.• 21 February 2003 At the same conference, Ronald Gallimore, European Commission Ambassadorurged the Maltese to distinguish between a free trade area and EU membership. Through a free tradeagreement, Mr Gallimore warned, Malta would still need to adopt the EU's regulations, and barriers toall sectors, including agriculture, would be eliminated. At the same time through a free trade area, Maltawould not be eligible to any financial assistance and would not form part of the decision-makingprocess.• 21 February 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that the Government was working at fullforce on the schedule, known as single programme, on how the Lm81 million in net funds obtained fromthe EU for the first years of accession will be spent. Dr Fenech-Adami said that the single programmewas expected to be passed on to the EU for approval shortly. The Prime Minister was speaking inXaghra, Gozo.• 21 February 2003 Government MP Michael Frendo, one of the delegates to the Convention on theFuture of Europe, has published a new book entitled ‘The future is Europe’. The book has a foreword byPrime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami, who comments that the book "should help the Maltese people tomake the right choice".• 21 February 2003 Infrastructure Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that the Government hasensured that work on the Lm140 million Manoel Island/Tigné project safeguards the country's historicalheritage. Dr Zammit Dimech was speaking to the media during a visit to the site.

• 21 February 2003 Two new Ambassadors accredited to Malta presented their diplomatic credentials toPresident Guido de Marco at the Ambassador's Room, at the Palace, in Valletta. Juri Seilenthal,Ambassador of Estonia and Hamoud Ould Ely, Ambassador of Mauritania, were later the guests of thePresident and Mrs de Marco at an official luncheon at San Anton Palace.• 21 February 2003 Malta's Honorary Consul General of the Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland regions,Hannetraud Schultheiss, delivered a 25-minute speech on Malta at the annual reception for the ConsularCorps in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Every year, a consul is selected to promote the country thats/he represents. Senator Schultheiss has been Consul General for the past 28 years.• 21 February 2003 Senior officials from the Foreign Ministries of The Bahamas, Lesotho, Mauritius,Swaziland, Tonga, Uganda and Tanzania are following a one-year postgraduate diploma course oninformation technology and diplomacy. They are currently attending an introductory workshop in Malta.The year long course is organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Government of Maltaunder the Malta-Commonwealth Third Country Programme, with support from the CommonwealthFund for Technical Co-operation.• 21 February 2003 The Government has published a Legal Notice liberalising airport ground handlingservices, enabling Malta International Airport to issue calls for tenders for their provision. In terms ofEuropean Union law, which Malta has already adopted, all airports handling over two millionpassengers a year must make provision for a minimum of two ground handling agents.• 21 February 2003 The Central Bank left the central intervention rate unchanged at 3.75 per centfollowing the monthly meeting of its Monetary Policy Advisory Council. The decision was taken by theCBM Governor Michael C. Bonello.• 21 February 2003 The National Commission Persons with Disability expressed concern about the highnumber of applications for the construction of public buildings that has not met its accessibility criteria.Without the Commission's approval, the clearance and compliance certificate cannot be issued by theMalta Environment and Planning Authority. Without the certificate, the applicant cannot get water andelectricity connections.• 22 February 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said in Zejtun that the Government wouldnever introduce conscription. He said that the Government had just approved new conditions for soldierswho volunteered for overseas duties in humanitarian or peacekeeping missions. Dr Fenech-Adamistressed, however, that all overseas duty would be voluntary.• 22 February 2003 A German hotel chain, Maritim Hotels, signed a management agreement to run twohotels in Mellieha. The chain operates 40 hotels with over 10,000 rooms. The agreement was signed byMaritim Chief Executive Christian Windfuhr and Adrian Buttigieg, one of the owners, in the presenceof Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami and Tourism Minister Michael Refalo. Dr Fenech-Adami saidthat the agreement was another important development for the tourism industry.• 22 February 2003 The Economic Services Ministry said that EU membership would give Air Malta thecapability to fly to any destination, anywhere within the EU. This factor would provide Air Malta withconsiderable additional operational flexibility, and would also give Malta additional weight whennegotiating air service agreements with countries outside of the EU.• 22 February 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that seventy-nine per cent of one-parenthouseholds were headed by women, over a quarter of these had children under the age of 18, and only14 per cent of same households were engaged in gainful employment. Dr Gonzi was speaking during theawarding of certificates in connection with a training programme on domestic violence organised byAppogg and funded through the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation.• 22 February 2003 Tourism Minister Michael Refalo said in St Julians that the fear of war had caused alull in interest from visitors, particularly long-haul tourists. The promotion for Malta would help tomake visitors understand that Malta was thousands of miles away from the theatre of war and that theIsland was not a traditional site for terrorists. He added that so far, bookings for October, November,December and January have reached the same levels as for the previous year.• 23 February 2003 In an article entitled ‘Malta, Britain and the EU’, appearing in the Maltese weekly‘The Sunday Times’, British Prime Minister Tony Blair wrote: “I was glad to invite Eddie Fenech-Adami to London last Tuesday for policy talks. He also renewed Malta's longstanding friendship with

the Royal Family, and addressed British business on Malta's attractions for new investors. His messageswere well received. March 8 will be a big, decisive moment in Malta's history. The EU will gain fromMalta's experience, wisdom and moderation in her calmly democratic approach to the sometimesturbulentMediterranean region. Her neutrality guaranteed, Malta is on good terms with all herneighbours.”• 23 February 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that EU membership would provide thenecessary security to the country and would also eliminate political, social, and economic uncertainty.He also stressed that Malta's EU membership would also provide greater security and strong cooperationin the fight against new international threats such as organised crime, illegal immigration,drug trafficking, and international terrorism. Dr Fenech-Adami was addressing a press conference inPietà.• 24 February 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that economists, industrialists, Heads ofGovernment, as well as other experts and leading authorities, both foreign and Maltese, had all agreedthat for the Maltese economy to continue to grow, Malta had to join the EU. Dr Fenech-Adami wasaddressing a half-day national conference on ‘EU Membership and Small Businesses’, at the Hotel Inter-Continental, in St Julians.• 24 February 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that, in 12 days' time, Malta would havereached the destination it has been striving towards for the past 40 years. "March 8 will end theuncertainties over EU membership," he told a crowd at a pro-EU political activity in Naxxar. "A votefor Europe means a victory for all Maltese and Gozitans. On the other hand, those voting 'No' would bethrowing away the Lm81 million that the EU has made available to Malta."• 24 February 2003 Justice and Local Government Minister Austin Gatt said that the Government hasstarted the process to provide free e-mail services to all the people. "We are including every singleindividual in the eMalta project and making information communication technology part of everybody’severyday lives," Dr Gatt said. The Minister was speaking during the inauguration of a myWeb course bythe eMalta Commission.• 24 February 2003 The Social Policy Ministry said that the retirement age would not be raised becauseof EU membership. The Ministry said that the Leader of the Opposition had written to a number ofindividuals telling them that EU leaders had agreed to raise the retirement age to 65. The Ministry said itwanted to categorically deny the claim, insisting that the European Commission had no authority todecide on the retirement age, social benefits or pensions in member countries.• 25 February 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami urged the electorate to forget theirdifferences, and to realise that on March 8 they would not be voting a party into government, but wouldbe deciding upon their future. Dr Fenech-Adami was speaking at Nadur, Gozo.• 25 February 2003 EU's Ambassador to Malta, Ronald Gallimore, said that the partnership option beingproposed by the Opposition, "does not exist and probably never will". He said that the EU already hasan established structure for relations with non-member countries in the Mediterranean region, called theEuro-Med partnership. The EU can do the same with Malta should Malta opt for this arrangement, saidMr Gallimore.• 25 February 2003 Island Hotels Group, which celebrated its total acquisition of the Golden SandsHotel in GhajnTuffieha, circulated a letter among its management and staff guaranteeing that theywould not be replaced by foreign employees if Malta joined the EU. Group Managing Director WinstonZahra said that he felt it was his duty to issue the internal letter of assurance to his 800 employees inview of the fact that politicians had said the four- and five-star hotels were among the companies thatwould discard Maltese employees in favour of foreigners if Malta joined the EU.• 26 February 2003 At Cospicua, Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami spoke on the issue ofstrengthening local businesses through EU membership. He said that the Government had drawn up aplan to help the Malta Drydocks stand on its own two feet by 2008, by which time subsidies would haveto be dismantled. He pointed out that, while the EU would not be willing to allow more subsidiesbeyond 2008, it would be able to help the 'yard restructure and embark on capital investments. DrFenech-Adami was interviewed by Dr Georg Sapiano.• 26 February 2003 Speaking at a public debate on EU membership, the Leader of the German Greens,Reinhard Buetikofer, stressed that the EU was not dictating that acceding countries should join.Membership was an invitation and a sovereign choice of the people. Mr Beutikofer described Malta as

strategically important to the EU: "Malta would be the only member state which speaks a language ofArabic origin. I am sure that Malta as an EU member could play a crucial role in helping the EUstrengthen its ties with North African and South Mediterranean countries."• 26 February 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg said that the Government had decided to publish the draftaccession treaty. "In reality the treaty contains the conclusions of what we negotiated with the EU whichwe had already published in full." Dr Borg was speaking at a public debate alongside the Leader of theGerman Greens, Reinhard Buetikofer. Anybody wishing to view a copy of the Draft Treaty ofAccession can do so by accessing the Government web site at www.gov.mt and selecting the linkmarked ‘Draft Treaty of Accession’.• 26 February 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg expressed his condolences, on behalf of the Governmentof Malta, to the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Zhao Jinjun, forthe loss of life incurred as a result of the earthquake that rocked the north western part of China.• 26 February 2003 Finance Minister John Dalli announced at a press conference details of measures thatthe Government put into practice aimed at facilitating the administration of VAT for the self-employedand small companies. As a result of these measures, small businesses and self-employed employing anaverage of five people and whose turnover does not exceed Lm250,000, will be entitled to VAT refundswithin 30 days of the declaration date. Mr Dalli said about 1,000 people were expected to benefit fromthis scheme.• 26 February 2003 The Chairman of Malta External Trade Corporation, Anthony Diacono, said EUmembership would give Malta free access not only to member states but to all countries with which theEU has concluded preferential agreements. This business potential, he said, included North Africa andthe Middle East – a region of significant importance to Malta. Mr Diacono stressed that membershipwas the best possible scenario for Maltese entrepreneurs and workers.• 26 February 2003 Bank of Valletta and HSBC Bank Malta said that would like to assure shareholders,customers and staff that the banking sector is very well-positioned to meet the opportunities andchallenges of possible EU membership if that were to be the decision of the voters. The banks werereacting in a joint statement to the speech of the Leader of the Opposition, Alfred Sant, during a politicalactivity at Fgura, when he urged HSBC and Bank of Valletta employees to find out how they would beaffected by EU membership.• 26 February 2003 President Guido de Marco said that individuals who expressed different views andopinions were not rivals of each other but were simply exercising their right within a democracy. "Wehave to ensure that personal confrontations are avoided in order to guarantee a continued national unityreflecting a dialogue within political maturity," he said. Prof. de Marco was speaking during an officialvisit to Rabat.• 26 February 2003 The House of Representatives adjourned for a two-week recess after two Bills wererushed through all stages. The Medicines Bill was given a third reading by leave of House after havingbeen approved in committee. The House also gave a second reading to the Internal Audit and FinancialInvestigations Bill. The next sitting is due on March 10, two days after the referendum on EUmembership.• 26 February 2003 The Malta Communications' Authority said that any number allocated to a newvalue-added SMS would have to begin with the digit ‘5’. The Authority said that the value-addedservices, which were relatively new to the local market, provided the user with content such as ring tonedownloads and sports results. In the very near future, government applications would also be provided,at a premium charge that would be more than that of a standard SMS.• 27 February 2003 On a visit to Nylon Knitting Ltd, Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said he wasimpressed by the amount of investment that the Italian owners had pumped into the company. He saidthat some €35 million (Lm15 million) had been invested and another Lm1 million was being investedthis year. Dr Fenech-Adami said that the company had expanded and had more plans to continuegrowing as it knew that Malta was on the road of EU membership.• 27 February 2003 Economic Services Minister Josef Bonnici said that, by staying out of the EuropeanUnion, Malta would risk seeing investment going to other Mediterranean countries such as Tunisia andMorocco where manufacturing costs were a third of those in Malta. Prof. Bonnici was addressingjournalists while accompanying Prime Minister Fenech-Adami on a visit to Nylon Knitting Ltd.

• 27 February 2003 The Government and the European Commission signed an agreement for Malta tostart participating in the European Union's Culture 2000 programme. "Malta's participation in Culture2000 will offer new opportunities for Maltese artists to work hand in hand with other European artists,"the Government said. Malta is already participating in other European programmes, including Leonardoda Vinci, Socrates, and Youth. It is also participating in the Sixth Framework research programme.• 27 February 2003 Tourism Minister Michael Refalo gave the go-ahead to officials in New Zealand todeclare Malta's interest in hosting the most prestigious yachting event in the world, the Louis Vuittonand America's Cup. The competition for the organisation of the event was ‘very strong’, and Malta'schances of success were quite a long shot, Dr Refalo said. The Minister said however that, unlessinterest was shown at an early stage, Malta would not be in the running to hold the 2007 event.• 27 February 2003 The Malta Tourism Authority and Air Malta recently took part in the BIT TravelFair in Milan. During the fair, Tourism Minister Michael Refalo, together with MTA Regional DirectorDominic Micallef, and Air Malta officials, met with major Italian tour operators and conferenceorganisers.• 27 February 2003 Transport Minister Censu Galea and Justice and Local Government Minister AustinGatt launched the Road Works Permit System, at the Malta Transport Authority. Contractors may nowapply for permits online. Mr Galea said that the new system would ensure that there would be preciserecords of what was taking place in every locality, thus avoiding duplication of work. Dr Gatt said thatthe system was another step towards achieving Government's aim of having 90 per cent of the statesystem online by the end of next month.• 27 February 2003 Justice and Local Government Minister Austin Gatt presided over the signing of anagreement with 10 local councils for the devolution of public libraries and other property. Dr Gatt saidthat, since 1998, Cabinet had decided in favour of policies encouraging devolution and subsidiarity and41 public properties and 39 public libraries were now being administered by local councils.• 27 February 2003 A total of 134 students who have completed qualification courses offered by theInstitute of Financial Services - Malta received their certificates at the University of Malta, Tal-Qroqq.Certificates were presented to students who completed the degree programme BSc (Hons) in FinancialServices, ACIB, the Certificate in Banking and Financial Services, and the Certificate for FinancialAdvisers.• 28 February 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami noted that, as the national campaign for EUmembership entered its final phase, more and more organisations and individuals were pronouncingthemselves in favour. He said that, as the March 8 referendum approached, it was crucial for everyone torealise that every vote counted. Dr Fenech-Adami was speaking at a public debate in Floriana.• 28 February 2003 The management of Stainless Steel Products Ltd convened its workers to spell outthe benefits of EU membership to company employees. During the meeting, workers were informedthat, contrary to some claims, EU membership was actually crucial for the company. SSP Ltd ExecutiveDirector George Wells said: "Not only are we prepared for the challenges of EU membership, but weare anxiously looking forward to seizing the opportunities once all the markets open up." The meetingwas held shortly after Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami paid a visit to the factory in Marsa.• 28 February 2003 During a political activity in Swieqi, Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami wasasked how he intended to interpret the referendum result, especially following the Opposition's directiveto the electorate to vote 'No', abstain, or nullify their vote. Dr Fenech-Adami said the answer wassimple: "In any democracy it's the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ votes only which are counted.”• 28 February 2003 The Executive Director of the International Labour Organisation, Sally Paxton, saidthat an enlarged EU would bring added benefits to workers and employers in new member states. MsPaxton was in Malta to preside over a high-level international conference organised by the ILO and theMinistry for Social Policy, held at the Radisson SAS Baypoint Resort. Speaking to The Times, MsPaxton said: “ We see an enlarged EU as a means of spreading protection to workers and also spreadingthe benefits that the present EU workers enjoy.”• 28 February 2003 Addressing a joint press conference with Ms Paxton, Deputy Prime MinisterLawrence Gonzi said that Malta was currently experiencing an intense historical moment that woulddetermine its destiny. "This entails the realisation of the benefits which accrue for our citizens throughEU membership, benefits which render a better quality of life through good governance. This can only

e achieved if all the country's social actors join forces and take up the challenge of EU membership asan opportunity for enhancing economic and social prosperity."• 28 February 2003 Lionel Price, who is sovereign ratings managing director of Fitch’s credit agency,told The Times newspaper that staying out of the EU could lead to Malta's international credit ratingbeing downgraded. Mr Price said that, giving the thumbs down to EU membership would notautomatically lead to a downgrade. Likewise, membership would not mean an automatic upgrade. “Butit's obvious that the EU membership process has led to the modernisation of the economy and thereintroduction of protectionism would be very bad news.”• 28 February 2003 French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin wrote to Malta's Foreign MinisterJoe Borg to congratulate him on the manner in which negotiations with the European Union wereconducted. The Minister expressed confidence that Malta would be able to evaluate the advantageousconditions of accession "within the perspective of the vote of your fellow citizens".• 28 February 2003 Infrastructure Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that a total of 43,526 propertiesworth Lm1,127 million had changed hands over the past four years. He said the figure was more thandouble the value of property that had changed hands in the previous four years. Dr Zammit Dimech wasspeaking when he presented warrants to 24 new architects.• 28 February 2003 The Ministry for Justice and Local Government and the Ministry for Social Policysaid that newly married persons may apply for their government marriage grant online and have themoney credited directly to their bank account under a new online service. Users can access the marriagegrants' section by logging on the government portal www.gov.mt.• 28 February 2003 Economic Services Minister Josef Bonnici inaugurated a new Maltacom networkoperations centre at Birkirkara telecommunications complex. The centre, better known as NOC,provides access to all remote systems, enabling support staff to intervene without the need to bephysically present on site.MARCH• 1 March 2003 Pharmamed Managing Director Steinthor Palsson said that the company would be in amuch stronger position if Malta joined the EU and that it would be more difficult for the company topenetrate the European market if Malta decided to stay out. Speaking during a visit to the factory byPrime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami, Mr Palsson said the company was planning significantinvestment this year to upgrade its facilities in new equipment and new technology. It is also planning topump significant investment into research to develop new medicines to ensure future growth, MrPalsson said.• 1 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami denied that the European Union would preventworkers from working more than 48 hours a week. Speaking in Zurrieq, Dr Fenech-Adami said that theEU was careful to ensure that workers were not exploited. He said that workers would only work morethan 48 hours if they so wished.• 1 March 2003 Speaking about the constitutional responsibilities of a Head of State, President Guido deMarco said that the President could not, and should not, be involved in the political debate even if hewere dragged into it and personally attacked. "The President is super partes and cannot answer back toattacks. In these circumstances, silence will be the voice of responsibility. This is how I see my role asPresident," he said. Prof. de Marco was addressing officials of The Malta Press Club and a number ofjournalists from EU member states at the Palace.• 1 March 2003 Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said that European Union membership would permitMaltese police officers to take part in a number of training programmes. These programmes includ Stop,on the trafficking of illegal immigrants and sexual exploitation of children; Daphne, on violence towomen and children; Falcone, on organised crime; Odysseus, on illegal immigration and refugees;Oisin, on law enforcement, and Hippokrates, on crime prevention. Minister Borg was speaking at thepassing-out parade of 100 new officers.• 1 March 2003 Data issued by the National Statistics Office shows that, in October last year, the numberof tourist arrivals reached 114,166, an increase of seven per cent over the same month in 2001. In the

first 10 months last year the number of tourists to these Islands reached 1,016,239, a decline of 54,260or five per cent over the same period in 2001.• 2 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami officially opened the Cottonera Sports Complex.The complex was built at a cost of Lm2.2 million, but is now generally accepted as the top indoorfacility on the Island. Describing the complex as another project completed by the Government in thesouth of Malta, Dr Fenech-Adami said: “Sports is no longer a sort of recreational activity or just acompetition. Sport is fundamental to the health of each and every individual.”• 2 March 2003 Ms Sally Paxton, the International Labour Organisation's social dialogue executivedirector, said that the changes made to Malta's labour laws were significant and a step in the rightdirection. Such changes and improvements in workers' laws would help make Malta's transition into theEU smoother, she said. Ms Paxton was speaking during a news conference following the conclusion of ahigh-level international conference for EU accession countries organised by the ILO and the Ministryfor Social Policy at the Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort. Representatives of the World Bank, the OECD,EU accession Governments, Unions and Employer Bodies attended.• 2 March 2003 During the same conference, Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi spoke of the needto change and adapt in order to keep abreast of developments which were constantly taking place. "Theprocess for labour law reform was not a process to simply adapt to the acquis or respond to ideologies,but to have a modern tool to maximise opportunities," Dr Gonzi told reporters.• 2 March 2003 The EU Commission's Negotiator for Malta, Arhi Palosuo, said that if Malta were to optfor a relationship with the EU that has been described as a partnership, and if that partnership wouldlead to a free trade agreement, such an arrangement would have to be fully compatible with the rules ofthe World Trade Organisation. Mr Palosuo was replying on behalf of EU Commission PresidentRomano Prodi to a letter by the Secretary General of the local Farmers Association Peter Axisa.• 2 March 2003 The Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry reacted strongly to the MLP food prices report,which it described as "another gross lie”. The Ministry said that the report contained figures belongingto ‘the realm of science fiction’ and was nothing but ‘a string of allegations’. The Ministry said: "Withthis amateurish report, which is full of lies, and with the statement made by the European Commissionto the Farmers' Association regarding the removal of levies, the Labour Party has now completely lostits credibility with everyone: consumers, farmers, cattle breeders and fishermen.”• 3 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that, as the country was in the last few daysof the EU membership referendum campaign, he was disturbed by the lack of ethics in the 'No' camp,who have turned to blatant lies, inventions and deceitful tactics. Dr Fenech Adami said that those whowere treating membership as a partisan issue were mistaken. "This is not about partisan politics. This isa national decision that will affect future generations," he said.• 3 March 2003 Economic Services Minister Josef Bonnici said that the Labour Party's anonymous reporton the impact of European Union membership on the price of food had a number of methodological andtechnical problems that flawed the assessment. The report states that, following EU membership, foodprices would rise by Lm10 a week.• 3 March 2003 Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Ninu Zammit said that the Government was presentlysubsidising fishermen to the tune of Lm2.5 million up till next year to help them upgrade their craft. Hesaid that, between 2004 and 2006, fishermen would benefit from another Lm2 million from the EU."These subsidies were raised from taxation and, if required, the Government would raise more subsidiesfrom taxation," the Minister said.• 3 March 2003 The importance of joining the EU for Malta's agricultural sector was highlighted at aseminar celebrating the 40th anniversary of the International Centre for Advanced MediterraneanAgronomic Studies (CIHEAM). The Centre's President, Salvino Busuttil, said that the fact that the "bestpossible deal for agriculture in Malta has been negotiated with the EU" clearly emerged from theseminar, held in collaboration with the Agriculture Ministry.

• 4 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said: "Change is taking place around us, all thetime, irrespective of EU membership, and it's up to us to translate this change into opportunities." DrFenech-Adami was speaking during a political conference at Luqa. Deputy Prime Minister LawrenceGonzi, who accompanied the Prime Minister, warned about the cost of staying out of the EU, saying thiswould endanger the jobs of many whose work relied mainly on the EU market, especially factoryworkers.• 4 March 2003 Economic Services Minister Josef Bonnici said that Malta's standard of living wouldnever be able to reach EU levels if the country stayed out of the Union. Prof. Bonnici said that that, evenat its present growth rate, it would take Malta 75 years to reach the average standard of living to befound in the EU. The Minister was speaking at the launch of a book entitled ‘Prosperity in Change: TheWay Forward’, which deals with the national industrial policy.• 4 March 2003 Finance Minister John Dalli said that, fruit and vegetable growers would, as fromJanuary, pay less income tax through a new taxation scheme. Growers who sold their produce at thevegetable market at Ta' Qali to hotels and processing factories would have three per cent of their taxdeducted at source. Speaking at a news conference at the Finance Ministry in Valletta, Mr Dalli saidthere would be no need for growers to keep receipts of the costs they incur.• 4 March 2003 Dutch Ambassador Joachim Rienko Wilton paid a courtesy visit to Prime MinisterEdward Fenech-Adami at Auberge de Castille, in Valletta. Mr Wilton is the first resident Ambassador inMalta for the Netherlands.• 4 March 2003 Ambassador Alfred J Falzon presented his credentials to Mrs Tarja Halonen, President ofthe Republic of Finland, in a ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki.• 4 March 2003 Dr Joseph Cassar presented his credentials to President Leonid Kuchma as Malta’s nonresidentAmbassador to Ukraine in Kiev.• 4 March 2003 The cruise ship Oceanic is again to make weekly calls in Grand Harbour. It is expectedthat the liner will call 44 times during the current year, bringing over 50,000 tourists. The vessel isowned and operated by Pullmantur, one of Spain’s leading tour operators.• 4 March 2003 The $40 million superyacht ‘Senses’ entered the drydocks for works. The yacht was builtin Germany in 1999 and has a unique multi-use rear platform/deck, including two helipads. She joinstwo other superyachts, one measuring over 122metres and the other 60metres, already in the ‘yard.• 5 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that it had not been easy for Malta to obtain77 concessions during negotiations with the EU. "But the concessions are now in the bag and no one cantake them away from us." The Prime Minister said that the Government had also obtained contractualguarantees on moral issues such as abortion, even though the EU could not impose abortion laws on anycountry. Dr Fenech-Adami was addressing a political activity in Victoria, Gozo.• 5 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that, during the past four years, close to Lm9million had been spent on rehabilitation projects of all types. The Restoration Unit within theInfrastructure Ministry had worked on more than 70 restoration projects and was currently engaged on50 others. The projects included restoration work on St James Cavalier, the Sta. Catherina d’ItaliaChurch, Auberge d’Italie, St John’s Co-Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, and the courtyard of theVilhena Palace in Mdina. Dr Fenech-Adami was inaugurating Portes des Bombes, now transformed toits former glory.• 5 March 2003 The European Commission said that Malta would be able to regulate the potential influxof foreign workers after it joins the EU. In a clarification issued by the EU delegation in Malta. If, aftermembership, Malta undergoes or foresees disturbances in its labour market, it would be able to requestthe European Commission to, wholly or partially, suspend the articles relating to the free movement ofpersons. The European Commission shall decide on the suspension, duration and scope within twoweeks of the request.• 5 March 2003 In its latest update, credit-rating agency Moody's stated that Malta's status as a frontrunnerto join the European Union at the next enlargement was an important rating factor, althoughfervent opposition to the EU from the Labour Party cast doubt on the inevitability of accession. Thecredit-rating agency's update says that Malta's foreign currency as well as domestic currency ratings areA3/Prime-2, reflecting moderate external debt and adequate foreign liquidity.

• 5 March 2003 The European delegation to Malta issued a clarification ‘to ensure workers wereequipped with the facts’ about the EU’s ‘Working Time Directive’. The EU delegation pointed out thatthe directive was proportionate to its objective - to improve the working environment and health andsafety of workers. "There is also a high level of flexibility for the application of its main provisions.This flexibility, of course, applies to Malta as well," said the delegation.• 5 March 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea said that a total of 16,000 smart cards, issued touniversity and post-secondary students since the system was introduced in 2000, were used in 250,000transactions worth Lm4 million. Dr Galea was speaking during a visit to APCO, the company thatorganises the smart card system.• 6 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami called on voters to, “Say Yes to your children'sfuture”. Writing an opinion piece in The Times newspaper, Dr Fenech-Adami said that we should votefor ourselves, for our children and for our nation.• 6 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami was joined by representatives of more than 31organisations speaking with a united voice to urge a ‘yes’ vote in the coming referendum. Dr Fenech-Adami noted the uniqueness of the event, addressed as it was by the senior representatives of all themajor bodies in Malta except for the Labour Party and General Workers' Union. Dr Fenech-Adami wasspeaking at a historic press conference held at Auberge de Castille, in Valletta.• 6 March 2003 The Parliamentary Secretary responsible for the Environment, George Pullicino,criticised the Labour Party's ‘notebook on the environment’. Mr Pullicino stressed that two options wereavailable to the Maltese with respect to the environment. "Option one is to vote ‘yes’ and be confidentthat the environment will be improved according to a fixed timetable and with the support of funds thatare available from the EU. Option two is to vote ‘no’ without having any guarantee that the environmentwill be improved, whether in the short-, medium- or long-term, with taxpayer money. The choice isyours," he said.• 6 March 2003 The President of the European Parliament, Pat Cox, made a strong appeal to the Malteseto exercise their democratic right to vote in the EU membership referendum on Saturday 8 th . Urgingpeople to vote, Mr Cox said it was clear that if the majority voted ‘Yes’ on Saturday, "the people ofMalta will be sending a positive signal in favour of joining the European Union".• 6 March 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi inaugurated a new ETC Knowledge Centrewithin the headquarters of the National Council of Women, in Blata l-Bajda. The centre offers ITtraining to employed and unemployed men and women. Dr Gonzi said that the centre should be an‘empowerment centre’ since the acquisition of ICT skills empower adaptability and employability forworkers, while serving as a tool to combat social exclusion for the unemployed.• 6 March 2003 Economic Services Minister Josef Bonnici said that, once Malta became an EU country,producers of biscuits, pasta, drinks, jellies and soups could start exporting to EU markets withoutincurring tariffs, which currently range from five to over 24 per cent. He criticised the Opposition reportthat claimed that food prices would increase with EU membership. Prof. Bonnici said that themethodology used in the report was wrong.• 6 March 2003 The latest Eurobarometer survey shows that Malta is the favourite accession countryamong EU populations when it comes to support for membership. According to the survey, 52 per centof Europeans support Malta's EU membership bid and 28 per cent are against. The Eurobarometersurvey is conducted twice a year by the Commission. The latest survey polled 1,000 people in each EUmember state in October and November 2002.• 6 March 2003 President Guido de Marco received representatives of the Ghaqda Zghazagh of theGeneral Workers' Union. Prof. de Marco that, "Working for a union was working for the nation", andthat there was no distinction between the two.• 6 March 2003 Richard Palk has been named Australia's High Commissioner in Malta, replacing IainDickie, who has been High Commissioner since February 2000. Mr Palk is expected to take up hisappointment in July.• 7 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said the Government was carrying out a radicaloverhaul in the public service's IT section. "We are living in an informatics revolution and it's up to us tokeep abreast of the developments," he said. Dr Fenech-Adami was speaking during the inauguration ofan internet centre for the public in Birkirkara.

• 7 March 2003 Speaking on the same occasion, Justice and Local Councils Minister Austin Gatt saidthat the Government is planning to install web-enabled phones in every locality, at a cost of Lm5,000each. The sets will integrate the traditional phone handset and numeric keypad with a keyboard to giveconsumers access to the internet from Maltacom public phones.• 7 March 2003 According to recent research by the National Office of Statistics, compiled with theassistance of the Social Policy Ministry, the Government invests Lm20 million a year in social benefitsand support services for the family. Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi said discussions werecurrently under way with various sectors and professionals to draft a subsidy scheme for the care ofchildren for which the Government allocated Lm100,000 this year. Minister Gonzi was speaking on avisit to the one-stop shop Sedqa family team at the Lija Centre, which has a holistic approach and offersa variety of services.• 7 March 2003 The demolition of a group of dilapidated buildings in Floriana began making way for asocial project to create 33 new Housing Authority apartments. Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzisaid the Floriana project was one of the biggest of its kind. He explained that the project had beendelayed until alternative accommodation was found for the families and commercial entities in the area.• 7 March 2003 Tourism Minister Michael Refalo delivered the address of welcome at the WorldTourism Organisation Destination Management Task Force meeting in Berlin. Dr Refalo is theChairman of the task force, which is an advisory body of the WTO.• 7 March 2003 A spokesman for Malta Freeport said that, "As a result of the strategies adopted by MaltaFreeport throughout the years, the company is currently among the leading trans-shipment ports in theMediterranean". Last year, Malta Freeport broke all previous records in terms of traffic volumes,handling a total of 1,244,232 TEUs (containers), that is almost 80,000 more than the previous year. Thenumber of ship calls during the year amounted to 2,295.• 8 March 2003 Today Malta goes to the polls to vote in a referendum that is to determine whether theIsland wants to form part of the next EU enlargement. A third of the electorate will also be voting in thelocal council elections. A total of 297,881 individuals are eligible to vote in the referendum but a total of4,200 voting documents - or 1.41 per cent - remain uncollected, a spokesman for the Electoral Officesaid. A total of 118,000 people are eligible to vote in the local council elections, though 3,600 or threeper cent of the voting documents, remained uncollected.• 8 March 2003 Today is International Women's Day or, to put it more correctly, ‘United Nations Day forWomen's Rights and International Peace’. Statistics issued by the National Statistics Office to mark theday show that, in 2002, females accounted for 50.4 per cent of the population. In 2001, male expectationof life stood at 76 years, while that for women stood at nearly 81 years.• 9 March 2003 There was a high turnout of voters in the referendum to determine whether Malta shouldjoin the European Union at its next enlargement on May 1, 2004, as well as for the local councilelections. Polling was calm throughout the day, with a constant flow of people voting both in thereferendum and local council elections. The police said they had no reports of incidents.• 9 March 2003 The EU referendum attracted the attention of a wide cross-section of the internationalpress. In fact, up to midnight of Saturday, 8 th March 2003, 38 international media organisations hadbeen accredited by the Department of Information. 13 TV stations, 6 Radio Stations, and 19 newsagencies/print media, together with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), were represented.Altogether, 74 journalists, cameramen, photographers and technicians were accredited.• 9 March 2003 The European Unit at the University of Malta and Go Mobile have launched a jointventure entitled the ‘Socrates-Erasmus Go Mobile hotline’. Its aim is to enable Socrates-Erasmusstudents following an exchange in Malta, and Maltese Socrates-Erasmus students in a European countryto contact their co-ordinators at the University of Malta in case of an emergency, 24 hours a day.• 10 March 2003 The Electoral Commission published the final result of the referendum on Malta’smembership of the EU. Votes polled: 270,650; valid votes: 266,722; invalid votes: 3,928; votes ‘yes’:143,094; votes ‘no’: 123,628.• 10 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami thanked all those who voted in favour of Malta'sEU membership. He described the ‘yes’ camp's victory in the EU referendum as "significant" and a

"strong verdict". Dr Fenech-Adami was addressing a press conference at the courtyard of the Aubergede Castille, in Valletta.• 10 March 2003 Romano Prodi, the President of the European Commission, expressed great satisfactionat the result of Malta's referendum. He welcomed the Maltese into the EU "wholeheartedly". Mr Prodisaid that Malta would participate with equal rights and equal obligations in European decision-making.• 10 March 2003 Denis MacShane, British Minister for Europe, said: "We are delighted that the Maltesepeople voted ‘yes’ in their referendum. This is good news for Malta, the UK and the rest of the EU.” MrMacShane promised that, "In the run up to May 1, 2004, we will continue to share with Malta, throughthe UK-Malta-Europe action plan, our own experiences of doing business in the EU."• 10 March 2003 The referendum result drew various comments from members of the diplomatic corpsin Malta. French Ambassador Patrick Chrismant said that, ‘As French investment is concerned Maltawill be seen in a more favourable light as soon as it joins Europe’. Italian Ambassador Alvise Memmosaid that, ‘With EU membership the relationship between Italy and Malta will be enhanced’. GermanAmbassador Georg Merten said that, ‘The benefits of membership include free access to a huge marketand a great opportunity for young people to study in Europe’.• 10 March 2003 Major international media organisations such as the BBC, Euronews and CNN gaveprominence to the Maltese vote in favour of EU membership. Reporting that Malta had voted to join theEuropean Union, the BBC said the result could have repercussions well beyond Malta's borders, theIsland being the first of the applicant countries holding referenda on joining the EU next year.• 11 March 2003 For the second time in less than a week, Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami wasjoined in a press conference at Auberge de Castille by representatives of the 31 organisations that hadurged for a ‘Yes’ vote. The Prime Minster said that the result of Saturday’s vote left no room for doubtthat the majority of people had voted for EU membership. “This is the beginning not the end, and eachorganisation should now continue to work in its respective field to ensure that the people’s decision isimplemented,” Dr Fenech-Adami said. The Prime Minister announced that the Malta-EU Steering andAction Committee would continue to function. A video and audio recording of the Prime Minister’spress conference can be accessed athttp://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/press%20releasespm%20conference%20comments%2010.03.03-in.asp• 11 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami announced that the General Election would beheld on April 12. Dr Fenech-Adami said that, in the morning, he had convened a Cabinet meeting andlater met with the Nationalist Parliamentary Group. Following these two meetings, the Prime Ministercalled on President Guido de Marco who took his advice to dissolve Parliament with immediate effectand signed the general election writ. The Prime Minister made the announcement during a newsconference at Auberge de Castille, in Valletta. A video and audio recording of the Prime Minister’spress conference can be accessed athttp://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/press%20releasespm%20conference%20electionin.asp• 11 March 2003 EU Enlargement Commissioner Günter Verheugen said he hoped that the ‘Yes’ vote inthe EU referendum would heal the political division over the issue in Malta. "This is a very welcomeresult. It is a little bit better than expected," Mr Verheugen told reporters in Brussels. Mr Verheugen saidthat it was important for Malta to be on track and to sign the Accession Treaty on April 16.• 11 March 2003 Several dignitaries welcomed Malta's 53.6 per cent ‘Yes’ vote. German ForeignMinister Joschka Fischer hailed the outcome as a "successful start for the coming referenda in the othercandidate countries". Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker said that he was pleased to seethat the Maltese had manifested a strong will to join Europe and was convinced that the Maltese votewas an important signal for the referenda in other countries. Portuguese Prime Minister Jose ManuelDurao Barroso told Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami that he must be proud that the wisdom of theMaltese people had once and for all endorsed the entry of Malta into the EU. Swedish Prime MinisterGoran Persson also welcomed the ‘yes’ result, saying that it was "no surprise".• 11 March 2003 The Council of Europe also welcomed Malta's ‘Yes’ vote in the referendum. "The resultof this vote is welcome, but not unexpected. Malta is embedded in Europe," CoE Secretary GeneralWalter Schwimmer said. Malta has been a member of the Council of Europe since 1965 and is currentlychairing the Committee of Ministers.

• 11 March 2003 Standard & Poor's Ratings Services affirmed its A/A-1 foreign currency and AA-/A-1+local currency ratings on Malta, saying that the outcome of the referendum in favour of EU membership‘reflects expectations that fiscal consolidation and progress with structural reforms will continue.’Standard & Poor's credit analyst Mary Nnachi said: “The first true test of popular support for EUmembership, the referendum result not only gives increased legitimacy to the Government's structuralreform agenda but also creates an opportunity to quicken the pace of reform.”• 11 March 2003 The members of the Maltese consular corps in Australia and New Zealand held aweekend meeting at the Maltese High Commission in Canberra. The meeting for the group was held onthe initiative of the High Commissioner, Ivan Fsadni, who also chaired it. The meeting discussed topicsof interest to the Maltese communities in Australia and New Zealand, including the issuing of passports,payment of pensions, and the fostering of the Maltese language and culture.• 11 March 2003 At the ITB Fair in Berlin, the Malta Tourism Authority’s Frankfurt office launched anew public relations campaign on the theme ‘Malta for all Senses’. The campaign shows that Maltaappeals to the five senses: smell, taste, sight, touch and hearing. The launch was attended by journalistsfrom top-quality German print, television and radio media.• 12 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami hailed a victory in Saturday's local elections forthe party in government. Addressing a news conference, with the elected PN local councillors behindhim, the Prime Minister said that he was pleased with the ‘positive result’ in the local elections. DrFenech-Adami said that the local council results reflected the referendum result, in which 53.6 per centvoted for European Union membership.• 12 March 2003 In local council elections, 100,480 people, or 88 per cent of eligible voters, turned outto vote in 23 localities. The elections saw the Nationalist Party winning 48.9 per cent of the total vote,the Malta Labour Party receiving 47 per cent, Alternattiva Demokratika pulling in three per cent fromeight localities, and the independent candidates obtaining 1.1 per cent. 78 candidates were elected forthe PN, 76 for the MLP, 3 for AD, and one Independent.• 12 March 2003 French President Jacques Chirac and French Prime Minister Jean Pierre Raffarin wroteto Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami, congratulating him on the outcome of the referendum. DrFenech-Adami also received a message of congratulation from the Chairman of the Group of theEuropean People's Party and the European Democrats in the European Parliament, Hans Gert Poettering.• 12 March 2003 In a letter of congratulation sent to his Maltese counterpart Dr Joe Borg, Italian ForeignMinister Franco Frattini described the referendum result in Malta as, "Positive and encouraging, evenwith respect to the referenda that will shortly take place in the rest of the candidate countries". FrenchForeign Minister Dominique de Villepin, French Minister for Europe Noelle Lenoir, and FinnishForeign Minister Jari Vilèn also congratulated Dr Borg on the outcome.• 13 March 2003 French Ambassador Patrick Chrismant presented President Guido de Marco with amessage from French President Jacques Chirac congratulating him on the successful outcome of thereferendum on Malta’s membership of the European Union. “I am delighted with this decision thatpermits the people of Malta to join the Union and France welcomes you within the European family,”President Chirac said in the message.• 13 March 2003 The Irish Minister of State in the Department of Health and Children, Ivor Callely,congratulated Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami on the positive referendum result and extended“the good wishes of Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern and the Irish”. Mr Callely, who is the firstMinister from an EU country to visit Malta since the referendum, also wished Dr Fenech-Adami “thevery best for the forthcoming elections”.• 13 March 2003 Ivor Callely, who is the Irish Minister of State in the Department of Health andChildren, signed a co-operation agreement with Health Minister Louis Deguara, launching an EU-fundedtwinning covenant to assist Malta in setting up a competent authority to regulate medicines. WorthLm370,000, the project is being financed through EU pre-accession funds and is just one of severalexamples of pre-accession assistance.• 13 March 2003 Tourism Minister Michael Refalo said that, gradually but steadily, the number ofChinese visiting Malta was on the increase. Speaking at the inauguration of a new Air China office inValletta, Dr Refalo said Malta has gained a reputation among the Chinese as a centre of excellence forlearning English.

• 13 March 2003 Tourism Minister Michael Refalo said that, first indications supplied by MaltaInternational Airport and Air Malta show that February 2003 was the fifth consecutive month thatregistered an increase in the number of visitors when compared to the same period a year ago. This was“further proof that Malta’s tourism industry is well on the way to complete recovery,” he said.• 13 March 2003 The National Statistics Office said that, total imports in January this year increased byLm6.1 million to Lm94.6 million from Lm88.5 million, while total exports increased by Lm23.9 millionto Lm88.0 million from Lm64.1 million last year. Compared to January last year, the visible trade gap inJanuary this year contracted by Lm17.8 million to Lm6.6 million.• 13 March 2003 Bank of Valletta became the official sponsor of the eMalta Commission. Thecommission campaigns to promote e-commerce and internet use, and the bank will be supporting thiswork. BOV Chairman Joseph F. X. Zahra said that the bank was proud to associate itself with thecommission, which shared a common goal with the bank - that of promoting the concept of aninformation society and economy.• 14 March 2003 The European Union's Greek Presidency expressed ‘absolute satisfaction’ at theoutcome of the EU referendum in Malta. "With their positive result, the Maltese have taken a historicaldecision for their country to join the European family," the Presidency said. It added that thereferendums soon to be held in the other acceding countries should have the same outcome.• 14 March 2003 German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder also welcomed the referendum result: "Theefforts by the EU as well as by Malta during the negotiations have now paid off. The GermanGovernment hopes that the Maltese Parliament will cast the respective vote too. This result obtained inMalta is an important signal for the series of referenda to be held in the other accession countries."• 14 March 2003 German Foreign Minister Joschka Fisher said that Germany welcomed the decisiontaken by the Maltese to join the EU. "This vote is a good start to the series of referenda in othercountries where the people there are also being asked to decide on the future shape of Europe and onfinally overcoming the division of our continent."• 14 March 2003 Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner congratulated Foreign Minister JoeBorg on the "most successful outcome of the referendum on the accession of Malta to the EU".• 14 March 2003 Guenter Gloser, spokesman for the German Social Democratic parliamentary group,said in a message: "A clear majority of the Maltese voted in favour of EU membership despite thedomestic polarisation on this issue. The turnout of 91 per cent is impressive and highlights theimportance of the decision. “After this positive outcome everyone is now assuming that the MalteseParliament will approve Malta's EU accession.”• 14 March 2003 US Ambassador Anthony Gioia said that, US-Malta relations would continue to bestrong, co-operative and mutually beneficial irrespective of whether the Island joined the EU or not.However, he said, Malta would have to work harder to garner attention without the advantage of thevisibility that EU membership would provide. Mr Gioia was speaking at a business breakfast at the LeMeridien Phoenicia Hotel organised by the Malta Business Weekly and the hotel.• 14 March 2003 According to the latest Eurobarometer survey, sixty-two per cent of Maltese believethat EU membership would have a positive effect on local agriculture. The survey, however, showsthat only 16 per cent of the Maltese have heard the term ‘Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)’, though56 per cent had heard about the EU agricultural actions and policies.• 14 March 2003 Tourism Minister Michael Refalo said that, if Malta were not going to join the EU,the UK could increase the departure tax to Malta threefold. Dr Refalo said that this would make familygroup packages uncompetitive when compared with trips to Cyprus, Greece and Italy. Minister Refalowas speaking when opening the second edition of the Mediterranean Food Festival, organised by theMalta Tourism Authority.• 14 March 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea said the facts showed that Malta had one of the besteducational systems in the world. He said that the Government had opened Maltese schools toinformation technology, investing Lm8 million into the sector over the past few years. Dr Galea saidthat overall, the government budget for education now reached close to Lm100 million.• 14 March 2003 Infrastructure Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that more than 32 per cent of theLm1,267 million worth of fixed real investment which took place between 1999 and September 2002

elated to construction and building works. At the same time, Lm1,127 million worth of property wassold. Dr Zammit Dimech was presenting warrants to engineers.• 14 March 2003 According to statistics released by the National Statistics Office, the average annualdisposable income per household in 2000/2001 stood at Lm8,202. Of these, private households earnedan average annual net salary of Lm4,915 and Lm1,393 in social benefits. On a district basis,households within the Northern district earned most, while households within the Southern harbourdistrict earned least. In fact, households in the Northern district earned an average disposable incomeof Lm9,401 annually, whilst households in the Southern harbour earned an average disposable incomeof Lm7,030 annually.• 14 March 2003 The Economic Services Ministry announced that, during the last four years, the MaltaDevelopment Corporation had approved 185 projects. The Ministry also said that 3,500 new jobs werecreated.• 14 March 2003 A print from an original watercolour by Edwin Galea showing the tanker Ohio inGrand Harbour after the epic Santa Marija convoy of 1942 was presented to Prince Philip, Duke ofEdinburgh. The presentation was held at Buckingham Palace by marine and naval artist Edwin Galea,and Simon Cusens who last year co-ordinated the official events marking the 60th anniversary of theconvoy. The 700 limited edition prints were each signed by the artist and nine convoy veterans.• 15 March 2003 Brian Cowen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Ireland, in a letter toForeign Minister Joe Borg dated 11 th March, warmly welcomed the decision of the people of Malta infavour of accession to the European Union. Minister Cowen characterised the vote in Malta as a“positive beginning to the process throughout the Member States and acceding countries to ratify theTreaty of Accession”.• 15 March 2003 The Times newspaper reported that details of referenda it had obtained from theInitiative & Referendum Institute Europe, in Amsterdam had shown that the turnout at the Maltese EUreferendum was the highest ever recorded in Europe, and over 20 per cent higher than the Europeanaverage in the last 30 years. During the referendum 91 per cent of registered voters had turned out tovote.• 15 March 2003 The Housing Authority announced that it was putting up for sale 148 new housingunits designed to save energy. The commercial value of the new units is well over Lm5 million but theauthority will be selling them for slightly more than Lm3 million, subsidising the rest of the value.Authority Chairperson Marisa Micallef Leyson said that the applicants could include adults who havebeen in residential care, married couples or families with children; engaged couples; applicants withphysical or intellectual disability or mental illness; single applicants or separated people aged over 30.• 15 March 2003 Infrastructure Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that the City Gate and the RoyalOpera House project had been temporarily shelved for financial reasons. Dr Zammit Dimech said theEuropean Investment Bank was still prepared to lend the Government the money to realise the project."However, the Government felt that the project could wait a while to address higher pending prioritiessuch as salaries and pensions," said the Minister.• 15 March 2003 Parliamentary Secretary in the Economic Services Ministry, George Hyzler, appealedfor self-regulation in the travel industry. He said that self-regulation could prove to be beneficial toboth service providers and consumers, though it remained an area where much remained to be done.Dr Hyzler was speaking at a seminar on consumer rights in the travel industry, held on WorldConsumer Rights Day by the Consumer Affairs Council.• 16 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that he was proud of heading aGovernment that performed well, despite the difficult scenario that had gripped the world's economies.He said that statistics of the last four years were ample proof of Government's track record - thenumber of gainfully employed had increased by just under 4,000 in the last four years, while thenumber of workers in the public sector were reduced by 2,136. Dr Fenech-Adami was speaking at thelaunch of the Party’s electoral slogan.• 16 March 2003 British Prime Minister Tony Blair sent a personalised letter of congratulations toPrime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami following the March 8 referendum result in favour of Malta'sentry in the European Union. The letter says: “The people of Malta have sent a very constructivemessage to their future partners in the European Union, including the other nine acceding states.”

• 16 March 2003 The Parliamentary Secretary within the Ministry for the Environment, GeorgePullicino, said that 350 buildings and 25 scrap-yards in Malta and Gozo had been demolished over thepast four years on the grounds that they were illegal. He said that the campaign formed part of theGovernment’s ongoing commitment toward safeguarding the environment and taking steps to improveit. Mr Pullicino, together with Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg, held a press conference in ValleyRoad, Birkirkara.• 17 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that he had decided to call a generalelection as soon as possible after the referendum result became clear in order to ensure that the verdictof the people for European Union membership would be implemented by the new Government.Addressing the nation in a live broadcast, the Prime Minister stressed that, over the coming weeks, thenational movement that had emerged in the weeks preceding the membership referendum needed tocontinue to ensure that the people's decision for membership would be respected.• 18 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that he did not need to take up the Leaderof the Opposition’s challenge to publicly declare that he would respect the result of the April 12election because his democratic credentials had never been in question. He said: "This is a stupiddemand and I cannot understand why Dr Sant is making it.” The Prime Minister was speaking at apress conference.• 18 March 2003 During the press conference, Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami denied a reportcarried in the EU specialist newspaper European Voice that reported that his decision to hold the April12 poll had been proposed or suggested by Enlargement Commissioner Günter Verheugen. Dr Fenech-Adami said: "Mr Verheugen immediately called to congratulate me as soon as the referendum resultwas announced. We never discussed the election. This is another lie being perpetuated by theOpposition."• 18 March 2003 An official spokesman for the EU Commission similarly denied claims that the April12 General Election was called on orders from Brussels. The spokesman said: "Mr Verheugen does nottell Prime Ministers what to do as regards their electoral agenda. It is simply not his competence to dothat. I guess Dr Fenech-Adami has enough experience in Maltese politics, more than Mr Verheugen inany case, to make these kinds of decisions without asking a European Commissioner!"• 18 March 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg received two messages of congratulations over theoutcome of the referendum on European Union membership. Anna Lindh, Foreign Minister ofSweden, expressed sincere congratulations on behalf of the Swedish Government for the ‘clear victoryin the EU referendum’. Juli Minoves, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the principality of Andorra saidthe outcome ‘culminates favourably the negotiations process for Malta's membership in the EuropeanUnion’.• 18 March 2003 Eighty-seven public buses that comply with stringent European quality andenvironmental standards are being imported from King Long United Automotive Industry Co. Ltd ofChina to replace old buses that are being withdrawn from service. Transport Minister Censu Galeawho was present at the launch praised the new buses for being comfortable, environment-friendly, anddesigned to cater for the needs of the elderly and persons with a disability.• 18 March 2003 Maltacom Chairman Maurice Zarb Adami said that Maltacom's 20 per cent stake inVodafone would be sold once Vodafone lists the shares on the Malta Stock Exchange. Maltacom hadbeen bound to sell the shares six months after its subsidiary, Go Mobile, started operating its rivalcellular telephony service on 1 st December 2000. Mr Zarb Adami said that Maltacom looked forwardto listing the shares on the stock exchange because that would ensure that the company obtained themarket price for the shares.• 18 March 2003 Malta concluded an agreement with the European Union on participating inprogrammes aimed at upgrading public health levels. Michael Huebel, an EU representative from theHealth Directorate General, was in Malta at the invitation of Health Minister Louis Deguara inconnection with the programmes.• 18 March 2003 The recently introduced Local Enforcement System (LES) website not only allows thepublic to pay fines from home or their workplace, but also, if they so decide, to contest charges. Thewebsite includes a search facility and a ‘Contact Us’ page, available in English and Maltese. The newonline services are free of charge, with 24-hour access to government transactions and services.

• 18 March 2003 According to figures released by the National Statistics Office, in June 2002 unionmembership declined by 1.3 per cent over the previous year. The NSO said the number of trade unionmembers had been consistently on the increase for the past 20 years. For their part, employers'associations with 9,165 members have seen an increase of 7.2 per cent in their membership base overthe previous year.• 19 March 2003 The Prime Minister inaugurated part of the modernisation project at the Marsaabattoir which brought the only pig slaughter line in Malta in conformity with EU standards. Theoverhaul, which cost Lm250,000, has boosted the line's slaughter speed from 80 to 160 per hour. Atotal of 2,450 pigs are killed every week, with the bulk of the meat going to the local market and theprocessing industry.• 19 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami visited the Malta College of Arts, Science andTechnology (MCAST) in Corradino, and was greeted by Education Minister Louis Galea and theCollege's board of governors. The College, which has six institutes, has grown immensely since itopened its doors in September 2001 with just 1,000 students. Today there are 2,200 full-time studentsfollowing 33 courses, and 1,000 part-time students.• 19 March 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg said that, since the beginning of the Iraq crisis, Malta hadstood with the rest of the international community in consistently calling for Iraq to immediately, fullyand actively comply with all relevant UN Security Council resolutions, so that a peaceful resolutionmight be found. "We still hope that even at this very late stage a solution may be found which canavoid the recourse to military action," Dr Borg said.• 19 March 2003 Tourism Minister Michael Refalo set up a contingency committee to deal with theIraqi crisis situation's impact on tourism. Dr Refalo said: "I am also involving the Malta TourismAuthority and together we are looking into the situation and assessing what action, if necessary, weneed to take. We are monitoring the situation very closely and will be taking all the necessary steps toensure that in the eventuality of war we would be affected as little as possible."• 19 March 2003 Speaking during a dialogue meeting in Sliema, Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adamiand Education Minister Louis Galea emphasised that Malta's raw material was human resources. ThePrime Minister said that everyone had a particular talent and Malta's education system was geared toexploit these talents. Dr Galea spoke on the Government's work to create an inclusive society and saidthat the first Bill on lifelong learning was being drafted.• 19 March 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi visited works in progress at the new premisesof Agenzija Appogg in Guardamangia. Minister Gonzi said that the new facility would make it easierfor people needing help to access services and provide a better platform for collaboration between thedifferent service delivery units. Within the past four years, its funding has quadrupled and 11 newservices have been launched.• 19 March 2003 Finance Minister John Dalli said that all economists agreed that, in order to acceleratethe growth rate, Malta's economy needed the push that only EU membership could provide.• 19 March 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that the Government had managed toreduce unemployment in spite of an economic situation that meant that an additional 14,000 jobs hadto be absorbed due to early retirement schemes and restructuring. Dr Gonzi said that, in the past fourand a half years, the Government had increased the number of full-time employees by 4,000. This wasa very good result, especially considering that the economy has been going through restructuring andrenewal, he said.• 19 March 2003 The Malta External Trade Corporation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs havepublished a booklet entitled 'Business Promotion Manual for Diplomatic Missions'. The manual is theresult of a joint effort between the Ministry for Economic Services, the Ministry of Foreign Affairsand Metco. As a first step, the project focuses on Malta's diplomatic posts in the UK, Egypt and theNetherlands, but there are plans to expand this project to include other countries and embassies.• 19 March 2003 According to a comprehensive survey on information and communicationstechnology carried out by the National Statistics Office last summer, 31 per cent of households haveaccess to the internet. Those with a personal e-mail address total 79,580, 38 per cent have access to aPC, while 75 per cent have a mobile telephone. The survey targeted randomly selected persons aged15 years and over.

• 20 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami asked for forgiveness from those who feltaggrieved by any of the Government's actions over the past four-and-a-half years. In an emotivespeech at a political activity in Pembroke, Dr Fenech-Adami stressed that this was not the right timefor people to seek revenge. "For those who are still feeling hurt, I urge them to see the full picture...there will be a new spring for everyone."• 20 March 2003 President Guido de Marco visited some 300 volunteers from four leading companiesin Malta who carried out voluntary work in a joint initiative between them. He said workers involvedwere expressing true solidarity, giving a part of themselves for others. Prof. de Marco hoped that othercompanies would follow suit in such a worthy cause.• 20 March 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea said that, over the past four years, the Government'spolicies had brought major benefits to youths. Dr Galea and the Parliamentary Secretary in theEducation Ministry, Jesmond Mugliett, listed the many achievements and initiatives that had beenundertaken in favour of youths and students to generate jobs and improve employability.• 20 March 2003 A total of 248 nominations for the general election were submitted, taking the numberof candidates up to 178: 84 for the PN, 77 for the MLP, 15 for Alternattiva Demokratika, oneindependent, and one for Ghal Gid ta' Ghawdex.• 20 March 2003 Malta and Italy have signed the Agreement on Land Transport of Persons and Goodswhich regulates the transport of persons and goods between both countries and sets down the rules forMaltese and Italian operators of passenger and goods transport. It also establishes an Italo-MalteseCommission that will, inter alia, tackle problems faced by operators in this sector. The Agreement wassigned by the Maltese Ambassador to Italy, Edward Melillo, and by the Director General for Europewithin the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Paolo Pucci de Benisichi, in Rome.• 21 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami described next month's general election asextraordinary because the electorate has to choose the party that can guarantee that the decision of thepeople in favour of Malta's EU membership on May 1, 2004, will be respected. Dr Fenech-Adami saidthat the Government had carried out huge changes over the past four years in a bid to upgrade thecountry's legal and administrative framework and prepare for EU membership.• 21 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami stressed in Victoria Gozo that, if on April 16the Maltese Prime Minister were not present in Athens to sign the EU Accession Treaty, Malta wouldmiss the boat for good. If the Maltese premier did not sign the treaty, the EU would inform theGovernment that Malta had lost its chance of joining.• 21 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami laid the foundation stone for a newgovernment secondary school in the limits of Kirkop and Safi, the first school to be built entirely bythe Foundation for Tomorrow's Schools. Alongside the school, a regional sports complex will beconstructed. The Government is investing Lm2.5 million in the 40-classroom school and Lm2 millionin the sports complex.• 21 March 2003 The Office of the Prime Minister wrote to seven youth organisations reassuring themthe Government's position on the war on Iraq had not changed and that it had aligned itself with theEU's stand that diplomatic channels should be pursued. The organisations had presented a letter toPrime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami urging him to clarify his position after they claimed that BritishPrime Minister Tony Blair had said that accession countries were backing the war on Iraq. PresidentGeorge Bush too had claimed support from EU candidate countries that wished to remain anonymous,the organisations said.• 21 March 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that the Government was working toestablish minimum standards for day-centres, and this work was at an advanced stage. Dr Gonzi saidthat during this legislature, seven day-care centres had been opened in co-operation with LocalCouncils.• 21 March 2003 Finance Minister John Dalli said that, "Government revenue has increased notbecause the Government has increased taxes but because the economy grew and tax collection is muchmore efficient." Mr Dalli showed how the increase and introduction of 32 types of tax had netted justover Lm63 million in five years. Mr Dalli said that, over the past two years, the Government hadstarted re-adjusting income tax bands when it was sure it was collecting more taxes through increasedefficiency.

• 21 March 2003 An electric delivery van that has been hailed by its makers "as the perfect vehicle forEurope" was launched at the Technopark in Mosta. Innovan, as the van is called, was built by ITS(Malta) Ltd and will sell for €20,000 (Lm8,300). The van was researched and developed in Maltaover the past seven years.• 22 March 2003 The EU Presidency stated in the summit's formal conclusion of the spring EuropeanCouncil that the positive result in Malta on accession to the EU was an important first step on the pathtowards a wider Europe of peace, democracy, stability and prosperity. The same sentiment was alsohighlighted by Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami who said at a press conference following aworking lunch with leaders of EU members, accession countries and candidates, that he wascongratulated on the positive referendum result by all the leaders at the summit.• 22 March 2003 The working lunch attended by the Prime Minister focused on the Lisbon Strategy,which seeks to make the EU more competitive. Dr Fenech-Adami said during his intervention that hehoped that the EU would speak with a more united voice on the Iraq crisis.• 22 March 2003 The National Statistics Office unveiled a new way of compiling agriculture statistics -using a digital camera from the sky. The Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Insular Coastal Dynamics wascommissioned to carry out the survey that will determine land cover by type of crop and on a localcouncil basis. Such surveys are the most cost-effective tools in statistics.• 22 March 2003 Economic Services Minister Josef Bonnici told a news conference that, following twoyears of preparation, the pharmaceutical manufacturing company Arrow Pharm will commenceoperations in Malta next June. The company has taken over an 8,000 square metre factory at Hal Far,allocated to it by the Malta Development Corporation. Prof. Bonnici said that the Government wasconvinced that the pharmaceutical industry held particular potential for Malta.• 22 March 2003 Local Government Minister Austin Gatt said that more than 55,000 individuals everymonth are logging on to the portal which groups together all government electronic services andinformation. Speaking during a visit to MITTS offices in Blata l-Bajda, Dr Gatt said that theGovernment aims to have 90 per cent of its services online by the end of April, in time for the next EUe-government conference in Como in July.• 22 March 2003 The Occupational Health and Safety Authority passed with flying colours a peerreview exercise carried out by representatives from the European Union's committee of senior labourinspectors. Malta and Cyprus were the only two countries out of the 12 candidate countries visitedwhere only a few suggestions were made. The draft report, which has been forwarded to theGovernment, states that Malta has inspection and legal systems that are generally in line with those inmember states, and good standards of health and safety at the workplace.• 23 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that the signing of the European Unionaccession treaty on April 16 was the next step towards ensuring that the sovereignty the countryacquired with Independence in 1964 would be used in the people's best interests. Dr Fenech-Adamisaid that there was no doubt that the April 12 election was the most important since Independence.• 23 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami underlined the Government's employmentrecord by saying that 14,000 new jobs had been created in the past four and a half years. Therestructuring process had seen 10,000 jobs shed and 14,000 new ones created. This proved that theeconomy had progressed despite the difficult international situation, said Dr Fenech-Adami.• 23 March 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that the setting up of a council for theprotection of children's rights was included in a Bill published by the Government in January. The Billprovided for the appointment of a Commissioner for children with the power to investigate anybreaches or infringements of children's rights.• 23 March 2003 Infrastructure Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that the present Government hadbuilt the infrastructure for the rehabilitation and restoration of the historical heritage. He said that theValletta Rehabilitation Project, the Cottonera Rehabilitation Project, and the Mdina RehabilitationProject had together invested about Lm8 million in various rehabilitation projects. Dr Zammit Dimechwas speaking at the launch of Challenge - the Temples and Ruins on the Maltese Islands, a boardgame created around the history of the Maltese Islands, at St James Cavalier, in Valletta.• 24 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami appealed to the Maltese to read andunderstand the ‘signs of the times’ and decide that Malta's place was in the European Union. He said

that the Party in opposition refused to read the signs of the times, even though every other Europeancountry had understood that Malta’s place was in the EU and that the right road was the one thatunited them. Dr Fenech-Adami was addressing a political activity at Mosta.• 25 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami told journalists that he felt encouraged withthe way the self-employed had restructured and prepared themselves for the opportunities of EUmembership. Dr Fenech-Adami said that it was evident that many self-employed had faced up to thechallenges of liberalisation. The Prime Minister toured seven small and medium sized enterprises attal-Handaq, in Qormi.• 25 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami challenged Opposition Leader Alfred Sant toreveal his motives after the latter claimed that the Prime Minister did not intend to respect the outcomeof the General Election. Dr Fenech-Adami told journalists that he was astonished by Dr Sant'sstatements. “How can anybody say I will not observe the election result?” he asked.• 25 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami and Foreign Minister Joe Borg hailedSlovenia's strong vote in favour of European Union membership. Dr Borg said that he looked forwardto working closely with Slovenia as a fellow member of the EU after the eastern European countryvoted overwhelmingly in favour of membership. A total of 89.6 per cent of voters said ‘yes’ to the EUat Sunday's referendum, where turnout was just under 60 per cent. The outcome of the Slovenianreferendum is legally binding.• 25 March 2003 Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio congratulated her Maltese counterpart Joe Borgon the positive result obtained in the referendum on Malta's membership of the European Union. In aletter, Ms Palacio said: "Spain, along with the rest of the European Union member states, rejoices thatthe Maltese people have taken profit from this historic opportunity to rejoin the great Europeanfamily".• 25 March 2003 Valletta mayor Paul Borg Olivier announced government plans to upgrade and paveSt John Square and part of Merchants Street stretching from the roofed market to Auberge de Castille,in Valletta. The whole project will cost an estimated Lm500,000. Minister for Resources andInfrastructure Francis Zammit Dimech said that the upgrade would conclude the facelift of Valletta'scommercial centre, following the paving of Republic and Zachary Streets.• 25 March 2003 A delegation from the Akkademja tal-Malti returned from Brussels after a visit ofcollaboration with the EU Directorate responsible for translation services. The delegation was invitedto Brussels to discuss modern translation and interpretation techniques and the Maltese language withkey figures in the European Commission and the Council of the European Union responsible fortranslation services. The European Commission had announced that it would be needing the servicesof 60 Maltese translators.• 25 March 2003 The National Statistics Office said that the total number of tourists for January-November last year was 1,078,735, down by 4.6 per cent from the same period a year earlier. Grossearnings reached Lm228.5 million in the first 11 months of last year, a decline of Lm15.6 million, or6.4 per cent, over the same period in 2001. In the 11-month period under review, the number of cruisepassengers increased to 335,032, from 255,384 in the same period a year earlier.• 25 March 2003 The Malta Tourism Authority's tourist information office in City Gate, Valletta, wasre-opened after refurbishment. Computers have been installed to make it easier and faster for touristinformation officers to gather the information requested of them, and a customer service unit will soonbe installed in the building to make it a one-stop shop for visitors to Malta.• 26 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said: “The Government considers the MaltaCouncil for Economic and Social Development to be the motor between entrepreneurs, theGovernment and Unions to tackle all the issues together and move ahead.” The Prime Minister saidthat the Government's policies had created 14,000 jobs in the past four-and-a-half years and EUmembership would continue to sustain employment by attracting new investment. Dr Fenech-Adamiwas speaking at a social function in Naxxar.• 26 March 2003 Dutch Foreign Minister Jaap de Hoop Scheffer sent a letter congratulating ForeignAffairs Minister Joe Borg on the EU referendum result. The Dutch Foreign Minister said that Maltahad set a good example for the other candidate countries holding referenda in the near future.

• 26 March 2003 The Malta-EU Information Centre said that, in the past four years, the Governmenthad used Lm3.4 million from public funds to prepare the country for EU membership. At the sametime, in the four years preceding entry, a total of Lm8.7 million were forwarded to the country fromEU funds to help it prepare for membership, MIC said. The funds were used mainly to strengthen theadministrative capacity of the Public Service so that it would be able to implement EU laws.• 26 March 2003 The National Statistics Office said that the number of unemployed persons registeredwith the Employment and Training Corporation (ETC) in February 2003 reached 7,707 persons, adrop of 172 compared with January 2003, and of 234 when compared with February 2002.• 26 March 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that the EU would provide 40 per cent ofthe Lm1 million being spent on new premises for the Occupational Health and Safety Authority(OHSA) in Guardamanga. Speaking on site, Dr Gonzi said that the EU would be providing Lm96,000for the installation of an IT system, Lm50,000 for the purchase of equipment to measure noise andradio activity levels, plus Lm280,000 in direct assistance.• 26 March 2003 The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) will be co-ordinating all theenvironmental monitoring programmes related to aquaculture activities following an agreementreached with fish farm operators. The monitoring is being carried out by independent consultantscommissioned by the Authority at the expense of the operators. MEPA will publish the data on itswebsite, together with technical details regarding the programmes on www.mepa.org.mt• 26 March 2003 Speaking about the success of the film-servicing sector and the Malta FilmCommission, the Parliamentary Secretary in the Economic Services Ministry, George Hyzler, said theindustry was today ‘placed on a footing that is sounder than it ever was’. Dr Hyzler said that that EUmembership would help Malta achieve the objective of not only servicing films, but also of beinginvolved in the development of the industry.• 27 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that the Government would safeguardbasic values by strengthening vital aspects of Maltese life, including a high quality health service, thestrengthening of the educational institutions, more jobs and investment. At the same time, the PrimeMinister said, the Government would continue with the fight against organised crime and drugtrafficking. Dr Fenech-Adami was addressing a press conference.• 27 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami visited Mediterranean Aviation Company Ltd,Medavia. He was welcomed by Managing Director Abdul Razak Zmirli who said that the aircraftcharter and maintenance company had entered into a joint venture with an international consortium toset up Medavia Rotating Services, a new company to repair and overhaul gas turbine engines in Malta.Mr Zmirli said that the new centre would be operational within three to four months.• 27 March 2003 The Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament approved by a largemajority the report by its President, Elmar Brok, on the conclusion of the accession negotiations asdecided at the Copenhagen summit in December 2002, and 10 individual reports giving a favourableopinion on accession of the 10 new member states on May 1, 2004. The final vote in plenary sessionof the European Parliament is scheduled for April 9.• 27 March 2003 The Italian Minister for European Community Policies, Rocco Buttiglione, in a letteraddressed to Foreign Minister Joe Borg, extended his congratulations for the excellent result obtainedin the referendum on EU accession. Prof. Buttiglione declared his satisfaction at seeing ‘the intensework carried out over the recent years confirmed by this success’.• 27 March 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea said that Child Safety Services, which is a unit withinthe Education Division, had received over 800 requests for assistance since it was set up just over twoyears ago. Of these, 720 requests were related to cases of abuse. Dr Galea said that informationmeetings were to be held in schools offering basic information on abuse and on the help available.• 27 March 2003 Economic Services Minister Josef Bonnici said that another pharmaceutical company,Star Pharma, planned to start producing generic drugs in Malta. Speaking at the pharmacy symposiumat the University of Malta, Prof. Bonnici said that Star Pharma had been allocated a factory at Hal Farand was due to start production soon.• 27 March 2003 Transport Minister Censu Galea spoke of the need to introduce new road constructionmethods and import better materials in order to build more durable roads, even though this meant thatcosts would rise. Mr Galea announced that the Lm26 million from the Italian protocol and from EU

accession funds would be used to redo the roads that had been badly built in the 1980s. “By 2006,Malta would have redone all the arterial roads that need attention.”• 27 March 2003 Tourism Minister Michael Refalo said that the Iraq war was having a negative effecton incoming tourism, reflected in cancellations. Dr Refalo said that, in view of the situation, theGovernment and the Malta Tourism Authority, together with Air Malta, had embarked on acontainment strategy, both with regard to advertising and also to attract tourists who were planning togo to ‘at risk’ areas. The coming weeks would show if this strategy would be successful, the Ministersaid.• 27 March 2003 Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono said that the number of bank accounts in Gozo hadincreased by 20,000 and bank deposits by Lm60 million over the past four-and-a-half years. MrsDebono was addressing a news conference highlighting achievements made by Malta's sister-islandduring the present legislature.• 27 March 2003 Air Malta is this month celebrating 30 years since it was formed by an Act ofParliament on 21 st March 1973. The airline started operations a year later, on 15 th April 1974, usingtwo Boeing 720Bs leased from Pakistan International Airlines. Thirty years on, Air Malta flies toaround 40 destinations in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.• 28 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami visited the Pitkalija fruit and vegetablemarket. Dr Fenech-Adami said that the progress being made in the quality of Maltese agriculturalproduce was leading to export opportunities. He spoke of the government-led reforms in the sector,aimed at improving the produce and guaranteeing the future of farmers.• 28 March 2003 According to a new report entitled 'Enlarging the European Union: Achievements andChallenges’, by former Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok, non-membership for the 10 accedingcountries, including Malta, would weaken their incentive for reform, discourage foreign investment,and reduce their economic growth. The report says that, "A delay in enlargement, or its abandonment,as a result of non-ratification by the EU members, would be a major political failure for Europe. Itwould have costs both for the EU and the acceding countries."• 28 March 2003 European Parliament President Pat Cox said that the EU would ‘probably run out ofpatience’ with Malta if the Island's Prime Minister fails to turn up for the signing of the AccessionTreaty on April 16. “Europe has done its best to make you feel welcome, but now it's up to you. It's'make up your mind' time.” Mr Cox was contacted at his office in Brussels by The Times newspaper.• 28 March 2003 Minister of Justice and Local Government Austin Gatt highlighted the initiativestaken by the Government during the past few years, which has empowered local councils to the benefitof citizens. Dr Gatt pinpointed some of the sterling work carried out by local councils over the years,such as the revival of dilapidated buildings and with the devolution of local and regional libraries. TheMinister’s speech, delivered at the swearing-in ceremony of local councillors, can be accessed atwww.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/newspressreleasesmin%20austin%20gatt,%20swearing%20in.asp• 28 March 2003 Economic Services Minister Josef Bonnici said that the Malta DevelopmentCorporation had approved a project that will lead to the creation of 60 units/workshops for smallenterprises in Hal Far. The units will be located in a largely unused factory. The Lm3 million project,partly sponsored by HSBC, will be run by the private sector. Prof. Bonnici was addressing a newsconference.• 28 March 2003 President Guido de Marco and Mrs. de Marco presented, on behalf of the MaltaCommunity Chest Fund, financial aid, specialised apparatus, and white goods to various philanthropicinstitutions and individuals in need. This presentation was held at the Palace, Valletta. The total sumpresented reached Lm70,021.• 28 March 2003 The Central Bank said that it had left the central intervention rate unchanged at 3.75per cent following the monthly meeting of its Monetary Policy Council. The decision was taken by theGovernor, Michael C. Bonello, after the council noted that the Central Bank's external reserves, thekey measure of the sustainability of the exchange rate peg, had increased at a slower pace during thefirst quarter. The central intervention rate was last adjusted in December when it was reduced by 25basis points.

• 28 March 2003 The National Statistics Office said that the balance of international paymentsimproved in the December quarter of last year by Lm400,000, from a net deficit of Lm54.5 millionduring the December 2001 quarter. The office said that the visible trade gap in the goods accountcontracted by Lm15.8 million, from a net deficit of Lm67.3 million during the December 2001 quarterto Lm51.5 million during the December quarter under consideration. The net positive balance in theservices account improved by Lm7.2 million to Lm35.8.• 28 March 2003 The Department of Information received several glowing testimonials from foreignjournalists who came to Malta to cover the March 8 referendum. However, some journalists appearedperplexed by the limited access at polling stations. A total of 74 journalists representing 38 foreignmedia organisations came to Malta to cover the membership referendum.• 28 March 2003 A Freeport statement said that shipping lines Yang Ming and ‘K’ Line are to suspendtheir vessel calls at the Freeport after they decided they would no longer trans-ship Mediterraneancargo. The Malta Freeport is one of the leading trans-shipment ports in the Mediterranean, serving anumber of major lines. The statement said that the two lines represented less than 10 per cent of itsthroughput last year.• 29 March 2003 President Guido de Marco called for urgent action to deal with abandoned and vacantbuildings in Valletta. "The real problem of Valletta is the deficit in its population. The city'sinfrastructural aspect needs to be urgently taken care of in order to attract new families to the area andthus restore this deficit," the President said. Prof. de Marco was speaking during an official visit to thecapital, which celebrated the 437th anniversary of its foundation.• 29 March 2003 Palestinian President Yasser Arafat called on President Guido de Marco "to work inthe United Nations, Security Council and the international active forces in the world to achievesecurity, stability and coexistence in a framework of mutual trust and respect" in the Middle Eastregion. The appeal was included in a message of congratulations sent to Prof. de Marco on theoccasion of Freedom Day.• 29 March 2003 Justice and Local Government Minister Austin Gatt inaugurated the first publicinternet access point. The internet point is available from the phone booth next to the Malta-EUInformation Centre, in Republic Street in Valletta. 100 more points are planned to be set up in thecoming months. This project is being set up in conjunction with MIC, Bank of Valletta, Maltapost andMegabyte.• 29 March 2003 Agriculture Minister Ninu Zammit said that a thorough reform was needed inagriculture so that it would remain sustainable. Part of the cost would be borne by the European Unionif Malta became a member, he said, as it would be pumping Lm6 million a year into the sector in thefirst three years of membership. Minister Zammit was speaking at the inauguration of variousrestructuring projects carried out at the Ghammieri Centre for Agricultural Development andResearch.• 29 March 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg announced that Bank of Valletta and the Libyan ArabForeign Bank are in ‘contacts and consultations’ regarding the establishment of a joint financialinstitution. Inaugurating new premises for the Voice of the Mediterranean in Birkirkara, Dr Borg saidthat this was a model of creative co-operation between Malta and Libya and such endeavours shouldcontinue and improve.• 29 March 2003 Two new ultrasound machines were entered into service at St Luke's Hospital,representing an investment of Lm110,000. The machines were inaugurated by Health Minister LouisDeguara, who said that the new equipment would be replacing machines that had been in use for over14 years.• 29 March 2003 The Chairman of Air Malta, Louis Grech, said that the airline would do its utmost tokeep fares low and resist the increases necessitated by the sharp rise in costs resulting mainly from thewar in Iraq. He said that Air Malta needed to come up with innovative offers and possibly relax itsbooking rules in order to stimulate jaded demand. Mr Grech was speaking at the inauguration of the10th edition of Amitex, Air Malta's International Travel Exhibition being held at the Trade FairGrounds, in Naxxar.• 30 March 2003 The Prime Minister inaugurated the IKONOS information and technologycommunication control centre at the Malta Centre for Restoration at Bighi. Maltese students will,through technology set up in the centre, be joined by students from ten Universities and Institutes from

Scotland, the Netherlands, Jordan, Greece, Algeria, Cyprus, Tunisia and Morocco. Dr Fenech-Adamisaid that he was proud that such a project was based in Malta and that the first lesson on culturalheritage and conservation via distance learning was being delivered from Malta.• 30 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that the Government had embarked on aprogramme to make the necessary changes to income tax. "Income tax reform has started and willcontinue. Not so long ago, the top income tax rate of 65 per cent was reduced to 35 per cent. Tax oninvestment earnings has been cut to 15 per cent. The reform will continue.” Dr Fenech-Adami wasreacting to recommendations made by the Federation of Industries on tax reform.• 30 March 2003 In its quarterly report on Malta just published, the Economist Intelligence Unit notesthat there has been a gradual pick-up in Malta's economic growth. This growth, said the report, isexpected to continue in 2003 and accelerate in 2004 if Malta joins the EU. This recovery will bemainly driven by export growth in the electronics sector, as economic conditions in the majorindustrialised countries return to a higher rate of growth. The report argues that the abandonment ofEU membership would deal a severe blow to Malta's credibility.• 30 March 2003 Statistics relayed by Economic Services Minister Josef Bonnici show that averagemanufacturing sales increased from Lm790 million for the period 1997-1998 to Lm2,002 millionbetween 1999 and 2002. For the same period, average annual exports shot up from Lm670 million toLm912 million, average annual investment from Lm24.2 million to Lm47.8 million, and averageannual foreign direct investment from Lm67 million to Lm143 million. Prof. Bonnici was speakingduring a news conference.• 31 March 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami described the past four-and-a-half years ascharacterised by harmony between the social partners. He stressed that the model of involving civilsociety in the decision-making process through the Malta Council for Economic and SocialDevelopment and the EU membership negotiations structures as having proved very successful andthat the country was now reaping the fruit of those policies. Dr Fenech-Adami was addressing apolitical activity.APRIL• 1 April 2003 President Guido de Marco and Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami took part in theremembrance ceremony at the foot of the Freedom Monument in Vittoriosa to mark the 24 thanniversary of Freedom Day. President de Marco inspected a guard-of-honour and later made his way,together with Dr Fenech-Adami, up the rugged slope leading to the monument where the two leaderslaid flowers. Festivities in Gozo were cancelled because of bad weather.• 1 April 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that the negotiation process with the EU hadtaught the Government a very important lesson. “The EU taught us how to work with civil society andinvolve organisations in the decision-making process. It was a lesson we learnt and we shall continuedoing this when elected to government, irrespective of the political beliefs of those involved in theseorganisations,” Dr Fenech-Adami said. The Prime Minister was speaking during a press conference.• 1 April 2003 Finance Minister John Dalli said that a new Government would again raise income taxceilings so that people would pay less tax. “We have long been saying that we want to have anefficient tax collection system so that we can reduce income tax across the board. We have starteddoing that and will continue to do it,” Mr Dalli said.• 1 April 2003 Marsa won the open competition in the Freedom Day Regatta held in Grand Harbour.The Marsa oarsmen amassed a total of 70 points to win the Open Shield. Senglea came second with 44points, and Marsamxett third with 32. The Under-23 Shield was won by Marsamxett with 68 points.Senglea came second with 48 points, and Cospicua third with 40 points. Vittoriosa, Cospicua, Kalkara,Marsamxett, Marsa and Sengles take part in the regatta.• 2 April 2003 Malta aligned itself with an EU Statement delivered in the 59 th Session of the UnitedNations Commission on Human Rights, held in Geneva. The EU calls for a rapid advance in thePalestinian reform process that will enhance democracy and respect for human rights. The EUemphasised “the need to reinvigorate the Middle East Peace Process though the immediate

publication and implementation of the roadmap as endorsed by the Quartet on 20 December 2002 inWashington.”• 2 April 2003 The Richmond Foundation will use two apartments put at its disposal by the HousingAuthority to offer a more independent way of life to clients with mental health problems. DeputyPrime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, who visited the apartments in Fgura with Housing AuthorityChairman Marisa Micallef Leyson, said that assistance in connection with mental health amounted toalmost Lm200,000 during this legislature, “and has enabled a number of individuals to live within thecommunity in a dignified manner”.• 2 April 2003 Justice Minister Austin Gatt and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said that many ofthe proposals on fighting drug trafficking being put forward by the Party in opposition have alreadybeen implemented. Dr Gatt said that the drugs court being proposed has been functioning for severalyears and drug cases were being heard by a particular magistrate. Dr Gatt said the system has beengiving good results and there were 316 pending drug-related cases before Magistrate LawrenceQuintano.• 2 April 2003 Tourism Minister Michael Refalo said the number of cruise liner passengers calling atMalta last year was estimated at around 340,000, a 30 per cent increase over 2001. Dr Refalo said thatin his opinion, facilitating access to Valletta was a top priority. Valletta had much to offer in the wayof attractions, and visitors should be given every opportunity to spend their money there and get a tasteof the different experiences. Dr Refalo was speaking at a seminar intended to bring together all thestakeholders connected with the business of establishing Malta as a port of call.• 2 April 2003 Economic Services Minister Josef Bonnici inaugurated the German factory HotsetHeizpatronen und Zubehoer GmbH. The factory produces electrical heating elements for industrialapplications. Prof. Bonnici highlighted the short lead-time from the original inquiry by Hotset to theofficial inauguration of its factory at Hal Far which, he said, was in fully-fledged production in lessthan a year.• 2 April 2003 The Government announced that it will not be adjusting the price of local oil productsover the next three months because of the ‘abnormal’ and ‘exceptional’ circumstances created by thewar in Iraq. This means that the price of diesel, unleaded petrol, lead replacement petrol and kerosenewill remain unchanged. Last year, the Government had begun to apply a formula through which theprices of oil products were made to reflect the fluctuations in the price of oil on the internationalmarket. The formula was first put into practice in April 2002 and since then has been applied everythree months.• 2 April 2003 Enemalta Corporation launched a new interactive website. The site, which has been inpreparation for the past months, is aimed at better informing customers about the corporation's latestnews and about energy related matters. It contains information relating to the energy products andservices provided by the corporation, namely electricity, petroleum and gas. The website address iswww.enemalta.com.mt• 2 April 2003 The Malta Tourism Authority office in Moscow, together with 14 Maltese travelcompanies and seven Moscow-based tour operators, held a workshop in which over 600 Russian tradeprofessionals took part. The workshop, which was preceded by a press conference conducted by theDirector of MTA's Moscow office, Anthony Caruana, and the Maltese Ambassador for Russia, JosephCassar, launched a new 52-page Malta brochure.• 3 April 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami visited Baxter Malta and was given a tour of thefactory by Managing Director Sergio Vella. Parent company Baxter International Inc. has embarkedon a project involving the construction of a second factory, Biodome Malta, which will be producingsophisticated products for the pharmaceutical market. Dr Fenech-Adami congratulated Baxter for theirsuccess and admitted he was very impressed with the standards achieved by the company. During hisvisit, Dr Fenech-Adami was accompanied by Economic Services Minister Josef Bonnici and FOIPresident Anton Borg.• 3 April 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami stressed that, following the signing of the EUmembership treaty on April 16, Malta would be strengthening its neutrality. Malta's status ofneutrality would be included in the accession treaty and would be recognised by the other memberstates of the EU. The Prime Minister was addressing a press conference.

• 3 April 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that, in the EU Malta could grow. “We wantto create job opportunities, to have better conditions of work and better wages which would also meanbetter pensions,” said Dr Fenech-Adami. The Prime Minister was speaking at Gzira.• 3 April 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that it would benefit Malta to startparticipating in meetings for smaller EU member states such as that taking place in Luxembourgbetween the leaders of Austria, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Portugal."Such meetings would be useful for us not only to safeguard our interests but also to establish acommon position among smaller countries,” he said.• 3 April 2003 Health Minister Louis Deguara inaugurated the newly refurbished M6 ward at St Luke'sHospital. The ward was the last that needed refurbishment in the north wing of the Department ofMedicine where many reforms have taken place and where many wards offer specialised services fordiabetics, respiratory ailments, as well as renal, intestinal and cardiac illnesses. "All this is leading tomore longevity which in turn increases the demand for hospital services," Dr Deguara said.• 3 April 2003 The President and Mrs de Marco distributed Malta Community Chest Fund financial aid,specialised apparatus, and white goods to various Gozitan philanthropic institutions and individuals inneed. The presentation, amounting to Lm3,473, was held at Lourdes Home, Gozo. Seventeen personsand four institutions benefited from the donations.• 3 April 2003 According to the first National Health Survey, three-quarters of the Maltese rate theirquality of life as good or very good and a similar number of people are satisfied with their health andwith themselves. The data was collected through a self-assessment questionnaire sent to 5,510individuals aged 16 and over. The survey was conducted between January and March 2000 and theresults were published by the Department of Health. Health Minister Louis Deguara said that theresults provided valuable evidence on which policy could be formulated.• 4 April 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami visited St Vincent de Paul Residence in Luqa andwas given a rousing welcome by the elderly as he toured the works being undertaken there. Dr Fenech-Adami said: "It's important to keep providing the elderly with the dignity they deserve." He added that,while it was important for the Government to provide the elderly with the necessary financial means, itwas equally important to give them the best service. Dr Fenech-Adami was accompanied by theParliamentary Secretary responsible for the Elderly, Antoine Mifsud Bonnici.• 4 April 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami inaugurated the new promenade at St Julian's,putting the final seal on a completely renovated two-and-a-half kilometre walkway. Resources andInfrastructure Minister Francis Zammit Dimech who accompanied the Prime Minister said that theGovernment had carried out projects at Marsaxlokk, Birzebbuga, Gzira, Sliema and St Julian's at a costof Lm11 million• 4 April 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg participated in the session of the Parliamentary Assembly ofthe Council of Europe, held in Starsbourg. During his stay in Strasbourg Minister Joe Borg, in hiscapacity as Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, also held separatebilateral meetings with Dragoljub Micunovic, President of the Parliament of Serbia and Montenegro andSimeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha, Prime Minister of Bulgaria during which the respective countries’participation and role within the Council of Europe was discussed.• 4 April 2003 Infrastructure Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that the present Government knewthat in the coming three years it was going to have at its disposal Lm37 million a year from the EU andItaly. Dr Zammit Dimech said that, with EU assistance, the Government would build three sewagetreatment plants and close down the Maghtab and Qortin rubbish dumps.• 4 April 2003 Finance Minister John Dalli said that the Government's programme of reducing itsfinancial deficit was on target. He said that the Government had halved the deficit it had found it 1998:"I can confirm that our programme to continue reducing the budget deficit is firmly on target andprogressing better than anticipated. A new Government will reduce the budget deficit to less than threeper cent of GDP by 2005," Mr Dalli said.• 4 April 2003 Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Ninu Zammit said that farmers' income from the sale offruit and vegetables at the Pitkalija market in 2002 had increased by 6.4 per cent over the previous year,to Lm7.8 million. In under a year farmers and herdsmen had also received more than Lm3.4 million indirect aid from the Government, said the Minister. Mr Zammit was addressing farmers in Rabat.

• 4 April 2003 Tourism Minister Michael Refalo said that Malta's niche market for teaching English lastyear had soared by 10 per cent over 2001 despite the ‘fear of travel syndrome’ which kicked in after the11 th September 2001 terrorist attacks. Dr Refalo said that an overwhelming 57,630 students studyingEnglish had visited Malta and Gozo last year. The Minister made his comments at the Ministry, wherehe announced a reduction in licence fees for host families that accommodated up to two students.• 4 April 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea said that an effort to further reduce the illiteracy rateneeded to be made. Although 11.2 per cent of the population were unable to read or write, only two percent of young people under 20 were defined as being illiterate, he said. Dr Galea was speaking at theopening of a new literacy centre at the Robert Samut Hall, in Floriana.• 4 April 2003 The Government reiterated its commitment to find alternative employment for 160 ofMaltapost's ex-government employees. The pledge was made at a reconciliation meeting that dealt withissues that are pending between the Union Haddiema Maghqudin and Maltapost. The meeting wasattended by representatives of the Government, the Company, and the Union.• 4 April 2003 MAS Communications has published the ‘Travel Trade Directory 2003’ on behalf of AirMalta. The directory contains sections on all essential tourist interests in Malta, such as history, culture,entertainment, beaches and cuisine. The directory section gives details of goods and services offered inMalta and related to the tourism market, from accommodation and restaurants to scuba diving andlanguage schools.• 5 April 2003 President Guido de Marco said that the Maltese were strongly against any form ofviolence. Addressing a news conference on his fourth anniversary as President, Prof. de Marco said hehad read with interest the message by the Bishops issued this week appealing to everyone, particularlythose in influential positions, to ensure that their behaviour always fostered peace and the value of unity.He said that although there were substantial divisions on certain issues in the country, consensus existedon fundamental values such as the sentiment against any form of violence.• 5 April 2003 Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg inaugurated a new correctional complex behind theexisting prisons. Minister Borg said that works on the new complex, which cost more than Lm5.5million, included a new gatehouse, the YOURS (Young Offenders Rehabilitation Service) wing, a newkitchen, a boiler-house and a security fence. It includes 144 cells with all the facilities one expects in amodern prison, a new hall for visits by family members, and a complex of offices that can be used bythe hospital administration. The system, Dr Borg said, was aimed at respecting the human dignity ofeach prisoner.• 5 April 2003 Economic Services Minister Josef Bonnici said that Australian pharmaceutical firmStarpharma is to start operating from a factory at Hal Far in June. Prof. Bonnici told The Timesnewspaper that Starpharma has already recruited its managerial staff and will initially have a staffcomplement of 25. That complement is envisaged to rise to around 60 employees in the next few years.• 5 April 2003 The incinerator at St Luke's Hospital is to be replaced within the next six months with asystem that uses a combination of shredding to reduce the volume and microwaves to sterilise theclinical waste. Details of the contract, awarded to Maltese company Serrabico Medical Supplies Ltd,were given to the media at a press conference attended by Health Minister Louis Deguara, DirectorGeneral for Health Ray Busuttil, and several mayors from localities near the hospital.• 6 April 2003 The leaders of the two main political parties in Malta pledged to accept the results of theGeneral Election according to the Constitution. Both Nationalist Party Leader Edward Fenech-Adamiand Labour Leader Alfred Sant agreed that they will abide by what the Constitution says when assessingwhich party wins the election. The leaders also appealed for calm and a relaxed attitude in the last dayspreceding the poll and afterwards. Dr Fenech-Adami and Dr Sant were taking part in a radio debateorganised jointly by PBS and RTK, the Church-owned radio. The debate was held at the RTK studio inBlata l-Bajda.• 6 April 2003 Thousands of students thronged Republic Street, Valletta, from the early hours of themorning to register for the latest versions of original Microsoft software at a nominal price. MinisterAustin Gatt, who is responsible for e-government, said that through the move, which followed anagreement between the Government and Microsoft, Maltese students would be saving Lm40 million enbloc. Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami, who took his grandson to Valletta to register for the

software, said that, although he had no doubt that many would be taking advantage of the offer, he didnot expect such a huge response.• 7 April 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that the General Election would be importantnot just to choose who will be in government for the next five years but also to ensure that the decisiontaken on 8 March is respected and Malta joins the EU. The Prime Minister said that the first thing hewill do, if elected, would be to go to Athens and sign the Accession Treaty on behalf of the people ofMalta. Dr Fenech-Adami was addressing a political activity at Floriana.• 7 April 2003 The Maltese Government was briefed in preparation for the signing ceremony of the EUaccession treaty to take place in Athens on April 16. The Government was informed that the EUacceding countries, including Malta, would be given the status of observer member states. TheGovernment was also informed that it would be represented in the meetings of the EU Council ofMinisters and other high-level EU meetings taking place between the signing of the accession treaty andactual membership on 1 st May 2004.• 7 April 2003 Independent Canadian film-company Forum Films will be in Malta at the beginning ofJune for a six-day shoot for the movie ‘A Different Loyalty’, starring Sharon Stone and Rupert Everett.Location work will also be carried out in Montreal, London and Moscow.• 8 April 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that the past four and a half years had seen thecountry, its industry and businesses upgrade. This, said the Prime Minister, had created an atmospherewhere everyone was ready to grab the opportunities that would ensue once Malta joined the EU. Hesaid: "EU membership could not have come at a better time. Globalisation is a reality which isthreatening everyone and Malta has a new tool, EU membership, to help it survive and prosper." DrFenech-Adami was addressing a press conference about the state of the economy.• 8 April 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that Malta was going through a historicmoment that should have united the people. "The decision to hold the referendum on Malta's EUmembership was taken precisely to detach this important issue from political partisanship. But this didnot materialise and we are now on the eve of the election and still asking whether the people want toconsolidate the decision taken in the March referendum. This is a misfortune for our country," he said.Dr Fenech-Adami was participating in a discussion at Students’ House, Tal-Qroqq.• 8 April 2003 The Prime Minister officially opened the new extension to the Government's Zejtun Homefor the Elderly. The new extension cost nearly Lm1 million, and has increased the bed capacity of thehome from 60 to 160 beds. Dr Fenech-Adami praised CareMalta, the private company entrusted withthe operation of the government home, for having completed the extension in a record time of fivemonths and five days.• 8 April 2003 According to sources close to the European Commission in Brussels, Malta stands tobenefit by an additional Lm9 million, to a total of Lm90 million for the first three years of EUmembership. This means that Malta's net funds from the European Union for the years 2004-2006 willgo up by one-ninth from the Lm81 million gained under the accession agreement. The funds are to comeout of the 'transition facility' established by Article 34 of the Accession Treaty.• 8 April 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Housing Authority Chairman Marisa MicallefLeyson, and Sapport's CEO, Marcel Pisani, visited a house in Cospicua that the Housing Authority isoffering at subsidised rent to the Sapport Agency. The house will provide residential supported-living topersons with severe disability. During the past two years, the Ministry for Social Policy, working incollaboration with NGOs in the sector, has been responsible for opening up seven residential facilitiesfor persons with disability.• 8 April 2003 Justice and Local Government Minister Austin Gatt, in co-operation with Go Mobile andVodafone, launched M-government. Dr Gatt said that Malta became the first country to providegovernment services via mobile phone. These services include examination results, notifications of courtdeferrals, renewal notifications for trade licences, Malta Tourism Authority licences, Malta MaritimeAuthority licences, and Public Transport Authority licences. "M-government was the natural step afterlaunching e-government, as mobile phones are more widely diffused than computers," Dr Gatt said.• 8 April 2003 Economic Services Ministry Josef Bonnici visited DI Ltd at the Mosta Technopark to viewan extension to the factory. The company designs and manufactures state-of-the-art point-of-saleterminals for credit cards, distributing them to Europe and, lately, also South America. Prof. Bonnici

said that Malta was succeeding in attracting companies that produced complex products and required amix of skilled and qualified employees, led by competent Maltese managers.• 9 April 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami toured the Hilton Malta Conference Centre anddescribed it as a true example of the private sector's high-level efforts to upgrade Malta through hugeinvestments. This, said the Prime Minister, was a testimony of the efficiency, professionalism andcapabilities of the Maltese. Tourism Minister Michael Refalo and Hilton Malta General Manager KenMcLaren accompanied Dr Fenech-Adami on the tour.• 9 April 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that the Cirkewwa quays project, expected tocost Lm13 million, was moving ahead steadily in a bid to upgrade standards and strengthen the servicesoffered to customers that cross the channel. Dr Fenech-Adami, who visited the site accompanied byTransport Minister Censu Galea and Malta Maritime Authority Chairman Marc Bonello, said the projectwas going to provide state of the art infrastructure and the passenger terminal would offer adequateservices and security.• 9 April 2003 The European Commission said that the signing of the EU Accession Treaty by the 10acceding countries, including Malta, was scheduled to take place next week in Athens and "no other dayis foreseen for signature". In a statement, Jean Christophe Filori, the Commission's senior spokesman,denied media reports saying that a "senior official" of the Commission considered that the signing"might happen 'a few days after' the official ceremony in Athens on the 16th of April". Mr Filori saidthat such reports were pure speculation and did not reflect the position of the European Commission.• 9 April 2003 Government representatives of 16 current and future European Union member statestaking part in the European Convention, including Malta, have presented a common position opposingthe creation of a permanent EU presidency. Malta, Cyprus, Hungary, Denmark, Austria, Sweden,Latvia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Portugal, Lithuania, Estonia, Ireland, Slovenia andFinland have joined forces in their drive to influence the institutional reform within the EU. The positionpaper, entitled "Reforming the institutions: principles and premises", states that no new institutionsshould be created and the current rotating presidency system should be preserved.• 9 April 2003 The Chairman of the Malta Financial Services Authority, Joe Bannister, said in aninterview that the number of employees in the Financial Services Sector is expected to double within thenext three years if Malta joins the EU. “I can only see the sector growing and providing more jobs andopportunities if we join the EU.” Prof. Bannister said that some 6,000 people were directly employed inthe financial services sector and the MFSA itself.• 9 April 2003 Finance Minister John Dalli said that a number of measures related to the reduction orremoval of penalties linked to late submission of income tax returns and other tax-related provisions byself-employed persons have now come into force. Mr Dalli said the measures had been proposed byvarious organisations within the Malta Council for Social and Economic Development and theGovernment had taken them on board and announced them in the last budget. Now that the necessarystructures within the relative departments were in place the measures could be implemented, Mr Dallisaid.• 9 April 2003 Oracle Corporation, the largest enterprise software-company in the world, in conjunctionwith the eMalta Commission and local partner Megabyte Ltd, launched the Oracle Academic Initiativefor four institutions in the country. The University of Malta, the Malta College of Arts, Science andTechnology, the Employment and Training Corporation, and the Education Division in the Ministry ofEducation will become accredited participants in the Oracle Academic Initiative, including Oracletechnology in their teaching curricula. The announcement was made by Justice and Local GovernmentMinister Austin Gatt at a press briefing at St James Cavalier, in Valletta.• 9 April 2003 Agriculture Minister Ninu Zammit said that Maltese potatoes for export were beingcertified by an independent foreign organisation in accordance with the Europegap Protocol conditions.He said that the export market would be fully liberalised as from next year. Mr Zammit was speakingduring a visit to Ta' Qali to view the grading process of potatoes for export.• 9 April 2003 Close to Lm168,000 from the fifth Italian financial protocol will go to restore to itsoriginal splendour the chapel of Italy in St John’s Co-Cathedral, in Valletta. The agreement for thefinancing of the project was signed at St John’s Co-Cathedral by Francis Zammit Dimech, Minister forResources and Infrastructure, and by the Italian Ambassador, Alvise Memmo. The restoration will becarried out by a team led by Sante Guido.

• 9 April 2003 Minister for Resources and Infrastructure Francis Zammit Dimech said that progress hadbeen registered on a number of projects and much had been done. Dr Zammit Dimech mentioned theCottonera project, the sea passenger terminal project, Manoel Island, Fort Ricasoli, and Fort St Angelo.Dr Zammit Dimech was addressing a press conference.• 9 April 2003 Images of Malta were displayed in about 200 underground train stations in Milan as partof a poster advertising campaign being carried out by the Malta Tourism Authority's Milan office. Theposters focused on Malta's cultural heritage and its maritime attractions. An advertising campaign inItalian press magazines ran parallel to the poster campaign in Milan.• 9 April 2003 www.di-ve.com and di-vetext will be providing round-the-clock coverage from the Ta'Qali counting hall during the election weekend. The coverage of the election counting process as itunfolds will include a detailed results database, audio clips, image galleries, and reactions from thepolitical parties.• 10 April 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami toured Malta's largest factory, the new Playmobilpremises. Dr Fenech-Adami said that it was clear that the Brandstätter Group had strong faith in thefuture. To date, the group’s total investment in Malta, excluding the new factory at Hal Far, amounts toLm26 million. During his tour, Dr Fenech-Adami was accompanied by Economic Services MinisterJosef Bonnici, Peter Diacono, General Manager Administration, and Matthias Fauser, General ManagerOperations.• 10 April 2003 President of the European Parliament Pat Cox said that he did not want to be drawn intocommenting on Malta's electoral campaign. But, he said, he would be very disappointed if Malta failedto show up at Athens for the signing of the Accession Treaty on Wednesday 16 th . EU enlargement, hecontinued, would not be complete without Malta. "I fully accept this is not my judgement call, but Ibelieve that the fifth enlargement of the EU, which is predominantly Central European, will be greatlyenhanced by the two Mediterranean accession states." Mr Cox was speaking to The Times newspaper.• 10 April 2003 A report by the European Commission on the 10 acceding countries forecasts solideconomic growth of around four per cent for the acceding countries. So far as Malta is concerned, theEuropean Commission forecasts that after a marked deceleration in 2001, the Maltese economy showedsigns of a recovery in 2002, when GDP growth is estimated to have reached three per cent. And, nextyear, growth is anticipated to be about 3.7 per cent.• 10 April 2003 Tourism Minister Michael Refalo said that the directors of the Malta Tourism Authority'soverseas offices had been called to Malta for a market strategy meeting. Dr Refalo said the meetingwould tackle the adverse effect of the Iraq war on tourism. “I will be meeting overseas Directors andrevising marketing and publicity strategies,” he said. Dr Refalo was speaking at an event marking therefurbishment of a pedestrian area in High Street, Sliema.• 10 April 2003 Local Government Minister Austin Gatt said that, following a request by the MaltaUnion of Teachers, Microsoft of the US had agreed to extend its offer to provide subsidised copies oforiginal Microsoft software to all Maltese teachers. Over 7,000 teachers can now register to takeadvantage of the offer.• 10 April 2003 The Maltacom Group announced a pre-tax profit of Lm13.5 million for 2002, an increaseof 2.7 per cent over the previous year. Figures released by the Group showed all-round increases:turnover up by 7.5 per cent to Lm54.6 million, while earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation andamortisation were up by 5.3 per cent to Lm21.8 million. The operating profit increased by 1.8 per centto Lm14.3 million. Commenting on the results, Maltacom's Chairman Maurice Zarb Adami said theseresults were obtained in spite of the adverse global economic pressures of the past two years.• 10 April 2003 The National Statistics Office said that total imports in the first two months of this yearhad increased by Lm23.8 million, or 13.6 per cent, to Lm199.2 million from Lm175.4 million last year.Total exports, amounting to Lm140.7 million, were practically at last year's level, the NSO said. In thefirst two months this year, the visible trade gap widened by Lm23.6 million to Lm58.5 million, fromLm34.9 million in the same period last year.• 10 April 2003 A statement released by the Department of Information said that the department would bepublishing the official results of the General Election on its website www.doi.gov.mt

• 11 April 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami appointed Anthony Vella Permanent Secretary atthe Ministry of Health.• 11 April 2003 Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said that the Government is willing to give all therequired assistance to Iraqi refugees in Malta who wished to be repatriated. He said that the Governmentwould be ready to foot the bill and issue the necessary documentation. The Minister was addressing aCouncil of Europe conference on ‘Migration in the Mediterranean: prospects for the future’.• 11 April 2003 Tourism Minister Michael Refalo said that direct incentives are among the initiatives tobe considered by an ad hoc committee that will be set up by the Malta Tourism Authority with the aimof suggesting how it can bring about a revival in bookings as a result of the war in Iraq. He said that theMalta Hotels and Restaurant Association and Air Malta would be invited to sit on the committee. Ameeting with the directors of overseas MTA offices focused on the overall strategy for tourism.• 11 April 2003 Delegates at a session of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in theMediterranean (CSCM) unanimously approved Malta's proposal for the setting up of a ParliamentaryAssembly of Mediterranean states. The meeting was held in Santiago.• 12 April 2003 Nearly 292,000 voters are eligible to go to the polls today to elect a government that willdetermine not only which party is to govern, but also establish the Island's relations with the EuropeanUnion. A total of 178 candidates will be contesting the election: 84 for the PN, 77 for the MLP, 15 forAlternattiva Demokratika, one Independent, and one for Ghal Gid ta' Ghawdex.• 12 April 2003 Twenty Maltese companies took part in the 32nd edition of the Tripoli International Fair.Participation in the event was organised by the Malta External Trade Corporation (METCO) inconjunction with its representative office and the Malta Embassy in Libya. Products on offer in the 220square metre Malta pavilion include auto parts, foodstuffs, textiles, stationery products and business andIT consultancy. Representatives of Malta Drydocks/Shipbuilding, Bank of Valletta, Air Malta, LibyanArab Maltese Holding Company and METCO were also present.• 13 April 2003 President and Mrs Guido de Marco voted at Dun Frans Camilleri Primary School inHamrun. Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami, accompanied by Mrs Fenech-Adami, voted atBirkirkara Primary School, as did Opposition Leader Alfred Sant. Alternattiva Demokratika ChairmanHarry Vassallo, accompanied by his wife Susanna, voted at the Government Primary School in Sliema.• 14 April 2003 The electorate cemented its ‘yes’ vote in last month's EU referendum by returning theNationalist Party to government with a majority of 51.79 per cent. Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that the result heralded a ‘new spring ahead’ for Malta. Speaking from a balcony at partyheadquarters, Dr Fenech-Adami said that he was convinced that the population would unite in thecoming weeks and months to secure the best future for the country.• 14 April 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami augured that the country would now move aheadtogether and envisaged a time of unity. Dr Fenech-Adami said that he expected that EU membershipwould no longer remain a reason for political divide and that the country's political parties would start tofocus on ‘everyday’ issues again - issues that would differentiate the parties, but not to such a radicalextent as EU membership. Dr Fenech-Adami was speaking following a visit to the Ta' Qali countinghall.• 14 April 2003 The Chairman of the European People's Party in the European Parliament, Hans-GertPoettering, was the first international leader to congratulate Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami. "Itis indeed a pleasure for me to express on behalf of the EPP-ED Group and on my own behalf our mostheartfelt congratulations on your success in the general election," Mr Poettering said. He added that theelection results had confirmed for a second time the decision of the people of Malta in favour of joiningthe EU.• 14 April 2003 British Prime Minister Tony Blair congratulated Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adamion winning office for the fourth time. In a letter to Dr Fenech-Adami immediately after the result wasout, Mr Blair said that he would like to express his best wishes to the Prime Minister for hisconfirmation in office ‘on top of the referendum victory of last month’. The British Prime Minister toldDr Fenech-Adami: "I look forward to working closely with you to strengthen further the unbreakableties between Malta and the United Kingdom." Prime Minister Tony Blair’s letter of congratulations canbe seen at www.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/congrats.asp

• 14 April 2003 The Malta Maritime Pilots Co-operative Society Ltd has been set up. The agreement wasreached following discussions between the Malta Maritime Authority, the Ministry for Transport andCommunication, and pilots' representatives, and came about following years of attempts to restructurethe corps that ran both the mooring men and pilots.• 15 April 2003 Dr Edward Fenech-Adami was sworn-in as Prime Minister by President Guido de Marcoat the Palace, in Valletta. The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Dr Fenech-Adami’s wife Mary,his children and his grandchildren. Present for the swearing-in ceremony were Chief Justice Vincent DeGaetano, Attorney General Anthony Borg Barthet and Civil Service Head Joseph R Grima, as well asthe Prime Minister’s long-time Personal Assistant, Richard Cachia Caruana. A video and audiorecording of the Prime Minister’s swearing-in can be accessed atwww.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/newspageaudio2.aspEvent photos can be viewed at www.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/eventsphotos%20-%20pm%20swearing-in.asp• 15 April 2003 Following the swearing in-ceremony, Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami went toAuberge de Castille from where he saluted the crowds assembled in the square below. A videorecording of the Prime Minister at Auberge de Castille can be viewed atwww.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/newspageaudio6.aspEvent photos can be viewed at www.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/eventsphotos%20-%20pm%20at%20castille1.asp• 15 April 2003 The Prime Minister insisted that his new administration would be a government foreverybody, seeking to create solidarity and generate wealth in the country. In his televised Address tothe Nation, following the swearing-in ceremony at the Palace, Dr Fenech-Adami invited everyone toforget the past and look ahead. He promised that he would do his utmost to ensure the new Governmenthad everyone’s co-operation – including that of the Opposition. A video and audio recording of thePrime Minister’s speech can be accessed atwww.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/newspageaudio5.asp• 15 April 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami received various messages of congratulations.The European Commission and the European Parliament welcomed the ‘double confirmation’ ofMalta’s choice to join the EU. European Commission President Romano Prodi referred to the PrimeMinister’s electoral triumph: “Your success conveys a clear message by the Maltese people. It isconfirmation of the willingness of Malta to join the enlarging EU, already expressed in the accessionreferendum held on March 8.” And European Parliament President Pat Cox said that he looked forwardto Malta signing the accession treaty in Athens.• 15 April 2003 Dr Fenech-Adami also received messages of congratulations from British ForeignSecretary Jack Straw who said that he was delighted that the General Election had confirmed Malta’sdestiny as a member of the EU, to her own benefit and that of Europe as a whole. Messages ofcongratulations to the Prime Minister on his election victory can be viewed atwww.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/congrats.asp• 15 April 2003 Finnish Foreign Trade and European Affairs Minister Jari Vilen told Foreign MinisterJoe Borg that he was ‘delighted’ to hear about the election result in Malta. “As the northernmost countryof the EU, we are very pleased to have Malta, a new southernmost country, entering the Union nextyear,” he said.• 16 April 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami appointed a Cabinet of 13 members whichincludes two new faces and some changes in ministerial portfolios during a swearing-in ceremonypresided over by President Guido de Marco at the Palace, in Valletta.. Four MPs were also appointedParliamentary Secretaries for the first time. Audio and video recording of the swearing-in can beaccessed atwww.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/video+audiorecording%20%2015.04.03%20gurament%20talhatra%20.aspAn audio recording of the Prime Minister addressing members of the press following the swearing-inceremony can be accessed atwww.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/audiorecording%20%2015.04.03%20departure%20to%20athens%20.asp• 16 April 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami left Malta for Athens where he will be signingMalta's EU Accession Treaty. Dr Fenech-Adami will join leaders of the other nine acceding countries at

the Acropolis to sign the treaty in a historic ceremony that is expected to be viewed by millionsthroughout Europe. Foreign Affairs Minister Joe Borg and Chief Negotiator Richard Cachia Caruanawill also sign the treaty. President Guido de Marco will witness the signing. An audio recording of thecomments made by the Prime Minister prior to his departure for Athens can be accessed atwww.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/newspageaudio7.asp• 16 April 2003 The 61 st anniversary of the presentation of the George Cross to Malta for withstandingthe Axis siege of the Second World War was marked at the foot of the Siege Bell Memorial, near theLower Barrakka Gardens, in Valletta. The remembrance ceremony was organised by the George CrossIsland Association. President Guido de Marco, patron of the GCIZ Malta Branch, and former PresidentCensu Tabone, Chairman, were among those who attended.• 16 April 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami received messages of congratulation on hiselectoral victory from EU Enlargement Commissioner Günter Verheugen, Dutch Prime Minister JanPeter Balkenende, and the Secretary of the Libyan General People's Committee, Eng. Imarak AbdallahAsh-Shamekh.• 16 April 2003 A Malta supplement aimed specifically at travel agents was recently published anddistributed by Travel Weekly, the UK's leading travel trade newspaper, on the initiative of the MaltaTourism Authority's London office. The supplement contains information on the Maltese Islands,including history and heritage, dive sites, short breaks, getting around, spa treatments, weddings, sportsand accommodation. Travel Weekly has a readership of 72,000 and is the most widely distributed traveltrade publication in the UK.• 16 April 2003 Heritage Malta is participating in this year’s Spring of Museums, a Europe-wideinitiative aimed at increasing public awareness of the rich collections and cultural experience ofMuseums. Malta will be joining in the initiative with two events: an open day at two museums inVittoriosa, and a children’s treasure hunt. The full European programme of Spring of Museums can beviewed at http://printempsdesmusees.culture.fr• 17 April 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami signed the historic European Union accessiontreaty in Athens, sealing the Maltese people's wish to see their country join the European family on 1 stMay 2004. Dr Fenech-Adami took his turn at the podium to make a short speech in Maltese before theassembled leaders and top officials of the European Commission and the Greek European presidency.In his speech, he emphasised Malta's European heritage and its people's European sense of identity. DrFenech-Adami was also outward looking, stressing the EU's important role in the Mediterranean andMiddle East. It was the first time that Maltese has been used as one of the EU's official languages. ThePrime Minister and Foreign Minister Joe Borg then signed the treaty on Malta's behalf, with PresidentGuido de Marco witnessing the occasion. The Chairman of the EU Core Negotiating Group, RichardCachia Caruana, also put his signature on the treaty. The spectacular signing ceremony was held at thefoot of the Acropolis, symbol of the world's first democracy.Maltese and English versions of the Prime Minister’s speech, video and audio recordings of theceremony, as well as event photos, can be accessed atwww.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/newspageaudioathens3.asp• 17 April 2003 The leaders of the new member states, alongside Mr Simitis, Mr Prodi and EnlargementCommissioner Gunther Verheugen, addressed a joint press conference. Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami again spoke in Maltese with simultaneous translation for the benefit of other leaders and thejournalists present. He said that the Maltese consider the EU to be ‘our home’ and added that they wereproud to see their country joining the Union. Dr Fenech-Adami said: "Malta will enhance theMediterranean dimension of the EU and will work in the interest of the Maltese people and for thecommon interest of the people of the Union."• 17 April 2003 European Embassies and the Representative of the European Union Commission inMalta welcomed Malta to the EU in a joint statement in which they saluted the signing of the EUaccession treaty by 10 prospective members. The Embassies said: "Due to its ancient culture, its deeproots in democracy and the rule of law, as well as to its position in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea,Malta will add fresh ideas and further enthusiasm to our joint work to build Europe together." They saidthat they looked forward to working in partnership with Malta to strengthen stability and prosperity inEurope and finding solutions together.• 17 April 2003 The National Statistics Office said that total manufacturing turnover increased by 0.11per cent or Lm1.1 million between 2001 and 2002, after having decreased by 14.76 per cent or Lm171.5

million between 2000 and 2001. In the 2001 – 2002 period, increases were registered in printing andpublishing (Lm9.6 million) and in the textiles industry (Lm7.6 million). In the same period, radio, TVand telecommunications registered a decrease in total sales of Lm16 million (3.37 per cent) as did thetobacco industry, with a decrease of Lm5.7 million (15.88 per cent).• 19 April 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said on his arrival from Athens that the signing ofthe EU accession treaty by Malta was only the launching pad for a series of opportunities. He said thatthe country now had to see how to use these opportunities to its best benefit. The delegation, headed byPresident Guido de Marco and including Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami and Foreign MinisterJoe Borg, was greeted at the airport by members of the respective families, Ministers, ParliamentarySecretaries, and Nationalist MPs.An audio recording of the Prime Minister addressing the press on his return from Athens can be found atwww.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/audiorecording%20%2017.04.03%20arrival%20from%20athens%20.aspEvent photos can be accessed atwww.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/eventsphotos%20-%20pmarrival%20main.asp• 19 April 2003 Letters congratulating Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami on Malta's signing of theEU accession treaty included messages from Gerhard Schröder, Chancellor of the Federal Republic ofGermany; Wen Jiabao, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China; Mikhail M.Kasyanov, chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation; the Commonwealth Secretariat; M.Aziz, secretary general of the Islamic World Studies Centre; Edmund Stoiber from the Christian SocialUnion in Munich; Friedbert Pflüger, foreign affairs spokesman of the CDU/SCU parliamentary group inthe Bundestag; and Einars Repse, Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia.• 19 April 2003 President Guido de Marco said that Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami and ForeignAffairs Minister Joe Borg had signed the EU accession treaty on his behalf as President of all theMaltese. "People have decided and we respect their decision while looking ahead to the future. Maltabelongs to all of us. We look ahead with courage and good will."• 19 April 2003 According to figures released by the National Statistics Office, in the course of last year,gross earnings from tourism reached Lm246.3 million, a decline of Lm14.5 million or 5.6 per cent over2001. In the period January-December 2002, tourism earnings per capita decreased by Lm3.70 toLm217.20 from Lm220.90 a year earlier.• 19 April 2003 The National Statistics Office said that, according to the Household Budgetary Surveycarried out between March 2000 and March 2001, households earned an average of Lm8,202 indisposable income annually. A quarter of those who completed a post-graduate level of studies earnedLm8,001 or more. Of those who had no formal education, none earned more than Lm4,000.• 19 April 2003 The national events of the week following the general election have been posted on thewebsite of the Department of Information at www.doi.gov.mt The site contains the complete results ofthe general election; video/audio/photographic records of the swearing-in of the Prime Minister,Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries; as well as the signing of the EU accession treaty by the PrimeMinister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Athens.• 20 April 2003 Following Malta’s accession to the EU, the Government will be expected to make itsnomination for the prestigious post of EU Commissioner. The Government will also have to appointMalta's Permanent Representative in Brussels. This is a new posting that will replace that of Malta'sAmbassador in Brussels.• 20 April 2003 Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that he expected Parliament to be convenedearly next month to start debating the ratification of Malta's EU accession treaty. He said, however, thatcasual elections have first to be held to bring the 65-member House of Representatives to its fullstrength. Dr Gonzi was speaking to The Sunday Times newspaper.• 20 April 2003 The Italian cruise liner MV Rhapsody brought her first group of tourists to GrandHarbour. In a press conference on board liner, Hamilton Travel Managing Director Norman announcedthat between May and September MV Rhapsody would be bringing around 1,000 visitors to Malta aweek, totalling 18,000 passengers. Transport and Communications Minister Censu Galea attended thepress conference and said that the Government was committed to make Malta an integral part of thecruise liner network.

• 21 April 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami started a short holiday in the UK accompanied byMrs Fenech-Adami. Dr Lawrence Gonzi is Acting Prime Minister.• 22 April 2003 The Governor of the Central Bank of Malta, Michael C. Bonello, underlined the need fora reassessment of the welfare system, with a view to moving away from universal schemes to focus onfulfilling genuine needs and to reward work. Mr Bonello made his comments in a statementaccompanying the Central Bank annual report for 2002.• 22 April 2003 The National Statistics Office said that registered unemployment with the Employmentand Training Corporation in March this year was 7,564, down by 143 from 7,707 the previous month.The figure for March also marks a drop of 161 when compared to the same month last year, the NSOsaid.• 22 April 2003 The Valletta Rehabilitation Project of the Resources and Infrastructure Ministry, and theDeputy Mayor of Rhodes, Lee Miniadis, signed an agreement covering various fields of research andcollaboration on conservation projects. The agreement, signed for the VRP by Co-ordinator Ray Bondin,also covers various initiatives that will be financed by the European Union.• 23 April 2003 American President George W. Bush sent a message of congratulation to Prime MinisterEdward Fenech-Adami following his April 12 electoral victory. Mr Bush said that he was grateful to DrFenech-Adami and the Maltese people for the support to the US Sixth Fleet and efforts to combat globalterrorism.• 23 April 2003 Health Director General Ray Busuttil announced that passengers arriving at MaltaInternational Airport from countries at high risk of the SARS virus would not be allowed into thecountry until they contact the airport medical services. As from today the passport control office will bestopping anybody arriving from Toronto, Canada; Hanoi, Vietnam; Singapore, China and Hong Konguntil they get the necessary clearance from the airport's medical clinic. The same precautions are beingtaken at all seaports. Dr Busuttil was addressing a news conference to keep the public informed and toeliminate any cause for alarm.• 23 April 2003 At the end of 2002 the Maltese population stood at 386,938 and consisted of 191,975males and 194,963 females. During the past 10 years the population has experienced positive yearlyincreases averaging 0.5 per cent. The total population at the end of 2002, including foreign residents,stood at 397,296 – 196,836 males and 200,460 females. The figures were released by the NationalOffice of Statistics.• 23 April 2003 The National Statistics Office said that water production in Malta and Gozo amounted toalmost 32 million cubic metres between August 2001 and July 2002. The NSO said that a global amountof more than 34 million cubic metres of water was consumed in the Maltese Islands. 92.6 per cent of thetotal consumption went to Malta, while Gozo consumed 2.5 million cubic metres, or 7.5 per cent.• 23 April 2003 A Maltese trade delegation had over 100 meetings with Egyptian counterparts during avisit to Cairo organised by the Malta External Trade Corporation. Some of the participants reportedconfirmed orders, the corporation added. Exports from Malta to Egypt increased substantially over thepast years, reaching Lm2.6 million last year from Lm600,000 in 1996.• 23 April 2003 The Canadian film ‘Savage Messiah’, directed by Maltese-born film-maker MarioAzzopardi, won three prestigious Genie Awards. The film won the Genie for Best Adapted Screenplaywhich went to Sharon Riis; Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, Luc Picard; while BestPerformance by an Actress in a Supporting Role went to Pascale Montpetit. Mr Azzopardi shot the filmon a shoestring budget of CAD$4 million in Montreal on an 18-day schedule.• 23 April 2003 The British High Commissioner, Vincent Fean, presented Mr Joe Hamilton with theaward of Honorary Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II.Mr Hamilton was awarded the MBE in recognition of his outstanding work in promoting relationsbetween the UK and the Maltese Islands, especially in the field of education, by promoting the Englishlanguage through the Royal British Legion English Language courses, which he established.• 24 April 2003 In a meeting with Union Haddiema Maghqudin officials, President Guido de Marcoexpressed his satisfaction that the political leaders in the country had stated that they would respect theverdict of the people soon after the result of the general election was known. He praised the work being

done by the UHM, adding that he was convinced that the union would continue to work in the interest ofMaltese workers.• 24 April 2003 The Parliamentary Secretary in the Finance and Economic Services Ministry, EdwinVassallo, announced that amendments to recent legislation aimed at combating copyright theft have beenprepared and should be moved for debate in Parliament soon. Mr Vassallo was speaking at a newsconference organised by the Ministry's Commerce Division together with the Association AgainstCopyright Theft and four local bands. Intellectual Property Day is being celebrated on Saturday 26 th .• 24 April 2003 Rural Affairs and Environment Minister George Pullicino inaugurated the Home, Gardenand Environment Fair, at The Venue, in Ta' Qali. Mr Pullicino said that his Ministry was linking ruraldevelopment with a sustainable environmental policy.• 24 April 2003 According to the ‘Report on the drug situation in the candidate central and easternEuropean countries’ Malta's methadone maintenance facility had the highest rate of clients among EUaccession countries in 2001 - 257.59 per 100,000 inhabitants. George Grech, the Clinical Director ofSedqa - the national agency against drug and alcohol abuse - said that the more people were engaged intreatment the less the risk of overdose and HIV. However, the report said that data obtained fromSlovakia, Malta, Estonia and Lithuania covered public health and state treatment facilities but failed toadequately cover non-governmental organisations and/or low threshold facilities.• 24 April 2003 On the occasion of the 8 th World Book and Copyright Day, which was celebrated onWednesday 23 rd in more than 80 countries world-wide, the National Statistics Office surveyed theMaltese book scene. The NSO said that imports of books and other printed material had totalled Lm3.2million in 2002, a decrease of 36 per cent over the previous year.• 24 April 2003 The 51st edition of the ‘Malta Year Book’ has just been published. The book, a De LaSalle Brothers publication, is edited by Stanley Clews, who took over the job of editor 14 years ago,following the death of his brother Hilary.• 25 April 2003 Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy congratulated Dr Edward Fenech-Adami onwinning the election. Mr Medgyessy expressed his conviction that the excellent relations between Maltaand Hungary would become stronger within an enlarged European Union.• 25 April 2003 The Assistant Secretary of the US Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Elizabeth AJones, stressed during a brief visit to Malta that Malta’s membership of the European Union wouldprovide a further incentive for enhanced investment and economic exchanges with the United States. MsJones is one of the highest-ranking officials in the bureau and one of the most senior members of the USGovernment to have visited Malta.• 25 April 2003 Six EU accession countries, including Malta, joined a programme called Pan-EuropeanInterchange of Data between Administrations. The programme will allow them to join the infrastructurethat EU institutions and member states use to exchange data for the purposes of applying EU law,enforcing single market rules, and supplying e-government services across borders to citizens andbusinesses. Malta, Slovenia, Poland, Czech Republic, Estonia, and Cyprus have signed memoranda ofunderstanding with the European Commission formalising their participation.• 25 April 2003 Malta joined another 70 countries in the signing of an additional protocol on theapplication of safeguards relating to the treaty on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. The shortsigning ceremony took place at the International Agency on Atomic Energy in Vienna between thePermanent Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Gaetan Naudi, and the Agency Director GeneralMohamed El Baradei.• 25 April 2003 Credit agency Fitch has maintained last year's long-term and short-term ratings for Bankof Valletta, at A- and F2 respectively. The agency said that the negative outlook (reduced from stable tonegative last August) has been maintained mostly as a result of strong competition, uncertainties over theoutlook for the Maltese economy and the level of impaired lending. The agency's credit update on BoVwas based on the bank's performance during the financial year ended September 2002.• 25 April 2003 Lionel Price, Fitch's sovereign ratings Managing Director and Malta analyst, said thatMalta would have paid a price had it failed to sign the EU accession treaty in Athens on April 16. MrPrice said that EU membership provided an opportunity for Malta to strengthen its economy and

improve efficiency. It was now up to Malta to make the utmost of membership since the benefits in thelong-term could be considerable, he said.• 25 April 2003 The Central Bank of Malta left the central intervention rate unchanged at 3.75 per cent.The intervention rate is the rate at which the Central Bank intervenes in the interbank market to manageday-to-day liquidity. Deputy Governor David Pullicino, who took the decision in the absence of theGovernor, considered that this decision was compatible with the maintenance of the exchange rate peg inthe current circumstances.• 25 April 2003 Two new Ambassadors presented their credentials to President Guido de Marco at thePalace, in Valletta. Eva Bugge is the new Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway and Luksa Soljan isthe new Ambassador of Bosnia Herzegovina.• 25 April 2003 The National Statistics Office reported that occupational injuries jumped 6.1 per cent inthe first quarter of this year compared with the same period last year. The figure is based on claims forinjury benefits in the administrative records of the Department of Social Security. Persons employed inelementary occupations accounted for more than half of the reported injuries.• 25 April 2003 An article on Valletta as the perfect location for a weekend break appeared on TheIndependent of London. Travel journalist David Orkin, who wrote the piece, was hosted by the MaltaTourism Authority.• 26 April 2003 The 88th Anzac Day anniversary was marked with an ecumenical service followed by awreath-laying ceremony at the Pietà Military Cemetery. Wreaths were laid by, among others, PresidentGuido de Marco, Australian High Commissioner Iain Dickie, and British High Commissioner VincentFean. The day recalls the 1915 First World War landings at Gallipoli in Turkey by the Australian andNew Zealand Corps (ANZAC), as part of the Imperial Expeditionary Force.• 26 April 2003 Information Technology and Investment Minister Austin Gatt said that it was clearer thanever that Microsoft perceived Malta as a country in which it could invest. Dr Gatt was addressing a newsconference following the decision by Jean-Philippe Courtois, Chief Executive of Microsoft Europe,Middle East and Africa, to relocate a Microsoft annual general meeting from Pittsburgh to Malta.• 27 April 2003 International ratings agency Standard & Poor’s said that it was ‘comforted’ by theNationalist Party's clear majority at the April 12 election since this would guarantee EU membership anda continuation of reforms. Mary Nnachi, Standard & Poor's rating analyst for Malta, told The SundayTimes newspaper that from a ratings point of view the election result would, however, have noimmediate effect.• 27 April 2003 According to Ambassador Alfred Zarb, who is the Ministry of Foreign AffairsMediterranean co-ordinator, as a European Union accession state and future member, Malta willcontinue to push for reform of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. Mr Zarb was addressing the openingsession of the four-day XIV Information and Training Seminar for Euro-Mediterranean Diplomatsorganised by the University of Malta's Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies.• 28 April 2003 Fra Andrew Bertie, Prince and Grandmaster of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta,was conferred with the Honorary Citizenship of Vittoriosa.• 28 April 2003 Information Technology and Investments Minister Austin Gatt, who up to the electionwas Minister of Justice and Local Government, said that the law laying down the guidelines of how theelections for the European Parliament would be held had been drafted. Dr Gatt said: "There are twopolitical decisions that have to be taken for the draft to be complete. The Government must decidewhether serving MPs can also be members of the European Parliament and whether Malta and Gozowould be one whole district or whether the islands would be divided into five districts, each returningone MEP."• 29 April 2003 The Cabinet met for the first time since its appointment in the wake of the April 12election. The meeting, lasting just under two hours, took place at Auberge de Castille. It was led by thePrime Minister and included the participation of the Parliamentary Secretaries.• 29 April 2003 President Guido de Marco presented film producer Branko Lustig with the NationalOrder of Merit for his significant contribution to the increasing validity of the film industry in Malta. Mr

Lustig said that Malta has become a ‘world-recognised film centre’ over the past four years. His contactwith the Island dates back to 1998 when Mr Lustig produced the $100 million-budget epic Gladiator.• 29 April 2003 The Government announced that, as a precaution against the severe acute respiratorysyndrome SARS, for the time being visas would not be issued to travellers originating from countries hitby the virus. Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech announced the decision following a meetingbetween the Ministries of Home Affairs, Health, and Tourism.• 29 April 2003 Euronews broadcast a feature on the MIDI consortium's project to redevelop Tigné Pointand Manoel Island. The feature, shown at 11.10 p.m., was transmitted across Europe simultaneously inEnglish, German, French, Spanish and Italian. The Euronews channel is popular on the continent withover 300 million viewers across Europe.• 29 April 2003 Malta was featured in a full-colour 10-page spread in the April edition of Geo Saison, oneof the most popular German travel magazines. The extensive feature included several photographsshowing the Grand Harbour at dusk, St John's Co-Cathedral, a karozzin, and a narrow winding road inMdina. The press trip for the feature was co-ordinated by the Malta Tourism Authority's office inFrankfurt.• 29 April 2003 According to the National Statistics Office, in March, the rate of inflation stood at 1.46per cent, down from 1.58 per cent in February and from 1.79 per cent in January. This is the 11thconsecutive monthly decrease since it reached a high of 3.65 per cent in April 2002.• 29 April 2003 Alfred Camilleri, Director General of the National Office of Statistics, said that the NSOhad carried out a comprehensive survey combining airborne digital photography with data collected onland to provide an identikit of the agricultural scene in Malta and Gozo. The survey provides data on thestructure of agricultural land, such as irrigated land, dry land, and garigue land, as well as on areas withvineyards and fruit trees. The full set of photographs is available from the NSO against payment.• 30 April 2003 Finance and Economic Services Minister John Dalli made it clear there was no time towaste with welfare reform and said that he intended to take stock of the situation and map out a wayforward by the end of May. Mr Dalli said that it was time to take decisions to defuse the pension timebomb, which had remained shelved for several months. Minister Dalli was interviewed by The Timesnewspaper.• 30 April 2003 Ambassador Beth Jones, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Euroasian Affairssaid that the United States is to donate scanning equipment to the Customs Department. AmbassadorJones visited the Customs area at the Freeport where the container scanning equipment, better known asVACIS, will be installed. The highly sophisticated equipment will enable Customs officials to detectdrugs, restricted goods, contraband and any hazardous cargo.• 30 April 2003 A spokesman for the Disease Surveillance Unit informed general practitioners that theyshould report any case they suspect of SARS to the DSU. For a disease to become notifiable to theHealth Authorities, the general rule is that a legal notice would first have to be published. But, in order totake all the necessary precautions in the least possible time, GPs were notified to register with the Healthauthorities any patient suspected of having the SARS virus, without waiting for a legal notice to beissued.• 30 April 2003 According to the latest Employment and Training Corporation data, a total of 7,564persons were registering for work in March. The National Statistics Office, which released the figures,said this was 143 lower than in February.• 30 April 2003 Statistics released by the National Statistics Office show that just over 74.1 per cent of allhouseholds own the dwellings in which they live. 57.6 per cent of all dwellings, which number 127,970,are owned without any outstanding loans. Only 15.6 per cent of households have outstanding houseloans, while 22.4 per cent live in rented property.• 30 April 2003 Maltacom announced a pre-tax profit of Lm13.5 million for last year, an increase of 2.7per cent over the previous year. Maltacom Chairman Maurice Zarb Adami was speaking at Le MeridienPhoenicia Hotel where he launched the financial results of the Maltacom Group for the year endingDecember 31. The press conference was also addressed by the group’s chief operations officer, JoeAzzopardi, chief executive Stephen Muscat, and finance director Edgar Borg.

• 30 April 2003 Former Minister Michael Refalo said that he was leaving tourism with a heavy heart, butwith a great feeling of pride, satisfaction and achievement. Dr Refalo was speaking at a reception in hishonour, organised by the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association. MHRA President Winston Zahrapaid tribute to Dr Refalo and welcomed Francis Zammit Dimech as the new Tourism Minister.• 30 April 2003 The Malta Tourism Authority is carrying out an outdoor advertising campaign in the UK,aimed at boosting sales for summer. Over 2,100 buses throughout the UK, mainly in London andManchester, will be carrying an advertisement promoting Malta. It is thought that the Malta busadvertisements will reach more than 13 million potential holiday makers.MAY• 1 May 2003 President Guido de Marco said that European Union membership will broaden ourprospects for economic interaction and deepen our potential. EU membership, he said, "will bridge thesea that may make one feel confined to space and link us to highways that lead to important markets".Prof. de Marco was speaking at the official inauguration of the Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal, inBudapest, Hungary.• 1 May 2003 Health Minister Louis Deguara said that the framework for the setting up of a MedicinesAuthority, with the assistance of EU pre-accession funds and the help of British and Irish consultants,will be finalised shortly. Dr Deguara said that the procurement of medicines in the public health sectoralso needed to be made more efficient and effective, he added. The Minister was speaking during theopening session of the 28th pharmacy refresher course, organised by the Pharmaceutical Society ofAustralia, the Malta Chamber of Pharmacists, and the Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association.• 1 May 2003 Minister for Resources and Infrastructure Ninu Zammit said that domestic and industrialwaste could no longer be dumped at will if the country wants to solve its rubbish problems. MrZammit said that waste had to be separated at source and dumped in engineered landfills; inert wastefrom the construction industry would be dumped in spent quarries. The Minister was speaking toemployees of the Cleaning Services Department, in Marsa.• 1 May 2003 The National Statistics Office said that the registered unemployed at the end of Marchstood at 7,564, down by 143 from 7,707 in the previous month. The NSO also announced that, inDecember 2002, 7,516 persons were registering for work with the Employment Training Corporation.• 1 May 2003 The Disease Surveillance Unit announced that it had found no cases in Malta of SARS,severe acute respiratory syndrome. The Unit has introduced intensive precautionary measures to shieldagainst the virus, including medical checks of travellers from affected countries at the airport• 1 May 2003 The Maltese High Commissioner in London, George Bonello Du Puis, laid a wreath atthe Cenotaph in London on the occasion of Anzac Day. Accompanied by Mrs Bonello Du Puis, theHigh Commissioner then attended the Anzac Day service of commemoration and thanksgiving atWestminster Abbey.• 2 May 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami spoke of coming changes that, he said, shouldensure that the country's social model would continue to guarantee assistance to those who required it.Dr Fenech-Adami said that Malta had built a welfare state that other countries were jealous of. Malta,he said, should now see what problems other countries were facing and learn from them. The PrimeMinister was addressing a political activity at St Andrews.• 2 May 2003 According to Finance and Economic Services Minister John Dalli the Public LottoDepartment and the Mediterranean Oil Bunkering Company would be privatised by the end of thisyear. In an interview with The Times newspaper, Mr Dalli also spoke about the introduction of theEuro, VAT, and the setting up of ‘Malta Enterprise’.• 2 May 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that tourist arrivals in the first quarter ofthis year totalled 172,000, down by 2.5 per cent from 176,000 in the same quarter last year. DrZammit Dimech said that the Iraq war and the difficult economic situation in most of the core marketshad raised the level of uncertainty in the tourism market. The Minister was touring the Radisson SASBaypoint, the Forum Hotel, and the Marina Hotel.

• 2 May 2003 A new magazine aimed at promoting tourism to Malta, ‘Malta and Gozo Quarterly’, waslaunched by Impact Public Relations, at the Tourism Ministry in Valletta. The magazine covers a widespectrum of subjects related to tourism, including news related to developments in all areas of theindustry, conference travel, interviews as well as special features based on the experience of foreignpersonalities and their concept of the Maltese islands and the Maltese.• 2 May 2003 Maltese migrant and MP for Riverstone John Aquilina was elected unopposed as theSpeaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in Australia. The appointment marks anothermilestone in the Mr Aquilina’s record political career.• 3 May 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami welcomed the declaration made by the Leader ofthe Opposition that Labour had a duty to accept the people's decision in favour of EU membership. DrFenech-Adami appealed to Labour to be consistent when it came to ratifying the accession treaty inParliament. "Everyone from the Leader down is declaring that the choice was taken democraticallyand must be respected, so I hope this spirit will prevail when the treaty is debated and ratified." ThePrime Minister was addressing a political activity in Victoria, Gozo.• 3 May 2003 The Prime Minister of the German State of Baden, Wurtemberg, believes that Malta's EUmembership would facilitate investment from Germany. Erwin Teufel, who is also a member of theConvention of Europe, said that membership would make business between the two countries evenbetter than it was at present. Mr Teufel was received by Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami atAuberge de Castille.• 3 May 2003 Social Policy Parliamentary Secretary Dolores Cristina addressed a press conference tolaunch the first national domestic violence awareness campaign. She said that reports of domesticviolence were on the increase, with 921 victims seeking help from Appogg last year, compared to 866cases the previous year. Ms Cristina said that the campaign would be an annual event to raiseawareness of the harm of domestic violence and the grave psychological effects this had on childrenand their mothers.• 3 May 2003 The Electoral Commission started receiving nominations for the casual elections beingheld to fill the seats vacated by MPs who were elected from two districts. The vacant seats are in thethird (George Vella - MLP), fifth (Louis Galea - PN), eighth (Alfred Sant - MLP), ninth (FrancisZammit Dimech - PN), tenth (Joe Borg - PN, Evarist Bartolo - MLP) and eleventh district (EddieFenech-Adami - PN).• 3 May 2003 President Guido de Marco chaired a seminar entitled ‘International Criminal Justice: theRole of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in Enforcing InternationalHumanitarian Law’, organised by the European Law Students' Association (ELSA), at the Palace inValletta. The seminar was addressed by the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal forthe Former Yugoslavia, Carla del Ponte.• 4 May 2003 According to a survey carried out by Professor Mario Vassallo for The Sunday Timesnewspaper, the highest contributors to environmental pollution were emissions from buses or trucks(registering 97.83 points on the pollution index), closely followed (with 97.17 points) by the Maghtaband Qortin dumps. Also rated as highly polluting were drainage outflows and power stations (both90.33 points), emissions from small cars (86.83), dirt in streets/roads (85.50), industry (82.67),construction (77) and dust from quarries (76.67). The survey was carried out among 300 persons whowere interviewed by telephone.• 5 May 2003 The Prime Minister of Denmark, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, sent a message ofcongratulation to Dr Edward Fenech-Adami on his re-appointment as Prime Minister.• 6 May 2003 Following a Cabinet meeting the Government announced that, the new session ofParliament, which will be the 10th Parliament since Independence, will open on May 24. In terms ofthe Constitution, the Government's five-year term starts from the date when Parliament first meets.The first sitting has to be held within two months after the official announcement of the GeneralElection result.• 6 May 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech attended the European conference of EUtransport policies and European tourism competitiveness, held in Crete. The meeting was organised bythe Greek Presidency of the European Union.

• 6 May 2003 According to a report drawn up by the University of Malta's Workers' ParticipationDevelopment Centre the actual participation rate of women in the Maltese workforce is close to 42 percent, some nine per cent higher than the figure reported by the National Statistics Office. The studyconfirms that few women continue working after marriage, a clear reflection of deeply ingrainedfamily ties. The study was carried out among a sample of 998 women aged 18 to 60 by 25 studentsfrom the Gender and Development class, under the supervision of WPDC Director GodfreyBaldacchino.• 6 May 2003 Ten students from the Institute of Tourism Studies will be going to Sheraton Edinburghin Scotland next month for a one-year placement. Students taking the ITS Diploma in AccommodationManagement request placements in hotels abroad to gain international exposure.• 6 May 2003 The Embassy of Malta in Athens has carried out research on Maltese servicemen who areburied in the several military cemeteries scattered throughout Greece and found that there are about125 such servicemen. The Embassy is offering relatives interested in learning about Malteseservicemen buried in Greece to contact it directly, or through the Consular, Protocol and InformationMatters Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.• 6 May 2003 Prices for goods and services in Malta are the highest among the 10 accession countries,according to the EU internal market scoreboard published by the European Commission. Theaggregate price level in Malta is ‘significantly higher’ than in the other accession countries, but it isstill 13 per cent below the EU average.• 6 May 2003 The Malta Film Commission said that, for the first time ever, Malta is to feature as a coproducingcountry on the credits of an epic movie. In 2001 Malta had signed the European Conventionon Cinematographic Co-production and it is on the strength of this convention that the $180 millionbudgetmovie Troy is being partly shot here. The film has spent over $20 million in Malta on labour,set construction, accommodation and transport.• 7 May 2003 President Guido de Marco presented Prof. Quentin Hughes with the National Order ofMerit in the grade of Honorary Officer for his contribution to Malta's history of architecture. MrHughes’s publications enjoy worldwide readership and have served to put Malta's architecture on aninternational platform.• 7 May 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami received another congratulatory message on hisParty's electoral victory, this time from his Bulgarian counterpart, Simeone Di Sassonia.• 7 May 2003 Minister of Education Louis Galea participated in the first EU Council of Ministers'meeting where the ten acceding states including Malta, have been invited with their counterparts frommember states, after the signature of the Accession Treaty in Athens on the 16th of April. The Councilof Ministers for Education, Youth and Culture reached political agreements on the institution of twonew community programmes which will be directly linked to Malta's vision within an enlargedEurope.• 7 May 2003 The official website of the Malta Migration Museum, which will soon celebrate itssecond anniversary, has had more than 1.8 million hits since its inception, with close to 2,000 visitorsevery week - mostly from Australia, Malta, Norway, the United Kingdom, Canada and France. TheMigration Museum is a joint initiative of the Museum of Migration Committee and the Federation ofMaltese Abroad. The website is administered and supervised by Across Limits - an e-solutionsprovider that supports the Migration Museum. www.maltamigration.com• 7 May 2003 A Malta Tourism Authority billboard promoting Malta holidays in Germany for the thirdconsecutive year placed first in a survey of advertising billboards. The Malta campaign billboard,which carried the slogan Malta ist etwas Besonderes (Malta is Something Special), was judged toportray the most effective and appealing advertising message and motif.• 7 May 2003 The Malta Transport Authority has obtained €15,000 from the European UnionProgrammes Unit for further training and development of Maltese bus owner-drivers. The moneycomes from the Leonardo da Vinci programme that provides support for vocational training activities.The funds will be used for training and development of ten Maltese bus owner-drivers who will betravelling shortly to Portsmouth, UK, for a two-week working and familiarisation programme.

• 8 May 2003 The Royal Air Force Association (Malta Branch) held its annual wreath-laying ceremonyat the Air Forces Memorial, in Floriana, to commemorate the unveiling of the memorial by the Queenin 1954. President Guido de Marco led the ceremony at the memorial.• 8 May 2003 Australian Prime Minister John Howard sent a message of congratulation to PrimeMinister Edward Fenech-Adami on his re-election. Mr Howard said that he was sure that Dr Fenech-Adami's visits to Australia in the past years "gave new impetus to efforts to strengthen and give greatersubstance to our bilateral ties".• 8 May 2003 Health Minister Louis Deguara announced that an inter-Ministerial Committee had beenset up as a preventive measure against the SARS virus. The committee, he said, was being set up sothat the country would have a quick response team ready in the eventuality of the SARS virus beingcontracted in Malta, even though the possibility of this was very remote.• 8 May 2003 Transport and Communications Minister Censu Galea said that the Malta TransportAuthority was due to start installing bus-ticketing machines on the 508 route buses. Mr Galea said thatother planned measures being taken to make public transport more efficient were the replacement ofold buses, the introduction of night route services, and the introduction of new routes.• 8 May 2003 The Parliamentary Secretary in the Social Policy Ministry, Frans Agius, attended aCouncil of Europe conference of Ministers responsible for people with disability, in Malaga, Spain.• 8 May 2003 The Bank of Valletta Group announced that it had made a pre-tax profit of Lm6.4 millionin the six months ending on March 31, compared to Lm6.9 million in the same period last year. GroupChairman Joseph FX Zahra said that the Group’s strong fundamentals were reflected in the fact thatoperating income continued to rise at a faster rate than costs.• 8 May 2003 The Malta Tourism Authority's Zurich office launched a two-week promotional campaignin Switzerland, in conjunction with Air Malta and a number of tour operators. During the campaign,flyers advertising specialised aspects of Maltese tourism were placed in 810 dispensers in buses andtrams throughout Bern, Basel, St Gallen, and Winterthur.• 8 May 2003 Variety News reports that Helen of Troy, shot on location in Malta, averaged 4.1 millionviewers when it was aired on US prime-time TV. Maltese viewers should be able to watch the serieson Italy’s Mediaset next autumn.• 8 May 2003 The planet Mercury passed in front of the sun as seen from earth. The tiny planet firstappeared at the edge of the sun’s disc at 7.12a.m. then slowly crept across the sun’s surface, exiting at12.32p.m. Such transits of Mercury are relatively rare. The last such occurrence seen from Malta wasin 1999 and the next transit will be in 2016.• 9 May 2003 The Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Vladimir Spidla, sent a message ofcongratulation to the Prime Minister on his re-election, as well as to Dr Fenech-Adami’s newGovernment.• 9 May 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami toured the set for the epic $180 million-budgetmovie Troy, at Fort Ricasoli. Speaking against the backdrop of the magnificent ‘palace’ and the din oftools at work, Dr Fenech-Adami expressed his pleasure at the fact that the local workforce had beenfound to be amenable and productive. He said that he also wanted to thank Warner Brothers forchoosing Malta as a location for the filming of the film.• 9 May 2003 The EU Director General for Employment and Social Affairs, Odile Quintin, expressedher appreciation at the ‘huge effort’ being made by Malta to implement the EU body of law, the acquiscommunautaire. However, further work and discussion was required on a number of issues, namelyoccupational health and safety, equality, and discrimination, she said. Ms Quintin said thatpensionable age for civil servants must be the same for both men and women in order to be in linewith EU directives and this measure must be introduced in the civil service before Malta joins the EU.• 9 May 2003 Twenty-one asylum seekers who have been in Malta for several months went on hungerstrike in protest over being detained while their application for refugee status is being processed. Theyalso wrote to Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg asking him to intervene in their case. DrBorg, who was in Brussels attending a meeting of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers of the EU, said:

“The Immigration Act makes it illegal for asylum seekers to be set free. The problem has beenexacerbated because we had a sudden influx of 1,680 within a very short time last year. But I will seehow we can speed up the process.”• 9 May 2003 Information Technology and Investment Minister Austin Gatt said that the creation of aspecific IT and Investment Ministry signals the Government's will to apply technology considerationsto its decisions. Dr Gatt was addressing the Hewlett Packard Network and Server Provider ExecutiveSummit, at the Intercontinental Hotel, in St Julian’s.• 9 May 2003 Casual elections held to fill seats vacated by MPs elected from two districts resulted inthe election of the following seven MPs: Helen D'Amato, Joseph Falzon, Michael Frendo and JosefBonnici for the Nationalist Party, and Joseph Abela, Joe Debono Grech and Joseph Cuschieri for theLabour Party. The elections complete Parliament's formation which, like the previous one, is made upof 59 men and six women. Casual election results may be accessed atwww.doi.gov.mt/EN/elections/2003/04/default1.asp• 9 May 2003 European Union Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy met the Trade Ministers of the EUaccession countries, in Bucharest. The meeting was intended to enhance dialogue on trade andpromote their co-operation on World Trade Organisation issues.• 9 May 2003 British Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Denis MacShane,said in a statement that the UK Government was working to become Malta’s natural partner of choicein the European Union. He said: “ I look forward to discussing with Dr Borg and the Government ofMalta how best the UK can help in the run-up to EU accession, sharing our experiences of 30 years inthe EU.” Dr MacShane made his statement prior to starting his official visit to Malta.• 9 May 2003 According to a Labour Force Survey the estimated number of unemployed persons inDecember 2002 was 10,875, giving an unemployment rate of 6.8 per cent. The National StatisticsOffice said that 61.7 per cent of the unemployed were males with an average age of 33. The averageage of unemployed females was 29. The Labour Force Survey is carried out on a quarterly basis,using a random sample of 2,500 private households.• 9 May 2003 The Maltese Foreign Ministry held a number of events to mark ‘Europe Day’. Apart fromputting up stands about Malta in various European countries, the Ministry also organised two concerts:Willie Mangion and his nine-man band performed a one-hour concert in Piazza del Popolo, in Rome,and Etnika performed in Athens.• 9 May 2003 The Health Department advised the public to avoid non-essential travel to the Philippinesand Ulaanbaata, in Mongolia, after the World Health Organisation reported recent cases of SARS inthese areas.• 9 May 2003 The April/May edition of ‘Christophorus’, the magazine published by Porscheautomobile manufacturers, features an eight-page spread that takes a look at Malta and Malteseculture, heritage, foreign influences and language.• 10 May 2003 Speaker Anton Tabone advised the President of the European Parliament, Pat Cox, thatthe Government and the Opposition had nominated the five observers to the European Parliament towhich Malta is entitled. The observers are Prof. Josef Bonnici, Dr Michael Frendo and Dr TonioFenech for the Government, and Dr George Vella and Dr John Attard Montalto for the Oppositiion.• 10 May 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that the Bill to set up the office of‘Commissioner of Children’ would be a priority on Parliament's agenda when it meets again later thismonth. The Commissioner, who will ensure that children's interests are safeguarded, will also work tomodernise laws in the sector. Dr Gonzi was speaking at a press conference during which the NationalFamily Commission presented a report on what had been achieved in the two years since it was set up.• 10 May 2003 Twenty-one asylum seekers who had been on hunger strike in protest against being heldin detention while their application for refugee status was being processed called off their strike.Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said on his return from Brussels that he was assessingthe asylum seekers' letter as well as their situation. But he reiterated that the Immigration Act made itillegal for asylum seekers to be set free. He said that steps had been taken so that persons who are

declared refugees or given humanitarian status are allowed freedom but the process to determine thisstatus for others has to carry on.• 10 May 2003 Health Minister Louis Deguara announced that this year a total of 127 students hadstarted studying for a Diploma in Nursing and 35 had registered for a B.Sc. course. Dr Deguara wasspeaking at a conference on the future of nursing, organised by the Nursing Services Directorate, at theRadisson SAS Baypoint.• 10 May 2003 Parliamentary Secretary Edwin Vassallo said that the Government was committed toworking with the constituted bodies on legislation to solve or prevent problems arising out of the useof payment instruments such as the cheque book. Mr Vassallo was speaking at a seminar held by theMalta Association of Credit Management that discussed the problem of dishonoured cheques. A draftBill entitled the Dishonoured Cheques Act was presented at the seminar.• 10 May 2003 The National Statistics Office said that Government debt outstanding at the end ofDecember stood at Lm1,077.0 million, up by Lm64.3 million, or 6.3 per cent, from the Lm1,012.7million outstanding at the end of December last year. The figures are based on provisional statisticssupplied by the Central Bank of Malta.• 10 May 2003 Maltese firms were among the exhibitors at the fourth international exhibition,Expofinances 2003, held in Tunis. Exhibitors from Italy, Switzerland, Malta, and Tunisia participatedin the event.• 10 May 2003 Maltapost signed an agreement with Fexco (Malta) Limited, paving the way for thepostal company to launch a number of financial service products from their retail network. Theagreement was signed between Maltapost Chief Executive Robert Lake and Fexco Chief ExecutiveTony Zahra, in Valletta.• 10 May 2003 The Department of Information issued a publication entitled ‘Lejn Malta fl-Ewropa:Minn Copenhagen sa Ateni’ (The Road to Europe, from Copenhagen to Athens). The 32-pagepublication is a visual chronology of events spanning the months December 2002 to April 2003. Itcovers the European Summit in Copenhagen, the parliamentary debate about Malta's membership ofthe EU, the referendum, the general election, the swearing-in of the Prime Minister and the CabinetMinisters, and the historic meeting in Athens. More information can be obtained from the Governmentwebsite at www.doi.gov.mt/EN/archive/lejnmaltabooklet/lejnmaltaE.asp• 11 May 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea emphasised the need to establish an authoritativeguardian to ensure good conduct in the fields of science and technology. Dr Galea was speakingduring the opening of the ‘Ethics, Science and Society Conference’, organised by the BioethicsConsultative Committee in conjunction with the Malta Council of Science and Technology.• 11 May 2003 The two-day Fireworks Festival over Grand Harbour came to an end today. The festivalbrought together 17 fireworks factories in what was described as ‘ the perfect prelude to the festaseason’.• 12 May 2003 Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis congratulated Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami on the formation of the new Maltese Government under his leadership, wishing him success.Mr Simitis said that he looked forward to fruitful co-operation, both in the bilateral field and withinthe European Union.• 12 May 2003 Some 4,000 scouts and girl guides from Malta and Gozo marched along the streets ofValletta in their traditional annual rally. President and Mrs de Marco, patrons of the two respectiveassociations, took the salute.• 13 May 2003 A government statement announced that the Prime Minister of Greece, Costas Simitis,would be in Malta on a working visit on Wednesday 14 th May. Mr Simitis, current President of theEuropean Council, will have official talks with Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami. The twoleaders will later address a joint press conference, at Auberge de Castille.• 13 May 2003 During a brief visit to Malta, British Minister for Europe Denis MacShane called onPresident Guido de Marco, Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami, and Leader of the OppositionAlfred Sant. Dr MacShane also met Foreign Minister Joe Borg, after which the two Ministersaddressed a joint press conference. An audio recording of the joint press conference can be accessed at

www.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/audiorecording%20-%20macshane.asp• 13 May 2003 British Minister for Europe Denis MacShane delivered a talk on ‘Europe: Our SharedFuture’ at the Mediterranean Academy for Diplomatic Studies of the University of Malta. In his talk,Dr MacShane listed a number of challenges that Europe had to meet to succeed. He said that theacceding countries would have to find ways of building themselves into the EU, and the EU budgetshould be seriously adjusted to invest more in human beings and to render enlargement successful.Structural and regional funds had to be directed where most needed, he said.• 13 May 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech announced that Austrian travel agency StollReisen would be bringing 6,800 visitors to Malta this year, following successful contacts by the MaltaTourism Authority in Vienna last year. Dr Zammit Dimech was speaking during a meeting with adelegation from Stoll Reisen International of Austria.• 14 May 2003 Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Maltese High Commissioner to the UKGeorge Bonello du Puis attended a service at Westminster Abbey, in London, in honour of the bravemen and women who had been awarded the Victoria Cross and the George Cross.• 14 May 2003 The National Statistics Office has published the latest edition of the ‘HouseholdBudgetary Survey’. NSO Director General Alfred Camilleri said that the survey had been carried outbetween March 2000 and February 2001, with a sample of 6,798 dwellings chosen from the electoralregister.• 14 May 2003 Charles Gargano, Chairman and Commissioner of Empire State Development, NewYork State's primary economic development entity, said that Malta has "amazing ingredients forwhatever it wants to do in future, provided everyone works together". He said that he would try tobring over a delegation of businessmen in the hope of expanding their operations with compatibleindustries in Malta. Mr Gargano was delivering a speech, ‘Malta for Business - A New YorkPerspective’, at the Chamber of Commerce during a luncheon in his honour, hosted by the Maltese-American Chamber of Commerce.• 14 May 2003 The Malta Press Club, in collaboration with the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts,is launching a ‘Journalist Culture Card’ in an initiative intended to identify and build a core group ofjournalists who would gain more knowledge and expertise in the field of cultural journalism. The aimis for Maltese journalists to “serve as catalysts in enquiring about the Maltese cultural identity andcontributing to the democratisation of culture”.• 15 May 2003 Greek Prime Minister Costantinos Simitis said that the European Union will continuecombating terrorism and attempt to remove the reasons behind terrorist acts, including poverty,feelings of oppression, and occupation. Speaking at a joint news conference with Prime MinisterEdward Fenech-Adami, at Auberge de Castille in Valletta, Mr Simitis said that, with the accession ofMalta and Cyprus the Union will be in a better position to address Mediterranean problems.• 15 May 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea presented six Maltese organisations with funds fromUNESCO as part of the annual participation programme. The Maltese National Commission forUNESCO received the sum of US$106,200. This sum will be distributed amongst the sixorganisations, to be utilised on projects submitted earlier this year.• 15 May 2003 Minister of Education Louis Galea inaugurated an exhibition of children’s essays,paintings and graphic art, focusing on crime prevention, at the Foyer of the Ministry of Education, inFloriana. Hundreds of state and private schools’ students submitted their works.• 15 May 2003 Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that the latest seat capacities for this yearindicated that airlines were floating 3.7 per cent more seats than last year. Dr Zammit Dimech saidthat it was encouraging to note that the same level of arrivals was maintained despite the War in Iraq.The Minister was speaking at a gala dinner hosted by the Amadeus National Marketing Company, atPalazzo Parisio, Naxxar.• 15 May 2003 According to a report by the Social Policy Ministry's Department of Women in Society,women represent 19.2 per cent of the country's 437 local councillors. In the last round of localelections in March, women contested all localities except Gudja. There were 50 women among the262 candidates, making up 19.1 per cent. A total of 34 women were elected compared to 125 men.

• 15 May 2003 The expenditure by Maltese households on food dropped by six percent in 2002 whencompared with 1994, according to figures comparing the retail price index of both years. The RPI oflast December, based on the Household Budgetary Survey of 2000, was compared with the indexincluded in the HBS of 1994.• 15 May 2003 The National Statistics Office said that, in March, the value of total exports declined byLm7 million and imports rose by Lm7 million. Total exports slumped to Lm69.5 million, fromLm76.5 million in March last year. While domestic exports declined by Lm4.6 million to Lm63.4million, re-exports dropped by Lm2.4 million to Lm6.1 million.• 15 May 2003 The Malta External Trade Corporation said that the value of total exports to Libyaincreased by Lm10 million last year, showing an increase of some 47 per cent over the previous year.Domestic exports increased by approximately 11 per cent to Lm18.7 million, while re-exportsincreased by some 170 per cent over those in 2001 and reached Lm13.4 million in 2002.• 15 May 2003 Valletta mayor Paul Borg Olivier told a meeting of mayors from the capital cities of EUacceding countries, in Strasbourg, that the ‘new’ Europe had a role in maintaining peace and stabilitywithin its borders, and also beyond. The theme of Dr Borg Olivier’s speech was democracy andhuman rights.• 15 May 2003 Ambassador Joseph Licari, the current Chairman of the Committee of Ministers,launched an exhibition of photographs of Malta at the Council of Europe headquarters, in Strasbourg.‘Colours of Malta’ is a photographic display by Council of Europe photographer Louis Klipsel,commemorating Malta's Presidency of the Council.• 15 May 2003 A sponsorship agreement for Lm10,000 was signed between Maltapost plc and theMalta Olympic Committee, as organisers of the forthcoming Games of the Small States of Europe. Thesponsorship is made up of a cash donation of Lm2,500, with a balance of Lm 7,500 to come fromincome generated from the sale of first day covers of a four-stamp issue on the occasion of the Games.• 15 May 2003 The Malta-EU Information Centre is in the process of upgrading its information servicevia e-mail at euinfo.mic@gov.mt and www.mic.org.mt. For the past four years, MIC had beensending updates on EU-related material to MIC subscribers. Interest in EU affairs has increased lately,especially after the Maltese electorate decided that Malta should join the EU.• 16 May 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg chaired the 112 th Ministerial session of the Council of Europein Strasbourg, marking the end of six month tenure of the Presidency, since 7 th November 2002. TheMinisters expressed their appreciation for the impetus given by the Maltese Chair in organising twolandmark conferences in Malta, one on access to social rights, and the other on migration policies.• 16 May 2003 Finance Minister John Dalli said that further developments in the area of companytaxation aimed at eliminating double taxation, ensuring effective taxation, and preventing tax evasion,were likely in the coming years. Speaking during a seminar organised by the Malta Institute ofTaxation, Mr Dalli said that more work needed to be done to ensure that differences in taxationbetween EU member states would not influence companies' investment decisions.• 16 May 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that a total of 57,630 students hadvisited Malta and Gozo to learn English last year. This sector, he added, provided work for about1,400 teachers, mostly on a part-time basis, and additional revenue to 1,000 host families. Dr ZammitDimech made his comments when he visited the European Centre of English Language Studies, atLanguage House, St Julian's.• 16 May 2003 Transport and Communications Minister Censu Galea said that port-workers formed animportant sector in the Maltese economy. Mr Galea was speaking during the setting-up of a privateretirement scheme by Middlesea Valletta Life Assurance Co. Ltd for the Port Workers Pension &Contingency Fund. The fund has been in existence since 1973 to provide port workers with a ‘gratuitysum’ upon their retirement.• 17 May 2003 Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi called for a ‘quality leap in the way politics isdone’. With the full participation of the constituted bodies, voluntary societies, and the social forces,the Government would be able to make the most of the opportunities that the EU will offer, heexplained. It was important, he added, that the Government utilises the network that links it with other

political parties in Europe that share the Government’s beliefs. Dr Gonzi was addressing a politicalactivity at Pieta.• 17 May 2003 Maltacom Chief Executive Officer Stephen Muscat said that last year’s results were thebest in five years. He said that the company had taken measures to cut on the number of employees onits books and was now employing 1,627, less than in 2001. 29 per cent of sales were mobile-related,19 per cent from local traffic, and 14 per cent from international traffic. Today, there are now moremobile numbers in Malta than fixed lines, 270,000 against 207,000. Mr Muscat was making apresentation before shareholders, at the Maltacom annual general meeting.• 17 May 2003 An appeal court confirmed that tax assessments should be served on the taxpayer withineight years of the base year and any assessments raised after that period were to be deemed timebarred.Chief Justice Vincent De Gaetano, Mr Justice Joseph D. Camilleri and Mr Justice Joseph A.Filletti dismissed an appeal filed by the Commissioner of Inland Revenue from a decision of the boardof special commissioners delivered in December 2000. The board had decided an appeal filed byAnthony Cachia from a decision taken by the Commissioner in April 2000 concerning assessments for1986 to 1988.• 17 May 2003 The government representative to the European Convention, Rev. Prof. Peter SerracinoInglott, called for anomalies to be rectified in the weighting of votes in the European Council and theminimum thresholds of seats in the European Parliament. Prof. Peter Serracino Inglott was speaking ata meeting of the convention that focused on the institutions and on external action and defence.• 17 May 2003 A total lunar eclipse occurred when the moon passed through earth's shadow, changingfrom white to a reddish colour in the process. The moon first encountered earth's central shadow at4.03 a.m. and total eclipse began at 5.14 a.m. However, dawn stole most of the spectacle as the sunrose at 5.56 a.m.• 18 May 2003 Transport and Communications Minister Censu Galea expressed his commitment to theInternational Maritime Law Institute on the occasion of the 2002-2003 graduation of four Maltese andeighteen foreigners who successfully completed a post-graduate course in international maritime law.The conferment of degrees was held at the Malta Maritime Museum, in Vittoriosa.• 18 May 2003 Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono inaugurated Gozo’s first private day-hospital. MinisterDebono praised the Saint James Hospital Group for venturing into the health service in Gozo and saidthat the hospital would eliminate the inconvenience of having to travel to Malta for certain services.Mrs Debono pointed out that Gozitans were increasingly opting for private facilities, so the new SaintJames Hospital in Gozo provided a welcome choice.• 19 May 2003 Dr Edward Fenech-Adami was confirmed leader of the Nationalist Party for the seventhconsecutive time in a huge demonstration of support. On the occasion of his confirmation as leader, DrFenech-Adami said that the Government wanted to work in the same way as it had done in thereferendum and election campaigns and would consult civil society before taking decisions. He saidthat the Government was already having meetings with constituted bodies to ensure that they wouldcontinue taking part in the decision-making process. "We do not want to govern alone. We want allorganisations to contribute, including the Opposition."• 19 May 2003 Magistrate Carol Peralta was appointed international judge with the UN InterimAdministration Mission, in Kosovo and will commence his duties early next month. Based in Pristina,he will have a chamber in the Supreme Court of Kosovo and will be in charge of a court dealing withboth criminal and privatisation issues. Magistrate Peralta's appointment was made following a call forapplications.• 20 May 2003 Enemalta chairman Robert Ghirlando said that Enemalta has started importing petrolthat has a benzene level of under-one per cent. "We started insisting on being given a report about thelevel of benzene in petrol and all consignments had levels of between 0.54 to 0.83 per cent," Prof.Ghirlando said. One of the EU Directives limits the amount of benzene in petrol to one per cent.• 20 May 2003 The Environmental Health Unit of the Department of Public Health announced that ithad started its annual bathing water monitoring programme at all official bathing sites in Malta, Gozoand Comino. During the exercise, seawater samples are collected from 87 sites and analysed at thePublic Health Laboratory on a number of bacteriological parameters.

• 20 May 2003 Peter Calamatta, chairman of the Environmental Landscapes Consortium which hasbeen tasked with an embellishment project by the Government, announced that over 400,000 seasonalplants, 100,000 square metres of turf area, 800 trees, and 2,500 shrubs have been planted inroundabouts and centre-strips since the end of last year. "Our brief is to have flowers planted all acrossthe Island - and that is what we intend to do," Mr Calamatta said.• 20 May 2003 Five schools in five countries jointly launched balloons with messages of peace as partof the Comenius project, A View from My Window. Patri Felic Sammut Primary School of St Paul'sBay, Lambwath Primary in the UK, Zakladna Skola in Slovakia, Forest Skole in Norway, andDirezione Didattica di Guariagrele in Italy participated in the event. The event was heldsimultaneously in the five schools.• 20 May 2003 Malta featured in a full-colour double spread in the latest issue of ‘Sterling Style’, aBritish jewellery and lifestyle magazine. The feature, entitled ‘Malta the Magnificent’, discussed thedirection being taken by the Maltese tourism industry. It stressed Malta's targeting of special interesttravel, such as diving and language learning markets.• 21 May 2003 During a meeting with President Guido de Marco, New Zealand Foreign Affairs andTrade Minister Philip Goff said that he was happy to talk with his Maltese counterparts about ways inwhich “we can move together in the world and co-operate bilaterally and in multilateral fora”. MrGoff was in Malta to discuss the strengthening of economic and trade ties between Malta and NewZealand.• 21 May 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg participated in the General Affairs and External RelationsCouncil of the European Union, held in Brussels on 19 th May. The Council discussed the situation inthe Middle East and Iraq, the new staff regulations of the EU institutions, as well as the agenda for theupcoming European Summit, to be held in Thessalonica in June 2003.• 21 May 2003 Transport and Communications Minister Censu Galea joined other Ministers from 24other EU and Accession States at an Informal Meeting on Transport and Merchant Marine in Greece.Addressing the second meeting, the Minister said that EU commitments should not only be confinedwithin the Union, but should always aim to compliment the global mission of the InternationalMaritime Organisation.• 21 May 2003 Transport Minister Censu Galea said that the Maritime Law Advisory Council wasworking towards a more radical reform of Maltese Maritime Law to ensure the continuous alignmentof legislation with current international law, including the evolution of the acquis communautaire. MrGalea said that, in conjunction with the latter, the council had to be a catalyst for new opportunities.The Minister was speaking at a seminar held by the Malta Maritime Legislative Council, at theChamber of Commerce.• 21 May 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that a new policy concerning the oversupplyof hotel beds was expected to be drawn up. Dr Zammit Dimech’s statement comes in the wakeof a position paper on tourism prepared by the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association that revealedthat a number of hotels could be driven out of business if the bed-stock kept increasing.• 21 May 2003 Minister Jesmond Mugliett said that he was pleased to note a professional attitudeadopted by athletes as they went through their training schedules. In reply, Justice Lino FarrugiaSacco, who is President of the Malta Olympic Committee, praised the Minister, saying that followingthe help received from the authorities and sponsors, “We are now ready to face what is expected to bea memorable week in the history of our sport". Mr Mugliett was speaking at MOC headquarters.• 21 May 2003 Speaking during a press briefing, Parliamentary Secretary Edwin Vassallo stressed theimportance of businesses having the necessary information to develop their enterprises. Mr Vassallosaid: “It is expected that, through European Union membership, business in member countries willincrease by nine per cent, and companies will have more opportunities.”• 21 May 2003 Local Councils Association president Ian Micallef proposed, during a speech to theCongress for Local and Regional Authorities of Europe held in Strasbourg, that local councillors bepaid for their work rather than be reimbursed for expenses under the present bureaucratic system. MrMicallef said that, with Malta's accession to the European Union, Local Councils should assume,regulate, and manage a wider spectrum of public affairs, and guarantee achieving better results fromthe programmes that the EU gives to Local and Regional Governments.

• 21 May 2003 According to the National Statistics Office, a total of 96 persons - 46 men and 50women - left the country last year to settle abroad. The number of Maltese leaving the islands to settlein other countries has dwindled drastically over the years, the NSO noted. In 2002, 76 males and 52females returned to Malta after having spent less than four years abroad. This could possibly implythat the majority of the returning migrants were possibly living abroad in order to further theireducation, said the NSO.• 22 May 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg said that Malta's neutral status would not hinder it fromfighting terrorism with all means at its disposal. Dr Borg was speaking at a joint news conference withNew Zealand Foreign Minister Philip Goff, who was in Malta on a two-day official visit. The meetingwith Dr Borg included also discussions on bilateral matters.• 22 May 2003 The Maltese Government and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, signed a Joint Communique’, establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries,during a brief ceremony held in New York. The Government of Malta was represented by AmbassadorVictor Camilleri, while Ambassador Jose Luis Guterres represented the Government of theDemocratic Republic of Timor-Leste.• 22 May 2003 Resources and Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit said that Malta intends to have fiveper cent of its electricity consumption coming from renewable sources by 2010, primarily through theinstallation of more domestic solar water-heaters. Addressing the ‘Euro-Mediterranean MinisterialConference on Energy’, in Athens, the Minister said that the energy situation would still, however,depend mainly on hydrocarbons brought to Malta by tankers.• 22 May 2003 The President and Mrs de Marco, accompanied by Minister of Youth and the ArtsJesmond Mugliett, visited Verdala Castle to see the restoration work being carried out on wallpaintings there. Interest centred on a hitherto unknown work which has been uncovered by a team ofrestorers from the Malta Centre for Restoration, and which was probably painted by renowned Maltesepainter Giuseppe Calì.• 22 May 2003 World Tourism Organisation Secretary General Francesco Frangialli said that tourismhas proven to be very resilient in spite of the difficult situations it has had to face in the past two years,including terrorism and SARS. Mr Frangialli was speaking at separate meetings with President Guidode Marco and Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech, during a visit to Malta to attend the 40thMeeting of the WTO's Commission for Europe.• 22 May 2003 Environment Minister George Pullicino said that the engineering profession had a dutyto be a major influence in securing sustainability in policy making. Addressing a Chamber ofEngineers' conference on Engineering the Environment, the Minister called on the profession toengage itself more in research and the development of sustainable technology.• 22 May 2003 In its Quarterly Review for March 2003, the Central Bank said that it was making adownward revision of economic growth projections for this year to take account of a weaker exportperformance and slower growth in private consumption expenditure. The review analyses economicand financial developments both in Malta and abroad during the fourth quarter of 2002 and includesthe results of the latest business-perceptions survey carried out between January and February 2003.• 22 May 2003 The Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, TonyAbela, took part in the competitiveness council of the European Union, held in Brussels. Proposals onthe harmonisation of the laws and regulations concerning take-over bids, as well as consumer creditwithin the member states, were among the subjects discussed.• 22 May 2003 The National Statistics Office said that unemployment in April fell to 7,480. The NSOobserved that, in December last year, the unemployment rate among young men stood at 8.7 per cent;that of young women stood at 5.3 per cent; while that among older workers stood at 3.7 per cent.During that month, the long-term unemployment rate stood at 2.1 per cent.• 22 May 2003 A three-page interview with the Director of the Malta Tourism Authority's Milan office,Dominic Micallef, was carried in the tourism and hotel industry magazine ‘Master Meeting’ in Italy.The article emphasises the MTA's efforts to re-launch Malta as an all-year round destination to Italianvisitors who currently visit Malta, mostly during the summer months.

• 23 May 2003 President Guido de Marco received the diplomatic credentials and letters of credence ofthe new Ambassador of Senegal, Momar Gueye, and the High Commissioner of Ghana, George Kumi.The respective ceremonies took place in the Ambassadors' Room, at the Palace, in Valletta.• 23 May 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea announced that he would be inviting interested partiesfor an open dialogue to achieve the best consensus on the local educational system. He said thatspecial attention would be given to secondary schools, while new structures would be implemented forthe supervision and evaluation of every level of the education system. Dr Galea was speaking at ameeting of the School Councils Association.• 23 May 2003 The University of Malta Library acquired a collection of manuscripts of commercialcourt decisions belonging to the late Judge Alfredo Parnis (1860-1925), today still considered anauthority on commercial law. Judge Parnis was a member of the Bench between 1907-1925 andProfessor of Commercial Law at the University.• 23 May 2003 The Chinese Ambassador Yang Guirong referred to the expansion of trade betweenChina and Malta which, last year, reached Lm110 million. According to the National Statistics Office,total official exports to China in 2001 amounted to Lm0.65 million, and imports reached Lm24.6million. In 2002, provisional figures for exports increased to Lm2.3 million, while those for importswent up to Lm27.4 million. The Ambassador was speaking at the inauguration of an exhibition at theMalta-China Friendship Society, in Valletta.• 23 May 2003 The 2003 edition of the Malta Trade Directory is now available. The directory,published by the Chamber of Commerce, contains a wide range of information, contact numbers andcontact persons in private companies, organisations, embassies and consulates, as well as ministries.• 23 May 2003 A statement issued by the Employment and Training Corporation said that an ETCinitiative to attract job-seekers to the hospitality industry had attracted a mere 57 persons for an openday at the job centre, in Valletta. The ETC held the open day in view of an upsurge in the number ofvacancies in the hospitality industry. The number of vacancies in most sectors increased just after theGeneral Election in April.• 23 May 2003 Leading Italian weekly magazines Grazia, Donna Moderna, and Panorama are carryinga number of full-page colour advertisements produced by the Malta Tourism Authority's Milan office.The advertisements include photos of the Blue Lagoon, the prehistoric temples, and the Azurewindow.• 23 May 2003 The Health Department reminded the public to avoid non-essential travel to mainlandChina, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore, which have been hit by Severe Acute RespiratorySyndrome SARS. The Department appealed to Government and private organisations to avoidbringing over persons who reside in, or have recently been to, these countries or areas.• 23 May 2003 The importation of bovine meat from Canada now has to be certified as originating fromanimals slaughtered under-18 months of age. The decision was taken by the Director General of theFood and Veterinary Regulation Division in consultation with the Food and Safety Commission.• 23 May 2003 Lloyd's List reported that Spain had blacklisted four ships, including one registered inMalta, for allegedly flushing their tanks and causing pollution off the Galician coast.• 24 May 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami attended the passing-out parade of the ArmedForces of Malta at Luqa Barracks. Dr Fenech-Adami said that, though Malta had volunteered toparticipate in the Rapid Reaction Force with a platoon of soldiers, it had specified that it would onlytake part in humanitarian and rescue work, and not in peace-making and peace-keeping missions. ThePrime Minister urged the new recruits to realise the important role that they had to play in theircountry and to ensure the professional status of the army.• 24 May 2003 President Guido de Marco swore in Dr Joe Azzopardi as judge, at The Palace, inValletta. Mr Justice Azzopardi, who is forty-eight years old, replaces Mr Justice Franco Depasqualewho retired last February. Present for the ceremony were Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami,Minister of Justice and Home Affairs Tonio Borg, and Chief Justice Vincent de Gaetano, amongothers. Mr Justice Azzopardi is married to Maria neé Attard and has a 17-year old daughter.

• 24 May 2003 Ray Bondin, co-ordinator of the Valletta Rehabilitation Project, said during a visit byPresident Guido de Marco to the chapel of Italy in the Co-Cathedral of St John, that about Lm250,000has been earmarked to restore the chapel and the 16th century pipe organ in the co-cathedral's oratory.The restoration is being funded under the fifth financial protocol with Italy.• 24 May 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that provisional figures for the first fourmonths of this year showed that tourism arrivals from France were 10 per cent up over the same periodlast year. He said that, generally speaking, arrivals for this month look good, while bookings for Junewere promising. Dr Zammit Dimech was addressing delegates attending the SNAV Ile de FranceCongress.• 24 May 2003 A consultation paper published by the Malta Communications Authority proposes theestablishment of a price control mechanism on Maltacom's fixed telephony services retail tariffs. Theproposed price cap mechanism, which would cover a period of three years, would control the tariffsthat Maltacom charges for connecting customers to its network, retail line rentals, and for local andinternational calls over the fixed network. The document may be viewed on MCA's websitewww.mca.org.mt.• 24 May 2003 The Ministry of Information Technology and Investment nominated Winston J. Zahraand Jean Depasquale as the government-appointed directors on the board of Malta InternationalAirport. Mr Zahra is President of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association and is Director ofOperations, Sales and Marketing of Island Hotels Group. Mr Depasquale served as Director of MIAbetween 1992 and 1997 and from 1998 to date.• 24 May 2003 A global monitor report by the International Air Transport Association placed the MaltaInternational Airport in third place among European airports judged by passengers' overallsatisfaction. In the overall passenger satisfaction survey, the MIA is ranked 12th among the 51 airportsthat participated in the study. MIA has also been ranked in second place within the small airportcategory, according to overall passenger satisfaction.• 24 May 2003 The Civil Protection Department called on the Maltese to donate blankets and medicalsupplies to be sent to Algeria in aid of the victims of the earthquake that hit the northern part of thecountry and killed more than 1,450 people. Peter Cordina, who heads the Department, said that therewas an agreement among European states that, when a disaster occurred in one of the countries, all theothers would pool their resources to assist.• 25 May 2003 The tenth Parliament since Independence opened with Government and Oppositionagreeing to reappoint Anton Tabone as Speaker. Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami told the Housethat the reappointment of Mr Tabone had been agreed at a meeting he had with Opposition LeaderAlfred Sant. He said the talks also involved a Government invitation for the Opposition to nominatethe Deputy Speaker, as well as a pairing agreement.• 25 May 2003 President Guido de Marco said in his address at the State Opening of Parliament that theGovernment intends to better control public spending while working to reduce the burdens on theproductive sectors. The text and an audio recording of the President’s speech, as well as event photos,can be accessed atwww.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/eventsphotos-opening%20of%20parliament-diskors%20talpresident-in.asp• 25 May 2003 Malta's connection to a proposed Libya-Italy gas pipeline routed via Sicily receivedformal support from the Euro-Mediterranean Energy Ministers' conference in Athens. Malta'srepresentative, Resources and Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit stated in his speech that "apractical, technically feasible and cost-effective connection to a stable and secure gas network wouldreduce substantially Malta's reliance on oil imports by tankers".• 25 May 2003 Lynn Chircop placed a disappointing last but one in the 48th edition of the EurovisionSong Contest. Malta was awarded a total of four points, making this the worst placing the Island hasever achieved since it first started taking part in the Eurovision contest back in 1971. This year’scontest was won by Turkey's entry, ‘Every way that I can’.• 26 May 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami appealed to Members of Parliament to raise thelevel of parliamentary debate. Speaking at Birkirkara one day after the State Opening of Parliament,Dr Fenech-Adami said: "We are now at the beginning of a new era. We should abandon

confrontational politics and adopt a different approach characterised by what is best in the nationalinterest. Politicians also have to learn to agree among themselves when there is the need."• 26 May 2003 Some 40 members of the Historical Re-enactment Group of Malta set up a trainingcamp and carried out military drills and manoeuvres at Torri Mamo in Marsascala. The Group reenactedthe final years of the rule of the Knights of St John on the Island.• 26 May 2003 A set of three oil on canvas paintings by Giovanni Schranz (1794-1882) were sold for£27,000 (Lm16,200) by Edinburgh auctioneers Lyon and Turnbull. The main painting showed HMSRaleigh entering Grand Harbour, while the other two showed HMS Zebra and HMS Cambrian. Theestimated price in the auctioneers' catalogue had been £20,000 to £30,000.• 27 May 2003 The House of Representatives gave a first reading to 32 Bills, including one to ratify theEU Accession Treaty and another to regulate the holding of the elections to the European Parliament.• 27 May 2003 The Customs Department made a direct appeal to the public to help it in the fightagainst smuggling, especially drug smuggling at sea. Director General John Mifsud told The Timesnewspaper that Customs needs a regular flow of information from the public on activities that mightgive rise to suspicion. "By helping in the fight against smuggling, the public will be helping theDepartment to protect society itself. Prompt action could help to trap a smuggler," Mr Mifsud said.• 27 May 2003 Health Director General Ray Busuttil said that proposed changes by the Government tothe ‘Tobacco Control Act’ contemplates increasing the areas where smoking is banned, and restrictingadvertising and sponsorship by tobacco firms. In 2001, there were 342 deaths attributable to smokingin Malta.• 27 May 2003 The first choral music concert featuring music from EU member states and accessioncountries was held in the Great Hall of the Conservatoire de la Ville, in Luxembourg. The concert,which featured national music, included Maltese composer Charles Camilleri's well known choralwork Pacem In Maribus to a text by Rev. Peter Serracino-Inglott.• 27 May 2003 Five students from the Institute of Tourism Studies who have been on internationalinternship since June last year mounted a Maltese night at the Hilton Heathrow, in London. Thestudents were given full support by Maltese High Commissioner in London George Bonello Du Puis.• 27 May 2003 Civil Protection Director Peter Cordina said that the Department’s appeal for blanketsand medicines had a very good response.• 28 May 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami inaugurated HH Ltd’s new Lm2 millionproduction and packing plant, at the Lowenbrau brewery in Qormi. The Prime Minister, who wasaccompanied by Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs John Dalli, stressed that the investment byHH Ltd was indicative of the manner in which Maltese entrepreneurs were gauging the opportunitiespresented by the EU.• 28 May 2003 Italy's Justice Minister Roberto Castelli said during a meeting with Justice and HomeAffairs Minister Tonio Borg that the Italian Government wants to strengthen co-operation with Maltain the area of justice. The meeting between the two Ministers took place at the Ministry, in Sta.Venera. Dott. Castelli is currently visiting the Justice Ministers of the 10 accession countries to briefthem on issues relating to their portfolio before Italy takes over the EU Presidency in July.• 28 May 2003 Minister Joe Borg spoke of the dynamics of Enlargement of the EU, the BarcelonaProcess, and the New Neighbourhood Policy during a meeting in Crete with the 35 Ministers of theEuropean Union, the Acceding States, and the Mediterranean Partners of the Barcelona process.Referring to the Foundation for dialogue between cultures and civilisations, Dr Borg mentioned thatMalta had submitted an integral proposal on the setting up of this Foundation.• 28 May 2003 Health Minister Louis Deguara praised the service offered by the MediterraneanRegional Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine, situated in Corradino, Paola. The Centre was setup as a joint programme between the Government and China's Health Minister with the aim ofproviding high quality treatment and training in traditional Chinese medicine. The Minister wasaccompanied by the Ambassador of China, Yang Guirong.

• 28 May 2003 The Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, AnthonyAbela, addressed a conference organised by the Economics Department and the Islands and SmallStates Institute of the University of Malta, on ‘Maximising Malta’s competitiveness potential’. DrAbela said that the ability of a country to withstand international competition could not be attainedunless there is an efficient competition regime within the country.• 28 May 2003 Parliamentary Secretary in the Social Policy Ministry, Dolores Cristina, said thatthe Government was committed to designing and implementing policies that not only reducedoccupational accidents and diseases, but also enhanced the quality of work and the atmosphere at theworkplace. Ms Cristina was speaking at a Health and Safety conference organised by the MaltaEmployers' Association, at the SAS Radisson Baypoint Hotel.• 28 May 2003 Frank Scicluna was appointed as the new Honorary Consul for Malta in South Australia,and John Farrugia as the new Honorary Vice Consul. The two were given their formal appointmentsby Malta's High Commissioner in Australia, Ivan Fsadni, during a recent visit to Adelaide, SouthAustralia. Dr Fsadni was appointed High Commissioner last September.• 28 May 2003 The Governor of the Central Bank, Michael Bonello, explained the Bank’s decision tolower the central intervention rate by 25 basis points to 3.50 per cent. Mr Bonello said that thedecision had to do with the consideration that there were grounds for believing that lower officialinterest rates were compatible with the maintenance of the exchange rate peg at the time.• 28 May 2003 The European Commission is expected to recruit about 200 Maltese in the run-up toMalta's membership as of May 1, 2004. Although the minimum number of Maltese to be recruited is83, there were no limitations on the number of employees that can be taken on from each country.europa.eu.int/epso• 28 May 2003 The National Statistics Office said that the number of registered unemployed droppedby 61 persons this January when compared to January 2002, but rose by 363 over December. Theregistered unemployed stood at 7,879 persons in January 2003, representing an unemployment rate of5.4 per cent. The figures were based on the administrative records of the Employment and TrainingCorporation (ETC).• 28 May 2003 The Finance and Economic Affairs Ministry said that the National Lottery is to bescrapped, as it has been losing money for the past three years. The last edition, which will be drawn inJune, “marks the end of a significant period in the history of Maltese lotteries that had started with thislottery, which was drawn without interruption since 1948", the Ministry said.• 28 May 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech met with producer Mr MacGillivray at theInterContinental Malta, to discuss the prospect of making an IMAX film about Malta’s prehistorictemples. MacGillivray Freeman Films are the world's largest producers of IMAX films and are themakers of Everest, the highest grossing documentary of all time.• 28 May 2003 The Department of Health is advising the public to avoid non-essential travel toToronto, Canada, mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. The Department is alsoappealing to organisations in both the government and private sector to avoid bringing over personswho reside in, or have recently been to, these areas.• 29 May 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami told unions, constituted bodies, and specialinterest groups that form part of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD)that they would be given a strong role in the new administration. "The final responsibility of decisionmaking will remain the Government's, but I honestly believe you have a crucial role to play," DrFenech-Adami said. The Prime Minister was accompanied at the Council meeting by Social PolicyMinister Lawrence Gonzi and Finance and Economic Affairs Minister John Dalli.• 29 May 2003 Finance and Economic Affairs Minister John Dalli said that EU membership wouldbring standards in Malta more in line with those of other more advanced countries. Though the EUwould help Malta achieve these standards, everyone had an individual responsibility to bring about thedesired changes, he said. Mr Dalli was discussing the challenges and opportunities arising from EUmembership when he addressed a seminar organised by the Malta Institute of Taxation.• 29 May 2003 Finance and Economic Affairs Minister John Dalli said that continued fiscalconsolidation was an essential requisite for Malta's competitiveness. He said that reforms in fiscal

policy were required "to put the economy on a sounder footing, which would ensure sustainability andimprovement of social welfare programmes and growth-inducing projects". Mr Dalli said theGovernment was currently operating towards achieving a fiscal deficit to GDP ratio of three per centby 2005. The Minister was speaking at the conclusion of the three-day conference, entitled‘Maximising Malta’s Competitiveness Potential’, at St George’s.• 29 May 2003 Customs Director General John Mifsud said that the Customs Department had to strikethe right balance in a situation where it was very important to clear merchandise and passengersquickly, but at the same time be on guard against illegal activity. Mr Mifsud was speaking during avisit to Customs House, in Valletta, by President Guido de Marco. Finance and Economic AffairsMinister John Dalli accompanied the President.• 29 May 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech announced that a total of 341,632 cruisepassengers had arrived in Malta last year. This is an increase of 82,242passengers, or 31.7 per cent, on2001 and an all time record. Dr Zammit Dimech was speaking during a ceremony on the cruise linerBrilliance of the Seas that visited Malta for the first time.• 29 May 2003 The Parliamentary Secretary in the Social Policy Ministry, Dolores Cristina, said thatcentres similar to the ‘Access’ centre at Cottonera should be created in other localities. Ms Cristinawas opening a spring fair at Access, where a number of social services are available under one roof.• 29 May 2003 A high-level Italian delegation arrived in Malta for technical discussions with theMaltese authorities on the problems resulting from the trafficking of migrants in the centralMediterranean. The delegation included representatives from the Italian Ministry of the Interior, theGuardia di Finanza, the Italian Coast Guard, and the Italian Navy. The talks were held at the ArmedForces of Malta's headquarters, in Luqa, with the participation of government officials and experts, thepolice, and military officers.• 29 May 2003 A two-page full colour spread about Malta was carried in the latest edition ofSwitzerland’s influential travel trade magazine ‘Schweizer Touristik’. In a separate article, themagazine carries information on the national airline Air Malta.• 30 May 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami was treated to a tour of a large, recently restoredwar shelter, at Mgarr. The shelter, hewn out of rock, is one of the largest underground locations of itskind in Malta, reaching a depth of 12 metres and spanning some 225 metres. Manager Edgar Sammutexplained that in time of war it was used by some 400 villagers.• 30 May 2003 President Guido de Marco toured ir-Razzett tal-Hbiberija, at Marsaskala. There, Prof. deMarco inaugurated the first phase of a ‘multi-sensory room’, a new project that will provide therapyfor an array of conditions for the disabled. A multimedia presentation about the project was then givento those present, who included Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Opposition MP EvaristBartolo, US Ambassador Anthony Gioia, and Mrs Janatha Stubbs, founder of Razzett tal-Hbiberija.• 30 May 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea said that the Ministry would soon start discussing withinterested parties the first draft of a national strategy for lifelong education. Minister Galea was takingpart in an Employment and Training Corporation forum for employers in the electronics sector.• 30 May 2003 The Parliamentary Secretary in the Social Policy Ministry, Dolores Cristina, called onthe Government to take legislative measures to protect children from falling victim to alcohol abuse.Ms Cristina was addressing the launch of the pressure group Ghaqda Genituri, which is appealing forthe upward revision of the minimum drinking age from 16 to 18 and a ban on the sale of alcohol tothose under the minimum legal drinking age.• 30 May 2003 According to figures released by the National Office of Statistics, employment in thefirms classified under the main industrial grouping, which are rated by the size of their turnover,increased by 5.8 per cent in the first quarter over the same period last year. The grouping's wages andsalaries rose by 12.9 per cent and turnover by 1.8 per cent.• 31 May 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami arrived in St Petersburg to attend the 11th EU-Russia summit. The summit is being attended by the Heads of State of the 15 EU states and the 10acceding countries, as well as by representatives of the G8 countries. The heads of state werewelcomed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

• 31 May 2003 The Government and the Malta Drydocks jointly announced that Malta Drydocks hadwon an important contract for a major refit on the US Navy's sixth fleet flagship, USS La Salle. MaltaDrydocks said that the 'yard had beaten off stiff competition from 13 other major shipyards invited tobid for the substantial contract. This is the second time that the US Navy has awarded the La Sallecontract to Malta Drydocks. In 2001, the drydocks had completed a Lm3 million refit on the vessel.• 31 May 2003 Finance and Economic Affairs Minister John Dalli and the General Director of theLibyan Foreign Investment Board, Mohammed Abulhoul, officially opened a furnishings showroom inthe centre of Tripoli owned by a consortium of nine Maltese companies and their Libyan partner. MrDalli said that the showroom was evidence that there were opportunities for Maltese that could beexploited. He said that Libya could also benefit from Malta's membership of the EU.• 31 May 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that a study commissioned by theGovernment to measure the tourism industry's impact on the national economy showed that tourismcontributed 25 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product, 22 per cent to government revenue, and 28 percent in employment terms. Dr Zammit Dimech was addressing the annual general meeting of the Hoteland Catering International Management Associations.• 31 May 2003 The Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs hosted a conference of Ministers of theInterior of the West Mediterranean on the theme ‘Fostering Co-operation within the Mediterranean’.The Maltese delegation announced that Malta was willing to establish itself as a bridge within theMediterranean in the fight against cyber-crime.• 31 May 2003 The National Statistics Office announced that the structural deficit in the first fourmonths of this year rose by Lm30.3 million, to Lm79.5 million, over the same period last year, when itwas Lm49.2 million. The deficit for the whole of last year was Lm87.7 million. The NSO said thatgovernment debt outstanding at the end of April stood at Lm1,147.3 million, up by Lm98.2 million or9.4 per cent, from the Lm1,049.1 million outstanding at the end of April last year.• 31 May 2003 A delegation from the European Commission and representatives of the MalteseGovernment concluded that a broad-based and co-ordinated effort would be needed for Malta to reachthe employment targets set by the EU for member states. Malta has among the lowest overallemployment rate (54.5 per cent) and corresponding female employment rate (34.5 per cent) whencompared to the other EU member countries and candidate countries alike.June• 1 June 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami, addressing the European Union-Russia summitin Strelna, just outside St Petersburg, called for greater co-operation between European states to curbdrug trafficking and organised crime. Dr Fenech-Adami called for a greater dose of constructivedialogue between Russia and the EU. “Co-operation between EU and its neighbours is essential inmost areas and especially in a common determination to fight drug trafficking and organised crime.These major international threats require joint action to buttress the efforts of individual states".• 1 June 2003 Dr Michael Frendo, representing the Parliamentary Group, said: "Enhanced co-operationshould be a measure of last resort, a safety valve and not a normal method of governance; otherwise itwould become a tool for disintegration." Dr Frendo explained that enhanced co-operation is where agroup of countries rather than all the member states take initiatives and adopt measures applicableonly to them, within the context of the Union. The Maltese representative was addressing a session ofthe European Convention on ‘The Future of Europe’, in Brussels.• 1 June 2003 Former Tourism Minister Michael Refalo urged the tourism industry to learn more andunderstand better what membership in the EU actually implies, its benefits and challenges, and howbest to profit from the EU's funds and assistance. "The EU offers a mine of opportunities," he said. DrRefalo was speaking during a reception in his honour by the Malta Tourism Authority.• 2 June 2003 Speaking on the eve of the start of the 10 th edition of the Games of the Small States ofEurope in Malta, Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami outlined the significance of the Olympicflame ritual that signalled the start of the Olympic Games. Dr Fenech-Adami said: "The OlympicFlame conveys a message of unity. Sport is the ideal factor to unite countries in this world of vast

international differences. This is exactly what we the small nations of Europe who have many similarcharacteristics, will be celebrating."• 2 June 2003 The Minister for Youth and the Arts, Jesmond Mugliett, said that youth policies have toprovide the right conditions for life-long learning, participation and information about theopportunities for young people to play a full part in the labour market and civil society. Mr Mugliettewas addressing a conference of Ministers responsible for youth from the small states of Europe, at theVictoria Hotel, in Sliema.• 2 June 2003 A government statement announced that the new board of the Foundation for MedicalServices is to be constituted as follows: Renè Formosa, chairman, and architect Paul Camilleri, AlbertFenech, Alfred Rizzo, Saviour Sciberras and Jesmond Sharples, members. The foundation is anautonomous entity responsible for, among others, the construction of the Mater Dei Hospital, at Tal-Qroqq.• 2 June 2003 Malta's Honorary Consul General in Toronto, Milo Vassallo, complained that the SARSsituation in Toronto had been blown out of all proportion. Mr Vassallo said that the city, blacklisted byHealth Authorities world wide, carried on with its business as usual.• 2 June 2003 Hollywood actress Sharon Stone arrived in Malta for the shooting of the film ‘A DifferentLoyalty’, which also stars British actor Rupert Everett (My Best Friend's Wedding). The $10 millionbudget film is being produced by independent Canadian production company Forum Films, in coproductionwith the UK. The Malta shoot is spread over two weeks, with locations varying from theValletta fortifications to a sandy beach.• 3 June 2003 The Games of the Small States of Europe in Malta got underway in spectacular fashion atTa' Qali's National Stadium. President Guido de Marco, declared the Games open in the presence ofPrime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami, International Olympic Committee head Jacques Rogge,Minister for Youth and the Arts Jesmond Mugliett and Malta Olympic Committee President LinoFarrugia Sacco.• 3 June 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami had a meeting with Opposition Leader AlfredSant at Auberge de Castille. Dr Fenech-Adami told the press that the meeting had discussednominations to certain posts as laid down in the Constitution.• 3 June 2003 Maltacom chief executive Stephen Muscat said that telecommunications fraud andleakage had cost Malta two million dollars in lost revenue in the last six years. Over half of theselosses were footed by Maltacom for cases of pre-paid card fraud, while the remainder were sharedbetween the operators of call sale services. Mr Muscat was speaking at the start of a five-day revenueassurance and prevention of fraud conference organised by the Commonwealth TelecommunicationsOrganisation, at St Julian's.• 3 June 2003 Edwin Vassallo, Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Finance and EconomicAffairs, addressed bakers and confectioners at the Malta External Trade Corporation, in San Gwann.He underlined the importance of working in a common market and urged the bakers to broaden theirhorizons. Mr Vassallo was speaking at the third of a series of information meetings for variousbusiness sectors organised by Metco's Euro Information Centre and Small Business Unit.• 3 June 2003 The Parliamentary Secretary in the Social Policy Ministry, Francis Agius, made anappeal for more local councils to open day centres for the elderly. Dr Agius was speaking during atour of works taking place on the Sta Venera day centre, being carried out together with the LocalCouncil.• 3 June 2003 The June issue of the monthly tourism magazine, Malta and Gozo Day-by-Day promotesMaltese feasts, traditions and other cultural aspects of the Maltese way of life. Malta and Gozo Dayby-Dayis a monthly guide to events in the Maltese Islands.• 4 June 2003 In Parliament, Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami moved the motion for theappointment of Opposition MP Carmelo Abela as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.The motion was seconded by Charles Mangion, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr Abela thankedDr Fenech-Adami and Notary Mangion and promised his collaboration with the Chair. He also calledfor the co-operation of all MPs so as to ensure orderly proceedings in the House.

• 4 June 2003 The House unanimously appointed Government MP Mario de Marco as DeputyChairman of Committees. The motion was also moved by the Prime Minister and seconded by theDeputy Leader of the Opposition. Dr de Marco thanked Dr Fenech-Adami and Notary Mangion, andsaid that he wanted to assure the House that he would perform his duties to the best of his abilities.• 4 June 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said in Parliament that arrangements were beingmade for civil servants to be paid every four weeks, instead of every month. He said that thearrangements were being made in terms of the collective agreement 2002-2004. Dr Fenech-Adami wasreplying to a parliamentary question.• 4 June 2003 Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs John Dalli said in reply to a parliamentaryquestion that the process for the privatisation of lotto was in its final stages. He said that theGovernment was working for agreement with the Maltco Consortium and the lotto receivers. MinisterDalli said the Privatisation Unit was not informed of any differences among the prospective Malteseshareholders.• 5 June 2003 President Guido de Marco remarked that a new character has been given to the area'scultural heritage through the joint collaboration between the members of the Local Council, theecclesiastical authorities, and voluntary organisations. The President was speaking during an officialvisit to the locality of Zurrieq.• 5 June 2003 Finance and Economic Affairs Minister John Dalli attended the annual meeting of theEuropean Investment Bank's Board of Governors and an ECOFIN Ministerial Meeting held by theEuropean Union Council, in Luxembourg. The agenda included the report on broad economic policyguidelines, the follow-up to the Monterrey Conference, the EU's Financial Services Action Plan, andthe negotiations of the tax package with Switzerland.• 5 June 2003 The United States donated a sophisticated vehicle-and-cargo inspection system to theCustoms Department during a ceremony held at Malta Freeport. Finance and Economic AffairsMinister John Dalli, who is responsible for the Department, explained the ways in which the vehiclewould be used with the aim of preventing the transportation of weapons and illicit substances.• 5 June 2003 Minister for Tourism Francis Zammit Dimech and Tunisian Ambassador AbdessalemHetira addressed a joint press conference to give details about the Malta-Tunisia Regatta ‘ThePhoenicia Experience’, which is to be held in July. The Minister said that the Regatta should serve thetourism sectors of Malta and Tunisia, as well as to bolster relations between the two countries.• 5 June 2003 Minister for Rural Affairs and the Environment George Pullicino said that EU TwinningProjects provide the framework for administrations in candidate countries to work with theircounterparts in member states. Mr Pullicino was speaking during the launch of the Twinning Projectsat the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA).• 5 June 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea announced that the Government would be proposingnew legislation to regulate the libraries sector. Dr Galea was speaking at the opening of the newlyrestored custodian's residence, at the National Library, in Valletta.• 5 June 2003 Minister for Youth and the Arts Jesmond Mugliett announced the start of an extensiverestoration of the Manoel Theatre. The project is being made possible through the contribution of themain sponsors - Malta International Airport together with the Valletta Rehabilitation Project, Din l-ArtHelwa and Computime Ltd. The Valletta Rehabilitation Project appointed Prof. Sante Guido tooversee the project.• 6 June 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami reflected on the conclusions of the Convention onthe Future of Europe when he addressed the Mini European Assembly, held by the NSTF in theChamber of the House of Representatives. Dr Fenech-Adami said that the Convention illustrated thedesire of the more progressive contemporary governments to be as inclusive as possible in thegovernance of their countries. http://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/archive/PMaudio/audiorecording%20-%20mini%20nstf.asp• 6 June 2003 Prince Albert of Monaco visited the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency ResponseCentre for the Mediterranean Sea at Manoel Island, where he met REMPEC Director, Rear AdmiralRoberto Patruno. Prince Albert was in Malta for the ‘Games of the Small States of Europe’.

• 6 June 2003 The Malta Environment and Planning Authority signed five agreements with localenvironment organisations as part of its ‘Environmental Initiatives in Partnership’ programme. Theagreements are setting in motion restoration and environment enhancement projects in a number ofareas.• 6 June 2003 Air Malta, the official carrier of the ‘Games of the Small States of Europe’, ferried over700 athletes to Malta to participate in the games. The athletes were flown over on scheduled services, aswell as on four charter flights. The official logo of the games was displayed on all Air Malta's aircraftand greeted the athletes upon embarkation.• 6 June 2003 The Malta Environment and Planning Authority, together with the Curriculum Departmentof the Education Division, launched the Eco Schools programme on a national level. The programmewas successfully piloted in six schools over the past scholastic year. Godwin Cassar, MEPA's Director-General, said that, as from the next scholastic year, schools will be able to compete for the ‘Green Flag’,an international Eco label awarded for excellence.• 6 June 2003 The Pope nominated Archbishop Felix del Blanco Prieto as Apostolic Nuncio for Malta.Mgr del Blanco Prieto will succeed Archbishop Luigi Conti, who has retired.• 6 June 2003 The National Statistics Office announced that the population at the end of last year stood at397,296, increasing by over 35,000 since 1990. Noting that population growth had a direct impact onland use, the NSO put the percentage of built-up land in the Maltese Islands at 23 per cent.• 6 June 2003 A new quarterly publication, Inmalta, has just hit the news-stands. The comprehensiveuser-friendly travel handbook is aimed at visitors to the Maltese Islands. Inmalta is being distributed tohotels and sold at major tourist outlets.• 6 June 2003 The Malta Tourism Authority’s Chief Executive, Leslie Vella, presented a sponsorship toBirdlife Malta to assist it on the Foresta 2000, the Simar and the Ghadira nature reserve projects.Foresta 2000 is an afforestation project in the Mellieha Bay area.• 7 June 2003 Dr Simon Busuttil, who is the outgoing head of the Malta-EU Information Centre, said thatMalta's adoption of the Euro could not be achieved before 1 st May 2006, at the earliest. He went on toexplain what Malta would have to do to adopt the Euro with the least possible upheaval. Dr Busuttil wasspeaking at a seminar at the Chamber of Commerce, in Valletta.• 7 June 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech stressed the importance of attracting high-yieldtourists to Malta, a strategy that has been paying off in the last few years. The Minister was speakingduring the signing of the contract that will see the demolition of the Golden Sands Hotel, in GhajnTuffieha, to make way for a five-star property trading under the name of Radisson SAS Golden SandsResort & Spa.• 8 June 2003 Sette Giugno was celebrated with a wreath-laying ceremony on Palace Square, Valletta.Wreaths were laid by Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami and Opposition Deputy Leader CharlesMangion. The ceremony was followed by the presentation of medals to nine former Members ofParliament, a tradition introduced seven years ago to mark the 75th anniversary of self-government.• 8 June 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg said that he sees a new political body emerging from thedynamics of EU enlargement, the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and the EU's proposed 'WiderEurope' neighbourhood policy. In an interview with The Sunday Times newspaper, Dr Borg said: “Sucha body would raise the profile of Europe in international relations, giving us greater credibility.”• 8 June 2003 The curtain went down on the 10 th edition of the Games of the Small States of Europe,staged in Malta over the preceding week. Before the Games were declared closed, Malta OlympicCommittee officials handed over the Olympic Flag to Jaume Marti Mandigo, president of the OlympicCommittee of Andorra, where the next Games are due to be held in 2005. The ceremony was held at theMatthew Micallef St John Athletic Stadium, at Marsa.• 9 June 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg expressed satisfaction that a monitoring report by the EuropeanCommission on the implementation of the commitments agreed in accession negotiations has confirmedthat Malta is on track in its membership preparations. Dr Borg announced that the Government wasdiscussing and would shortly approve new structures that will reflect the accession scenario and caterfor the monitoring of the acquis’ implementation.

• 9 June 2003 Foreign Affairs Minister Joe Borg said that the EU Commission felt that competition andtaxation needed ‘urgent attention’. The Commission had noted that Malta was meeting most of thecommitments and requirements arising from the accession negotiations. However, in the competitionchapter, it expressed concern about delays that occurred in aligning the Competition Act, to introducethe provisions regarding public undertakings, and in the implementation of commitments relating to theBusiness Promotion Act.• 9 June 2003 The Bill for the ratification of the EU accession treaty published by the Governmentincludes provisions for the primacy of EU law. The Bill’s text can be accessed atwww.doi.gov.mt/EN/archive/maltaeu/images/bill4.pdf• 9 June 2003 According to a proposed law to regulate the holding of local European Parliament electionsMalta and Gozo will be considered as one district. The election will be according to the principle ofproportional representation by means of the single transferable vote, each voter having one vote. TheBill’s text can be accessed at www.doi.gov.mt/EN/archive/maltaeu/images/bill5.pdf• 10 June 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that, “Our interest in what happens in theBritish travel and tourism sector is, to say the least, imperative”. The Minister was making his openingaddress at the Institute of Travel and Tourism conference, held at the Radisson SAS Baypoint Resort. Atotal of 444,335 British tourists visited Malta in 2002, accounting for 39.2 per cent of all tourists.• 10 June 2003 Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit said that no waste would be deposited at Maghtab asfrom the end of next April, by which time an engineered landfill should be in operation. Once Maghtabwas closed down, work would be taken in hand for its rehabilitation, said Mr Zammit.• 10 June 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that the Social Security Department collectedstatistics on ‘injuries at the place of work’ on the basis of applications for sickness benefit. 1,440occupational accidents were reported between January and April this year. The figure shows an increaseof 40 over the same period last year, according to the figures given in Parliament.• 10 June 2003 The National Statistics Office said that just under 15 per cent of the population,representing 57,380 persons, fell below the 'at risk of poverty' line in 2000. Results revealed that thehighest poverty rate, estimated at 79.1 per cent, was for persons living in households where socialbenefits (excluding pensions) were the main source of income, and that the poverty rate decreased withan increasing education level.• 10 June 2003 A number of personalities, including Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech, andDominic Micallef, MTA regional director for Italy/France, were interviewed for an episode of thepopular Italian tourism programme ‘Sereno Variabile’. The programme is shown on RAI Due andwatched by around 1.6 million viewers. Malta was considered to be the ideal location for the launch aseries of short inserts about Mediterranean destinations.• 11 June 2003 President Guido de Marco called for a holistic approach towards the conservation ofValletta which, he said, should not be left in a state of decadence but should be allowed to live insplendour. Prof. de Marco also called for the setting up of a national portrait gallery where works byMaltese artists could be displayed. The President was speaking during a visit to the Museum of theArms and Armour of the Knights of St John, at the Palace, in Valletta.• 11 June 2003 The National Statistics Office announced a substantial drop in school absenteeism in2001. The drop results from a decrease in the number of absences, authorised and unauthorised, at boththe primary and secondary levels within the public and private sectors. The overall absence rate stood at9.07 days/pupil, that for boys being 10 days/pupil, and that for girls 8.11 days/pupil. There was also asharp decrease in the total number of absent school days in trade schools.• 11 June 2003 Resources and Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit visited the Mellieha afforestationproject Foresta 2000, in the vicinity of Ghadira. He said that the intention behind the project was not tocover a site with trees but to create a mixture of ecological habitats. Mr Zammit said that similarafforestation projects were planned in several localities in Malta and Gozo.• 11 June 2003 Malta Tourism Authority Chairman John Grech said that a federation of stakeholdersinvolved in cruise liner passenger traffic to Malta is to be set up to co-ordinate tourism promotioncampaigns for the Island. He announced that the MTA was also working closely with the Church

authorities on the idea of promoting religious tourism. Dr Grech was speaking on the occasion of thedistribution of the MTA's annual report, at St James Cavalier, in Valletta.• 11 June 2003 Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg distributed appointments to nine judicialassistants. Such assistants take much of the burden off judges and magistrates by deciding on therelevance or competence of witnesses, standing in for magistrates and judges on site inquiries, andtaking witnesses' testimony or affidavits.• 11 June 2003 Health Minister Louis Deguara said that donation of equipment by ‘Lions ClubsInternational Provisional Zone – Malta’ to St Luke's Hospital should enable a cornea bank to be set upwithin four months. Work on this project, which costs over Lm12,000, started in May 2002.• 11 June 2003 Environment Minister George Pullicino tried out for himself the GEM electric vehicleduring a run around Valletta's roads. Mr Pullicino was accompanied by Valerio Capelloni, Sales andMarketing Manager of Geo Europe srl, of Como, Italy. Mr Capelloni agreed to give an electric vehiclefor the Environment Department to test for three months.• 11 June 2003 The Ministry for Information Technology and Investments announced that TancredTabone has been appointed Chairman of Enemalta Corporation. The Deputy Chairman of Enemalta isGeorge Winston Borg, with the Directors being Arthur Ciantar, Edward Cachia Caruana, Juan BorgManduca, Helga Zahra, Anthony Abela and Ray Soler.• 11 June 2003 The same Ministry re-confirmed Michael Falzon at the helm of the Water ServicesCorporation. The other members on the WSC board are David Stellini, Deputy Chairman, AnthonyCarabott, Mario Sammut, Sarah Pule', John Abela, Joe Ross and Elizabeth Vella.• 11 June 2003 Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said that when Malta joins the EU nextyear it would enter into an extradition agreement between the EU and the US. Details were givenfollowing a meeting of the Council of Home Affairs Ministers, in Luxembourg.• 11 June 2003 Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono inaugurated an internet café at the Gozo GeneralHospital. This is the first such café in a hospital in the Maltese Islands. The system is accessible roundthe clock against payment of a nominal fee.• 11 June 2003 The Ministry for Resources and the Infrastructure said that financing has already beenidentified for the sewage treatment plants in Gozo and in the north. The Ministry said that discussionsare currently underway with financial institutions on the financing for the south area treatment plant.• 11 June 2003 The Royal Clipper, which is the largest fully rigged sailing ship in the world, made herfirst official call in Malta, and will be including Malta on her itinerary this summer. The Royal Clipperwill call at Gozo on alternate Tuesday mornings, moving on to Valletta for the afternoons and evenings.• 12 June 2003 Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg discussed Malta's integration with the EUwith the Chairman of the European Scrutiny Committee of the House of Commons, Jimmy Hood. MrHood forms part of a delegation currently making visits to accession countries.• 12 June 2003 Transport Minister Censu Galea announced that Malta has promised commitment to workwithin the Euro-Mediterranean concept for the identification of suitable transport infrastructure projects.Mr. Galea was addressing the European Council of Ministers Meeting, in Luxembourg.• 12 June 2003 Minister for Youth and the Arts Jesmond Mugliett described the 13 th Malta Jazz Festivalas an international event attracting the world's top jazz artists. Artistic Director Charles Gatt declaredthat one of the most important aspects of this year's festival was the variety of different bands and stylesof jazz.• 12 June 2003 Minister Jesmond Mugliett announced that a request has been made for funds from theEuropean Union for protective structures and visitors' centres for Neolithic temples, including those ofMnajdra. Minister Mugliett was replying to a parliamentary question.• 12 June 2003 Malta has concluded negotiations to join the European Economic Area (EEA), openingthe way to a single market of 25 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The EEA is afree-trade zone between the EU and Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

• 12 June 2003 Mr Justice Filletti was invited to address the inaugural meeting of the EuropeanCommercial Judges Forum, held in London. The main theme chosen for the forum was ‘NewApproaches to the Efficient Management by the Courts of Commercial Litigation’.• 12 June 2003 Former Chief Justice and Chairman of the Broadcasting Authority, Joseph Said Pullicino,called for the setting up of a team of investigative journalists within the Public Broadcasting Service.He said that the journalists should have impeccable journalistic and editorial qualities and should beprotected by security of tenure. Dr Said Pullicino made his comments in the introduction to theBroadcasting Authority's annual report for the year 2002, tabled in Parliament.• 12 June 2003 Mr. Alfred Fiorini Lowell has been appointed Chairman of the Public ServiceCommission, succeeding Mr. Joe Curmi. Mr Fiorini Lowell’s previous post was as Secretary to theCabinet. He retired from the Public Service after a career of over 44 years.• 13 June 2003 The President of the Chamber of Commerce, Reginald Fava, hailed Prime MinisterEdward Fenech-Adami's ‘brilliant political career’, at a business lunch in honour of the Prime Minister.Mr Fava said that Dr Fenech-Adami's policies had changed the way the country worked, from one ofdivision to one of co-operation. The country, said Mr Fava, was now on the road to EU membership andhad to take serious decisions to continue to do well.• 13 June 2003 Ambassador of Japan Mrs. Nobuko Matsubara presented Letters of Credence to PresidentGuido de Marco. The ceremony was held in the Ambassadors’ Room, at the Palace, in Valletta.• 13 June 2003 Minister for Justice and Home Affairs Tonio Borg held a meeting with members from theEuropean Scrutiny Committee of the House of Commons, at the Ministry. The visit is one of many theCommittee is making to accession countries to learn more about the countries’ concerns and accessionaspirations, about their views on European Union issues, and about the role they expect to have in theUnion.• 13 June 2003 A delegation from the European Scrutiny Committee of the House of Commons held ameeting with Maltese MPs, at The Palace, in Valletta. The meeting was chaired by Dr Jason Azzopardi,who welcomed the opportunity of receiving the members of the Committee and benefiting from theirexperience.• 13 June 2003 Parliamentary Secretary in the Social Policy Ministry Frans Agius inaugurated the 7 th‘Share Your Heart’ activity on the Gozo ferry. People with special needs from Dar il-Kaptan and theGozo Adult Training Centre participated. Dr Agius said that the activity allowed persons with disabilityto express their emotions through art and to discover and develop their talents.• 13 June 2003 The Parliamentary Secretariat within the Ministry of Finance and Economic Services hadmeetings with businessmen to simplify the procedures for the issue of business licences anddevelopment permits. Officials from the Malta Environment and Planning Authority and the SmallBusiness Unit met businessmen at Mriehel industrial estate. Similar meetings are to be held at Tal-Handaq, Mosta and Luqa.• 13 June 2003 The Tax-Free Marketing Group at Malta International Airport announced that the volumeof sales at all airport concessions had increased by Lm500,000 to nearly Lm16 million in the lastfinancial year, or Lm12.02c per departing passenger. Tax-free shopping is the main source of retailoperations at MIA.• 13 June 2003 Central Bank Governor Michael C. Bonello observed that international studies show thatthe replacement of pay-as-you-go pension regimes by funded systems provide more incentives forprivate saving. He said that they also reduce the scope for tax evasion by linking contributions paid intothe system directly to the benefits received. Mr Bonello made his comments at the opening of twointernational workshops on pension reform held in Malta by the World Bank Institute.• 13 June 2003 The Malta Tourism Authority launched a photographic competition with the theme‘Treasuring our unique heritage: a key to success in tourism’. The competition is open to members ofthe public and tourists visiting the Maltese Islands and is being organised by the MTA in collaborationwith the Malta Photographic Society and Heritage Malta, under the auspices of the Minister forTourism.

• 14 June 2003 The ‘Economic Intelligence Report’ predicted that the 2003-2004 period will bedominated by issues relating to EU accession, namely how to manage the many economic, legal, andadministrative reforms and challenges associated with accession. The comments were carried in the EIR‘Outlook’.• 14 June 2003 A Maltese parliamentary delegation led by Mario Galea MP attended the 34 thCommonwealth Parliamentary Conference of the British Isles and Mediterranean region, held in Londonand Cambridge. Mr Galea chaired one of the workshops and acted as rapporteur for the plenarysession.• 14 June 2003 Newly appointed judge Joe Azzopardi expressed confidence that, with the co-operation oflawyers, he would be able to deal with the heavy workload resulting from pending cases before the FirstHall of the Civil Court. Justice Azzopardi’s first official sitting was attended by the Prime Minister, theMinister of Justice and Home Affairs, and the Chief Justice.• 14 June 2003 Mario Grech, Chairman of Middlesea Insurance, announced that shareholders would bereceiving a gross dividend of 7c per 50c share, based on the closing price on April 11, 2003. Thedividend was approved during Middlesea Insurance's 22 nd annual general meeting, at the Radisson SASBaypoint Resort, in St Julian's.• 14 June 2003 The National Statistics Office said that tourism earnings in the first quarter of 2003 wereestimated at Lm43.3 million, that is, an increase of 4.4 per cent over the same period in 2002. Increasesin arrivals were recorded for the British, Austrian, Swiss and Belgian markets. On the other handdecreases were recorded for the French, Italian, and Libyan markets.• 14 June 2003 Richard Lalonde, who is the producer of the film ‘A different Loyalty’, described Malta asa very attractive place to shoot. “The crew is just amazing and the locations were very good for us.Malta’s history and cultural mix makes it such an incredible place,” he said.• 15 June 2003 President Guido de Marco said that EU countries do not give up their sovereignty. “Theyshare it in specific areas.” But, doing so, “they are actually fortifying their individual sovereignty forthey are more able to defend themselves and advance their interests”. President de Marco was speakingat a conference entitled ‘Wider, Deeper, Stronger. A Conference on the Enlargement of the EuropeanUnion’, organised by Keith Vaz, former British Minister for European Affairs, at the House ofCommons, in London.• 15 June 2003 Minister of Justice and Home Affairs Tonio Borg, who is responsible for local councils,met Malta’s mayors and deputy mayors. Speaking at the end of a seminar at the MediterraneanConference Centre, Dr Borg said that he would bring into effect, within days, amendments to the JusticeCommissioners Act so that law enforcement by the local councils would be strengthened, and lesspeople would ‘escape through the net’.• 15 June 2003 The former Consul-General of Austria, Joseph R. Darmanin, received the GrandDecoration of Honour for services to the Republic of Austria in acknowledgement and gratitude of his‘great merits’ over 30 years of service. The decoration was bestowed by Austrian Ambassador AlfonsKloss, who praised Mr Darmanin as ‘an outstanding Consul’.• 16 June 2003 Commissioner of Inland Revenue Adrian Chetcuti said that the Department would beissuing thousands of assessments to clear a backlog dating back to pre-1999. Mr Chetcuti wasinterviewed by The Times newspaper.• 17 June 2003 Ombudsman Joe Sammut presented his seventh annual report to the Speaker of the Houseand, later on in the evening, the report was tabled in the House. According to the report, the totalnumber of complaints in writing last year was 673. This figure is smaller than that for 2001 (698), andfor every year since the creation of the office, except for the year 2000. The number of cases concluded,at 719, is higher than the figures registered in the previous two years.• 17 June 2003 According to a report on EU enlargement by the Economist Intelligence Unit, EuropeanUnion membership is no magic wand for new member states and it will take such countries between 21and 63 years to reach the Union's GDP average. The estimate for Malta is 29 years. The reportemphasises that the estimates were drawn up on a ‘benign growth scenario’ and assume that the GDPper capita average of the 15 member states grows at two per cent annually.

• 17 June 2003 The Malta High Commission in London took part in the activities organised by the UKcelebrating the enlargement of the European Union. Malta's High Commissioner in London, GeorgeBonello Du Puis, welcomed MPs, High Commissioners, Ambassadors and members of the public whovisited Malta's stand in the House of Commons where the exhibition was held.• 17 June 2003 The Ministry for IT and Investment has appointed Lawrence Zammit chairman of AirMalta. The directors are Paul Bonello, Joe Fenech Conti, Euchar Mizzi, Noel Radmilli and MichaelSoler. Mr Zammit takes over from Louis Grech who has held the post since 1996.• 17 June 2003 The National Statistics Office said that, in the first quarter this year, total sales bymanufacturing enterprises went up by 3.1 per cent to nearly Lm243 million. Investment inmanufacturing registered a net drop of around Lm0.9 million to Lm9.8 million, when compared to theprevious year. During the same period, employment in manufacturing declined by a net of 406employees to 21,360.• 17 June 2003 Sea Malta successfully completed the last in a series of four audits, aimed at completingthe company's transition to the new ISO specifications. The newly-revised ISO standard, formallyknown as the EN ISO 9001:2000, places heavier responsibilities on all companies that decide to adopt it,and compliance of is obligatory by the end of the year.• 17 June 2003 The Department of Health repeated its warning to travellers to avoid non-essential travelto any of the following SARS-affected areas: Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Toronto. TheDepartment appealed to all organisations in both the government and private sectors to avoid bringingover persons who reside in, or have recently visited, these areas.• 17 June 2003 Work on the retractable cover over Dock 3, which is to be used as a super-yacht facility,is nearing completion, with all preparations now in hand for a high profile international launch at theend of the month. The first boat to use the facility to be run by Palmer Johnson Malta, is expected to bethe 52 metre ‘Feadship Mayan Queen’, in July.• 18 June 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami designated Joseph Scicluna as Secretary to theCabinet with effect from June 9, following the retirement of Alfred Fiorini Lowell. Mr Scicluna is acareer civil servant, having joined the Civil Service in 1970.• 18 June 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg announced that Government was planning new structures inpreparation for the post-EU membership scenario. These include a permanent representative in Brusselswho would attend cabinet meetings. In an interview with The Times newspaper, Dr Borg said that theForeign Ministry had also just launched an internal reform of its own structures to be able to deal betterwith the membership scenario.• 18 June 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg described the latest draft of the European Union Constitutionas an ‘extremely positive’ step in the right direction. Dr Borg said, however, that the Government wasconsidering taking up certain issues, such as the controversial threshold of four members as a minimumfor representation in the European Parliament, at the Intergovernmental Conference due to be launchedin October.• 18 June 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that the Cabinet would soon be considering aBill on guardianship to provide legal and social support for adults with a disability who cannot lookafter themselves. This would be done as part of the country's contribution to the European Year ofPersons with a Disability. The Minister was speaking during an official visit to the Centru HidmaSocjali, in Santa Venera.• 18 June 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi issued a stern warning to people who abused thesocial welfare system. Dr Gonzi aimed his comments in particular at people who obtained invalidity andsickness certificates when they knew they had no right to do so. Dr Gonzi was delivering the closingaddress of a half-day seminar on pensions entitled 'Pension reform: planning for the golden years', heldat the San Gorg Corinthia, in St Julian's.• 18 June 2003 Finance Minister John Dalli said that a decision on the pension problem had to be takenwithout delay because the time for debate was over. All the players in the game, including insurancefirms, had to bring in their knowledge to help build a new system. Mr Dalli was delivering the openingaddress of the seminar on pension reform, organised by PKF (Malta).

• 18 June 2003 Finance Minister John Dalli said that the Privatisation Unit is currently working on theprivatisation of the Mediterranean Offshore Bunkering Company (MOBC), Public Lotto, and the MaltaFreeport Terminals. He said that the process was in its concluding stages with regard to MOBC andPublic Lotto, but was continuing with regard to Malta Freeport. Minister Dalli was replying to aparliamentary question.• 18 June 2003 In Parliament, Finance Minister John Dalli said that the sale of National Lottery ticketshad dropped to 64,816 in April this year, from 95,754 in February 2001. Mr Dalli added that the lotteryis to be discontinued.• 18 June 2003 Information Technology and Investment Minister Austin Gatt said that the Governmenthad received 21,471 applications for the Microsoft software packages being offered at reduced pricesand it was estimated that total demand would reach 30,000. Dr Gatt said that the packages would bedistributed in September. The Minister was replying to a parliamentary question.• 18 June 2003 Malta was among the first countries to sign the ‘Framework Convention on TobaccoControl’ that opened for signature on 16 th June 2003. Ambassador Michael Bartolo signed on behalf ofthe Government of Malta.• 18 June 2003 The downward trend in participation at the University of the Third Age registered in thelast two academic years continued during the 2002/2003 academic year. The total number ofparticipants stood at 709. However, the Gozo branch of the University of the Third Age registered anincrease over last year's figure.• 18 June 2003 The Italian travel trade magazine, Congress and Incentive Travel Today, featured a fullcolourthree-page spread on Malta in its latest edition. Malta also recently featured in FamigliaCristiana, which carried a full-colour double-spread about Malta in its weekend section.• 19 June 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami left for Greece to attend the summer summit ofEU Leaders taking place in Thessaloniki. An audio recording of the Prime Minister’s comments to thepress prior to his departure from Malta can be accessed athttp://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/audiorecording%20%2019.06.03%20departure%20to%20thess.asp• 19 June 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech toured works at Le Méridien St Julian's, a fivestarhotel under construction at Balluta Bay. Le Méridien Hotels and Resorts own and manage LeMéridien Phoenicia, in Floriana.• 19 June 2003 Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit visited the newly restored ‘Greeks Gate’, at Mdina.The gate was restored by the Restoration Unit of the Ministry for Resources and Infrastructure. Thework was initiated by the Mdina Rehabilitation Committee and was co-financed by the Malta TourismAuthority.• 19 June 2003 US Embassy Public Affairs Officer and American Centre Director Erik Holm-Olsenpresented over 100 books to the Minister for Gozo, Mrs Giovanna Debono. The books will be utilised atthe Gozo Public Library and the Gozo General Hospital's Library.• 19 June 2003 The National Statistics Office said that total exports in April increased by Lm3.4 millionto Lm71.7 million, domestic exports were up by Lm1.6 million to Lm60.7 million, and re-exports wentup by Lm1.8 million to Lm11 million, from the same month last year. This brought the total exports forthe first four months of the year to Lm292.5 million up from Lm285.4 million last year.• 19 June 2003 Malta featured in the latest edition of the National Geographic Traveller, the world's mostwidely read travel magazine. The 10-page full colour spread was the focal point of the magazine's frontcover, complete with photograph and a large headline reading ‘Europe's best kept secret’. The Maltaarticle included several photographs of Malta's sea, coast, and tourist attractions.• 20 June 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami joined leaders from the EU 15 member states andthe other nine acceding states in Porto Carras, a luxury seaside resort 70 miles off Thessaloniki, Greece.The Greek summit is to focus on two crucial issues - the EU's draft constitution, and how to fight thethreat posed by illegal immigration. Dr Fenech-Adami was accompanied by Foreign Minister Joe Borg,and the Head of the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, Richard Cachia Caruana.

• 20 June 2003 The EU Council's General Secretariat published the draft treaty establishing aConstitution for Europe during the first day of the EU leaders' summit. The draft was translated into allthe official languages of the EU.• 20 June 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami took part in the enlarged summit of the EuropeanPeople's Party and the meeting of the European Democratic Union, both held in Haldiki. The EPPdiscussed the draft EU Constitution, the Party's statute, and its preparations for European Parliamentelections, due to be held across the Union next year. Dr Fenech-Adami was accompanied by theNationalist Party's International Secretary, Jason Azzopardi.• 20 June 2003 Rural Affairs and Environment Minister George Pullicino attended a meeting of EUEnvironment Ministers. The Brussels meeting agreed on the polluter-pays principle, which requiresoperators to take preventive action where there is an imminent threat of damage, and remedial action, attheir own expense, when damage occurs.• 20 June 2003 Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said that a Bill to amalgamate the LandRegistry, the Public Registry, and the Civil Registration Department into the Public and Land RegistryDivision was expected to be published in the coming weeks. Dr Borg was speaking at the presentationof warrants to new notaries.• 20 June 2003 The National Statistics Office announced that government spending on contributorybenefits had increased consistently, from Lm117.2 million in 1999 to Lm138.8 million in 2002. Withinthis category, pensions in respect of retirement accounted for the highest outlay, making up 54.1 percent of all contributory benefits in 2002.• 20 June 2003 The Health Promotion Department launched an extensive campaign to remind membersof the public to protect themselves against the sun's damaging ultraviolet rays. The campaign takes theform of advertisements on buses, billboards on roads leading to beaches in Malta and Gozo, posters onGozo Channel ferries, and an educational brochure.• 20 June 2003 Nature Trust in collaboration with the Malta Tourism Authority launched an ecologicalwalk guide, detailing 10 off-the-beaten track routes in Malta, Gozo and Comino. Tourism MinisterFrancis Zammit Dimech, who was present at the launch, said that the ten ecological walks that NatureTrust was proposing should allow visitors to discover the hidden charms of the Islands.• 20 June 2003 The Blue Hole in Dwejra was voted among the 10 best dive sites in Europe and ranked23rd in the overall list of 'Best Beaches in Europe'. The survey was carried out by The Independentnewspaper in the UK.• 20 June 2003 The British High Commission said in a statement that Janatha Stubbs, co-founder of theRazzett tal-Hbiberija, and Robert Gauci, who established the Royal Air Force Association - Malta GCBranch, had been appointed Members of the British Empire.• 21 June 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that it was crucial that the EU Leaders haddecided that the acceding countries would be participating fully in the Intergovernmental Conferencethat will take the final decisions on the new Constitution for Europe. The EU leaders have officiallyinvited Malta, along with the other nine acceding countries, to "participate fully" and "on equal footingwith the current member states" in the IGC.• 21 June 2003 Distribution of the official Maltese translation of the draft ‘Constitution for Europe’ todelegations and journalists attending the summit of the EU leaders at Porto Carras stopped after theMaltese version was found to suffer from serious flaws in grammar and orthography. Prime MinisterEdward Fenech-Adami said: "It's a pity that the Maltese version had mistakes but, at the same time, onehas to understand that there could be teething problems and that there was a very tight schedule."• 21 June 2003 Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Social Policy Lawrence Gonzi said that EUmembership was a challenge because the country had to go through a cultural and institutional change.It was also an opportunity because membership provided the tools which would otherwise not have beenavailable. These included money, expertise, knowledge, education, training, business exposure, and newmarkets. Dr Gonzi was speaking at the opening of the conference 'EU Accession - Challenges andOpportunities', organised by Ernst & Young.

• 21 June 2003 EU Ambassador Roland Gallimore said that the European Commission will submit itsfinal report on Malta on November 5. The Commission will specify clearly what needs to be done byMalta to ensure that the structures required for a smooth transition into the EU would be in place by 1 stMay 2004. Mr Gallimore was speaking at the conference 'EU Accession - Challenges andOpportunities'.• 21 June 2003 Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Social Policy Lawrence Gonzi attended the finalday of the 10th edition of the Joint Italian-Maltese Exercise Canale, which took place off the coast ofAugusta, Sicily. Dr Gonzi was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary at the Office of the PrimeMinister, Joseph R Grima, and Brigadier Rupert Montanaro, Commander AFM.• 21 June 2003 Minister for Justice and Home Affairs Tonio Borg said that there were 560 people indetention who had not applied for refugee status or who were still waiting for their application to beprocessed. He said that the backlog of applications, which was around 300, could be processed andbrought up to date soon as long as there were no new landings. Dr Borg was speaking at a function tomark World Refugee Day.• 21 June 2003 Police Commissioner John Rizzo said that the detention of illegal immigrants might beserving to deter other immigrants from coming here. Mr Rizzo said: "There had been 15 boats of illegalimmigrants by this time last year, but there have been none so far. The illegal immigrants get phonecards to phone home, so they could be feeding back the message that it is not worth coming here as astepping stone to Europe." The Commissioner was speaking during a media briefing.• 21 June 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that the situation in the tourist sector wasstabilising after last year's decline. The Minister was speaking at the end of a recent presentationceremony, in which certificates were presented to participants who attended a series of six seminars forowners and managers in the tourism sector.• 21 June 2003 The Occupational Health and Safety Authority said that there was a significant reductionin the number of occupational injuries reported in 2002, compared to 2001. OHSA was reacting torecent media reports about occupational accidents.• 21 June 2003 The Malta Tourism Authority recently hosted a television crew from the popular Italianstation La 7 to film part of the documentary Stargate. The programme discussed the theory put forwardin Sergio Frau's book ‘Le Colonne d'Ercole’. The book attempts to establish a link between the Malteseprehistoric temples and those in Sardinia.• 21 June 2003 The Director General of food and veterinary services announced that animals and theirproducts can not be imported from Libya until further notice because of an outbreak there of Foot andMouth disease. The Director General also advised visitors to that country to avoid visiting animal farms.• 22 June 2003 European Union leaders meeting in the Greek resort of Porto Carras reiterated theirunequivocal support to the European perspective of the Western Balkan region, stressing that the bigchallenge ahead for these countries is that they will ultimately join the EU. Prime Minister EdwardFenech-Adami was among the European leaders who took an active part in the Western BalkansSummit.• 22 June 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that he was concerned but not alarmed bythe dismal results shown in the latest hotel occupancy survey. The results, published by the Malta Hotelsand Restaurants Association, showed that hotel occupancy during the first quarter of this year was threeper cent down when compared with the same period last year.• 22 June 2003 Minister for Youth and the Arts Jesmond Mugliett said that the future of cultural heritageconservation in Malta is brighter because Government has put in place the necessary legislation andstructures to better take on such ambitious initiatives. Mr Mugliett was speaking during a seminarentitled ‘Tas-Salvatur Project: A Didactic Multi-Disciplinary Project’, at the Malta Restoration Centre.• 23 June 2003 President Guido de Marco led a discussion at the World Economic Forum, in Jordan, onthe theme ‘Rebuilding Iraq: the role of the international community’. The President spoke about UNSecurity Council Resolution 1483, which reaffirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq, andfirmly expresses resolve that the day when Iraqis govern themselves must come quickly.

• 23 June 2003 Miss Joanna Pisani has been appointed Consul General in New South Wales, Australia,with effect from 1 st July 2003. Miss Pisani replaces Charles Herrera who held the position for the pastthree and a half years.• 23 June 2003 The Charter Support Unit at the Office of the Prime Minister renewed the ‘QualityService Charter’ it had awarded the Department of Information in 1999. The need for renewal was feltbecause, following a restructuring exercise carried out in 2002, a number of new services were added tothe list that the Department offers. A booklet containing the complete list of services can be obtained byphoning Freephone 153, or mailing the Department at info@gov.mthttp://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/press_releases/2003/06/pr770E.asp• 23 June 2003 The Friends of the National Archives of Malta announced at a press conference that itwould be putting on microfilm thousands of documents dating back some 200 years. The associationsaid that a number of the documents, particularly those that deal with the early British period, are in direneed of conservation.• 24 June 2003 The House of Representatives started debating the Bill ratifying the EU Accession Treaty,a measure that the Prime Minister described as the most important constitutional development sinceIndependence. The Bill also includes a constitutional amendment that states that all laws of Malta mustrespect the Accession Treaty. Dr Fenech-Adami said that this has been added so that the Constitutionreflects the realities of Malta.• 24 June 2003 The Air Malta Group reported an operating profit of Lm5.3 million, with Air Maltareporting a profit before tax of Lm109,000. However, both Air Malta and the Group ended in the red,mainly because of losses of Lm7 million in AZZURRAair, and a Lm19 million impairment loss on sevenRJ70 aircraft. Former Chairman Louis Grech said that, "notwithstanding an exceptionally difficult timefor aviation, the Air Malta Group achieved a highly remarkable financial result".• 24 June 2003 According to the National Statistics Office the number of registered unemployed was7,321 in May, down by 159 from the previous month. The figure was 102 lower than that of May lastyear.• 24 June 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that the tourism industry risked killing itsown economic activity if it did not preserve Malta's cultural and natural tourism. The Minister wasspeaking prior to the presentation of eco-certification awards to 11 hotels.• 24 June 2003 Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino said that, following negotiations with the EU theGovernment was aiming for 1,000 hectares of land growing vines for wine production. "There was suchan encouraging flow of applications from farmers wishing to use their land for this purpose, that if wecontinue at this rate we could optimistically reach our target within three years," Mr Pullicino said. TheMinister was speaking during a visit to the Emmanuel Delicata Winery, in Marsa.• 24 June 2003 The IT and Investment Ministry confirmed John Cassar White as Chairman of MaltaDrydocks and Malta Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. The Ministry said that all the directors of both entities hadalso been confirmed and would continue to serve on their respective boards.• 24 June 2003 Professor Albert Caruana from the Centre for Communication Technology at theUniversity of Malta was presented with the Outstanding Paper Award of the ‘Product and BrandManagement Journal of the UK. The research paper focused on the effect of market orientation on newproduct performance based on data collected from Singaporean firms. It was co-authored withcolleagues at Curtin Business School in Perth, Western Australia, where Prof. Caruana is an AdjunctProfessor of Marketing.• 25 June 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea announced that more than 31,000 students in stateprimary and secondary schools have been given an e-mail account, and an e-mail account is also beinggiven to all teachers in government schools. Eighty-six schools now have internet facilities, and morethan 6,000 PCs have been installed in state schools, bringing the computer-student ratio to 1 in 7 inprimary schools, and 1 to 14 in secondary schools.• 25 June 2003 The IT and Investments Ministry and registered charity Childnet International signed anagreement aimed at making internet a safe yet fun-learning experience for children. The two-yearagreement, signed by IT and Investment Minister Austin Gatt and Childnet Chief Executive Nigel

Williams respectively, will include training, sharing of resources, and awareness campaigns, amongothers.• 25 June 2003 Maltese Ambassador to France Salvino Busuttil said that French automotive andpharmaceutical companies are showing an interest in Malta and a number of visits are being lined up.Prof. Busuttil maintained that Malta needed to be projected as a country in the EU, but with a ‘special’and ‘very important’ relationship with North Africa.• 25 June 2003 According to a research study on collective agreements carried out by the WorkersDevelopment Centre at the University of Malta, profitability rates and the competitive edge for theprivate sector ‘are likely to have risen’ between 1998 and 2002. Real wage costs have actually fallenshort of productivity gains, the study indicates. The study, ‘Trends in Collective Bargaining in Malta:1998-2003’, was carried out with the support of the Department of Employment and IndustrialRelations.• 25 June 2003 IT and Investments Minister Austin Gatt said in reply to a parliamentary question thatMalta Drydocks had made losses of Lm9.9 million in 2001, Lm 12.3 million in 2000, and Lm11.1million in 1999. The Minister said that the accounts for 2002 are still being audited.• 25 June 2003 Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit said in reply to a parliamentary question that thesewage treatment plants in Gozo and the North of Malta were due to be operational in 2005. Anotherplant in the south of Malta would be operational in 2007, said Mr Zammit.• 25 June 2003 Transport Minister Censu Galea said in Parliament that 2,445 new vehicles wereregistered in the first four months of this year. Mr Galea was replying to a parliamentary question.• 25 June 2003 The Central Bank of Malta lowered the central intervention rate by 25 basis points to 3.25per cent. The decision was taken by the Governor, Michael C Bonello, at the end of the Monetary PolicyAdvisory Council meeting. APS Bank announced changes to its interest rates as from today.• 25 June 2003 The Delegation of the European Commission to Malta announced that the EuropeanCommission has launched a pan-European campaign to help small and medium-sized enterprises takeadvantage of EU enlargement business opportunities. The campaign is run by the Euro Info Centres, thelargest business support network of the European Commission.• 25 June 2003 The Malta Communications Authority designated Maltacom plc as enjoying a dominantmarket position in the leased lines market. MCA said that Maltacom plc would therefore have theobligation to publish information in respect of technical characteristics, tariffs and usage conditions forleased lines. An MCA document entitled "Dominant Market Position in the Leased Lines Market - DMPDetermination" can be viewed at www.mca.org.mt.• 26 June 2003 Malta, along with the other nine acceding countries, has agreed to comply with the EUposition on the International Criminal Court. The ICC is the first permanent court for judicialproceedings, trying people charged with genocide and other crimes against humanity• 26 June 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi announced in Parliament that talks with theRussian Government on procedures for the adoption of children were at an advanced stage. The Ministersaid that meetings were also under way for a similar arrangement to be reached with Bulgaria.• 26 June 2003 Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said that Malta did not have any laws protectingprivacy. He said that discussion was needed to find the right balance between the freedom of the pressand the rights of the individual. Dr Borg was addressing a seminar focusing on ‘The Media and thePolice’, at St James Cavalier, in Valletta.• 26 June 2003 President Guido de Marco, on behalf of the Malta Community Chest Fund, presentedfinancial aid, specialised apparatus and white goods worth Lm58,057 to various philanthropicinstitutions and individuals in need.• 26 June 2003 Ms Anna Borg, who is Senior Executive (Gender Issues) at the Employment and TrainingCorporation, identified the lack of reliable and accessible child care systems as one of the majorobstacles for women to remain in the labour market. Ms Borg said that the ETC would be using theinterest shown by women in working from home for a European Social Fund project.

• 26 June 2003 The National Statistics Office said that, between March 2002 and March 2003, there wasan estimated increase in employment of 4,913 people. Drops were registered mainly in themanufacturing sector.• 26 June 2003 The Ministry for Tourism announced that road and trenching works by governmentdepartments and entities in tourist zones would again be prohibited during the summer season. TheMinistry also set times for construction work on private sector projects during July, August andSeptember.• 26 June 2003 Bus owners and drivers, together with two Malta Transport Authority committeemembers, will be taking part in a two-week training programme, to be held in Portsmouth from July 6.The EU Leonardo da Vinci Malta Bus Project was approved by the EUPU, the European ProgrammesUnit.• 26 June 2003 All sites and museums falling under the responsibility of Heritage Malta will be extendingtheir opening hours for the summer as part of a pilot scheme which will run until September. HeritageMalta is the government agency responsible for the management of 24 national museums and heritagesites in Malta and Gozo.• 27 June 2003 Hungarian Ambassador Istvan Kovacs presented his letters of credence to President Guidode Marco.• 27 June 2003 Transport Minister Censu Galea said that more than 13,000 seacraft are listed in theMalta Maritime Authority's ‘small ships register’. He said that, with the number of boats in Malteseseas increasing annually, safety was becoming ever more important. Minister Censu Galea wasspeaking on board the motor yacht Alevok while touring swimmer zones as part of this summer'sSafety at Sea campaign.• 27 June 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea attended the seventh Conference of European Ministersof Education, in Cyprus. The conference was organised by the Greek Presidency of the European Union,the European Commission, and the Ministry of Education and Culture of Cyprus. The conference wasdue to focus on the quality of education, teacher training, the European identity, and active citizenship.• 27 June 2003 Malta joined a 28-nation satellite debate organised by the non-governmental organisationFriends of Europe with the support of the European Commission and T-Systems of Germany. The Maltaside of the event was organised by the European affairs consultancy firm EuropAdvise Ltd. A summaryof the debate and a video of the event can be accessed at www.friendsofeurope.com• 27 June 2003 The Government launched draft standards for handmade Maltese lace and filigree thatoutline the characteristics that make them unique in the world market. The Parliamentary Secretary inthe Finance and Economic Affairs Ministry, Edwin Vassallo, invited the public to submit theircomments on the standards over the next two months.• 27 June 2003 Top shipping line APL will start using Malta Freeport after deciding to stop making useof the Freeport at Gioia Tauro. APL, a member of the New World Alliance, will use the Maltese port ina new service it will launch with major international shipping lines CMA and Norasia.• 27 June 2003 Photographers Alan Carville and Mark Avellino set in motion ‘Project Malta’, a sevendayphotography marathon. The project is intended to interpret life in Malta today by photographing theIsland 24 hours a day for a whole week.• 27 June 2003 HSBC reduced its base rate by 0.25 per cent to 3.25 per cent following the Central Bankof Malta's decision to reduce the central intervention rate and discount rate by 25 basis points. Thereduction applies to all personal and commercial lending products that are linked to the Bank's base rate,including home loans, commercial advances, Flexicredit, home credit loans, credit card lending, andcurrent accounts.• 27 June 2003 Twenty-seven youths completed a Caritas drug rehabilitation programme, graduating at aceremony at the San Blas complex. Presently, 226 young people are undergoing different phases of theprogramme, while 240 members of their families are in a family therapy programme tailor-made fortheir needs.

• 28 June 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that there was an increase of 9,496tourists from the UK during the first four months of this year. He said that following the upheavals ofthe past two years, the situation was improving. Dr Zammit Dimech was speaking at the Golden TulipVivaldi Hotel, in St Julian's.• 28 June 2003 According to the National Statistics Office, recurrent or ordinary revenue in the first fivemonths of this year totalled Lm263.9 million. At the same time, total expenditure amounted to Lm368.9million. The structural deficit during the period under review amounted to Lm104.6 million, up byLm36.7 million from a shortfall of Lm67.9 million for the same period one year ago.• 28 June 2003 The Retail Price Index last month went up by 0.33 per cent to 100.73, from 100.40 in theprevious month. The food items index increased by 0.4 per cent to 102.23, from 101.82 in the previousmonth, as a result of average price increases in respect of fresh fruit and take-away foods. Price dropswere recorded in respect of fresh vegetables and potatoes.• 28 June 2003 The results of regular surveys by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority showthat the levels of benzene in the air decreased substantially over the past three years. The annual nationalaverage decreased to 1.91 parts per billion (ppb) last year from 2.83 ppb in 2000, with this year'smonthly averages also suggesting a sustained decrease.• 28 June 2003 Environment Minister George Pullicino said that the MALSIS soil project involved thedetailed surveying and sampling of about 330 sites. Speaking at a conference to review the project’s firstyear, Mr Pullicino said that the examined soil samples would be incorporated into a digital databasecovering all the Maltese Islands on a one-kilometre grid system.• 28 June 2003 ‘The Washington Post’ newspaper included an article about the Maltese Islands in itsTravel section. The feature highlighted Malta's safety, ease of access and bi-lingualism. The hospitalityand friendliness of the people were also given prominence, together with the history, art, andarchitecture of the archipelago.• 29 June 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg argued that Malta could not adequately participate in thestructures of the European Parliament with fewer than five Members. He said that the Governmentwould ensure that the minimum number of MEPs, however small the member state, would be five andnot, as the new EU Constitution proposes, four. Dr Borg was speaking at a half-day conference on theEU Constitution organised by the Malta Labour Party.• 29 June 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that around 60,000 foreign divers visitMalta every year. He said that tourism and sports were interconnected and the Government was doingeverything possible to invest in more sports facilities. Dr Zammit Dimech was speaking at thepresentation of a trophy to mark the 135th anniversary of the Cawnpore Cup, at the Marsa Sports Club.• 29 June 2003 High Commissioner Anthony Le Clerk Kgwadu Mongalo paid a courtesy farewell call onPresident Guido de Marco. He invited President de Marco to visit South Africa and expressed hopes forcloser relations between Malta and South Africa in trade, tourism, exploring new investmentopportunities, and scientific exchanges. During the visit, Mr Mongalo was accompanied by theHonorary Consul for South Africa, Norman Mifsud.• 30 June 2003 Finance Minister John Dalli announced in Parliament that the sale of national lotterytickets had dropped to 64,816 in April this year, from 95,754 in February 2001. The lottery is beingwound up after 55 years, following low sales.• 30 June 2003 Minister for Rural Affairs and the Environment, George Pullicino, stressed that food, fruitand vegetable importers needed to understand that they too had the responsibility not to be a threat to thelivelihood of farmers and herdsmen. Mr. Pullicino was speaking at the Mnarja agricultural exhibition, atBuskett Gardens, limits of Rabat.• 30 June 2003 Assistant Commissioner Andrew Seychell said that, so far this year, there had been nocases of clandestine migrants landing in Malta. Mr Seychell explained that illegal migrants do notusually plan to come to Malta but end up here either by mistake, or because their boats develop faults orsuffer damages.

JULY• 1 July 2003 The Government has associated itself with a statement of the EU Presidency welcoming therecent Israeli-Palestinian security agreement. A government statement said that the developmentaugured well for the attainment of the desired goal of peace in the region.• 1 July 2003 Malta and the UK signed a bilateral memorandum of understanding on maritime issues,which enables them to share experiences and consider future EU policy options. The memorandum ofunderstanding covers all aspects of transport policy, including maritime administration, safety, accidentinvestigation, international road transport and transport of dangerous goods.• 1 July 2003 Information Technology and Investment Minister Austin Gatt said that a nationalconsultative board is being created for a future national information and communications technologystrategy. Dr Gatt was speaking during a visit to the Information Technology Projects Exhibition 2003 atthe computing building of the University.• 1 July 2003 According to information given in Parliament by Finance Minister John Dalli, the numberof permits issued for foreigners to buy property in Malta increased last year to 464, from 345 theprevious year.• 1 July 2003 The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Anton Tabone, and the newly accreditedAmbassador for Hungary, Istvan Kovacs, exchanged views on their respective Parliaments. The talksconcentrated particularly on the new challenges ahead as both countries move towards membership ofthe European Union.• 1 July 2003 A National Statistics Office survey shows that tourists who visited Malta between Januaryand May this year stayed an average of 9.7 nights, making an estimated total of 3,551,146 nights for theperiod. Tourist nights in 2002 amounted to 10,511,594.• 1 July 2003 Manchester United and England football star Gary Neville described Malta as his secondhome. The famous footballer was speaking to local and British media at Air Malta's Luqa offices, beforesigning a second two-year promotional agreement with the national airline and the Malta TourismAuthority.• 1 July 2003 HSBC Bank Malta plc and Bank of Valletta said that, since the Central Bank of Malta hadreduced the central intervention rate and discount rate by 25 basis points, they were reducing their ownbase rate to 3.25 per cent.• 2 July 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that economic development could not takeplace without proper investment in training and technology. Speaking at the opening of this year'sMalta International Trade Fair, in Naxxar, Dr Fenech-Adami underlined the need for co-ordination toenable Malta to make the most of EU membership.• 2 July 2003 Chamber of Engineers’ President Alexander Tranter discussed with the Prime Minister theneed to further involve engineers in the decision-making structures on a national basis. The meetingwhich took place at Auberge de Castille was also attended by the Minister for Resources andInfrastructure, Ninu Zammit.• 2 July 2003 British Under-Secretary for Transport, David Jamieson, said that he looked forward toworking in tandem with Malta to influence the EU's decision-making process in the transport sector. MrJamieson was speaking during a news conference after signing a memorandum of understandingbetween Malta and the UK.• 2 July 2003 At a news conference Resources and Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit announced that,as from July 1, no more inert waste was being accepted at Maghtab. Mr Zammit said that two quarrieswould be used for the purpose instead.• 2 July 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech announced that tourist arrivals have increasedby about three per cent in the first five months of the year. Speaking during the prize-giving ceremonyof the 34th International Air Rally of Malta, the Minister said that the figures had started to pick up inApril and May.

• 2 July 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea said that six proposals related to Information SocietiesTechnologies that include Maltese partners stand an excellent chance for substantial funding by theEuropean Union. Minister Galea was addressing the opening session of an information meetingorganised by the Malta Council for Science and Technology.• 2 July 2003 The Malta Tourism Authority, together with the Federation of Associations of Travel andTourism Agents, the Malta Transport Authority, and the Employment and Training Corporationparticipated in three European Union Leonardo da Vinci programmes related to tourism.• 2 July 2003 The National Statistics Office said that Malta's Gross Domestic Product fell nominally byLm3.2 million in the first quarter of 2003 when compared to the same quarter in 2002. The NSO saidthat Gross National Product had increased nominally by Lm5.9 million over the same quarter.• 2 July 2003 Mariner Group Chairman Marin Hili declared himself satisfied with the way the €13-million bond issue launched by his company had been snapped up within hours of its launch. Mr. Hilisaid that, “this augurs well for the future of the group".• 2 July 2003 The Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry for Social Policy, Francis Agius, praised theMeals on Wheels service during a courtesy visit to the Maltese Cross Corps, responsible for this service.Dr Agius remarked that Meals on Wheels was one of the promises of the 1987 electoral manifesto.• 2 July 2003 The Meteorological Office announced that last month was the warmest June since recordsstarted being kept 56 years ago, with a high of 38.6°C recorded on the last day of June. The hot weatherbrought about an increased demand of energy, causing a number of faults in the distribution system.• 3 July 2003 The US Government officially informed the Maltese Government that it was cutting offmilitary aid to Malta because of its support of the International Criminal Court. Malta, which agreed tocomply with the EU position over the court, is among 35 countries whose military assistance the US hassuspended. Total US military assistance for the current year is estimated at $5.5 million (Lm2 million).• 3 July 2003 Minister for Rural Affairs and the Environment George Pullicino launched an environmentfund to finance analysis and research to safeguard the environment, as well as other related projects. Thefund, which will also finance activities by non-governmental organisations, is independent of theGovernment and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.• 3 July 2003 Finance Minister John Dalli said that, in spite of the adverse upheavals in the internationaleconomic situation, consumption in Malta in the first quarter this year increased by Lm4 million. TheMinister said there was also a rise in the importation of raw materials and industrial machinery thatindicated that industry was looking ahead with optimism. Mr Dalli noted further that figures for Apriland June indicate an upturn in exports and tourism.• 3 July 2003 Information Technology and Investment Minister Austin Gatt said that the Governmentwanted to eliminate the digital divide, as part of its drive to create an inclusive society. Dr Gatt said that,following the necessary consultations, the Government intended to publish an IT strategy for 2004-2007. The Minister was addressing a seminar on eEurope 2005, the EU's Strategic Plan for InformationTechnology.• 3 July 2003 Boats taking part in the second edition of the Bailiff of Suffren race left Saint Tropez,France, on their way to Malta. The National Tourism Organisation said that the aim of the event was tolink yachting with art, culture, and tourism, and to help boost Malta's image in the south of France,particularly Saint Tropez.• 3 July 2003 The Department of Information again organised the Malta Pavilion at the International Fairof Malta, held at the Malta Trade Fair Grounds in Naxxar, from 2 - 13 July. The Pavilion featuredprinted and audio-visual material regarding the various developments that are underway in the light ofMalta’s accession to the European Union on May 1, 2004. Various photographs showing the MaltaPavilion from the inside and a picture record of the Prime Minister’s visit to the pavilion can beaccessed at www.doi.gov.mt/EN/archive/tradefair2003/tradefair.asp• 3 July 2003 Air Malta's new Board of Directors held its first meeting. Chairman Lawrence Zammit saidthat he felt confident that, with the input of the new board members, as well as that of the airline's seniormanagement, staff and unions, and with the support of the business sector and the general public, theairline would be able to face the challenges in the local and international markets.

• 3 July 2003 Enemalta Corporation said that in the past couple of days it had recorded the highestsummer peak demand of 387 megawatts, an increase of 5.4 per cent on the peak demand of 367megawatts established on August 6 last year, which then was a record. The hot weather in the last fewdays has pushed up the demand for electricity and also caused a number of faults in the distributionsystem.• 4 July 2003 Transport Minister Censu Galea said that Malta's proposals on the European Union's Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) have all been accepted in a preliminary report to be discussed bythe Council of Ministers. Malta's three proposals are for the island to be included in the westernMediterranean ‘motorway of the sea’, the upgrading of port infrastructure in Grand Harbour, and theestablishment of Malta as a regional centre for vessel traffic monitoring.• 4 July 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech announced that earnings from tourism rose inthe first quarter of this year despite a drop in arrivals. Speaking during the launch of Postcard Bookletsintroduced by Maltapost to coincide with this year's tourist season, the Minister said that both theGovernment and the private sector were doing their utmost to attract higher spending tourists.• 4 July 2003 The Malta Tourism Authority said that it had been actively publicising the Elton Johnconcert and the Roger Sanchez Party through its office in Frankfurt. Major German radio stations wereoffering their listeners the opportunity to win trips for both events, sponsored by MTA and Air Malta.The idea is to promote the Maltese Islands as a trendy place in the Mediterranean.• 4 July 2003 The Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Cyril Svobod awarded the‘Gratias Agit award for services to the Czech Republic’ to the Czech Republic's Honorary Consul inMalta, Tonio Casapinta, at a ceremony in Prague. Mr Casapinta was praised for contributing to theenhancement of economic, commercial, and political relations between the two countries.• 4 July 2003 According to a report issued by the Telecommunications Regulator, Malta's telephonycharges are among the highest in Europe. This applies to international and fixed line telephony, as wellas to the rates charged for fixed to mobile telephone calls. Dial-up internet costs are about four times theminimum in EU member states, although they are close to the average for acceding countries.• 5 July 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that, following a drop of 5,689 tourists, or3.2 per cent, in the first three months of this year, arrivals had started to recover in April and were up by11,600. He said that provisional figures showed that arrivals in May were up by another 4,300. DrZammit Dimech was speaking during a visit to the Barceló Resort and Spa, the latest addition to Malta'sfour-star establishments.• 5 July 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech launched the quarterly handbook 'Inmalta',published by Minx Co. Ltd. ‘Inmalta’ is a concise handbook of facts about the Maltese Islands,containing information about travel and transport, what to see, eating out, Malta by night, feasts, arts, abusiness and services directory, and maps.• 5 July 2003 Bank of Valletta Chairman Joseph F.X. Zahra said that, although the Bank of Valletta wasstill dependent on its core business, it had managed to diversify its operations and had completelychanged its line of business. He said that the bank had shifted its orientation from the banking servicessector to the broader financial services sector. Mr Zahra was speaking during the inauguration of thefirst annual conference of BoV Stockbrokers Ltd.• 5 July 2003 The Broadcasting Authority announced that it had received seven replies to its call for anexpression of interest in a television licence to broadcast on a national level. The Broadcasting Authoritysaid that it would be considering the expressions of interest in the light of available frequencies.• 5 July 2003 The Maltese High Commission's role in aiding companies from the Midlands to establish apresence in Malta were highlighted during a seminar entitled ‘Be Part of the New, Larger Europe’,organised by the Greater Manchester Euro Info Centre of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce andIndustry. The seminar focused on three acceding states of the EU, namely the Czech Republic, Estonia,and Malta.• 5 July 2003 A poster with the tag line 'Malta: pure nature and culture' was recently distributed to over13,000 German travel agencies. The poster, the first of two promoting Malta through special offers, was

produced by DerTour in co-operation with the Malta Tourism Authority's Frankfurt office.www.mta.com.mt• 6 July 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg had a meeting with his Italian counterpart Franco Frattini.Among other issues, the two ministers discussed the aims of the Italian Presidency, the problem ofillegal immigration in the Mediterranean, and the Italian Financial Protocol. The meeting was held onthe fringes of a conference organised by the Assise Studenti Europei at the Tor Vergata University ofRome.• 6 July 2003 EU Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström said that, in the next 11 months, theGovernment has to transpose, implement and enforce all existing European Union environmentallegislation. While admitting that Malta faces greater sustainability challenges than other accessioncountries because of its exceptional geographical characteristics, Ms Wallström made it clear that theEuropean Commission is adamant in its position that Malta meets all targets set in the environmentacquis prior to its accession next May. Ms Wallström was interviewed by The Malta Independent onSunday.• 6 July 2003 President Guido de Marco visited the National Pavilion at the International Trade Fair, inNaxxar. At the Malta Pavilion, the President was shown around by officials of the Department ofInformation, led by the Director, Emanuel Abela.• 7 July 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami left for a short private visit to the UK. Dr LawrenceGonzi took on the role of Acting Prime Minister in Dr Fenech-Adami's absence.• 7 July 2003 Rural Affairs and Environment Minister George Pullicino announced that farmers who hadreceived Eurepgap certification would get a net price of Lm13.80 per qantar (80 kilos) of potatoes theyexported in recognition of their commitment. Minister Pullicino was speaking before the presentation ofEurepgap certification to more than 100 growers.• 7 July 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that official tourist arrival figures for theJanuary-April period indicated an increase of two per cent over the same period last year, while January-March figures showed an increase of four per cent in earnings. The Minister was speaking at theopening of the new Maritime Antonin Hotel and Spa.• 7 July 2003 According to Air Malta’s new Chairman, Lawrence Zammit, the Company is not yet readyfor privatisation. In an interview with The Times newspaper, Mr Zammit said that a new business planfor the coming years is being drawn up and the company would soon embark on an exercise todetermine whether it should continue to be engaged in all its current activities.• 7 July 2003 Around 12,000 people attended rock star Elton John’s concert on the Granaries, atFloriana.. After his final song, Sir Elton John came back on stage for his encore and told the jubilantcrowd, “I will be back.” The concert was part of Sir Elton’s European tour that includes Hampton CourtPalace in Surrey, the Kremlin Palace in Moscow, and the Teatro Greco Romano in Taormina.• 7 July 2003 Wales Trade International is looking ahead to establishing strategic alliances and businesspartnerships with Maltese entrepreneurs after a successful four-day trip to Malta. Director Steve Vincentsaid that this was the first time that Wales Trade International, which is part of the Welsh AssemblyGovernment, ran a trade delegation to Malta.• 8 July 2003 An earthquake rocked Malta on Monday 7 th at 5.08 p.m. Seismologist Pauline Galeareported that the earthquake measured nearly four on the Richter scale, and that its epicentre was 30kilometres to the north of Malta.• 8 July 2003 Malta joined the other nine EU accession states participating in the Konrad AdenauerFoundation Summer Festival, in Berlin, on the theme ‘Welcome to the Ten’. The Embassy of Malta hadan information stand inside the Stiftung headquarters in the German capital’s Tiergarten district, andanother stand in the grounds.• 8 July 2003 Ambassador to Greece Evarist Saliba laid flowers on the graves of Maltese servicemen whodied in Greece during World War I and II. The number of Maltese servicemen buried in Greece isestimated at around 120.

• 9 July 2003 Infrastructure and Resources Minister Ninu Zammit announced that the site known asGhallis ta' Gewwa, in the limits of Naxxar has been identified as the preferred site for the developmentof an engineered landfill for domestic waste to replace Maghtab, which has to close down by the timeMalta becomes an EU member on 1 st May 2004. A Malta Environment and Planning Authority permitnow has to be sought for the development of the site.• 9 July 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that, with the launch of the Grand HarbourMarina forming part of the Cottonera Project, the capacity of Malta's private yacht marinas is to increaseby 230 berths, to reach 1,500. Speaking during a reception related to the Malta-Tunisia Regatta, DrZammit Dimech said that the Government wanted to turn Malta into a yachting centre with all modernamenities to compete with similar places in the Mediterranean.• 9 July 2003 Statistics released by the National Statistics Office show that the number of registeredunemployed in February this year declined by 172 from January, while there was an increase of 52persons on the labour market.• 10 July 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg said in Parliament that Malta had disagreed with an Italianproposal to set up a detention centre in Malta that would hold illegal immigrants caught on the high seasuntil they were repatriated. A total of 1,686 illegal immigrants arrived in Malta in 2002; of these, justover 500 are still here, together with an additional 94 who landed at Birzebbugia on July 9. TheMinister was replying to a parliamentary question.• 10 July 2003 Finance Minister John Dalli said that great leaps forward had been made since the timewhen a licence was required for any object imported. The Minister was being shown round theMinistry's Commerce Division, at Lascaris, by Parliamentary Secretary Edwin Vassallo.• 10 July 2003 Environment Minister George Pullicino announced that one of the major tasks of thenewly appointed Ornis Committee was to carry out a study on sustainable trapping. The Committeewas set up following amendments to regulations on the protection of birds and wild rabbits that cameinto effect earlier this year.• 10 July 2003 President Guido de Marco praised 9-year-old David Cassar from Cospicua and presentedhim with the gold medal ‘John XXIII Award for Kindness’. The President said that, though most oftoday's children had all the material things they needed, nothing compared to having a friend wholistened and shared a burden.• 10 July 2003 The Malta Freeport announced in a statement that the internationally renowned shippingline APL has chosen the Freeport's facilities for its transshipment operations in the Mediterranean. Acontainership of Sunda Express, the fixed-day weekly service linking Asia and Europe, called for thefirst time at the Malta Freeport on July 9, 2003.• 10 July 2003 Malta International Airport Chief Executive Officer Peter R. Bolech announced during theCompany’s annual general meeting that MIA had made a pre-tax profit of Lm2.17 million on ordinaryactivities in the year ending March 31, 2003. MIA is currently the base for over 31,000 aircraftmovements and has handled over 13,350 tons of cargo.• 10 July 2003 Joe Cauchi, Air Malta's deputy group-head (commercial), said that the initialresponse from Maltese and Romanians on the Bucharest route was very encouraging. Air Malta and theMalta Tourism Authority hosted Romanian journalists and travel agents to a reception in Bucharest topromote Air Malta's direct scheduled service to Romania.• 11 July 2003 The Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs and the Ministry for Rural Affairs and theEnvironment announced that, as from September, several food and beverage items may be exported tothe European Union without paying duties.• 11 July 2003 Transport Minister Censu Galea attended an informal meeting of EU Transport Ministerson the development of a Trans-European Network (Ten-T) in an enlarged European Union. TheMinisters underlined the importance of the network in connecting national networks, facilitating tradeexchanges, linking peripheral areas, overcoming natural barriers, filling missing links and thereforeimproving competitiveness and cohesion.

• 11 July 2003 Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit re-inaugurated the Lower Barrakka gardens,following extensive restoration of the arches and the installation of new paving, lighting, and a generalupgrade. Work was also carried out on the monument to Sir Alexander Ball.• 11 July 2003 The Government is to crack down on people who sell items on street pavements under thepretext of busking. The Parliamentary Secretary in the Finance Ministry, Edwin Vassallo, met highrankingpolice officers to discuss the increase of street sellers in areas such as Sliema, Valletta, Bugibba,and Marsascala.• 11 July 2003 The President and Mrs de Marco launched the Ball of the August Moon at San AntonPalace. The ball will be held on August 2, at the Verdala Castle grounds at Buskett, and proceeds will bein aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund.• 11 July 2003 The Malta Chamber of Planners has again participated in the European Council of TownPlanners' Spring 2003 Assembly, held at the Teatro dell'Arte, in Milan, Italy. The assembly acts as amedium where Maltese spatial planners consult with their foreign European counterparts from variousmember states and accession countries.• 11 July 2003 The Sixth Fleet flagship, the USS La Salle, returned to Malta for a major refit at MaltaDrydocks. The contract was won amid harsh competition from thirteen other major shipyards. The shipis expected to remain in dock for several weeks.• 11 July 2003 Maltapost presented Elton John with a glass gift to commemorate his visit to the Island.The presentation, at the end of the concert on the Granaries, in Floriana, was made by Maltapost SeniorManager Marketing and Business Development, Michael Stewart.• 12 July 2003 The European Commission's Secretary General, David O'Sullivan, said that the EuropeanCommission was committed to treating the Maltese language ‘very seriously’ and as a ‘full EU officiallanguage’. Mr. O'Sullivan was addressing a press conference together with Mr Ronald Gallimore, Headof the EU delegation in Malta.• 12 July 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea and the Minister for Investment and InformationTechnology Austin Gatt launched an electronic service for libraries, to be known as e-Libraries. Thisservice enables one to access, through the internet, catalogues relating to books at the Central Library inFloriana, the Public Library in Gozo, and in fourteen other regional and local libraries.www.libraries-archives.gov.mt• 12 July 2003 Drydocks Chairman John Cassar White said that the refit being carried out on the USS LaSalle would be much more intensive and would be carried out in a shorter time than the refit on the sameship carried out some years back.• 13 July 2003 Malta Drydocks Chairman John Cassar White announced that the Company had managedto win a prestigious high-value contract from France Telecom Marine. The contract is for extensivework on the C/S Raymond Croze, a vessel designed for cable maintenance. Mr Cassar White said that hewas estimating that the work on this ship would take several weeks.• 13 July 2003 A Mass celebrated by Archbishop Joseph Mercieca at Police Headquarters initiatedcelebrations marking the 189th anniversary of the foundation of the Police Force. Later on in the day,representatives from the various sections of the Police Force paraded down Republic Street to StGeorge's Square, by the President's Palace. The guests of honour included President Guido de Marco,who inspected a guard-of-honour, acting Prime Minister Louis Galea, and Minister for Justice andHome Affairs Tonio Borg, among others.• 14 July 2003 Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Social Policy Lawrence Gonzi said that thecountry was facing three challenges about which decisions needed to be taken in the immediate future.These are the conclusion of talks on the restructuring of the shipyards, improvements to public transport,and waste management. Dr Gonzi was speaking at Marsaxlokk.• 14 July 2003 Transport Minister Censu Galea said that port reform would be one of his main objectivesin the coming months. The reform, he said, would help promote the efficient and cost-effectiveoperation of the ports through the upgrading of policies and legislation.

• 14 July 2003 Sea Malta’s cargo ship ‘Maltese Falcon’ completed an intermediate survey at the MaltaDrydocks, in line with the class requirement to ensure the vessel’s structural and mechanical reliability.The survey follows a previous one carried out on the ‘Zebbug’ two months ago.• 15 July 2003 The House of Representatives ratified the EU accession treaty, almost 13 years to the daywhen Malta applied to join the Union. The Bill will now be signed by President Guido de Marco and theinstruments of ratification will be deposited with the Presidency of the European Union.• 15 July 2003 Portuguese Foreign Affairs Minister Antonio Martins Da Cruz said that his country was infavour of Malta having six members in the European Parliament, the same number as Luxembourg.During a joint news conference with Foreign Minister Joe Borg at the Foreign Affairs Ministry inValletta, Dr Martins Da Cruz said that the new EU Constitution should reflect equality between memberstates. An audio recording of the joint press conference can be accessed athttp://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/audiorecording%20-%20da%20cruz.asp• 15 July 2003 British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon held talks with Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami during a one-day visit to Malta. Military co-operation between the UK and Malta was believed tobe the main topic on the agenda. Mr Hoon later had a courtesy meeting with Foreign Minister Joe Borg.• 15 July 2003 The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition pledged their support to nextmonth's Go Mobile 18 th Malta Volleyball Marathon. Both the Prime Minister and the Leader of theOpposition said that the annual campaign, which helped those in need, served as an example to the restof society and was a unifying force. Last year a record Lm232,228 was raised.• 15 July 2003 Minister for Information Technology and Investment Austin Gatt said in Parliament that atotal of 1,128 persons had availed themselves of Air Malta services to come to Malta to vote in thereferendum in March. He said that 1,149 later flew in to vote in the General Election. Dr Gatt wasanswering a parliamentary question.• 15 July 2003 The National Statistics Office said that, between 2000 and 2002, the sum of Lm30.3million had been invested in road infrastructure. Of this amount, Lm24 million was invested by theGovernment and Lm6.3 million by the Local Councils.• 15 July 2003 A Eurosafe survey on Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) carried out in the clothing industryin Malta, the UK, and Italy, shows that 83 per cent of local factory sewing machine operators claim tosuffer some sort of pain, with 70 per cent resorting to painkillers to cope with their work. Eurosafe is atranscontinental co-operation project funded by the European Commission under the Grundtvig/Socratesprogramme. The local partners of the survey include the GWU and the Workers' Development Centre.• 15 July 2003 Some 12,000 people took part in the competitions held at the Malta Pavilion at theInternational Fair of Malta, which this year had the theme ‘Malta in the EU - with ability andenthusiasm’. The Pavilion saw an estimated 28,000 visitors.• 16 July 2003 Finance Minister John Dalli warned that expenditure by government departments musthenceforth be ‘resource driven’. Mr Dalli warned that government departments were not pulling theirweight as regards cutting down on expenditure. In future, he added, the deficit will not be a variable. Itwill be programmed and will remain fixed.• 16 July 2003 Moody's, the rating agency, changed its outlook on Malta's A3 country ceilings for foreigncurrency bonds and bank deposits to stable from negative. According to the agency, the outlook changewas prompted by the outcomes of the recent referendum and general election, both of which, it said,irrevocably secured Malta's future in the European Union. “This historical decision signals newdevelopment opportunities for the small island economy.”• 16 July 2003 Finance Minister John Dalli told Parliament that the Government still has to pay outLm13.5 million in income tax refunds to 20,068 taxpayers in Malta and Lm531,997 to 998 taxpayers inGozo. He said that outstanding VAT refunds amounted to Lm7.6 million to 5,322 taxpayers in Maltaand Lm305,525 to 429 taxpayers in Gozo. Mr Dalli was replying to a parliamentary question.• 16 July 2003 Information Technology and Investment Minister Austin Gatt announced that Cabinet wasconcluding discussions on how to devise a central bargaining unit to expedite negotiations on collectiveagreements before they expired. "This would be a new method where, from day one, all the parties

involved start negotiating together rather than holding separate talks between management, Mimcol and,eventually, the Finance Minister," Dr Gatt said. The Minister said that this new method of negotiatinghad been used as an experiment in the talks on Maltapost and it had proved to be a success.• 16 July 2003 The new Data Protection Act, which provides for the protection of individuals againstviolation of their privacy and personal integrity, has come into force. The law, which passedunanimously through Parliament in December 2001, gives the citizen full protection rights wheninformation is demanded by third parties. Data Protection Commissioner John Mamo said that the newlaw brings Malta in line with other modern countries in this field.• 16 July 2003 The National Statistics Office said that, while the level of external reserves amounted toLm508.7 million in 1995, they amounted to Lm880.8 million in 2002. The NSO said that, whenexpressed in terms of months of imports of goods and services, the reserves of the country reached alevel of five months' sustenance in 1995. Malta's reserve assets dropped to a level of 4.4 monthssustenance in 2000, to then rise again to a level of 7.1 months' sustenance in 2002.• 16 July 2003 Government stocks issued earlier this month were oversubscribed by more than Lm80million. The Treasury said that it had received 7,139 applications amounting to Lm148 million forgovernment stocks of Lm63,883,200. Applications by small investors reached just under Lm42 million.• 16 July 2003 A commemorative plaque recalling Polish pilots and mariners who lost their lives in Maltaduring World War II was unveiled at the Capuchins’ naval cemetery, in Kalkara. The Polish Undersecretaryof State, Maciej Gorski, took part in the moving ceremony. Personalities paying homage to thewar dead included President Guido de Marco and the Polish Ambassador to Malta, Michal Radlicki.• 16 July 2003 The Anaesthetic Department at St Luke's Hospital has been awarded the prestigious'Certificate of accreditation of a European centre for training of anaesthesiologists'. This certificate isjointly awarded by the European Academy of Anaesthesiology and the European Board ofAnaesthesiology, a section of the European Union of Medical Specialists.• 16 July 2003 The Malta Turner, on loan to the museum from HSBC since March, was moved to a newposition within the National Museum of Fine Arts, in Valletta. The new display was inaugurated byYouths and the Arts Minister Jesmond Mugliett and HSBC Chief Executive Officer Chris Hothersall.• 17 July 2003 President Guido de Marco sealed the European Union Act with his signature, clearing theway for Malta to join the EU. The signing took place thirteen years to the day that Malta applied formembership. An audio recording of the President’s comments to the Press, as well as the full text of theEU Act, can be accessed at www.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/newspage.asp• 17 July 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami announced in Parliament that formal invitationshave been issued for the Prime Ministers of Denmark, Egypt, Libya and New Zealand to visit Malta. DrFenech-Adami was replying to a parliamentary question.• 17 July 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami left for a private visit in the UK, accompanied byMrs Fenech-Adami. Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi is Acting Prime Minister in Dr Fenech-Adami’s absence.• 17 July 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi told Parliament that the Social Policy Ministry isreviewing the law governing adoptions. The aim of the review is to address technical issues that haveproved to be problematic in talks with other countries on agreements regarding adoption procedures.• 17 July 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg told the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee that Malta isanalysing reservations it had made to international conventions, agreements and protocols to see whetherthey are compatible with EU membership or whether they should be removed. The Committee discussedfive lists of agreements, protocols and conventions Malta has to be a member of by the time it joins theEU.• 17 July 2003 Constituted bodies representing the commercial sector are to be represented on the boardof Malta Enterprise in terms of an amendment to the Malta Enterprise Bill approved by Parliament.Finance and Economic Services Minister John Dalli said that the constituted bodies representing thecommercial sector would nominate five persons from which the Minister would select and appoint twoto the board.

• 17 July 2003 The Minister for Youth and the Arts, Jesmond Mugliett, toured the site of the excavationsat Tas-Silg. Mr Mugliett was accompanied by Italian Ambassador Alvise Memmo, and site managersAnthony Bonanno and Davide Locatelli.• 18 July 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea announced that the Malta College of Arts, Science andTechnology will this year be increasing the number of its institutes by three. The new institutes will caterfor Mechanical Engineering, Agribusiness, and Community Services respectively. Dr Galea wasspeaking at the opening of an exhibition of projects by the students of the MCAST Institute of Art andDesign.• 18 July 2003 Government MP Jason Azzopardi led a parliamentary delegation composed ofGovernment MP Frederick Azzopardi and Opposition MP Angelo Farrugia at the 12th annual session ofthe OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, in Rotterdam. The session ended with some 300 Parliamentariansadopting the Rotterdam Declaration focusing on the political, economic and human rights aspects of thesession’s central theme, ‘The Role of the OSCE in the New Architecture of Europe’.• 18 July 2003 The Occupational Health and Safety Authority said that it was concerned about theincidence of repetitive strain injuries in Malt and was calling for increased awareness on the matter. TheAuthority said that occupational health and safety matters should be a priority to all stakeholders and notonly to those who had a legal obligation to safeguard it.• 18 July 2003 The Hypogeum, Mdina, and Casa Rocca Piccola in Valletta, have been listed among the50 ‘best-kept secrets in the Mediterranean’ by the national UK newspaper The Independent. A panel oftravel writers who specialise in Mediterranean destinations drew up a list of what they consider to be thetop 50 sites in the region.• 18 July 2003 A study entitled ‘Smoking trends across three generations’ carried out by Charlotte SantPortanier shows that cigarette smoking among women has shot up to the extent that middle-aged womennowadays puff away more than men. The survey also shows that smoking is significantly higher amongthe unemployed and that smoking is still an integral part of Maltese life. Sixty-seven per cent of thesample of 600 responded to the survey.• 18 July 2003 Malta sweltered in blistering temperatures, with the highest temperature on July 17 soaringto 39.2°C, that is, over nine degrees above average for this time of year. The temperature has turned thesea into a tropical aquarium with sea temperatures on the day rising to 27°C, over two degrees above thenorm for this time of the year.• 19 July 2003 The Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, John Dalli, exhorted heads of governmentdepartments and parastatal organisations to add a strong dose of flexibility to their way of thinking whenthey deal with small enterprises. The Minister was making off-the-cuff comments while addressing ahalf-day conference at the METCO offices with the theme ‘Thinking small in an enlarging Europe’.• 19 July 2003 The Government announced that the Italian Government has granted special arrangementsfor Maltese registered cargo hauliers. The first special arrangement concerns a reduction of road taxespaid by Maltese hauliers while travelling through Italian territory. The second special arrangementconcerns the European Conference of Ministers for Transport and the usage of the ECMT licence byMaltese road hauliers travelling in Italy.• 19 July 2003 The Minister for Information Technology and Investment, Austin Gatt, confirmed MarleneMizzi and John Sullivan as Chairmen of Sea Malta Ltd and Tug Malta Ltd respectively. The otherDirectors on Sea Malta's board are Hilary Galea Lauri, Louis Refalo, Lorraine Schembri Orland, DonaldSpiteri and Alfred Aquilina. The Directors on Tug Malta's board are Nicholas Baldacchino, CarmenPsaila, Charles Zammit and Raymond Azzopardi.• 19 July 2003 Malta and Tunisia have agreed to strengthen co-operation in the tourism sector,particularly to attract tourists coming from long-haul destinations. The subject was discussed in Tunisiaat a meeting between Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech and his Tunisian counterpart MondherZenaidi.• 19 July 2003 A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Customs Department, CentralCigarettes Ltd, and British American Tobacco to jointly battle the trade of contraband and counterfeitcigarettes, which costs the Government Lm1 million in lost revenue every year. BAT, which is the

second largest international tobacco-company in the world, will be providing product analysis toestablish the source of the illicit products.• 19 July 2003 Jordi Vilardebo, who is Senior vice President of Corporate Banking of Banco Sabadell ofSpain, recently met Bank of Valletta representatives as part of the bank's preparations for Malta'saccession to the European Union. The meetings were organised by the Bank of Valletta EU SteeringCommittee, recently set up on the initiative of Chairman Joseph F.X. Zahra.• 19 July 2003 The 13th edition of the Malta Jazz Festival got off to a successful start. The Vallettabastions and breathtaking views of the Three Cities provided a magical atmosphere for the three-dayannual appointment organised by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts at Ta’ Liesse, in Valletta.• 20 July 2003 Finance and Economic Affairs Minister John Dalli described the film industry as a veryimportant sector for the Island's economy. He said that it was vital to continue building on the successachieved so far in the most professional way. Mr Dalli was speaking during the launch by the Malta FilmCommission of the second edition of ‘The production guide’ as well as a new website to facilitate thework of filmmakers in Malta's growing film industry. www.mfc.com.mt• 20 July 2003 The remains of St Therese of the Child Jesus, known as the Saint of the Roses, arrived in acasket at Malta International Airport, on a direct Air Malta flight from Paris. The casket, covered withrose petals, was greeted with hymns and prayers at the VIP lounge in a welcoming ceremony attended byPresident Guido de Marco, Acting Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Mrs Gonzi, Archbishop JosephMercieca, and the provincials of the Carmelite and Discalced Carmelite orders.• 21 July 2003 Minister for Rural Affairs and the Environment George Pullicino said in an address at aninformal EU meeting that Malta would be prepared to take part in the testing of innovative technologiesdealing with renewable sources of energy. The meeting, held at Montecatini Terme, Italy, was attendedby Environment and Energy Ministers from EU member and accession states.• 21 July 2003 The Minister for Youth and the Arts, Jesmond Mugliett, said that, through programmessuch as Culture 2000 for 2003 the European Union is making it possible for Malta to participate incultural activities with other countries, thus enriching our cultural heritage. Minister Mugliett wasspeaking at the launch of the 3 Island Project, which involves bringing together drama organisationsfrom St James Cavalier in Malta, the Cyprus Theatre Organisation, and the Kneehigh Theatre Companyin Cornwall.• 21 July 2003 A total of 7,600 students who sat for their ordinary and advanced level examinations heldby MATSEC and UK Universities have, for the first time, received their results by means of SMS. TheSMS facility to receive results was the third m-government service offered, but is the first one servingsuch a large number of persons simultaneously.• 22 July 2003 President Guido de Marco celebrated his 72 nd birthday. Prof. de Marco was elected thesixth President of Malta on 4 th April 1999, following a legal and political career spanning forty years.• 22 July 2003 The House of Representatives rose for the summer recess after approving throughcommittee stage and third reading the Malta Enterprise Bill and the Bill to amend various laws. TheHouse also gave a third reading to the Commissioner for Children Bill and the Internal Audit andFinancial Investigations Act.• 22 July 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that EU membership will definitely givetourism in Malta a boost. Speaking at the inauguration of an art exhibition at Portomaso, the Ministersaid that, with 411 million tourist arrivals in 2002, Europe witnessed an increase of 2.4 per cent inarrivals and a 58 per cent share of the world tourism market.• 22 July 2003 The Ministry of Rural Affairs and the Environment is holding consultative meetings withseveral associations. The scope of the meetings is to plan a system of monitoring the implementation ofthe clause related to safeguards of the agricultural sector once Malta joins the EU.• 22 July 2003 Maltacom plc and Vodafone Malta Limited signed an agreement which resolved severallong-standing disputes ‘in an amicable and mutually acceptable manner’. Some of these issues had beenthe subject of administrative and judicial proceedings pending before the Malta CommunicationsAuthority, the Telecommunications Appeals Board, and the Courts.

• 22 July 2003 The Italy-based flagship of the US Sixth Fleet, the USS La Salle, arrived in Malta for athree-month maintenance and upgrade job at the Malta Drydocks. According to the online edition ofStars and Stripes newspaper, the work will cost US$7.7 million.• 22 July 2003 The Malta Tourism Authority destination website is offering a 15-day weather forecast,provided by Malta Weather Services and updated daily. The forecast can be found atwww.visitmalta.com• 23 July 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg took part in the General Affairs and External Relations Councilof the European Union, in Brussels. The discussion focused on the situation in the Middle East, therebuilding of Iraq, the situation in Iran, and relations between the EU and Africa.• 23 July 2003 Resources and Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit announced the start of a programme todetermine a detailed national policy on the introduction of renewable energy harvesting and on therelated project implementation. Minister Zammit was speaking at the EU Joint Informal Meeting of theEnvironment and Energy Ministers, in Montecatini, Italy.• 23 July 2003 Malta and Slovenia signed a co-operation treaty in the fight against organised crime. Theagreement was signed during a meeting between Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg andSlovenian Home Affairs Minister Rado Bohinc, in Ljubljana.• 23 July 2003 A report drawn up by the European Commission, parts of which were reproduced in TheFinancial Times, revealed that Malta is one of three EU acceding countries which have not done enoughto phase out ‘harmful tax schemes’. Commenting on the report, Malta Financial Services AuthorityChairman Joe Bannister declared that by accession date related pending issues will have been sorted out.• 23 July 2003 Statistics from the ETC administrative records have indicated that the occupations mostlysought after by the registered unemployed in June were elementary, industrial, clerical, and service andsales occupations. Unemployment in June was 7,238, with the number of registered unemployed goingdown by 83 compared to May.• 23 July 2003 The Malta Communications Authority published its ‘Universal TelecommunicationsServices Obligations’, which will ensure access to basic telephony services for a wide range of people.These services will be available to all users, including those in high-cost areas or vulnerable groups.www.mca.org.mt• 24 July 2003 According to a Eurobarometer survey published by the European Commission, eighty-twoper cent of the Maltese are satisfied with their life in general, a percentage which exceeds the average ofboth current and future member states. The survey was the first to be carried out after the referendumand the general election in Malta.• 24 July 2003 The Information Technology and Investment Ministry stated that it is in the process ofintroducing on-line payments and renewals for a number of services. It said that the Government intendsto continue introducing new services to the e-government concept, as well as to m-government.• 24 July 2003 The Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Social Policy, Dolores Cristina, said thatthe Bill setting up the Commissioner for Children included a clause that speaks about the rights of theunborn child.• 24 July 2003 Tourist arrivals for the first five months this year reached 381,662, representing anincrease of 8,599 over the same period last year. This rise was mainly due to the addition of 11,267British tourists. Other improvements were recorded in tourists from Austria (+3,622), Switzerland(+1,503), Belgium (+733), Denmark (+393) and Finland (+473).• 24 July 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech presented prizes to participants in the tenthedition of La Bordee Maltaise, at the Fortina Hotel in Sliema. La Bordee Maltaise, a sailing race thatstarted off in France and ended in Malta, is aimed at promoting tourism between Malta and France.• 25 July 2003 The Italian Minister for European Affairs, Rocco Buttiglione, paid a flying visit to Malta togarner the Government’s support for the Italian Presidency’s competitiveness programme. Speaking toreporters following a meeting with Finance Minister John Dalli, the Italian Minister said that it was nowtime for Malta and Italy to work within the framework of the EU.

• 25 July 2003 Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi told an industrial tribunal that, in an effort torender the shipyards viable and not depend on subsidies, the number of workers at the Drydocks had tocontinue going down. Dr Gonzi was giving evidence in a dispute between the management and theGeneral Workers’ Union on acting chargemen.• 25 July 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea said that Malta’s labour market and its competitivenessmust be built on continuous training. Dr Galea was speaking at a seminar on the theme ‘Quality teachingand training’, at the Institute of Building and Construction Engineering within the Malta College of Arts,Science and Technology.• 25 July 2003 A statement released by the Ministry of Information Technology and Investment advisedthe 21,000 tenants in Malta and Gozo that they can now pay rent bills for government property throughthe new eRent website.• 25 July 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that the Government was working hard toensure that children were provided with the right structures to ensure that they have access to socialrights. Dr Gonzi was speaking at the launch of the European Road Safety Campaign, which is targetingchildren under the age of 11.• 25 July 2003 The National Statistics Office said that a total of 1,261 occupational injuries were reportedto the Department of Social Security in the second quarter of this year. 1,125 of the injuries involvedmen and 136 involved women. Over 35 per cent of the injuries occurred in the manufacturing sector,including the shipyards, and nearly 13 per cent in the construction sector.• 25 July 2003 The Malta Financial Services Authority issued a banking licence to BAWAG Malta BankLimited. The bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank fur Arbeit und Wirtschaft AG, Vienna, isauthorised to do business with persons who are residents of Malta as well as with non-residents. Thebank is the sixth Austrian bank to establish a subsidiary in Malta.• 25 July 2003 Mr Reginald Abela was appointed Executive Chairman of the Institute of Tourism Studies.Mr Abela is responsible for the implementation of government policies on the development of humanresources for the tourism industry according to market needs, and changing economic trends.• 26 July 2003 President Guido de Marco stressed the important role of the Auditor General to ensure thatpublic funds are spent in the best interest of the country. Prof. De Marco was speaking during a visit tothe National Audit Office, in Floriana, on the occasion of the sixth anniversary of the Office.• 26 July 2003 Finance and Economic Affairs Minister John Dalli announced that revenue was short ofwhat had been projected and that the Government could end its year with a structural deficit of up toseven per cent of the GDP. Speaking during a news conference, Minister Dalli said that the Governmentwas working hard to manage and improve the situation.• 26 July 2003 Transport Minister Censu Galea said that increasing the efficiency of existing road spacewould help address many urban transport problems. Minister Galea was addressing the first in a seriesof client forums organised by the Malta Transport Authority and the Ministry.• 26 July 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea stressed on the need for a Euro-Mediterranean dimensionin Malta's education system. Dr Galea was inaugurating the Unesco Summer Camp being held at theCarlo Diacono Girls' Junior Lyceum, in Zejtun.• 26 July 2003 The National Statistics Office said that the Government's recurrent revenue in the first halfof this year totalled Lm319 million and made up 41.4 per cent of this year's budget forecast. Recurrentexpenditure for the period under review makes up 50.5 per cent of this year's budgetary estimates, upfrom 48.9 per cent of the actual final out-turn for 2002.• 26 July 2003 The Parliamentary Secretary in the Social Policy Ministry, Dolores Cristina, attended thethird European Conference on ‘Discrimination: from theory to practice’, held in Milan. The conferenceprovided an opportunity for comparison, at European level, of the implementation of laws andeffectiveness of best practices against all forms of discrimination.• 26 July 2003 Central Bank Governor Michael Bonello announced the Bank’s decision to leave thecentral intervention rate unchanged at 3.25 per cent. The decision was taken at the conclusion of aMonetary Policy Advisory Council meeting.

• 26 July 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea launched an educational children's interactive board-game,devised by Limestone Heritage in collaboration with Bank of Valletta. Minister Galea said that theinitiative was laudable and provided an excellent opportunity for children to enjoy themselves whilelearning about their heritage.• 28 July 2003 Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said that the Government wants to co-operate toincrease collaboration in the fight against illegal immigration in the Mediterranean. Dr Borg waswelcoming his Italian counterpart, Giuseppe Pisanu, at Malta International Airport.• 28 July 2003 Information Technology and Investment Minister Austin Gatt announced in an interviewthat the Government will set up an information society advisory council to map out a national IT strategyfor the next five years. Dr Gatt said that the council, composed of a group of representative bodiesranging from Ministries to Malta Enterprise to the political parties, will be up and running on September26.• 29 July 2003 President Guido de Marco thanked Brigadier General Gargano, who is the outgoingCommander of the Military Mission in Malta, for the valid contribution he had made to ensure that thepresence of the Mission in Malta had a lasting effect. Brigadier Gargano was on a farewell call at thePalace, in Valletta.• 29 July 2003 During a meeting of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development, Financeand Economic Affairs Minister John Dalli laid out the country's financial situation. Mr Dalli alsoindicated that the Government was seeking to run the country by consensus.• 29 July 2003 Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg announced that a new site in Hal Far hadbeen identified to accommodate illegal immigrants.• 29 July 2003 The Malta Council for Science and Technology launched ‘a national foresight pilot’ inbiotechnology as part of the EU-funded FP5 project eForesee. Education Minister Louis Galea said thatthe project was a strategic initiation for Malta: "It forces us to think again about how best to formulatestrategic national policies and strategies."• 29 July 2003 The National Statistics Office revealed that the visible trade gap between January and Mayof 2003 has widened to Lm158.8 million from Lm120.8 million during the same period in 2002. Totalimports during this period increased by Lm38.2 million, while total exports went up by Lm10.2 million.• 29 July 2003 Sea Malta General Manager Joe Bugeja said that the national shipping line was engaged indiscussions with Libyan interests on the possibility of starting a catamaran service between Malta andTripoli.• 29 July 2003 The Minister for Information Technology and Investment, Austin Gatt, appointed MichaelMallia Chairman of Public Broadcasting Services, and Vanni Ganado, Chairman of Malta Air TrafficServices Co Ltd. Mr Mallia succeeds Dr Austin Sammut while Mr Ganado succeeds Mr Patrick Calleja.• 30 July 2003 Malta deposited its Instrument of Ratification to the EU Accession Treaty at the ItalianMinistry of Foreign Affairs, thus making it the first of the acceding countries to complete the ratificationprocess. Malta’s ratification follows that of Denmark, which is the first Member State to havecompleted the ratification process.• 30 July 2003 Malta and Germany agreed that there should be no changes to the EU's Stability andGrowth Pact, even if public finances were strained. Finance and Economic Affairs Minister John Dallimet his German counterpart Hans Eichel as the German Minister made a stop in Malta as part of his tourto Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta.• 30 July 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea launched the Avicenna Virtual Campus project and thenew Fondazzjoni Temi Zammit that will be made up of various local partners to implement the project.Malta will be taking part in the Avicenna Virtual Campus project for the next three years, providingeLearning opportunities in the Euro-Med region.

• 30 July 2003 Resources and Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit and officials of WasteServ Limitedhave urged the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association to take part in the debate over the proposedengineered landfills.• 30 July 2003 During a visit to the Birkirkara Local Council, Justice and Home Affairs Minister TonioBorg said that the Government was committed to passing on more land to Councils as part of thedevolution process.• 30 July 2003 According to the National Office of Statistics a total of 290,208 kilograms of fresh fish,with a wholesale value of Lm799,420, were landed at the wholesale fish market in the second quarter ofthis year. This is a substantial increase in volume over the same period last year.• 30 July 2003 Ten Maltese and two Gozitan bus owner-drivers have just returned from Portsmouth aftertaking part in a customer care training programme funded by the European Union's Leonardo da Vinciinitiative.• 31 July 2003 Finance and Economic Affairs Minister John Dalli inaugurated a two-day fair of Libyanbusinesses, held at the Jerma Palace Hotel, in Marsascala. Libyan Ambassador Ali Nageem said that thefair was a good opportunity for local businessmen to establish contact with their Libyan counterparts.• 31 July 2003 Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said that Local Councils should seek waysto make money and raise funds for local projects rather than wait for the Government to allocate thebudget. The European Union offered several programmes through which local councils could raisemoney, he said. Dr Borg was speaking during a visit to Birkirkara Local Council.• 31 July 2003 Malta Maritime Authority Chairman Marc Bonello announced that MMA will be clampingdown on boat owners who default on yacht marina fees and use utilities on the pontoonsindiscriminately.• 31 July 2003 The Malta Transport Authority invited UK transport expert Malcolm Buchanan to help inthe evaluation of the different reform measures being proposed to the Authority on public transport inMalta. Prof. Buchanan was Chairman of the supervisory board for the preparation of the structure planfor the Maltese Islands in 1989/90.AUGUST• 1 August 2003 Outgoing Chinese Ambassador Guirong called on Michael Frendo MP, Chairman of theStanding Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives. Dr Frendo and AmbassadorGuirong discussed the bilateral relations between Malta and the People’s Republic of China, and Malta’scontribution in the European Union towards strengthening EU-China relations.• 1 August 2003 An agricultural census carried out by the National Statistics Office shows that thenumber of full-time farmers has plummeted by over 65 per cent in the last 20 years, and nearly 12 percent of agricultural land has been eaten away. The data for the census was collected between October 22and November 11, 2001.• 1 August 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea said that his Ministry was developing a network thatwould bring about a better awareness and appreciation of the Arab world and how best Malta and theMaltese could develop a more profitable role after EU membership. Dr Galea was speaking at the launchof this year's Evenings on Campus Film Festival, at the University, Tal-Qroqq.• 1 August 2003 Small businesses, the self-employed, and craftsmen are being urged to participate in aLeonardo da Vinci initiative, aimed at gathering together entrepreneurs from various countries to sharebusiness experiences. The Parliamentary Secretary in the Finance and Economic Affairs Ministry, EdwinVassallo, described the initiative as ‘a golden opportunity’.• 1 August 2003 Malta Freeport announced that China Shipping Container Lines had confirmed that theFreeport would act as the hub for its trans-shipment operations in the Mediterranean. The service is

expected to generate a throughput of approximately 100,000 containers per year and will increase thenumber of ports served by Malta Freeport to 115.• 1 August 2003 Shipyard Chairman John Cassar White said that one of the major problems facing theMalta Drydocks is excessive overtime. The problem, he said, lay in the fact that, although there was amorning and an afternoon shift, there was no night shift. Therefore, every time work needed to continuethrough the night it was claimed as overtime. Mr Cassar White was testifying before an industrialtribunal which is deliberating a dispute over the appointment of acting chargemen.• 1 August 2003 The Malta Transport Authority has drawn up new regulations about heavy vehicles in anattempt to reduce damage to roads and road-signs. The Authority said that under the new regulations, themaximum height for all vehicles cannot exceed four metres, their weight cannot exceed 44 tons, andtheir axle cannot have the capacity to turn not more than 11.5 tons. The new regulations are in line withEU standards.• 1 August 2003 According to the National Statistics Office, the number of registered unemployed inMarch this year declined by 143 persons to 7,564 when compared to the previous month. Theunemployment rate was 5.2 per cent. In comparison to March 2002, the number of registeredunemployed dropped by 161 persons, the NSO said.• 1 August 2003 Figures released by the National Statistics Office show that the Retail Price Index inJune this year went up by 0.15 per cent to 100.88, from 100.73 in the previous month. Theinflation rate for June stood at 1.25.• 2 August 2003 President Guido de Marco received the Chairman of the US House Rules Committee,David Dreier, and his delegation made up of US Congress representatives Jim Moran and GracielaNapolitano. David Dreier also paid a visit on Acting Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, at Auberge deCastille, in Valletta.• 2 August 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea said that the Education Ministry is drawing up reportsfor reforms in various sectors of the local educational system. The reports will serve as the basis for adiscussion process with educators, parents, students and all those involved in education. Minister Galeawas speaking when he visited Marsascala primary school.• 2 August 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that tourism was now recovering, asevidenced by figures issued by the National Statistics Office. Figures for the first five months of thisyear showed an increase of 8,599 in arrivals, or 2.3 per cent, on the number during the same period lastyear. The Minister was speaking during the opening of a new cafè in Valletta.• 2 August 2003 Areas of possible co-operation were discussed between the University of Malta and theUniversite du Saint-Esprit, in Lebanon. The Lebanese University was represented by Dr Karam Rizk,Rector, while Anthony J. Frendo, Head of the Department of Arabic and Near Eastern Studies, Martin R.Zammit, from the same department, and George Grima, Dean of the Faculty of Theology, representedthe University of Malta.• 2 August 2003 The National Statistics Office said that the number of all types of licensed motor vehiclesat the end of June this year stood at 265,412. Of these, 198,225 or 75 per cent, were private vehicles,while commercial vehicles made up 44,186 or 16.6 per cent.• 2 August 2003 The Director of the Law Courts announced the introduction of payment by credit card atthe cash office.• 2 August 2003 A spokesman for Air Malta said that the airline has extended its scheduled services to StPetersburg to November 12. The decision was taken following the demand by incoming and outgoingpassengers. St Petersburg is one of the new routes that Air Malta introduced this summer.• 2 August 2003 Malta could be heading for its warmest summer ever after the Meteorological Officerecorded last month as the warmest July since records began over 80 years ago. It was the second recordto fall in the space of a month, following the announcement that last June was the warmest June ever.• 3 August 2003 Mr Richard Muscat, non-resident Ambassador of Malta to Ireland, made an official visitto Dublin. During his visit, Mr Muscat spoke on Malta's determination to optimise the opportunities

provided by the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Malta’s Ambassador wasassured of Ireland's support to secure Malta's success in facing a future as a new EU member state.• 4 August 2003 Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said that Malta was not prepared to emulate someEuropean countries and set illegal immigrants free, even if the problem had cost the Government aroundLm500,000 in 18 months. In an interview with The Times newspaper, Dr Borg announced that theGovernment was aiming to clear the backlog of asylum seeker applications by the end of the year. Thereare currently over 600 people in detention and open centres.• 5 August 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami expressed satisfaction at the way thatGovernment is doing and gave an optimistic interpretation to the general situation in the country. HisGovernment, he said, had found co-operation in these first three months. Speaking at the end of the lastCabinet meeting before the summer break, Dr Fenech-Adami also referred to some particular points ofpublic concern, notably in the area of public finance. An audio recording of the Prime Minister’scomments to the Press can be accessed atwww.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/audiorecording%20%2004.08.03%20pm%20addresses%20media.asp• 5 August 2003 A statement released by the United States Embassy in Malta says that the USGovernment has suspended the Transit Without Visa programme with immediate effect. In order totransit to another international destination all travellers entering the US will now be required to carry USvisas. More information about this change of policy can be found on the US Government websitetravel.state.gov• 5 August 2003 Dr Joanna Drake has been appointed Chairperson of the Occupational Health and SafetyAuthority for the next two years. The Deputy Chairperson is Mr Frank Pullicino, Director of IndustrialRelations, ex-officio.• 5 August 2003 The National Statistics Office announced that electricity generated by the Marsa and theDelimara power stations over the 12 years up to 2002 has doubled from one million to two millionmegawatts, meaning an average yearly increase of 102,838 megawatts. This summer the heat has pushedelectricity demand up to the extent that Enemalta reported a record of 394 megawatts for summer,against 367 megawatts last year.• 5 August 2003 Government employees will start receiving their salary every four weeks instead of at theend of the month, as from September 26. The unions have been pushing for this move in order toeliminate the disparity in the number of social security contributions between one month and the next.• 5 August 2003 Malta continues to benefit from positive publicity resulting from high-profile interviewswith the cast of Troy, which was shot in Malta in May and June. In an interview on NBC's The TonightShow with Jay Leno, actress Jennifer Aniston, who visited her husband Brad Pitt on site during his stayin Malta, described it as an ‘absolutely beautiful, ancient island’.• 6 August 2003 The National Statistics Office announced that the number of cruise passengers visitingMalta in June went down by 9,492 over the previous month’s 55,301. In the first six months this year,the number of cruise passengers amounted to 124,393. The highest number of cruise passengers camefrom the British market, followed by the Spanish and the Italian markets.• 6 August 2003 Transport Minister Censu Galea announced that the wearing of a rear seatbelt would becompulsory by the end of the year. The measure forms part of the European Road Safety ActionProgramme designed to halve the number of road deaths by 2010.• 7 August 2003 President Guido de Marco received the organising committee of the National CampaignSolidarity through Sports, at the Palace. Dr George Abela, Chairman, stressed that the 18th Kerygmavolleyball marathon was not only aimed at raising money: the volunteers had sacrificed their summer tohelp others, highlighting the sense of sacrifice behind the event.• 7 August 2003 Resources and Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit announced that households as wellas industry would soon have to separate waste at source. Minister Zammit was speaking at the SantAntnin Waste Recycling Plant.

• 7 August 2003 The June issue of the Central Bank of Malta Quarterly Review shows that the deficit inthe Consolidated Fund widened to Lm57.6 million in the second quarter of the year. This is nearlydouble the level recorded during the corresponding quarter of 2002.• 7 August 2003 Bank of Valletta concluded a collaboration agreement with COFIB Capital Finances, aleading stock-broking firm in Tunisia. A memorandum of understanding was signed by Bank of VallettaChairman Joseph Zahra and Slaheddine Ladjimi, COFIB's General Manager, at BOV's Tunisia office.• 7 August 2003 Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono announced that a Regional Committee for Gozo is tobe set up. The Minister was speaking at the first meeting of the recently set-up Association for Gozitannon-government organisations.• 7 August 2003 The Employment and Training Corporation launched its seasonality scheme on anational basis. The scheme offers employees working in the hotels and restaurants sector an opportunityto have a five/six month work experience in a hotel abroad.• 7 August 2003 MEDEA is offering grants for the development of feature films and documentaryprojects to producers from the European Union and the 12 Euro-Mediterranean countries signatory to theBarcelona Declaration. The Malta Film Commission is an official partner of MEDEA and has coorganisedworkshops on script development, marketing and distribution since 2000. www.mfc.com.mt• 7 August 2003 Valletta Restoration Project co-ordinator Ray Bondin announced that the Upper BarrakkaGarden would be receiving a complete upgrade in a Lm174,000 project. The upper level of the gardenwill be closed to the public between 1 st November 2003 and 30 th April 2004.• 8 August 2003 Enemalta’s new chairman, Tancred Tabone, said that the price of electricity shouldreflect the real price of fuel in the same way that the price of fuels such as petrol or diesel are pegged tointernational oil prices. Mr Tabone also revealed that talks would be held with petrol station owners andgas distributors to enable customers to purchase bottled gas from petrol stations. Mr Tabone wasaddressing the media.• 8 August 2003 Valletta Rehabilitation Project co-ordinator Ray Bondin said that the Government wasstill involved in discussions over the proposed ‘Connections Project’ with the Renaissance Consortium.If approved, the project would see the consortium drilling two sea-level tunnels underneath Valletta. Aterminal and landing stage would be built right underneath Palace Square from where lifts would takepassengers up to the heart of Valletta.• 8 August 2003 Novafilm, one of Germany's five largest film production companies, shot part of a TVfilm, Wendemanover, during a one-day shoot in Malta. Most of the filming was done at Grand Harbour.• 9 August 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami received the Chinese Ambassador, YangGuirong, at Auberge de Castille, in Valletta. The Ambassador was paying a farewell call at the end ofhis diplomatic posting in Malta.• 9 August 2003 Statistics released by Eurostat show that, last year, Malta had the second highestpercentage increase in population (+6.7 per cent to reach 397,300) among the EU acceding countries,behind Cyprus. In Malta, net migration was 4.8 per 1,000 population; the infant mortality rate stood atsix per 1,000.• 9 August 2003 Minister for Youth and the Arts Jesmond Mugliett toured the new Cultural Centre ofChina in Melita Street, Valletta. Mr Mugliett was shown round by outgoing Chinese Ambassador YangGuirong and the centre’s Director, Xiaowei Xiang. The centre is to be inaugurated next month.• 9 August 2003 The Malta Transport Authority announced a series of initiatives intended to bring aboutmuch needed law, safety and order on the roads. It distributed thousands of leaflets aimed at promotingsafer driving to Local Councils, and was in the process of starting work on heritage paths for pedestriansand cyclists, traffic surveillance and speed cameras, the preparation of a road safety strategy for theIsland, and the establishment of controlled parking areas.• 9 August 2003 President Guido de Marco inaugurated Delicata's three-day Classic Wine Festivalcelebrating the start of the grape harvest, at the Upper Barrakka garden in Valletta. The event openedwith a spectacular regatta with six boats racing from Delicata's winery on the waterfront in Marsa to justbelow the Upper Barrakka.

• 9 August 2003 Dr Joanna Drake, Chairman of the Occupational Health and Safety Authority,announced that this year’s Occupational Health and Safety Week, to be held between October 6 th and12 th , would have as its theme ‘The high risk posed by dangerous substances’. Dr Drake was speaking atthe launch of the OHS week as part of the first pan-European campaign to reduce the risks of chemicals,biological agents and other dangerous substances at work.• 9 August 2003 Malta is to be featured in Einfach-luxuios, a travel programme on SF1, one of the mostpopular Swiss television stations. The travel programme has an audience of 800,000 and is hosted bywell-known presenter Monica Schaerer. The broadcast will be aired in September. www.mta.com.mt• 10 August 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech inaugurated the Cottonera Marina. The Lm4million project adds 230 berthing spots, including 33 for super yachts, to the existing stock, making fora total of 1,500 berths. The Marina is to be administered by Camper and Nicholsons through amanagement contract.• 11 August 2003 The Ministry for Information Technology and Investment registered a record 129,000online transactions in July. In the same month, the gov.mt portal reported no fewer than eight millionhits, with forty-eight per cent of all transactions emanating from overseas.• 11 August 2003 The Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment has embarked on an educationalcampaign in favour of the protection of animals and the conservation of Malta's maritime heritage. Forthis purpose, it has produced two 30-second clips to be broadcast on state television over the next twomonths.• 12 August 2003 Finance and Economic Affairs Minister John Dalli declared that the existing financialsituation was mostly due to the international recession that had reduced consumption all around theworld and had reduced government tax revenue in many countries. Mr Dalli said that no one couldcontradict the logic behind the fact that the world took a long time to recover from the devastatingeffects of 11 th September 2001, after which it had also faced the Iraq war and the SARS virus.• 12 August 2003 The 18 th Kergyma Volleyball Marathon started off with a 30 kilometre solidarity runfrom Dar tal-Providenza in Siggiewi to the Trade Fair Grounds in Naxxar. The 54 athletes participatingin the marathon are aiming to clock a record 241 hours of play.• 12 August 2003 The Malta-EU Information Centre made further calls for tenders for projects funded bythe European Union. These calls are of particular interest to associations, chambers, non-governmentalorganisations, research centres, universities, local and regional authorities, small and medium-sizedenterprises, corporations and other similar bodies. www.mic.org.mt/latest/funding.htm• 12 August 2003 The National Statistics Office stated that a total of 3,367 traffic accidents were reportedin the second quarter of this year, 171 fewer than the number of accidents reported in the same quarter in2002. During this quarter four traffic deaths were registered, all of them men.• 13 August 2003 President Guido de Marco and Mrs de Marco, on behalf of the Malta Community ChestFund, presented the sum of LM40,992 to 149 individuals and 15 philanthropic institutions.• 13 August 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea toured the site of the new secondary school and sportscomplex at Tal-Karwija. The project involves an investment of Lm4.5 million.• 14 August 2003 Kerygma Director Fr Charles Fenech announced that the 18 th Kerygma VolleyballMarathon had raised over Lm38,000 by the afternoon of August 13. The sum collected includedLm21,350 from a solidarity pre-marathon run by businessmen Daniel Abela and Winston Zahra.• 14 August 2003 The Board of Directors of Malta International Airport announced that it had namedAustrian Michael Hoeferer as its new Chairman. Mr Hoeferer said he felt confident that he would seizeall opportunities to steer MIA into continued success.• 14 August 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech revealed that a substantial part of the Lm30million that Malta will be getting under the financial protocol with Italy would be spent on theconstruction of roads. Minister Zammit Dimech was speaking on relations with Italy on the occasion ofa visit to San Gwann Local Council by Miss Italia nel Mondo contestant Sara Spiteri.

• 14 August 2003 Former Federation of Industry President Joseph Zammit Tabona has been appointedChairman of the Malta Development Corporation. He succeeds Lawrence Zammit, who was recentlyappointed Chairman of Air Malta.• 14 August 2003 The National Statistics Office said that the number of mobile telephone subscriptions inMarch this year reached 311,197, an increase of 23.2 per cent over the same quarter in 2002. In theperiod under review, declines were recorded in the number of pager subscriptions and in the number oftwo-way radio licences.• 15 August 2003 An official statement said that the structures being proposed with regard to EUmembership were chosen for their efficiency and cost-effectiveness to ensure that Malta's participationin the EU's decision-making process would reap the maximum benefits possible for the country. Thestatement said that the Government was proposing structures which were tried and well tested, andwhich had been used by EU members before.• 15 August 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami praised the volleyball players participating inthe Kerygma fund-raising marathon. He also commended the efforts of the organisers. Dr Fenech-Adami was speaking during a visit to the Naxxar Trade Fair grounds.• 15 August 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea said that one of the priorities of the present legislaturein education would be the creation of a Commission for Higher Education. Minister Galea was speakingwhen he visited upgrading works at the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology at Kordin.• 15 August 2003 The Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit has been accepted as a full member of theEgmont Group of Financial Intelligence Analysis Units. Malta was one of 15 countries that wereadmitted as members during the 11th plenary meeting of the group held in Sydney, Australia.• 15 August 2003 Charles E. Puglisevich, Malta's Honorary Consul General in Eastern Canada, died aged68.• 16 August 2003 Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono said that, in view of EU membership, in Septemberthe Department of Agriculture would be calling for applications for financial assistance from farmersand breeders. The Minister was speaking at the traditional Wirja tal-Biedja u Snajja’ 2003, held at VillaRundle in Victoria.• 16 August 2003 President Guido de Marco said that Gozo was experiencing a renaissance and wasmoving forward, as evidenced by the buzzing commercial activity on the island. The President waspresenting awards at the prize-giving ceremony to the winners of the various competition categorieswho participated in the agricultural exhibition held at Villa Rundle in Victoria.• 17 August 2003 Mr Paul Fenech, who is the secretary of the Republic Street Business CommunityAssociation, told The Sunday Times newspaper that, following a meeting with Transport andCommunications Minister Censu Galea, the association had come up with three proposals for effectiveland and sea transportation measures around the Grand Harbour. Mr Fenech said that Minister Galea hadagreed with the association’s proposals.• 18 August 2003 Health Minister Louis Deguara said that he would be proposing radical changes to theNational Health system, which he feels has now become unsustainable. Speaking to The Timesnewspaper, Dr Deguara said that the Government was in possession of studies and figures related to thepresent system that clearly showed the need for essential changes.• 18 August 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that, if the majority of people in Maltawere to start caring about the country and tourism in general, then those who do not care would come totheir senses. Dr Zammit Dimech said: “We cannot afford to kill the goose that lays the golden egg. Weall depend on it and we all need to care for it.”• 18 August 2003 The latest issue of the publication Aggornat said that EU member states are evaluatinga batch of potentially ‘harmful’ tax schemes and fiscal measures applying in the 10 acceding countries.The publication states that the member states intend to set up a definitive ‘black list’ of the measuresthat will have to be removed or adapted by 1 st May 2004. Aggornat is published by the Malta-EUInformation Centre.

• 18 August 2003 The Marine Mammals Protection Regulations (2003), replacing the 1992 regulations,have been published. The new regulations ban the taking, ill treatment, buying or selling of a fairly longlist of animals, including various species of dolphin.• 18 August 2003 According to an EU directive and Maltese law, all pleasure sea craft manufactured inMalta and placed on the market after 1 st May 2004 must be covered by CE certification. Governmentappointedsurveyors will have to certify the boats before owners can register them with the MaltaMaritime Authority.• 19 August 2003 Heritage Malta launched a computerised ticketing system and revised entrance tariffsfor sites and museums falling under its responsibility. Jesmond Mugliett, who is Minister for Youth andthe Arts, said that the new system provided a basis on which the agency could implement innovativemanagement concepts for its sites.• 19 August 2003 The Minister for Rural Affairs and the Environment, George Pullicino, announcedthat the Government aims to increase the area of land supporting vines from the current 600 hectares toover 1,000 hectares. Minister Pullicino was speaking during the launch of the Atlantis range of winesby Marsovin.• 19 August 2003 The Merchant Shipping Directorate of the Malta Maritime Authority said that it wasinvestigating the marine casualty involving the Maltese registered ship Tasman Spirit which broke intwo off Karachi on July 27 th .• 19 August 2003 The Royal Naval Officers Association held a wreath laying commemorative service atsea on August 15, feast of Santa Marija, in memory of the men who perished in the Operation Pedestalconvoy to Malta in 1942.• 20 August 2003 Chief Justice Vincent De Gaetano and Mr Justice Joseph Camilleri left Malta forMalawi. There they will attend the 13 th Triennial Conference organised by the CommonwealthMagistrates and Judges Association.• 20 August 2003 Bank of Valletta signed a €100 million syndicated term loan facility. The signing of theterm loan facility was announced during a luncheon at the San Gorg Corinthia Hotel, attended by theParliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, Tony Abela.• 20 August 2003 Leader of the Opposition Alfred Sant submitted to the Prime Minister the names offour persons to represent the Labour Party on the Electoral Commission. Dr Sant proposed Dr JoeButtigieg and Messrs Salvu Fenech, Salvu Sant and Tony Sultana.• 20 August 2003 George Delicata, Managing Director of Emmanuel Delicata Winemaker, presented asponsorship cheque of Lm500 to Valletta Rehabilitation Project Co-ordinator Ray Bondin. The moneywill go towards the restoration of monuments at the Upper Barrakka Garden.• 20 August 2003 Malta Maritime Authority Chairman Marc Bonello said that the MMA is investingLm130,000 on the installation of closed-circuit television to increase security at its marina pontoons. MrBonello announced that the Authority is to increase the number of existing berths at a cost of Lm50,000.• 20 August 2003 An analysis of the options exercised by students opting for foreign languages inschools in Malta and Gozo during 2001/02 has revealed that almost half the total student populationchose Italian as a first foreign language.• 20 August 2003 Malta is currently playing host to a high-profile student of English as a foreignlanguage, Claudio Rama Vitale. Mr Vitale is Director of UNESCO's Regional Office for HigherEducation in Latin America and the Caribbean.• 21 August 2003 President Guido de Marco wrote to the Secretary General of the United Nationsexpressing sympathy following the bomb blast at the UN headquarters in Baghdad and the death of UNspecial envoy to Iraq Sergio Vieira de Mello. The Government and the Opposition expressed theircondemnation of the terrorist attack in Baghdad.

• 21 August 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi visited the Kerygma volleyball marathon. DrGonzi said that the marathon was evidence of the courage of Malta's future generations and theirconcern for those in need.• 21 August 2003 Resources and Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit announced a reorganisation of theWorks Division to re-utilise workers whose potential was not being exploited fully. 150 workers out ofa workforce of 3,800 have been identified and assigned specific jobs, particularly cleaning certain areasand roads.• 21 August 2003 The President of the Association of Local Councils, Ian Micallef, brought up the needof wardens in plain clothes to act on environmental issues. “The problem with enforcement is that no onelitters or dumps rubbish in the presence of wardens or police,” said Mr Micallef.• 21 August 2003 Maltacom and Din l-Art Helwa introduced a call service giving information on theopening schedules of historical sites managed by the society. The service may be accessed from anyfixed line or mobile phone by dialling 2121 5222, at a normal call charge.• 22 August 2003 President Guido de Marco revealed his preoccupation on the conservation of Malta'spatrimony and expressed doubts over whether the Maltese ‘truly loved and lived’ their historical andcultural heritage. The President was speaking during a meeting at the Palace with the chairman andboard members of Heritage Malta.• 22 August 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech praised the Corinthia Group on itssuccess in the hotel business, pointing out that, in opting for niche markets and high-yield tourists thegroup had subsequently promoted Malta as a venue for conferences and incentives. Minister ZammitDimech was speaking during the presentation of the Corinthia Destination Management CompaniesAwards, 2003.• 22 August 2003 The National Statistics Office said that a total of 53,975 foreign students hadparticipated in one of the English language courses organised by the 33 English language schools inoperation during 2002. The office said that the highest number of students had come from Germany,followed by Italy, France, and Russia.• 22 August 2003 A spokesman for Air Malta said that the establishment of the company’s new Malta-Romania route was in keeping with the airline’s strategy to provide alternative destinations to Maltesetravellers, and to give Romanians an opportunity to visit Malta. Consequent to the opening of this route,the Maltese Islands were given extensive promotion on the main national television channel ofRomania.• 22 August 2003 The National Obstetric Information System reported that a total of 946 births (933deliveries) were registered in the Maltese Islands during the second quarter of this year. Exactly thesame number of deliveries and births were registered during the same period in 2002.• 22 August 2003 A last-minute surge in donations unexpectedly boosted the amount of money raised bythe 18th Kerygma volleyball marathon to a record sum of Lm235,274, that is, Lm3,046 more than lastyear. Kerygma Movement Director General Fr Fenech described the marathon as a ‘positive experience’and ‘the biggest youth happening of sports and solidarity in Malta’.• 23 August 2003 Minister for Rural Affairs and the Environment, George Pullicino, announced that morethan 11,000 tons of tomatoes had been produced this year, almost twice as many as last year. MrPullicino attributed this growth to greater interest shown by growers and processors and to the Ministry'scommitment. The Minister was speaking during a visit to the Magro Brothers factory, at the Xewkijaindustrial estate in Gozo.• 23 August 2003 Maltacom Group announced a drop of 13 per cent in after-tax profits to Lm3.27million for the first six months of this year ending on June 30. The accounts were discussed andapproved during a board meeting on Thursday 21 st . Commenting on the results, Maltacom ChairmanJoseph F.X. Zahra said that the past six months had been ‘remarkable’ considering the intensity ofcompetition, further regulatory restraints, and an economic slowdown particularly during the firstmonths of the year.

• 23 August 2003 Several leading Italian travel trade magazines featured Malta in their publicationsfollowing a promotional campaign by the Malta Tourism Authority's Milan office. The publicationsincluded TuttoTurismo, Travel Trade Gazette (Italy), Touring Giovani, and in-flight magazineMeridiana.• 23 August 2003 Employment and Training Corporation records released by the National StatisticsOffice show that the number of persons registering for work in July this year was 676 more than thenumber who registered for the previous month. A comparison of unemployment figures for July 2003with those of July 2002 shows an increase of 737 persons.• 24 August 2003 The Minister for Youth and the Arts, Jesmond Mugliett, told The Sunday Timesnewspaper that only one of the two quarries earmarked for use as temporary landfills next to the WorldHeritage sites Mnajdra and Hagar Qim is needed for use as an engineered landfill. "When one sees thevolume of municipal waste generated annually, it is obvious that not more than one of them would beneeded for use as a temporary landfill. The quarry at Xaghra tal-Maghlaq is, in my opinion, the bettersuited for this," Mr Mugliett said.• 25 August 2003 Finance and Economic Affairs Minister John Dalli returned from an official four-dayvisit to Malaysia, where he met representatives from the Department for Economic Planning and fromthe organisation responsible for small and medium enterprises. The Minister also visited the researchand production facilities of the motor company Proton. Mr Dalli gave an overview of Malta's EUaccession, and explained how investing in Malta could also facilitate business with North Africancountries.• 25 August 2003 The international credit ratings agency, Standard & Poor's, lowered Malta's localcurrency sovereign credit ratings, citing as reason the Government's failure to control its deficit. Theratings were lowered to A+/A-1 from AA-/A-1+. At the same time, S & P affirmed its A/A-1 foreigncurrency sovereign credit rating on Malta. S & P said that a sustained period of fiscal consolidation was‘essential’ if Malta was to be among the first of the accession countries to join the EMU.• 25 August 2003 Finance and Economic Affairs Minister John Dalli said that the S & P ratingsunderlined the need for structural changes to put less demand on government finances. The Ministeraugured that all the political forces, together with the constituted bodies, would realise the need to dealwith the issue in an objective and national manner.• 25 August 2003 In the framework of preparing to use Maltese as an official language, the EuropeanCommission sent an official to Malta to open a field office for translation. The official, JorisGoetschalckx, will assist and advise on helping to match the demand and supply of such staff.• 25 August 2003 The Parliamentary Secretary for the Care of the Elderly, Frans Agius, said that hewanted to come up with more initiatives aimed at promoting active aging, where the elderly maycontinue taking care of themselves for longer. The resource of the elderly, he said, could be used muchbetter than at present. Dr Agius said that the Government would continue to do its best for the dependentelderly.• 25 August 2003 The High Commission in Canberra announced that the Maltese Consul-General forNew South Wales, Joanna Pisani, will be operating from new premises. The new address of theConsulate General is: Suite 2, Level 10, 99 Elizabeth Street, Sydney; e-mail:maltacgs@austarmetro.com.au The new telephone and fax numbers have changed to (phone) 02 92336755 and (fax) 02 9233 6711.• 26 August 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea announced that Cabinet had approved a three-yearstrategy to strengthen Malta's capacity in science, technology, research and innovation. He added thatthree programmes would be emerging to lay down the foundations for the country to make itscontributions in the field. Dr Galea was speaking at the inauguration of an exhibition on the Red PlanetMars, at St James Cavalier, in Valletta.• 26 August 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea said that, following the launch of the nationalminimum curriculum, and the publication of the strategic plan for its implementation, the educationauthorities' next move was the reorganisation through decentralisation of the state schooling system. DrGalea was opening the 28 th international conference of the Association for Teachers’ Education inEurope, at the University of Malta.

• 26 August 2003 Resources and Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit visited Senglea to view therestoration being carried out on the city’s Main Gate and bastions. Mr Zammit said that, after Senglea,other Cottonera projects were being lined up for restoration. The project is funded by the CottoneraRehabilitation Project of the Resources and Infrastructure Ministry in collaboration with the RestorationUnit, and is estimated to cost Lm110,000.• 26 August 2003 The outgoing Tunisian Ambassador to Malta, Abdessalem Hetira, paid a farewell callon the Speaker, at the Palace in Valletta.• 26 August 2003 Figures published by the Central Statistics Office show that the visible trade gap in thefirst six months of this year widened by Lm23.3 million to Lm185.7 million, from Lm162.4 million lastyear. In the first six months of this year, total imports increased by Lm41.6 million, or seven per cent, toLm640 million from Lm598.4 million in the same period last year. Total exports increased by Lm18.2million, or 4.2 per cent, to Lm454.3 million from Lm436.1 million last year.• 26 August 2003 The Malta Tourism Authority and Air Malta hosted a number of Dutch journalists whowrote articles about Malta. The articles were featured in various publications that included Joie DeVivre, Travelution, and Your Travel.• 26 August 2003 Bank of Valletta employees Anthony Cassar, Neville Minuti, and Edward J. Bonellowon awards under a special staff suggestion scheme that focused on BoV Internet and TelephoneBanking, and the BoV Customer Service Centre. The winning suggestions were chosen on the basis oftheir innovation and their relevance in increasing the usage of these already highly popular deliverychannels.• 27 August 2003 Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Social Policy Lawrence Gonzi warned that,unless talks on the shipyards' collective agreement were concluded by the end of September, "theGovernment will take the necessary decisions to ensure that the restructuring process will not behindered". Dr Gonzi said that the restructuring process would only work if accompanied by flexibilityand a new work ethic that improved productivity and efficiency.• 27 August 2003 Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg announced that work on the FamilyCourt was at an advanced stage and it was scheduled to start functioning by the end of the year. Touringthe premises of the court, Dr Borg said that the state-of-the-art annex today houses both a civil and acriminal court to deal with separation cases as well as with cases of abuse.• 27 August 2003 Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, Tony Abela,told a news conference that the Government was re-introducing a one-time extension of the investmentregistration scheme. Under the scheme, all Maltese residents who have invested assets overseas withoutthe necessary permits under the Exchange Control Act have the opportunity to regularise their positionby registering these assets with an appointed registration agent.• 27 August 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea said that the Foundation for Tomorrow's Schools wasthis summer modernising forty schools. The Foundation is implementing three programmes:modernising internal spaces, improving recreational facilities, and improving accessibility. Dr Galeavisited E B Vella primary school, in Mosta, where all three programmes were implemented.• 27 August 2003 The US Embassy announced the arrival in Malta of a nine-member delegation from theUS Congress, headed by US Representative John J. Duncan, Jr. The embassy said that the delegationwas visiting Malta to gain a better understanding of the Island and to promote mutual friendshipbetween the two countries. "It will also serve to strengthen the excellent relations that exist between theUnited States and Malta," the Embassy added.• 27 August 2003 Tony Cassar of Marsovin, Mark Miceli Farrugia of Meridiana Estate, and GeorgeDelicata of Delicata Winery all reported a very good harvest of grapes, both in terms of quality andquantity. Mr Delicata said: “In five years' time, we will stop importing foreign grapes as local vines willstart producing what we need. This is a very exciting period. The EU has pushed and pulled us into it.”• 27 August 2003 A public relations campaign by the Malta Tourism Authority's Milan office has led toseveral leading Italian magazines running prominent features about Malta. The Corriere della Seradescribed Malta as a ‘bridge between different cultures’, while Oggi featured a five-page full-colourspread about popular actor Brad Pitt's stay in Malta. The Island was also featured in two editions ofFamiglia Cristiana.

• 28 August 2003 President Guido de Marco said that the Local Council should be the motor in creatinga greater identity for towns and villages by protecting the localities’ cultural heritage. The Presidentwas speaking at Verdala Castle on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the founding of LocalCouncils.• 28 August 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that Malta always had a stable and wellfunctioning relationship with the US over the years. He said that one of the reasons for this was thatthere had always been a reciprocal understanding of the policies of both Governments. The PrimeMinister was speaking during a courtesy visit made by the US Congressional delegation committee ontransport and infrastructure, at Auberge de Castille.• 28 August 2003 Central Bank Governor Michael C. Bonello announced that the central interventionrate would be left unchanged at 3.25 per cent. The decision was taken following a meeting by theBank’s Monetary Policy Advisory Council.• 28 August 2003 The National Statistics Office revealed that the number of tourist arrivals had goneup by 6,246 to 115,367, compared to June last year. Arrivals from the British market increased by3,708. Other additions were recorded from the Dutch (+1,124), the French (+802), the US (+582),and a group of ‘other’ markets (+2,222). Tourism earnings per capita in the first five monthsincreased by Lm16 to Lm234.7, from Lm218.7 in 2002.• 28 August 2003 Gozo was chosen as the romantic backdrop for the filming of the television series'House van Hera', which will be aired on Dutch national television next year. The initiative was madepossible through the intervention of the Malta Tourism Authority's Amsterdam office and wassupported by Air Malta.• 29 August 2003 At a meeting of the European People's Party, Government MPs Josef Bonnici andTonio Fenech insisted that Malta and Cyprus should be included as ‘island regions’ in a report on EUcohesion policy. The working group did not support Prof. Bonnici's request for an amendment,arguing that this would complicate matters since the UK and Ireland were also island states.• 29 August 2003 Government MP Tonio Fenech participated in a European People's Party seminar inBrussels on the priorities of the EU's draft 2004 budget.• 29 August 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea said that the University and other higher educationinstitutions must ensure that the quality of their diplomas and degrees passed the quality assurance testof the agencies for the European Higher Education Area. Minister Galea was addressing officials ofthe University, MCAST, the Malta Centre for Restoration, the Institute for Tourism Studies, and theEmployment and Training Corporation, at the Mediterranean Conference Centre.• 29 August 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech and Corinthia Hotels InternationalChairman Karmenu Vella presented the Corinthia Awards at the third edition of the company's 'DMCAwards at the third edition of the company's 'DMC Awards Night', held at Castello Zammitello inMgarr.• 29 August 2003 Prof. Joe Bannister, who is the chairman of the Malta Financial Services Authority,announced that new fees for the banks, other financial institutions, and companies are due to beannounced shortly following extensive consultations.• 29 August 2003 The National Statistics Offices said that, a total of 470,138 tourists departed by airfrom Malta during the first six months of this year. Compared with a total of 461,513 tourists for thesame period last year, an increase of 8,625 tourists or 1.9 per cent was recorded.• 29 August 2003 The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) said that draft regulations toprevent waste from end-of-life vehicles, and the collection, re-use and recycling of their components,would be the subject of a four-week consultation process. The draft legal notice can be accessed onMEPA's website.• 29 August 2003 OAD Reizen, the largest Dutch tour operator to Malta, held the finals of its annual'Destination Discovery Quiz' in Malta and Gozo, thanks to the promotional efforts of the MaltaTourism Authority's Amsterdam office and the support of Air Malta.

• 29 August 2003 Central Bank of Malta Governor Michael C. Bonello presented Lm1,917 to sixinstitutions. The recipients were the Down Syndrome Association, Dar Guzeppa Debono, Dar MerhbaBik, Ursuline Creche - Valletta, the Ghaqda Persuni Neqsin mis-Smigh and the Appogg Agency.• 30 August 2003 A new Electoral Commission was appointed by the President on the advice of thePrime Minister, given after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition. The members of theCommission are incumbents Mario Callus, Ena Cremona, Henry Distefano and Vanni Ganado, andnew members Joseph Buttigieg, Salvu Fenech, Salvu Sant and Tony Sultana. The Chief ElectoralCommissioner is appointed by the Government and has no fixed term.• 30 August 2003 Figures published by the National Statistics Office show that the structural deficitrose by Lm55.3 million to Lm127.7 million in the first seven months of this year. Ordinary revenuedropped by 4.3 per cent and expenditure rose by 8.2 per cent over the same period last year. Comparedto one month earlier, government debt increased by Lm33.2 million.• 30 August 2003 According to the National Statistics Office jewellery and insurance services went upin price by almost four per cent in July, compared to other price indices, which mostly declined. Theother goods and services index, however, was up by 3.97 per cent to 105.35, due to average priceincreases in respect of jewellery items and insurance services. The Retail Price Index, the NSO said,went down by 0.34 per cent in July to 100.54 from 100.88 in the previous month.• 30 August 2003 The Education Ministry has launched an online physics course leading to theSecondary Education Certificate ordinary level examination. The course, which was completelydesigned in Malta and for which one can apply online, costs Lm25. Education Minister Louis Galeasaid that the physics course was a pilot project and other courses were expected to be offered in future.• 31 August 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg attended the inauguration of EC Brighton, Malta’slanguage school in England. Deputy Mayor David Watkins hosted the inauguration ceremony. Theschool, owned by the Maltese EC Group, is housed in three centrally located buildings on the Brightonseafront.SEPTEMBER• 1 September 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech announced that a ministerial subcommitteeon tourism would be proposing to the Cabinet the introduction of stiffer fines for littering.Dr Zammit Dimech said that he had asked the Malta Tourism Authority to draw up a report on alltourism issues. This report, said the Minister, would also be presented to the Cabinet.1 unrelated jobs• 1 September 2003 The bird-hunting season, closed since May 22, opened again on September 1. Theopen season will last till the end of January. Hunters may face fines of up to Lm1,000 if caughtshooting at ‘strictly protected species’.• 2 September 2003 The Waste Management (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations, 2003,were published in The Malta Government Gazette for a four-week period of public consultation. Theregulations lay down measures aimed at preventing the production of packaging waste and atpromoting the re-use of packaging, its recycling and other forms of recovery. The draft legal noticecan be accessed from www.mepa.org.mt• 2 September 2003 The Malta Financial Services Authority licensed Erste Bank (Malta) Limited as acredit institution. The licence, issued under the Banking Act 1994, was granted on August 29. Theparent bank, Erste Bank der Oesterreichischen Sparkassen AG, is represented through subsidiaries inAustria, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Hungary and Croatia as well as through branches inNew York, London, and Hong Kong.• 2 September 2003 A press group from Dubai was hosted in Malta by the Malta External TradeCorporation on a five-day familiarisation visit. The activity was co-ordinated by METCO's Dubaioffice with the aim of promoting Malta in the UAE and the Gulf States. The initiative was supportedby Intercontinental Malta, the Malta Tourism Authority, and Nata Travel Dubai.

• 2 September 2003 Malta featured as the 'Destination of the Week' on the website www.Forbes.comwhich attracts over 650,000 visitors every month. The article, entitled 'Nights of Malta', was written bytravel journalist Gabi Horn who was in Malta last May on a press trip organised by the Malta TourismAuthority and supported by Air Malta. The article highlighted the culture and history of Malta, as wellas the Island's cinema industry.• 2 September 2003 An average night temperature of 24°C made August nights the warmest ever sincethe Meteorological Office started keeping records at the airport in 1948. The highest temperature lastmonth was 38.3°C. The average sea temperature, at an average of 28.1°C, was also quite highcompared to the average for the past 30 years.• 3 September 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami announced that the Cabinet had decidedthat children born out of wedlock would no longer be described as ‘illegitimate’. A memorandumpresented by Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg to the Cabinet makes amendments to the Civil Codeto this effect. Dr Fenech-Adami addressed the press after the first Cabinet meeting since the summerbreak. The Prime Minister’s speech can be accessed athttp://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/audiorecording%20-%2002.09.03%20pm%20addresses%20media.asp• 3 September 2003 During his meeting with the press Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami laughedoff rumours that he is not in good health. “I don’t have any particular health condition,” he toldreporters to a question put by ‘The Times’ newspaper.• 3 September 2003 A government statement said that the Government had clear ideas about how themoney from the European Union’s Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund should be spent. The totalpublic expenditure to implement the measures identified in the Single Programming Document is 85million Euro.• 3 September 2003 The Government said that Malta is expected to outline its stand on the EuropeanConstitution during the Intergovernmental Conference, which is due to start on October 4.• 3 September 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi opened a seminar on ‘The emergingchallenges of looking after children in residential care’, held at the Coastline Hotel. Dr Gonzirecognised that child protection was everybody's problem and that it was important to create thenecessary structures and community support to avoid the need for children to go into care.• 3 September 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea said that the Education Ministry is planning toreform its policy on inclusive education in state schools. The idea was for inclusive education to bemore effective and to help students with special needs to integrate into the education system.• 3 September 2003 Malta took part in the 13th Triennial Conference of the Commonwealth Magistratesand Judges Association, held in Mangochi, Malawi. The conference was attended by 300 delegatesfrom 35 Commonwealth countries. Chief Justice Vincent de Gaetano and Judge Joseph D. Camilleriattended.• 3 September 2003 The List of Jurors for the year 2004 which was published in the Malta GovernmentGazette of the 28th August 2003 is now available on the internet athttp://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/gazetteonline/2003/08/28.asp• 3 September 2003 According to the Employment and Training Corporation the labour supply in Aprilincreased by 609 compared with the same month last year. The National Statistics Office said that thefull-time gainfully occupied population increased by 766 over the same month last year.• 3 September 2003 The Maltese Islands placed among the top-20 honeymoon island destinations in anedition of US magazine ‘Islands Weddings & Honeymoons’.• 4 September 2003 The International Monetary Fund said that Malta's efforts to achieve robust growthhinged on further improvements in public finances and on sustained efforts to reform the economy.The report, which was compiled after a visit by an IMF team to Malta in May, gave a generallypositive assessment of the recent performance of the Maltese economy but notes that fiscalconsolidation and structural reforms have lost momentum over the past year.

• 4 September 2003 Finance Minister John Dalli gave details of two separate tax-credit schemes, onefor self-employed persons and another for individuals and companies that carry out research anddevelopment of products. The two schemes had formed part of the Minister's last budget speech.• 4 September 2003 Maltacom announced a 36.3 per cent increase in operating profit for the first sixmonths of the year. The announcement was made in a meeting for stockbrokers and the media, inwhich the Company presented the company's interim financial statements for the six-month periodended June 30.• 4 September 2003 Minister for Youth and the Arts, Jesmond Mugliett, said that in an attempt tocreate synergies that would generate interest, cultural activities would be held in historical venues andart placed in national festivities. The National Festivities Committee, Heritage Malta and the NationalCouncil for Culture and the Arts collaborated with the Ministry for Youth and the Arts on the packedcalendar of September events.• 4 September 2003 Richard John Palk, High Commissioner of Australia, and Liu Zehgxiu, Ambassadorof China, presented their diplomatic credentials to President Guido de Marco at the Palace in Valletta.• 5 September 2003 Viset plc, the company that operates the cruise passenger facilities in GrandHarbour, is proposing the installation of a cable-car system from the Grand Harbour to Valletta.Company Chairman Joe Grioli and Chief Executive Chris Falzon said that cruise-line passengersneeded efficient, comfortable and cost-effective access to Valletta. In addition to the cable car system,Viset is proposing the introduction of a shuttle bus service between the quays and Valletta.• 5 September 2003 Eurostat, the statistical branch of the European Commission, said that Malta is theonly EU candidate country where car ownership figures are higher than the EU average. Among thecandidate countries, vehicle ownership ranges from a low 67 per 1,000 inhabitants in Turkey, to a veryhigh 483 in Malta.• 5 September 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi inaugurated the 44th Ladies CircleInternational Conference, held in Malta. The conference, which was chaired by its President, AshwiniSurendar from India, was organised by a committee from Ladies Circle Malta, and attracted 600delegates from 27 countries.• 6 September 2003 Canon Alan Woods, Chancellor of St Paul Anglican Pro-Cathedral, paid a farewellvisit to President Guido de Marco. Canon Woods has been appointed Dean of Gibraltar.• 6 September 2003 Bank of Valletta Chairman Joseph F.X. Zahra said that Bank of Valletta is in theprocess of opening a representative office in Egypt. The move forms part of the Bank's strategic planto expand operations in the Euro-Mediterranean region.• 7 September 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg met Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Toumioja, who wasin Malta on a short working visit. The two Ministers had just returned from Riva del Garda in Italywhere they had attended a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers to discuss the EU Constitution.• 7 September 2003 Malta Shipyards chairman John Cassar White said that turnover at Malta Drydockswas expected to grow this year. He said, however, that this would not mean a reduction of lossesbecause the ’yard had still not introduced new work practices and was still overly dependent onovertime to carry out work which should actually be completed within normal hours. Mr Cassar Whitemade his comments in a ‘Message to the Workers’, in the latest issue of the Malta Shipyardsnewsletter.• 7 September 2003 Local Councils Association President Ian Micallef urged the Government toallocate more funding for local councils. He urged the Government to consider the concept of sharedtaxation, where Local Councils would receive a portion of government revenue from activities heldwithin a Council's boundaries. Dr Micallef was speaking at a conference on the challenges facingLocal Government on the tenth anniversary of the ratification by Malta of the European Charter onLocal Government.• 8 September 2003 Local travel agency S. Mifsud and Sons announced that leading Italian cruisecompany Costa Crociere had surpassed the 460,000 passenger total carried last year, with threemonths to go to the end of the 2003 financial year. Forty per cent of the bookings came from Italy,

with the remainder being taken up by the US, Germany, France and the emerging markets, EasternEurope and Asia.• 8 September 2003 Scenes from the film The Diary, a computer animated 3D film that recounts thestory of the Great Siege of Malta in 1565, were screened on the RAI 3 programme ComminciamoBene... Estate. The film is under the patronage of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, the Ministryof Tourism, the Ministry of Culture, and the Vittoriosa Local Council.• 9 September 2003 Traditional September 8 activities, marking victory in the two sieges of 1565 and1940-43, started with a pontifical High Mass at St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta, led by theArchbishop, Mgr Joseph Mercieca. President and Mrs Guido de Marco led the congregation, whichincluded the Prime Minister, the Parliamentary Speaker, and members of the judiciary and thediplomatic corps.• 9 September 2003 Senglea clinched the Open Category Shield of the September 8 regatta, markingthe 17th time that Senglea won. Cospicua placed second and Marsamxett third. For the fourth yearrunning Marsamxett won the Under-23 category.• 10 September 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami left for a private visit in Aberdeen. Fromthere he will be going to London where he will attend the Malta Day celebrations organised by theMalta High Commission, on Saturday 13 September.• 10 September 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that a total of 3,266 accidents atwork were reported in the first eight months of this year, that is an average of 16 accidents a day. Hesaid that these accidents had cost the economy Lm1 million in social benefits and labour lost. DrGonzi was speaking at a meeting with the new board of the Occupational Health and Safety Authority.• 10 September 2003 The Food Safety Act on the consumption of food supplements has just beenapproved by the Health Ministry, in line with EU directives. To date, Malta never had any regulationson food supplements, including vitamins, minerals, amino acids and herbals. The new regulationscome into force at the end of this month.• 10 September 2003 A team of Israeli architects have been appointed to work on a master plan forVittoriosa. The architects, Giora Solar and Arie Rahamimoff, were commissioned by the CottoneraRehabilitation Project following a call for tenders. Both architects have experience in work on masterplans for historic towns.• 11 September 2003 During a private visit in Italy, President Guido de Marco released interviews for anumber of RAI 1 programmes, including Uno Mattina and TG1. The President also received MohamedSabah al-Salem al-Sabah, Foreign Minister of the State of Kuwait, with whom he discussed bilateralissues as well as the situation in Iraq and the crisis in the Middle East.• 11 September 2003 Bank of Valletta has appointed Simon Azzopardi as Manager of its Egyptrepresentative office. The office is expected to open in a few weeks' time and will be situated on thethird Floor, 106, Mohei El Din Abou El Ezz Street, Mohandissen, Giza, Cairo, Egypt, and may becontacted on telephone number 202-7487477, fax number 202-3365837 and e-mail atbovcairo@bov.com.• 12 September 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg expressed his sadness and shock following the fatalstabbing of his Swedish counterpart, Anna Lindh. Ms Lindh died in a Swedish hospital after beingstabbed while shopping in a Stockholm department store.• 12 September 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg chaired the first meeting, since the referendum and thegeneral election, of the core group of the Malta-EU Steering and Action Committee, MEUSAC. Thecommittee was the main vehicle used by the Government to consult civil society on the negotiationswith the EU.• 12 September 2003 Finance and Economic Affairs Minister John Dalli insisted that, despite theexisting problems and the remedial action that had to be taken, the country's economic and financialsituation was not ‘catastrophic as some would have us believe’.• 12 September 2003 BAWAG PSK Group, the third largest bank in Austria, with a balance sheet ofLm21 billion, opened a subsidiary in Malta. The Bank was opened by Finance and Economic Affairs

Minister John Dalli and BAWAG Chief Executive Johann Zwettler. The Malta operation is capitalisedat Lm210 million.• 12 September 2003 Pharmamed, a pharmaceutical company in Bulebel, inaugurated upgradedproduction facilities that have cost Lm13 million. Finance and Economic Affairs Minister John Dallicommented that the upgrade will enable the company to manufacture products in line with EUstandards.• 12 September 2003 Health Minister Louis Deguara announced that Malta will be hosting the preconferencemeeting for the Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, which will discuss‘The future of our children’. Minister Deguara was addressing a regional committee meeting of theWorld Health Organisation, in Austria.• 12 September 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea urged all school heads to insist on disciplinewhen the academic year starts later this month. Minister Galea made his remarks as he toured threegovernment schools where renovation works are in progress.• 12 September 2003 The Maltese Australian Chamber of Commerce has been re-launched. Theoccasion was marked by the planting of an olive tree in the Roots Circle, at Ta’ Qali National Park.• 12 September 2003 The Malta Tourism Authority announced that its website, www.mta.com.mt, haddrawn over 36,700 visitors in its first three months of operation.• 12 September 2003 The National Statistics Office said that total sales by manufacturing enterprisesrose by Lm7.5 million (3.1 per cent) to reach Lm252.6 million in the June quarter compared to thesame period last year. The Food and Beverages sub-sector saw its sales performance rise by nearlyLm3.5 million, or 12.3 per cent, to Lm31.9 million.• 12 September 2003 Malta Shipyards Chairman John Cassar White said that shipyard employeescurrently work for an average of just two-and-a-half hours of the daily eight hours they spend at the'yard. Mr Cassar White, who is currently overseas, was speaking in a telephone interview with TheTimes newspaper. He was reacting to comments by GWU shipyards section secretary Alfred Cassar.• 13 September 2003 The Secretary General of the European Parliament, Julian Priestley, announcedthat pragmatic solutions were being sought to the problems faced by certain applicant countries of notfinding enough qualified linguists to carry out the necessary work relating to membership. MrPriestley was addressing a news conference at the end of a visit to Malta.• 13 September 2003 A report by the European Commission's Director General for economic andfinancial affairs attributed the slower than expected reduction of the Maltese Government's deficit tolower-than-anticipated growth and a significant increase in several categories of expenditure, such asinterest payments on debt and social security benefits.• 13 September 2003 President Guido de Marco, Foreign Minister Joe Borg, and Opposition LeaderAlfred Sant expressed their condolence on the death of Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh. MrsLindh had visited Malta in November 2000 prior to the start of the Swedish Presidency of theEuropean Council.• 13 September 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea announced that literacy rates have improved overthe past three years. Minister Galea was speaking at a conference on the theme ‘Getting there together- a family approach to basic literacy’, hosted by the Foundation for Educational Services.• 13 September 2003 British High Commissioner Vincent Fean said that the cost for Maltese studentsof studying in the UK will fall sharply once the Island joins the EU. Mr. Fean was speaking at areception to mark the departure of ten Chevening scholars to further their studies in the UK.• 13 September 2003 Malta aligned itself with a declaration issued by the Presidency of the EuropeanUnion on developments in the Middle East. The declaration condemned the terrorist attacks ofSeptember 9 and conveyed condolences to the families of the victims.• 14 September 2003 The Maltese High Commission in England organised Malta Day to celebrate theMaltese belief in the intercession of the Virgin Mary in the Island's two great sieges. The celebrations

took on the air of a typical Maltese fair and visitors were treated to appetising Maltese food. In a briefaddress, Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami talked of the challenges ahead for the country.• 14 September 2003 The Malta EU Information Centre announced that, up to the end of August, itsstaff had handled 9,495 requests, via email, telephone or direct meetings. Ten per cent of requestswere about taxation, especially that related to car registration. Eight per cent sought generalinformation on the EU, financial topics including EU funding, institutional issues such as elections ofthe European Parliament, and the use of the Maltese language. Another eight per cent asked about thefree movement of goods and Customs Union.• 14 September 2003 Italy wants to send back to Malta 166 illegal immigrants who landed in Pozzallo,Sicily, after having been given fuel and assistance in Maltese territorial waters a day before. A treatysigned between Italy and Malta in December 2001 lays down that, if illegal immigrants enter Italyfrom Malta or vice-versa, the respective country can send them back. Home Affairs and JusticeMinister Tonio Borg confirmed that the Government had received a protest from the ItalianGovernment and would be replying to it ‘in terms of the existing agreement’.• 14 September 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea said that the Government believed in andactively encouraged the process of life-long education. He said that the Government's vision was "tooffer each child, each adolescent and every adult the key to venture into a world of knowledge thatwill ultimately lead to peace and liberty." Dr Galea was speaking at the official opening of theMediterranean Conference on Life-Long Learning.• 15 September 2003 Photographers captured on film waterspouts north of Armier and off Ramla Bay.A spokesman for the Meteorological Office said that the waterspout was a relatively commonphenomenon. He said that it was caused by vertical currents within thunderclouds and became visiblewhen it drew in water.• 16 September 2003 Torrential rains brought Malta to a halt and kept thousands of workers from theirplace of work. In several areas the misery of the day was compounded with a power failure. The stormlasted six hours and produced a national average of 90.7mm of rain. Nobody was reported injured,thanks to a quick and selfless intervention of the Civil Protection Department, the Police and theArmy, helped by the Department of Public Works and the Malta Red Cross Society.• 17 September 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that the Government does not feelthat the nurses’ salary structure should be altered and auguring that ‘good sense and order’ wouldprevail. The Malta Union of Nurses and Midwives has taken industrial action over the Government'sfailure to submit counter-proposals to the Union's claims for a revision of salaries, an early retirementscheme, a framework for specialisation and an allowance for professional development. The PrimeMinister replied to a letter sent by MUMN President Rudolf Cini on September 10.• 17 September 2003 A statement issued by the Education Ministry said that a recently installed airpurification system will allow students and staff at two Maltese schools to benefit from a better schoolenvironment. The Lm200,000 investment by The Foundation for Tomorrow's Schools includes aforced ventilation system that filters air and diffuses it through a ventilation system throughout theschools.• 17 September 2003 It was estimated that Monday's torrential rains will cost the economy severalmillion liri in terms of damage and lost business. The Resources and Infrastructure Ministry is coordinatinga team of architects who are scouring the Island to inspect the damage caused. MaltaDrydocks is expected to face the biggest single blow after a huge boulder broke off and crushed one ofthe its sub-stations, costing some Lm1 million.• 17 September 2003 Twenty-six local councils in Malta will be joining 1,200 cities in 29 countriesacross the globe on Monday 22 nd to mark European Car Free Day. Car Free Day was introduced in anumber of European cities some years ago and was eventually endorsed by the European Commissionfour years ago.• 18 September 2003 The Director of the Civil Protection Department, Peter Cordina, announced thatfollowing the heavy rain on Wednesday 17 th September some people were injured and had to beadmitted to hospital. Mr Cordina said, however, that no one was badly hurt.

• 18 September 2003 Rural Affairs and Environment Minister George Pullicino said that works neededto be carried out to ensure that the fields of Burmarrad do not get inundated next time there is a heavyrainfall.• 18 September 2003 Malta started official talks with the European Commission over certain localmeasures that Brussels considers as ‘harmful tax schemes’. A Commission report, last June,identified no fewer than seven harmful tax measures in Malta.• 18 September 2003 A delegation headed by Education Minister Louis Galea represented Malta at aconference for European Ministers responsible for Higher Education, which was held in Berlin.Among topics discussed were ways to remove obstacles to professional mobility. www.bolognaberlin2003.de/• 18 September 2003 Nature Trust (Malta) president, Vincent Attard, announced that the Life DwejraProject would be carried out approximately over three years, starting in April 2004. The project iscosting over €300,000, 70 per cent of which will come from the EU, while the Malta Environment andPlanning Authority, NTM, and World Wildlife Fund Italy are contributing about €76,000, €38,000 and€2,500 respectively.• 19 September 2003 International ratings agency Fitch warned that the local currency rating couldonly be sustained if the November budget contained ‘convincing’ measures and showed seriousresolve to reduce the Government's deficit. Fitch affirmed Malta's long-term foreign currency rating atA, short-term at F1, and long-term local currency at AA minus, which apply to senior unsecured debtof the Government. The outlook for the long-term ratings remains stable.• 19 September 2003 The latest ‘Economist Intelligence Unit’ report on Malta points out that reducingthe fiscal deficit by more than half and reversing the upward trend in public debt to below 60 per centof the GDP, will undoubtedly require ‘more decisive and painful measures’. On the economic growth,the report said that the acceleration in economic growth in 2003 was expected to be ‘slight and theeconomy would continue to grow at a rate well below potential’.• 19 September 2003 Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Social Policy Lawrence Gonzi signalledhis intention to take decisive steps to reform the shipyards. Speaking in Floriana, Minister Gonzi, whois Chairman of the Task Force on reform of the ’yards, said that it was now time to move from reportsto action on the shipyards, adding that the Government was determined to overcome the challenges."The Drydocks can't continue to lose millions," he said.• 19 September 2003 Youth and the Arts Minister Jesmond Mugliett formally launched the Euro-MedYouth Platform. Greeting over 100 delegates from European and Mediterranean countries, MinisterMugliett said that the setting up of the Youth Platform was the culmination of a process that startedway back when the Euro-Med process was initiated. Youth Platform aims at creating a broad networkof youth organisations in Europe and the Mediterranean.• 19 September 2003 The Manoel Theatre has launched a new online booking system. The state-of-theartsystem allows users to view the theatre stage, through the eyes of a member of the audienceoccupying the prospective seat to be booked. The booking system was launched during thepresentation of the Manoel Theatre's performance diary for 2003-2004.• 19 September 2003 The Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Social Policy, Dolores Cristina,said that government policy underscored social inclusion and the installation of lifts in the olderapartment blocks was in line with this policy. Ms Dolores Cristina was speaking during a pressconference by the Housing Authority on the completion of 25 lift installations in apartment blocks inFloriana, Lija, Ta' Xbiex, Tarxien, Valletta, Zejtun and Qormi.• 19 September 2003 Go Mobile said that its international roaming service is now also available inLibya, thus raising its roaming portfolio to 92 countries. The Libya service was made possiblefollowing a roaming agreement with the Libyan operator El-Madar. Both prepaid and contract GoMobile clients can now roam in Libya.• 19 September 2003 Six cruise liners carrying between them some 7,000 passengers entered the GrandHarbour. Between January and July this year, 180,139 cruise passengers arrived in Malta.

• 19 September 2003 Resources and Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit said that governmentofficials were studying the flow of rainwater through urban and rural areas with a view to removingobstacles. He said that the officials have been monitoring the situation and evaluating the damage donesince Monday 15 th. Minister Zammit was touring the Qormi valley area.• 20 September 2003 Local and Chinese dignitaries inaugurated the Chinese Cultural Centre in Vallettaand hailed it as ‘a milestone’ in fostering cultural relations. The opening was attended by PresidentGuido de Marco, Youth and the Arts Minister Jesmond Mugliett, Chinese Culture Vice-Minister MengXiaosi, Chinese Ambassador Liu Zhengixu, Ambassadors and MPs.• 20 September 2003 Speaker Anton Tabone received a delegation from the Standing Committee of thePeople’s Congress of Guangdong Province of the People’s Republic of China. The delegation was ledby Lu Zhonghe, Chairman of the Standing Committee.• 20 September 2003 The Maltese Government joined other United Nations member countries in aresolution proclaiming September 21 as the ‘International Day of Peace’.• 20 September 2003 Rural Affairs and the Environment Minister George Pullicino launched the‘Animal Welfare Council’, set up to create animal awareness and clamp down on cruelty. Mr Pullicinourged the courts to impose harsher penalties in cases of animal cruelty.• 20 September 2003 The USS flagship ‘La Salle’ left Malta following maintenance and upgrading atMalta Drydocks. The ‘La Salle’ was in Malta for the last three months on a contract that onlinenewspaper ‘Stars and Stripes’ valued at $7.7 million.• 21 September 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami listed the five principal problems thecountry was facing and called on the Opposition, trade unions, and civil society to put in a concertedeffort, together with the Government, to surmount these hurdles. He said that the principal problemsfacing the country were the creation of new jobs; the welfare system; the public service; thegovernment deficit; and the drydocks. Dr Fenech-Adami was speaking during a political activity onthe Granaries, in Floriana, organised to mark the 39 th anniversary of Malta's Independence.• 21 September 2003 The National Festivities Committee laid wreaths at the foot of monuments ofseven former Prime Ministers to mark the 39 th anniversary of Malta's Independence. The wreaths werelaid by committee chairman Nazju Abela and executive secretary Anton Miceli at the memorials offormer Prime Ministers George Borg Olivier, Pawlu Boffa, Gerald Strickland, Nerik Mizzi, UgoMifsud, Joseph Howard, and Francesco Buhagiar.• 22 September 2003 Archbishop Joseph Mercieca asked politicians to commit themselves to stop theerosion of values in Maltese society. The Archbishop was speaking during a concelebrated mass, heldto mark Independence Day. President Guido de Marco and Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami ledthe congregation. Also present were members of the judiciary headed by Chief Justice Vincent deGaetano, the Speaker, Anton Tabone, Ministers and MPs, as well as former Presidents.• 22 September 2003 Mario Schiavone, who is the Marketing and Public Relations Officer at St JamesCentre for Creativity, in Valletta, said that more than 300,000 people, mostly Maltese, had visited theCentre since it opened three years ago.• 22 September 2003 Today Parliament reopens after the summer break. Included in the day’s agendais the Bill to regulate health care professions, and the Public Health Bill.• 23 September 2003 In a letter addressed to Sig. Berlusconi, as President of the European Union,Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami communicated the Government’s views on some of the issuesthat are to be considered in the forthcoming EU Intergovernmental Conference. The Conference willfocus on the draft EU Constitution. A copy of the draft constitution can be accessed athttp://www.doi.gov.mt/images/Homepage/banners/euconst/DraftCostEng.pdf• 23 September 2003 The European Commission launched the first round of negotiations with Malta onfuture Structural Funds, detailing how Malta plans to spend EU money after membership. At a newsconference, DG Regional Director Luis Riera said he was confident that Malta would be able to tapthese funds by January.

• 23 September 2003 DG Regional Director Luis Riera confirmed that Malta was eligible for somesupport from the solidarity fund following the damage caused by last week's devastating floods. MrRiera was addressing journalists at the end of a news conference given at Auberge de Castille tolaunch Malta's Single Programming Document.• 23 September 2003 The EU Commissioner for Employment and Social Policy, Anna Diamantopoulo,outlined some ambitious targets for European political parties and Governments, aimed at promotingthe role of women. Ms Diamantopoulo was speaking at a ministerial meeting held in Syracuse, Sicily.Malta was represented by the Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry for Social Policy, DoloresCristina.• 23 September 2003 Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said that the Government haddecided to take back 148 illegal immigrants who had been intercepted off Sicily by Italian securityforces. The immigrants had been given fuel by the Armed Forces of Malta and allowed to continuetheir journey when they encountered difficulties just off Marsalforn, on September 9.• 23 September 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami took a bus to work, as Malta joined 29countries across the world to mark ‘European Car Free Day’. Car Free Day is a European initiative,but this year, apart from European cities, cities in Canada, Argentina, Brazil, and Taiwan also joinedin.• 23 September 2003 Malta will be the first nation to endorse the Edinburgh Declaration for theimproved protection of cultural and national heritage. Din l-Art Helwa President Martin Sciclunaattended the 10 th international conference of national trusts, held in Edinburgh from September 14 to19.• 23 September 2003 The US Embassy announced that the USS La Salle had left Malta after work onthe ship had been successfully completed as scheduled, and within budget. In addition to the cost ofthe contract, it was estimated that the crew, most of whom were accommodated in hotels, hadcontributed close to $2 million (Lm770,000) to the economy during their stay.• 24 September 2003 President Guido de Marco took part in the 80 th birthday celebrations of ShimonPeres, Leader of the Israeli Labour Party and former Prime Minister. President de Marco addressed apanel during a conference entitled ‘Vision and Reality’. Speaking on ‘The Interrelation between Artand Culture and Politics’, Prof. de Marco remarked that intellectuals can contribute towards reachingpolitical conclusions.• 24 September 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami left Malta for New York where he is dueto address the 58 th session of the UN General Assembly.• 24 September 2003 Speaking at the HIV/Aids high level meeting in New York, Foreign AffairsMinister Joe Borg said that Malta was working on its first national sexual health policy, whichincluded proposals for a review of sex education in schools and surveillance of major sexuallytransmitted infections, including HIV. Dr Borg said that the policy would also emphasise the need forspecific legislation to address problems such as discrimination in employment opportunities and otherbasic human rights.• 24 September 2003 Foreign Affairs Minister Joe Borg said in reply to a parliamentary question thatthe fifth financial protocol between Italy and Malta is currently being considered by the ForeignAffairs Commission of the Italian Senate.• 24 September 2003 Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said that, in terms of a treatybetween Malta and Italy on the repatriation of illegal immigrants, Malta was obliged to accept backmigrants who would have left for Italy from Malta's ‘land area’ and ‘internal waters’. Replying to aparliamentary question, the Minister said that the treaty excluded territorial waters, in terms of whichMalta had not been obliged to take back the immigrants but agreed to do so on the basis of a politicaldecision.• 24 September 2003 Bank of Valletta will be passing Lm190,000 on to Heritage Malta over the next10 years for what is being termed the BoV Tarxien Temples Project. The first phase of the projectinvolves the setting up of a visitor centre, the first such centre in a Neolithic temple. Minister for

Youth and the Arts, Jesmond Mugliett said that this centre would lead to a heritage trail in theneighbourhood taking in the Hal Salfieni Hypogeum and the Corradino Temples, among other sites.• 24 September 2003 A seven-member delegation from the People's Congress of Guangdong Provincein China discussed the possibility of co-operation between the province and the House ofRepresentatives. The delegation, led by Lu Zhonghe, met Parliament's Standing Committee on ForeignAffairs, chaired by Dr Michael Frendo. Present for the meeting were MPs Jason Azzopardi, LeoBrincat, Clyde Puli, Josè Herrera and Carmelo Abela.• 24 September 2003 The University Senate approved the Students' Charter, a document outlining theduties and obligations of the University, the students, and the University Students' Council (KSU). Thedocument is intended to encourage the principle of partnership among staff and students, the KSUsaid.• 24 September 2003 In reply to a parliamentary question, IT and Investment Minister Austin Gatt saidthat, according to unaudited accounts, last year Malta Drydocks made a loss of Lm15.2 million.• 24 September 2003 The unemployment rate in April 2003 stood at 5.2 per cent, according to therecords of the Employment and Training Corporation. The National Statistics Office, which alsocompiles figures based on ILO methodology, said that the ETC also gave figures for August, whichshowed that there were 7,406 persons registering for work, compared with 6,748 in August 2002.• 25 September 2003 President Guido de Marco pleaded for more to be done to protect Malta’sprehistoric culture. The President was speaking at a seminar at St James Cavalier, in Valletta, on‘Exploring the Maltese Prehistoric Temple Culture’, organised by the Old Temples Study Foundation.• 25 September 2003 Minister for Rural Affairs and the Environment George Pullicino said that theEU’s shift in favour of rural development would place more emphasis on quality products. MinisterPullicino was addressing the EU meeting for Agriculture Ministers, held in Taormina, Sicily.• 25 September 2003 Information Technology and Investments Minister Austin Gatt said that Enemaltais owed Lm27 million by electricity consumers, while the Water Services Corporation is owed Lm6.7million. The Minister was replying to a parliamentary question.• 25 September 2003 Foreign Affairs Minster Joe Borg said that Maltese companies are owed a total ofLm7.5 million by Libyan interests. The Minister was replying to a parliamentary question.• 25 September 2003 Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said that 28 prisoners areundergoing a rehabilitation course in various centres of the correctional facility, including thesubstance abuse therapy unit. The Minister was replying to a parliamentary question.• 25 September 2003 The Director of the Health Promotion Department, Mario Spiteri, said that in aneffort to find new ways to shock smokers out of the habit, warnings on cigarette packs will be enlargednext year. Preparations were being made to introduce the new pack warnings as soon as Parliamentapproved the necessary legislation. The new legislation will put Malta in line with the EU.• 26 September 2003 In his address at the inauguration of the 58 th session of the United NationsGeneral Assembly in New York, Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami spoke at length about theMiddle East crisis. He also addressed the threat of terrorism and made reference to cloning. The PrimeMinister’s speech at the UN can be accessed athttp://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/press_releases/2003/09/pr1099.asp• 26 September 2003 President Guido de Marco had a meeting with the leadership of the UnionHaddiema Maghqudin to mark the 37 th anniversary of the setting up of the Union. The Presidentpresented union officials with a letter of appreciation for their work and said that the independence ofunions from political parties had been fundamental for the UHM to obtain the credibility that itenjoyed.• 26 September 2003 Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said that the ‘Malta Declaration’by the nine participating countries at the 9 th Conference of Western Mediterranean Ministers of theInterior drafts the guidelines for action by these states on internal matters during Malta's Presidencyover the next year. The meeting is one of the few multilateral fora that sees European and NorthAfrican countries discuss security-related issues.

• 26 September 2003 IT and Investment Minister Austin Gatt announced that the Government isdrawing up new policies that, following a full consultation process, will be translated into new rulesagainst spam. The conference was hosted by Mamo TCV Advocates.• 26 September 2003 Finance and Economic Affairs Minister John Dalli met GRTU officials in whatthe Association described as a ‘no holds barred’ meeting. During the meeting GRTU section leaderslisted problems faced by small enterprises.• 26 September 2003 The Police and the Social Policy Ministry agreed to review and possibly updatepolice guidelines on intervention in domestic violence. The guidelines were discussed during ameeting between Parliamentary Secretary Dolores Cristina, the Ministry's Co-ordinated ResponseTeam, and a police delegation led by Commissioner John Rizzo.• 26 September 2003 Government MPs Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, Robert Arrigo, Joseph Falzon, andMichael Gonzi, and Opposition MPs Joe Debono Grech and John Attard Montalto attended the fourthpart of the 2003 Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, in Strasbourg.• 26 September 2003 Youth and the Arts Minister Jesmond Mugliett inaugurated Heritage Malta’s newoffices within the Old University Building in Merchants’ Street, in Valletta.• 27 September 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami has been nominated for the ‘Achiever ofthe Year’ award, and for the ‘European of the Year 2003’ award, by an international panel. TheEuropean of the Year will be chosen by people voting online at www.ev50.com or through a ballotform printed in European Voice. The winners will receive a special trophy and a cheque to donate to acharity of their choice.• 27 September 2003 The IT and Investment Ministry organised the first meeting of the NationalInformation Society Council. Minister Austin Gatt passed on a draft Bill containing a nationalstrategic plan for IT and communications in Malta to the fifty representatives who attended themeeting.• 27 September 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that the Government had createdthe infrastructure for investment in restoration and regeneration of the country's historical and culturalheritage. The Minister was speaking during a visit to the Inquisitor's Palace in Vittoriosa. The MaltaTourism Authority has donated Lm20,000 for restoration works on the façade of the Palace.• 27 September 2003 The Central Bank of Malta lowered the central intervention rate by 25 basispoints to three per cent. The decision was taken by Bank Governor Michael Bonello at the end of ameeting of the Monetary Policy Advisory Council.• 27 September 2003 The National Office of Statistics said that the government debt and deficit haverisen, by 16.5 per cent and 60 per cent respectively. Provisional statistics supplied by the CentralBank placed government debt outstanding at the end of August at Lm1,201.1 million. The deficit wasLm126.2 million, an increase of Lm47.5 million from a shortfall of Lm78.7 million for the sameperiod last year.• 27 September 2003 The National Office of Statistics announced that the inflation rate in August fellslightly to 1.14 per cent, from 1.20 per cent the previous month. In August 2002, inflation stood at2.22 per cent.• 27 September 2003 A national ecological network of special areas of conservation is being set up bynew regulations known as the Flora, Fauna and Natural Habitats Protection Regulations of 2003.The regulations, published in The Malta Government Gazette provide protection to a number ofspecies and sites of ecological importance and also include relevant provisions of the EU habitatdirective.• 28 September 2003 A five-hour meeting between the Government and the General Workers’ Unionover a collective agreement for Malta Drydocks workers ended in deadlock, with the Union objectingto the Government's stand that any wage increases should be linked to the yard's productivity andprofitability. The meeting, held at the Finance Ministry, was presided over by Deputy Prime MinisterLawrence Gonzi, who heads the task force on reform at the shipyards.

• 28 September 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that seventeen projects for theconstruction or extension of hotels are currently under way, reflecting the private sector's confidencein tourism and in the future of this industry. Dr Zammit Dimech was speaking during the presentationof tourism awards by Skål International on the occasion of World Tourism Day.• 28 September 2003 Health Minister Louis Deguara said that the main objective of the proposedreforms in the primary care sector will be to redirect the work of health care professionals in the healthcentres from the routine administrative issues and basic curative care, to the provision of healthpromotion and disease prevention. Dr Deguara was addressing a conference organised by the PrimaryHealth Care Department.• 28 September 2003 Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Social Policy Francis Agius presentedAlfred Debattista, 66, who is the founder of the ‘Transplants Support Group Malta’, with the ElderlyPerson of the Year Award for his untiring dedication. The award ceremony was held at the NewDolmen Hotel in Qawra.• 28 September 2003 The European Commission and the European Parliament will give financialbacking to L-Ewropej, a new series that is to be aired by state television TVM. The programme willtackle EU membership from the man in the street's point of view. It will include cultural, political, andeconomic features and spots, human experiences, vox pops and current affairs.• 29 September 2003 Foreign Affairs Minister Joe Borg participated in a meeting of theCommonwealth Ministerial Action Group, held at the UN General Assembly, in New York. TheCMAG is composed of the Foreign Ministers of Australia, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, India, Malta,Nigeria, and Samoa, and is mandated to consider serious or persistent violations of the principles ofthe 1991 Harare Declaration.• 29 September 2003 Finance and Economic Affairs Minister John Dalli called for a "significantreactivation of Libyan investment in Malta". The Minister was speaking in Tripoli, at the inaugurationof the Corinthia Bab Africa hotel by Libyan Prime Minister Shukri Mohammed Ghanem.• 29 September 2003 The 11 th edition of the Malta International Air Show attracted crowds ofspectators. The displays included that by a water-bomber of the Italian Civil Protection Department,followed by a search-and-rescue demonstration performed by Italian Military Mission helicopters andMaltese Armed Forces personnel. The highlight of the air show was the Jaguar Spectacular in whichfour RAF Jaguars performed a dummy attack on the airfield.• 30 September 2003 President Guido de Marco arrived back in Malta, after delivering the opening andclosing address of the conference entitled Il Codice Penale di Malta (1854) organised by La CasaEditrice Dott. Antonio Milani (CEDAM), as part of its centenary celebrations, and the Istituto Veneto.The President also presided over a meeting of experts in Criminal Law.• 30 September 2003 In Venice, President Guido de Marco was received by the Prefetto di Veneto, theMayor of Venice, the vice President of the region, as well as Mgr Scola, Patriarch of Venice. MgrScola and President de Marco discussed the possibility of convening leaders of Catholic and EasternChristian Churches as well as other religious leaders, at a conference in Malta.• 30 September 2003 Information Technology and Investment Minister Austin Gatt said that thereduction of the workforce at the shipyards by 722 workers last year had led to a lower wage bill, butlosses had not declined because antiquated work practices were still in force. Dr Gatt was replying toparliamentary questions.• 30 September 2003 Foreign Affairs Minister Joe Borg said in reply to a parliamentary question thatthe Government has been assured that Malta has a right to apply for assistance from the EU'sSolidarity Fund following the storms on and immediately after September 15. Minister Borg said thatsenior officials from various Ministries had met to co-ordinate the collection of information on thedamage caused so that an application for assistance could be filed within the 10-week limit set by theEU.• 30 September 2003 Finance and Economic Affairs Minister John Dalli said that the level of educationof the Maltese labour force was still below the European average, in spite of heavy investment in thesector. Minister Dalli was speaking at the recent Commonwealth workshop on ‘CompetitivenessStrategies for Small States’, held in Valletta.

• 30 September 2003 Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said that Malta, being a tourismorienteddestination, was highly interested in aviation security issues. Dr Borg was delivering theopening address at the 15th meeting of the security working-group of the European Civil AviationConference, which, for the first time, was held in Malta.• 30 September 2003 Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said in reply to a parliamentaryquestion that Malta and Libya are at an advanced stage of negotiations on an agreement for therepatriation of illegal immigrants. Proposals for a similar agreement have been made to Tunisia, but noconcrete headway has yet been made.• 30 September 2003 In reply to another parliamentary question, Justice and Home Affairs MinisterTonio Borg announced that work had been taken in hand for the setting up of ‘open centres’ for illegalimmigrants in Hal Far.• 30 September 2003 Youth and the Arts Minister Jesmond Mugliett said in Parliament that HeritageMalta is holding talks with the National War Museum Association on improving security at the WarMuseum at Lower Fort St Elmo.• 30 September 2003 The Malta Tourism Authority is scheduled to participate with a stand in morethan 80 fairs and workshops in 25 countries world-wide. The list of overseas fairs for 2003/4 may bedownloaded from the site www.mta.com.mt/index.pl/fairs_calendar• 30 September 2003 Malta has been accepted as a member of the International Commission for theConservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). This means Malta will be able to establish its allowable bluefin tuna catch at the next meeting of ICCAT, to be held in Dublin, Ireland, next November.• 30 September 2003 A Chinese television crew from the China Central Television Station was inMalta to shoot footage for a four-volume documentary named ‘Silent Revolution: A Report on theAgeing Issues in China’.• 30 September 2003 The Transport Authority is in talks with the Viset Cruise Terminal Consortiumover the possible introduction of a shuttle service for tourists disembarking from cruise liners berthedin Grand Harbour. Authority Chief Executive Mario Falzon said he hoped to see this serviceintroduced in the coming weeks.OCTOBER• 1 October 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that the country was now at ‘the point ofno return’ and that decisions had to be taken to ensure that the shipyards would finally become viable.Dr Fenech-Adami said that successive governments had been talking about the need to make the yardsviable for 40 years. The Prime Minister was speaking to The Times newspaper.• 1 October 2003 IT and Investment Minister Austin Gatt announced that losses at Malta Drydocks andMalta Shipbuilding totalled Lm26 million in 2002. Dr Gatt said that the company accounts had not yetbeen passed on to the EU. The Minister was replying to a parliamentary question.• 1 October 2003 The Occupational Health and Safety Authority stated that the recent tower craneaccidents had been caused by unsafe work practices and not through the use of uncertified cranes. TheAuthority backed the Chamber of Engineers' call for hefty penalties against offenders.• 1 October 2003 Malta received considerable coverage in the Estonian press as a result of a factfindingmission to the country, organised by the Foreign Ministry and led by Malta's non-residentAmbassador to Tallinn, Mark Miceli Farrugia. The mission was in preparation for an official visit tothe Island by Estonian President Arnold Rüütel.• 1 October 2003 Foreign Affairs Minister Joe Borg said that Malta had replied in the affirmative to therequest made by the Commonwealth as to whether it is prepared to host the 2005 ‘CommonwealthHeads of Government Meeting’. Minister Borg was replying to a parliamentary question.

• 1 October 2003 Enlargement Commissioner Günter Verheugen announced that all the problemshighlighted by the European Union for the candidate countries in the run-up to membership would beresolved by the date of accession. Mr Verheugen was speaking at a meeting of the Committee onForeign Affairs at the European Parliament.• 1 October 2003 University of Malta Rector Roger Ellul Micallef said that over 9,000 studentscurrently attend the University of Malta, with 3,822 joining this year. The Rector was speaking duringthe opening ceremony of the 2003-04 academic year.• 1 October 2003 Housing Authority Chairman Marisa Micallef Leyson said that that the HousingAuthority had contributed close to Lm90,000 to cover costs of site and building of the new block ofeight one-bedroom flats at 20, Capuchins Street, Floriana. The building is meant to accommodateelderly people who are still capable of leading their own lives without the regular assistance ofhelpers.• 1 October 2003 The National Statistics Office announced that gross earnings from tourism rose by 7.8per cent in the first half of the year, compared with the same period in 2002. Figures showed thattourists spent more between January and June, with per capita spending increasing by Lm9.8 toLm225.9 from Lm216.1 a year earlier.• 1 October 2003 The October issue of the monthly tourist magazine Malta & Gozo Day-by-Dayfeatured the Rolex Middle Sea Race, the Birgu Festival, the Mediterranean festival and the NapoleonicBattle re-enactment. Information is given in English, German, French and Italian.• 2 October 2003 Estonian President Arnold Rüütel and his wife arrived on a state visit to Malta. In ameeting with President Guido de Marco, Mr Rüütel said that the positions of Malta and Estoniacoincided as EU accession countries, as well in the broader context of common values. President deMarco said that the draft EU Constitution, to be discussed at the Inter-Governmental Conference,should "take into consideration points of view that are relevant to our common future within the EU".Video and audio recordings of the speeches delivered by President de Marco and President Rüütel canbe accessed athttp://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/video+audiorecording%20-%20presest.asp• 2 October 2003 Chief Justice Vincent DeGaetano said that the solution to the backlog of pendingcourt cases lies in a "serious investment in human resources". Speaking at the opening of the ForensicYear, the Chief Justice said a solution that addressed the backlog in a direct and radical manner wasrequired.• 2 October 2003 Foreign Affairs Minister Joe Borg said that the Labour Party has still not informedGovernment whether it will be joining the Malta-EU Steering and Action Committee (MEUSAC).• 2 October 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that during the past 13 years morethan 6,500 students had been trained at the Institute of Tourism Studies. A total of 238 students hadstarted courses at the ITS this year, bringing the total to 718. The Minister was speaking at theceremony marking the start of the ITS academic year.• 2 October 2003 A government statement announced that Government was in final negotiations to sellAir Malta's shares in Azzurra Air SpA. It said that talks have been going on with the 7 Group plc, acompany whose ordinary shares are traded in the alternative investment market of the London StockExchange. Air Malta owns just over 49 per cent of the shares in Azzurra Air.• 2 October 2003 Bank of Valletta Chairman Joseph F. X. Zahra said that the Euro-Mediterraneanregion was full of untapped potential. Mr Zahra was inaugurating BoV’s new representative office inEgypt, its third such office in the southern Mediterranean region.• 2 October 2003 The Malta Tourism Authority said that prospects are good for more French tourists tovisit Malta in the future. The Authority announced that TUI France had decided to start featuring theIsland as from next year, and that Thomas Cook France would be embarking on a new Maltaprogramme in 2005.• 2 October 2003 Figures released by the National Statistics Office on the occasion of the InternationalDay for the Elderly show that, just under-six per cent of the population aged over 65 reside in

institutional homes. The present 65+ population amounts to 50,963 persons, of whom 3,000 reside ininstitutional homes.• 3 October 2003 Estonian President Arnold Rüütel received Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adamiand Opposition Leader Alfred Sant at San Anton Palace. Later, Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adamihosted President Rüütel and his wife to luncheon at Auberge de Castille. Audio recordings of thespeeches delivered by the Prime Minister and President Rüütel during luncheon can be accessed athttp://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/audiorecording%20-%2002.10.03%20-%20presest%20luncheon.asp• 3 October 2003 Estonian Economic Affairs and Communications Minister Meelis Atonen, who wastravelling with President Arnold Rüütel, had separate meetings with Transport Minister Censu Galeaand Finance and Economic Affairs Minister John Dalli, respectively. Mr Galea said that the two sideshad agreed to increase co-operation in various sectors, such as merchant shipping andtelecommunications. The meeting with Mr Dalli focused on trade and investment, particularly in viewof both countries' accession to the EU.• 3 October 2003 At the start of an official visit to Malta, the EU Commissioner for Agriculture andFisheries, Franz Fischler, advised Malta's agricultural community to take advantage of EUmembership. Mr Fischler said that, in the agricultural sector, Malta had made a huge effort to preparefor membership, but it was clear that work still needed to be done. Mr Fischler was later received byPrime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami at Auberge de Castille, in Valletta. He also held meetings withRural Affairs and Environment Minister George Pullicino.• 3 October 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech announced that an apartment block closeto Fort St Angelo, in Vittoriosa, developed by the Cottonera Waterfront Group, is expected to receiveits first residents by the end of the month. There are 101 apartments and they sell for about Lm100,000each. Dr Zammit Dimech also said that the tender for the rehabilitation and the strengthening of thequay below Fort St Angelo had been issued.• 3 October 2003 The Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs said that, following talks with the FinanceMinistry, it had been agreed that Local Councils should only cut back their spending allocations by 5per cent and not by 10 per cent as requested of government departments. It had also been agreed thatthe financial regulations for the Councils would be amended so that, for this year, they would berequired to have a favourable balance of 5 per cent of the funds allocated to them and not 10 per cent,as hitherto.• 3 October 2003 The Water Services Corporation has assumed responsibility for sewage systems,taking over the Drainage Department. The Prime Minister approved the re-assignment of 508 publicofficers in the Drainage Department in Malta and another 106 in Gozo to the WSC. The workers arejoining the 1,084 employees already employed by the WSC. The corporation will also be taking overthe implementation of the sewerage master plan.• 3 October 2003 Chief Justice Vincent DeGaetano attended celebrations marking the 10th anniversaryof the Constitutional Court of the Principality of Andorra. During his stay at Andorra, the Chief Justicewas expected to participate in a colloquy on ‘The Protection of Minorities and the ConstitutionalCourts’.• 3 October 2003 A project presented by Social Democrat Student Union Pulse won the Euro-Medcategory of the EU Commission awards presented in Brussels during ‘European Youth Week’. Theproject, entitled ‘A Conflict, A Solution’, was among 40,000 projects in 30 European andMediterranean countries funded by the European Union Youth Programme.• 3 October 2003 The National Statistics Office said that the number of cruise passengers went up by7,159 in August to reach 55,265 when compared to the same month last year. The NSO said that, inthe first eight months of this year, the number of cruise passengers who visited Malta rose by 17,526over the same period last year, to 235,404.• 4 October 2003 The President of the Republic of Estonia, Arnold Rüütel, ended a State Visit to Malta.The President, who was accompanied by his wife, spent most of the last day of his visit admiring thesights of Malta’s sister island Gozo.

• 4 October 2003 European Union Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler said that the MalteseGovernment had managed to secure a good deal on agriculture from the EU. Mr Fischler expressedthe belief that there would be huge opportunities for Maltese farmers following EU accession.• 4 October 2003 Mr Franz Fischler said that meat and poultry producers had to ensure that the feedand the processing of meat met strict EU standards. Mr Fischler was speaking during a joint newsconference with Minister for Rural Affairs and the Environment, George Pullicino, at the Ministry, inValletta.• 4 October 2003 Finance and Economic Affairs Minister John Dalli welcomed the figures issued bythe National Statistics Office which showed that Malta's gross domestic product went up by 0.9 percent to reach Lm363 million in the second quarter this year. Minister John Dalli said that thisindicated that, in spite of an unstable world economy, the Maltese economy had still managed to growand generate more wealth.• 4 October 2003 The Parliamentary Secretary for the Elderly, Francis Agius, stressed that, the fact thata person has turned 60 or has retired need not mean that life has come to an end. Dr. Agius wasspeaking, together with University of the Third Age vice-Chairman Joseph Troisi, at the opening of theUniversity's academic year. Nearly 500 people aged over 60 will be starting their academic year onOctober 5.• 5 October 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that, as things stand now, Malta wouldretain its current five MEPs in next year's elections for the new European Parliament. He explainedthat the number of seats could not be reduced unless this is approved by all EU member states. DrFenech-Adami was speaking to reporters at Malta International Airport soon after returning fromRome.• 5 October 2003 A joint statement issued by the Government, the General Workers’ Union, and themanagement of the shipyards said that a marathon meeting lasting over 10 hours had led to progresson various issues in the pending collective agreement. The statement said that the respective sides hadagreed to continue discussions, first at a technical meeting, and later on at a political level.• 6 October 2003 The Secretary General of the European Parliament, Julian Priestley, said that theEuropean Parliament will keep supporting Malta's request for a sixth seat in the EP. He said that it wasnow up to the parliamentary representatives to push Malta's case in the Intergovernmental Conference.Mr Priestley was interviewed by The Times newspaper.• 6 October 2003 Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende arrived in Malta for a one-day workingvisit. Holland will be assuming the presidency of the European Union in the second half of 2004.• 6 October 2003 The popular Birgu Festival, celebrated over a three-day long weekend, brought to lifea series of colourful activities that combined music, pageantry, crafts, re-enactments, folk-dancing,exhibitions and dghajsa tours. The festival had been strongly promoted in Malta and overseas.• 6 October 2003 The discovery of what was suspected to be an olive crusher dating back to Romantimes on the outskirts of Nadur has led to a more interesting archaeological find. Early indicationspoint to a Bronze Age settlement (ca. 1500BC), with pottery remains typical of similar sites on in-Nuffara, Wardija ta' San Gorg, Gebel Ciantar, and Dingli cliffs.• 7 October 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami had a meeting with Dutch Prime Minister JanPeter Balkenende, who was on a one-day working visit to Malta. During their meeting, the two PrimeMinisters discussed a number of issues including the Intergovernmental Conference, bilateralrelations, financial perspectives and the Stability Pact.• 7 October 2003 Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said that Holland is not convinced thatMalta should be allocated a sixth seat in the European Parliament. "Maybe the request for six seats istoo much and I have some doubts about this request. But it's not the moment to draw conclusions," hesaid. Dr Balkenende was addressing a joint news conference with Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami, at Auberge de Castille. An audio recording of the joint press conference can be assessed athttp://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/audiorecording%20-%2006.10.03%20pm%20netherlands+pm%20malta.asp

• 7 October 2003 The vice President of the European Parliament's delegation to Malta, MEP MarkWatts, emphasised three problem areas that he believed Malta should deal with prior to joining theEuropean bloc in May. Mr Watts listed problems in the maritime sector, alleged breaches of the ‘WildBirds Directive’, and the siting of temporary landfills. Mr Watts was addressing the last Malta-EUJoint Parliamentary Committee.• 7 October 2003 Addressing the Malta-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee, the EU Chief Negotiatorfor Malta, Arhi Palosuo, said that the three issues highlighted by Mr Watts were being monitored bythe Commission and would be dealt with in the update report due, out on November 5. Mr Palosuosaid that more than half the areas examined were non-problematic.• 7 October 2003 Foreign Affairs Minister Joe Borg spoke about the draft European Constitution duringthe Malta-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee. He said that the minimum of four MEPs being proposedwas not sufficient from a practical point of view. It was impossible to have an adequate representationin the structures with just four MEPs, he said. Dr Borg reiterated that Malta would continue to insistthat all Commissioners must have equal status.• 7 October 2003 Minister for Information Technology and Investment Austin Gatt said that he had metJean-Philippe Courtois, Microsoft Corporation Senior vice President and President for Operations inEurope, to discuss the possibility of a second agreement with Malta. The Minister was addressing apress conference in which he announced that a total of 30,000 packages, costing Lm10.50 each, areexpected to be distributed in the coming days in an offer that has saved students more than Lm500each.• 7 October 2003 The Parliamentary Secretary in the Finance and Economic Affairs Ministry, TonyAbela, said that total direct labour costs in Malta were 35 per cent of those in UK, Italy, and Germany.Dr Abela was speaking during a recent congress organised in Malta for the distributors of electricalgoods in Italy. He said that social costs were also relatively low, constituting 10 per cent of pay.• 7 October 2003 The National Statistics Office announced that, in July, total exports declined byLm4.3 million to Lm77.3 million. As a result, the total exports for the first seven months of the yearshowed a decline of 4.8 per cent to Lm532.1 million compared to the same period last year. Whiledomestic exports in July declined by Lm1.6 million to Lm68.8 million, re-exports dropped by Lm2.7million to Lm8.5 million, the NSO said.• 7 October 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that the Government had realised theimportance and urgency of having a lift to the Upper Barrakka Garden. It had therefore detached thisparticular project from the rest of the larger Connections Project so that it could be handledindependently and in a shorter time. Dr Zammit Dimech was replying to a parliamentary question.• 7 October 2003 A tourist information booth at the Pinto Wharf cruise passenger terminal in Vallettaforms part of a long-term plan to improve operations for cruise liner tourists. The day-to-day operationof this booth is managed by Viset Malta, the cruise terminal consortium, with the support of the MaltaTourism Authority, working together to improve the Malta experience. Multilingual touristinformation officers are already on duty at the booth.• 8 October 2003 President Guido de Marco praised the General Workers’ Union for respecting thepeople’s decision to join the EU. The discussion was no longer whether or not to join, but how tomake the most of it, he said. A union free of political ties had a strong contribution to make to a Maltaof the future, Prof. de Marco said. The President was addressing the general conference marking theGeneral Workers’ Union’s 60 th anniversary.• 8 October 2003 Addressing the GWU conference, Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that thechoice facing the General Workers' Union today was between solidarity and individualism."Individualism might lead to higher wages for your members or for sectors of your membership butwould definitely not guarantee quality and competitiveness of labour in Malta. It is solidarity thatleads to better conditions of work," said the Prime Minister.• 8 October 2003 Leader of the Opposition Alfred Sant said that Malta needed ‘regeneration plans’ thatshould be drawn up by all social partners. All social partners had to contribute in the social dialoguethat would lead to the formulation of such plans, he said. Dr Sant was addressing the GWU generalconference.

• 8 October 2003 Ombudsman Joseph Sammut stressed that the Government and Local Councils had aduty to keep roads in Malta hazard-free. Presenting the media with a report, later tabled in Parliament,on the responsibility of public authorities for the upkeep and maintenance of roads, Mr Sammut saidhe hoped Parliament would discuss this report rather than ignore it.• 8 October 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that, although the Occupational Healthand Safety Authority, the Richmond Foundation, Sedqa, and other organisations have together drawnup employee assistance programmes over the last year, there was still a long way to go before nationalco-ordination was achieved. Dr Gonzi was addressing the national conference ‘Juggling Work-LifeCommitments - Does it Make Business Sense?’ organised by the Richmond Foundation and theFoundation for Human Resources Development.• 8 October 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea said that, socially-responsible and effective corporatecultures valued the wellbeing of the work force and invested in it. "Appreciating a worker's needsoutside of work is a key employee motivating force," he said. Dr Galea was addressing the nationalconference, ‘Juggling Work-Life Commitments - Does it Make Business Sense?’• 8 October 2003 Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said that the immigration authoritiescannot act under threat or blackmail. He said: “The law provides that, once immigrants have enteredMalta illegally, and have been refused refugee status by an independent Refugee Commissioner and anautonomous Refugee Appeals Board, they shall remain in detention.” Dr Borg was reacting to a 10-day old hunger strike by Eritrean and Ethiopian illegal immigrants, called off following its failure topersuade the authorities to grant the immigrants freedom or to improve their conditions of detention.• 8 October 2003 The National Statistics Office said that, in May 2003, there were 7,321 personsregistered unemployed with the Employment and Training Corporation and the unemployment ratethat month stood at 5.1 per cent, unchanged from the rate a year earlier. There was an increase of 167persons in the labour supply over the previous year, said the NSO.• 8 October 2003 Enemalta Chairman Tancred Tabone announced that the Corporation was expected topurchase a new Lm40million generation-plant for the Delimara Power Station. He said that this wouldincrease the Corporation's electricity generation capacity by 20 per cent. Mr Tabone was addressing apress conference.• 9 October 2003 Talks between the Government, the shipyards' management, and the GeneralWorkers' Union continued in another marathon session. The talks, which are over shipyard reformsand the workers' collective agreement, focused on the issue of wages, but so far no agreement hasbeen reached.• 9 October 2003 The Government has given notice of a motion to amend the parliamentary standingorders so that the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House will become the Committee on Foreign andEuropean Affairs. The Committee will consist of nine MPs chosen to represent the House and theproportion of the Government and the Opposition within it.• 9 October 2003 Transport and Communications Minister Censu Galea said that the 46 new KingLong buses bring the total number of new buses to 112. The Minister was speaking to bus driversattending the launch of the new buses. Chinese Ambassador Liu Zhengxiu spoke about the tradebetween Malta and China, which increased by 18 per cent in the first six months of this year,compared to the same period last year.• 9 October 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea announced that, following the introduction of thefirst Matsec examinations nine years ago, an analysis of the Matsec system is to be carried out. DrGalea said that the review was felt to be necessary so as to ensure that the system conformed to theNational Minimum Curriculum. The Minister was replying to a parliamentary question.• 9 October 2003 Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry for Social Policy Frans Agius said that eachresident at St Vincent de Paul costs the Government about Lm30 a day. There are currently 1,030residents, 700 of whom are women, together with 25 couples. The annual outlay needed to run theresidence is over Lm7 million.

• 9 October 2003 Carmel J. Aquilina presented his diplomatic credentials to President Olafur RegnarGrimsson, in Reykjavik. Mr Aquilina is the first Maltese Ambassador to Iceland. He resides inCopenhagen.• 9 October 2003 A Parliamentary delegation made up of Government MPs Mario Galea and FrederickAzzopardi and Opposition MP Joe Mizzi attended the 49th Annual Commonwealth ParliamentaryConference, and the 23rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference for Small Countries. Theconferences were held in Dhaka, Bangladesh.• 9 October 2003 The European Union allocated €650,000 to cover expenses of Maltese delegationsattending EU meetings next year. Although Malta has not yet joined the EU, the Prime Minister,Ministers, and senior government officials participate in all working meetings of the EU at all politicaland technical levels.• 10 October 2003 Following a marathon negotiating session with the General Workers' Union overshipyard reforms and the workers' collective agreement, the Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman ofthe drydocks task force, Lawrence Gonzi, said that he was ‘less optimistic’ that a solution would befound.• 10 October 2003 Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Social Policy Lawrence Gonzi made a caseagainst workers being paid danger money, saying that such incentives only spurred them to take risksrather than to find ways of avoiding them. Dr Gonzi was addressing a conference organised by theOccupational Health and Safety Authority on the theme ‘Dangerous Substances - Handle with Care!’• 10 October 2003 Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg met Nick Raynsford, the UKMinister of State for Local and Regional Government. The two Ministers discussed increasedcollaboration between the two countries in the sector of Local Government, including the possibilityof local executive secretaries receiving training in the UK, and twinning between the towns andvillages of the two countries to encourage an exchange of ideas on education, culture, and sports.• 10 October 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea said that there were three main challenges that hadto be addressed in the employment sector: to promote access to employment for all; to ensure thatworkers operate in an environment that respects their health and safety requirements; and to promotethe reconciliation of work and family life. Dr Galea was addressing a seminar on ‘The Role of Work ina Healthy Life’, held by the National Commission for Mental Health.• 10 October 2003 Finance and Economic Affairs Minister John Dalli said that Malta has a higher rateof internet users per 100 inhabitants than countries such as Greece, Spain and France. He said that,between 2000 and 2001, Malta's internet users per 100 inhabitants had doubled, from 13.3 to 25.4. MrDalli was speaking during a seminar organised by ST Microelectronics and APCO Ltd, on the theme‘Smart Card Solutions for the Banking and Financial Industries’.• 10 October 2003 President Guido de Marco paid an official visit to the town of Sliema, which Prof.de Marco described as "a unique and dynamic locality that has a changing personality". The Presidentwas shown round by Sliema Mayor Albert Bonello Dupuis. During the visit Prof. de Marco receiveddonations amounting to Lm550 for the Community Chest Fund.• 10 October 2003 Maltese-born John Aquilina, who is Speaker of the New South Wales LegislativeAssembly, made a private visit to Malta. Mr Aquilina said that, during his stay, he hoped to meetmembers of his family, representatives of the Government and the Opposition, and business people.• 10 October 2003 Mr Justice Carmel Agius has been elected Presiding Judge of Trial Chamber II ofthe Yugoslav War Crimes Tribunal, based in The Hague. Mr Justice Agius has been serving as one ofthe Permanent Judges of the Tribunal since November 2001, after being elected by the GeneralAssembly of the United Nations.• 10 October 2003 The first Malta Charity Dinner in Dubai, in aid of local charities, was held at theFairmont Hotel on October 1. The event, organised by the newly appointed Consul of Malta for Dubai,Anthony Tabone, was attended by more than 200 Maltese businessmen and their Arab businesspartners.

• 11 October 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that he would definitely want to see anew Nationalist Party leader in place in time for the next General Election. When questioned aboutthe Budget, Dr Fenech-Adami said that it would have to be a realistic one because the country was at apoint where it could no longer ignore certain issues. The Prime Minister was speaking in an interviewby ‘The Times’ newspaper.• 11 October 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami announced that another call for volunteers tojoin the Emergency Volunteer Reserve Force would be issued soon. The Prime Minister was speakingduring a visit to the volunteers who were on an exercise at Pembroke Ranges, as part of the EVRF'sannual camp.• 11 October 2003 A Eurobarometer survey, carried out among the candidate states for the months Juneto July, showed that the Maltese were the strongest opponents to the Euro and to the introduction of acommon defence, security, or foreign policy.• 11 October 2003 Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg announced that the suggestion putforward by the Association of Local Councils to extend the three-year term in office of Local Councilsto four or five years would be discussed within the Cabinet. Minister Tonio Borg was speaking duringa national conference that marked the 10th anniversary since the setting up of Local Councils.• 11 October 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg attended the 10th meeting of the Mediterranean Forumfor Foreign Ministers, held in Antalya, Turkey, on October 9 and 10. Minister Borg signed twobilateral treaties with his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul, which dealt with the protection ofinvestment and co-operation in political dialogue.• 11 October 2003 Parliamentary Secretary in the Finance and Economic Affairs Ministry, EdwinVassallo, said that at 1.14 per cent, the inflation rate was at the lowest level in a number of years. MrVassallo was addressing a press conference where statistics published periodically by the NationalStatistics Office were analysed.• 11 October 2003 The Government Printing Press, Maltacom and ST Microelectronics were this year'swinners of the OHS Good Practice Awards, organised by the Occupational Health and SafetyAuthority. The presentation ceremony took place at Ir-Razzett l-Antik, in Qormi.• 12 October 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that, although Gozo Channel shouldoffer the best service to Gozitans, Maltese, and tourists, the company should not have to carry on withan unsustainable schedule. He was referring to complaints regarding Gozo Channel’s new timetable,which has reduced the number of scheduled trips. Dr Fenech-Adami was speaking during a politicalactivity in Gozo.• 12 October 2003 The Chairman of the Welfare Reform Commission, Joseph Schembri, presented hisreport to the members of the commission and to the Government, four years after the Commission wasset up. Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi, who attended the presentation together with Financeand Economic Affairs Minister John Dalli, said: "The idea is to have everything ready and finalised tobe presented in the upcoming Budget."• 13 October 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that the Government was determined toimplement the necessary changes and to take the decisions that would enable the country to move on.On the other hand, he said, the Government would remain open to the process of dialogue so thatdecisions taken would reflect consensus. Dr Fenech-Adami was addressing a political activity inSannat, Gozo.• 13 October 2003 Youth and the Arts Minister Jesmond Mugliett told a news conference that, afterMalta joins the EU in May next year, young Maltese musicians will be able to audition to join the 140-strong European Union Youth Orchestra on its 2004/2005 tour. The tour will include performances indifferent parts of Europe.• 14 October 2003 Addressing a news conference, the Director General of the European Commission'santi-fraud office, Franz-Hermann Breuener, said that Malta is well prepared to keep track of EuropeanUnion monies it receives and to ensure that there is no fraud. Dr Breuener attended a round tablemeeting of the agencies co-ordinating anti-fraud services in EU member states and accedingcountries..

• 14 October 2003 Minister for Social Policy Lawrence Gonzi said that Sedqa was working with NGOsCaritas and Oasi to eliminate duplication of effort and save resources. Dr Gonzi was addressing anews conference to launch Sedqa's biennial report 2001-2002.• 14 October 2003 Government MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando tabled in Parliament a petition containing10,300 signatures. The petition opposes the proposed landfills near the Mnajdra temples, and asksParliament to stop the development. Speaking to reporters, Dr Pullicino Orlando expressed optimismthat the petition would mobilise the authorities to realise the potentially hazardous impact of thelandfills.• 14 October 2003 The National Statistics Office said that total exports for the first eight months of thisyear dropped by 5.1 per cent to Lm604.6 million from Lm636.9 million last year. Imports rose fromLm810.4 million to Lm853.3million. The visible trade gap widened by Lm75.2 million to Lm248.7million from Lm173.5 million last year.• 14 October 2003 Enemalta assured representatives from the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Associationthat the planned new power distribution centre in Mosta would improve the distribution network in thenorth of Malta, and in Gozo. The first phase of the Lm10 million-project is expected to becommissioned next month, and the centre will also be used to enhance the supply to the Sliema andPaceville areas.• 14 October 2003 A total of 24 water rescuers from the Italian Red Cross are the first people to attendthe Water Rescue Academy inaugurated by the Malta Red Cross Society. The academy wasestablished to train the public, as well as organised groups, in water rescue and lifeguard skills.• 15 October 2003 President Guido de Marco said that, as a neo-EU member state, Malta would be in abetter position to ensure the proper evaluation and understanding of the Mediterranean world inEuropean affairs, and vice-versa. Prof. de Marco was delivering a lecture on ‘The Future of Euro-Mediterranean Relations: the Vision of Malta’, at the Centre for European Integration Studies of theUniversity of Bonn, Germany.• 15 October 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami took part in a meeting of European Unionand accession country leaders, held in Brussels on October 16 and 17. Before attending the EUsummit, Dr Fenech-Adami participated in a forum organised by the Fondazione Alcide de Gaspari, inRome, where he was one of the main speakers.• 15 October 2003 Finance and Economic Affairs Minister John Dalli said that the solution to thepension problem had to involve a hybrid between the present ‘pay-as-you-go’ system and a fundedscheme. Minister Dalli was addressing a seminar on pensions organised by the Ministry andDepartment for Social Policy and the European Commission.• 15 October 2003 Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi announced that Malta would have ablueprint on pension reform within the next three weeks. Addressing a seminar on the sustainability ofpensions organised by the Social Policy Ministry and the European Commission, Dr Gonzi stressedthat the Government was committed to keeping the social safety net.• 15 October 2003 Information Technology and Investment Minister Austin Gatt said that theGovernment was determined to restructure the state-funded Public Broadcasting Services. Dr Gatt saidthat PBS could function properly with about 50 employees and be run profitably by selling air timeand cutting down costs.• 15 October 2003 Malta joined the European Economic Area, along with the Czech Republic, Estonia,Cyprus, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia. The agreement was signed at ameeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) of the European Union,which convened in Luxembourg on October 13. Malta was represented by Foreign Minister Joe Borg.• 15 October 2003 In a statement issued by the Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs, Commissionerfor Refugees Charles Buttigieg announced that, between January 2002 and September 2003, refugeestatus was awarded to 61 persons, involving 47 cases. Mr Buttigieg said that humanitarian status wasgranted in another 237 cases involving 371 persons.• 15 October 2003 The Amerigo Express service, which is operated by CMA-CGM Group togetherwith China Shipping Container Lines, has started calling at Malta Freeport. Amerigo Express offers a

fixed-day weekly schedule connecting the US East Coast directly with the main Mediterranean ports.• 16 October 2003 Malta has aligned itself with a statement by the Italian Presidency of the EuropeanUnion on the latest developments in the Middle East. The statement expressed concern at the growingsurge of violence in the Middle East and called on all parties in the region to exert maximum restraint,to stop violence, and respect their obligations to make rapid progress toward full implementation ofthe peace road map.• 16 October 2003 Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Social Policy Lawrence Gonzi announcedthat, out of the 800 workers who had decided to leave the shipyards in January 2001, 400 had opted togo out on pension and 400 had taken a lump sum and sought alternative employment. Dr Gonzi saidthat, of the latter 400, only 48 workers were still registering for work.• 16 October 2003 IT and Investment Minister Austin Gatt said that, thanks to the introduction of astate-of-the-art electronic identification system developed by Microsoft and Malta InformationTechnology and Training Services, around 95 per cent of the Government's services should beavailable online in the next six to nine months. Dr Gatt was speaking at the inauguration of the 12 th IT& Telecommunications Fair, at the Fair Grounds, in Naxxar.• 16 October 2003 Transport and Communications Minister Censu Galea said that, Malta wasconcerned that unless there is a genuine resolve on the part of the enlarged Europe to acknowledge theimportance of the Motorways of the Sea notion, and the urgency of its implementation within EUCommunity waters, in a few years’ time, it could be "remembered simply as having been a good idea".Mr Galea was addressing the official EU Council of Ministers meeting on the Development of theTrans-European Transport Network, in Luxembourg.• 16 October 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea announced that the Cabinet had approved a Bill onthe Maltese language that would give the necessary tools and structure to continue safeguarding andexpanding the language. Dr Galea was speaking at a ceremony at the Dun Karm Psaila secondaryschool, in Zebbug, on the occasion of the 132 nd anniversary of the birth of the national poet.• 16 October 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that more than 60,000 tourists cometo Malta each year for conferences and incentives, spending three times more than ordinary touristsdo. Dr Zammit Dimech was speaking during a visit to the site of the Lm10 million Radisson SASGolden Sands Resort and Spa, which is currently under construction.• 16 October 2003 The EU Environment Commissioner, Margot Wallstrom, said in a letter toOpposition Leader Alfred Sant that the decision over the location of landfills rested with the nationalauthorities. Ms Wallstrom was replying to a letter from Dr Sant, regarding the Government’s plans tosite two temporary landfills near the prehistoric temples of Hagar Qim and Mnajdra.• 16 October 2003 The Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs,Edwin Vassallo, urged Malta's shop owners to train their shop assistants so that they may becomemore competitive. He said that sales had increased due to lower prices but the service offered by shopsneeded to improve. Mr Vassallo was addressing a group following an Employment and TrainingCorporation's retail traineeship programme.• 17 October 2003 Speaking at the end of the second meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference,Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that he had insisted on the need that all member states betreated equally. Luxembourg, the Prime Minister explained, had made a proposal for the EUCommission to be made up of 18 Commissioners with voting rights. The system would ensure equalrotation among the 25 member states, with each country having a Commissioner in two out of everythree terms.• 17 October 2003 The new Apostolic Nuncio to Malta, Mgr Felix del Blanco Prieto, presented hisdiplomatic credentials to President Guido de Marco. The Apostolic Nuncio said that his diplomaticposting in Malta was a joy, especially after having served the Holy See for a number of years inAfrica.• 17 October 2003 IT and Investment Minister Austin Gatt said that Microsoft will be opening an officein Malta. He said that this shows that Microsoft believes there is a future in investing in Malta.Lebanon-based Charbel Fakhoury, who is Microsoft General Manager for the eastern Mediterranean,said that Microsoft looked on the Maltese Government as both a customer and a partner.

• 17 October 2003 Health Minister Louis Deguara said that, thanks to the work of the Food SafetyCommission, food standards regulations in Malta were now on a par with other European countries.Minister Deguara was addressing a news conference on World Food Day to mark the first anniversaryof the Commission.• 17 October 2003 Records held by the Employment and Training Corporation show that the number ofpersons registering for work in September increased by 422 over the same month last year, but droppedby 110 over the previous month. The total number of persons registering for work in September stoodat 7,942, the ETC said.• 17 October 2003 Popular Italian singer Massimo Ranieri will perform at the Hilton ConferenceCentre, in St Julian's, on November 8. The concert is being organised by NnG Promotions, with thecollaboration of Hilton Malta.• 18 October 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that the 25 leaders of existing and futureEU countries had agreed that participation in structured co-operation on defence would be voluntary.Dr. Fenech-Adami returned from a two-day summit in Brussels.• 18 October 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that the conference and incentivesector accounted for an annual 60,000 visitors to the Maltese Islands, or four per cent of all touristarrivals. The Minister was addressing buyers at the launching of a Malta supplement in the Convegnipublication.• 18 October 2003 Resources and Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit announced that the Lm1million-embellishment project underway in Paceville is being split into three phases to reduce theinconvenience to businesses and residents. While touring the works, Mr Zammit said that the projectwas being co-ordinated by the St Julian's local council and the GRTU, the Association of GeneralRetailers and Traders.• 18 October 2003 The Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs, CarmeloMifsud Bonnici, condemned terrorism and stressed the need for co-operation among the countries inorder to defeat this common enemy. Dr Mifsud Bonnici was addressing the 25 th Conference of theMinisters for Justice in Sofia, Bulgaria.• 18 October 2003 Malta International Airport plc confirmed an order for continuous friction measuringequipment. The equipment, which helps monitor the safety of the runways, is being purchased fromDouglas Equipment Ltd, at a cost of about Lm20,000.• 18 October 2003 The National Statistics Office announced that the quantity of fish caught in the thirdquarter of 2003 increased by 21.1 per cent over that for 2002, from 303,673kg to 367,659kg. Overall,the wholesale value of fish landings decreased by 8.9 per cent from Lm556,231 to Lm506,781.• 19 October 2003 Italy's Ambassador to Malta, Alvise Memmo, announced that the Italian Senate hadapproved the fifth Financial Protocol between Italy and Malta. Ambassador Memmo was speakingduring the presentation of certificates to 36 Italian members of the Red Cross. The Protocol, underwhich the Island is set to receive Lm31 million over three years, now has to be approved by the ItalianHouse of Representatives.• 19 October 2003 The Manoel Theatre celebrated the completion of the first phase of a restorationproject with a presentation to sponsors, members of the diplomatic corps, and other supporters. TheManoel Theatre's restoration project is to be spread over four years.• 20 October 2003 Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and General Workers' Union SecretaryGeneral Tony Zarb announced that "progress had been made" with regards to the collective agreementof drydocks workers and reforms at the shipyards. Mr Zarb said, however, that final agreement had notyet been reached.• 21 October 2003 The General Workers' Union asked the Government to convene another meeting onthe shipyards to discuss pending issues to reach an agreement. Government, Union, and shipyardmanagement have been engaged in talks that have left differences on two crucial issues: an across-theboardwage rise and the future of the 900 workers that the ’yard needs to shed off.

• 21 October 2003 Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg told a news conference that the mostimportant amendments to the Civil Code concerned the family, or rather how one disposed of propertyafter death. The proposed amendments give more rights to children born out of wedlock and wouldstrike off the word ‘illegitimate’ from references to these children. The draft includes more than 100amendments and proposes radical changes in the inheritance process.• 21 October 2003 The House of Representatives approved a motion on the composition of the Foreignand EU Affairs Committee. The Committee will be presided by Government MP Michael Frendo, withthe members being Foreign Minister Joe Borg and Government MPs Jason Azzopardi, Josef Bonniciand Clyde Puli as well as Opposition MPs John Attard Montalto, Evarist Bartolo, Leo Brincat and Jose'Herrera, with the right of substitution for both sides.• 21 October 2003 The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Anton Tabone, met participants of thecontact group meeting in preparation for the Conference of Speakers of the Euro-MediterraneanRegion, being held in Malta next year. The meeting took place at the Palace, in Valletta.• 21 October 2003 Police commissioner John Rizzo called for severe punishment to deter crime.Addressing the press, Mr Rizzo said that he agreed with giving people chances to reform before beingimprisoned; however, criminals were often being put on probation by different magistrates fordifferent crimes, then given suspended sentences, and subsequently fined. All this before they werefinally given their first prison sentence. Mr Rizzo calculated that between 80 and 85 per cent of crimesin Malta were drug-related.• 21 October 2003 In a statement, the Environment Ministry hailed the Government's decision tonegotiate a derogation to the Wild Birds Directive which permitted hunting on certain species inspring. The Ministry said that the European Court's decision confirmed that Malta was the onlycountry that had obtained such derogation, and it was not a temporary measure as claimed by some.• 21 October 2003 Replying to a parliamentary question, Youth and the Arts Minister Jesmond Mugliettsaid that Lm92,236 have been spent on general maintenance and capital projects on historic sites andmonuments, when the annual allocation is of Lm400,000. Mr Mugliett said that the biggest outlay wasLm37,449, spent on Mnajdra and Hagar Qim.• 21 October 2003 The United Nations' World Intellectual Property Organisation has given trainingequipment worth Lm7,000 to the office of Industrial Property within the Trade Division. TheParliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, Edwin Vassallo, inauguratedthe office, in Lascaris, Valletta, where the equipment has been placed.• 21 October 2003 A consignment of light weapons and ammunition donated by China was delivered tothe Armed Forces of Malta. Security measures were in force during unloading, which took place atGrand Harbour.• 22 October 2003 The General Workers’ Union and the Government Collective Bargaining Unitstarted talks over the restructuring of Public Broadcasting Services. The Union said that the two sidesexplained their positions and set the agenda, which included restructuring, voluntary and earlyretirement schemes, and a new collective agreement.• 22 October 2003 The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Alvaro Gil-Robles, calledon the public and the authorities to realise that asylum seekers were not criminals but were, in the vastmajority of cases, individuals who had been forced to flee their war-torn countries. Mr. Gil-Robleswas on a two-day visit to the Maltese Islands where he visited all the detention centres and heldmeetings with various Ministers and representatives.• 22 October 2003 Czech Ambassador Libor Secka said that his Government was sympathetic toMalta's claim for six MEPs, as against the four that the new EU constitution was suggesting. Mr Seckasaid that, like Malta, the Czech Republic wants every EU member state to have its own Commissionerwith the right to vote.• 22 October 2003 The Justice and Home Affairs Ministry announced the publication of a Bill whichlays down the legal framework for the setting up of a central registry. The new law is expected toenable the Government to enhance its customer service by establishing a one-stop central registrationsystem for matters concerning property and civil status.

• 22 October 2003 The National Statistics Office announced that the visible trade gap last monthwidened by Lm79.6 million to Lm273.7 million, from Lm194.1 million last year. In September,increases were registered both in imports as well as in exports.• 22 October 2003 Air Malta Chief Operating Officer, Joe Cappello, said that Malta had acquired rightsto operate between Oslo and Stockholm. Addressing a news conference on the company's winterschedule, Mr Cappello said that the new rights meant that the airline would now be able to pick upfrom Oslo passengers bound for Stockholm, and vice versa.• 22 October 2003 Bank of Valletta issued an international call for applications to employ a ChiefExecutive Officer. The call is being publicised in leading international publications, including TheEconomist. BoV describes the successful candidate as a person having an in-depth knowledge of thefinancial services sector and of retail banking activities.• 23 October 2003 A report drawn up by the Chairman of the Welfare Reform Commission, JosephSchembri, on the pensions reform presented to the Government, proposes that the retirement ageshould be gradually increased to 65 by 2020 and that the national insurance contribution system berevamped. The 27-page report, entitled Pension Reform Proposals, summarises the Commission’sfindings over the four years since it was set up.• 23 October 2003 The Government said that it is training officials and experts who will take part intechnical meetings following Malta's European Union accession next year. After Malta joins the EU inMay, Maltese officials will be taking part in some 200 different working groups dealing with a widerange of subject areas.• 23 October 2003 IT and Investment Minister Austin Gatt praised Maltacom in a letter, saying that the‘road’ through which the daily information, commerce, and education traffic between Malta and therest of the world passed was being widened. Maltacom is doubling internet bandwidth to Malta,effectively leading to a substantial improvement in internet access.• 23 October 2003 The Parliamentary Secretary at the Economic Services Ministry, Edwin Vassallo,said that the wholesale and retail sector had created 1,189 new jobs between 2001 and 2003. Speakingat a seminar organised by Philip Toledo Ltd, Mr Vassallo said that, in the same period, there was adrop in the number of self-employed, but an increase in the number of employers.• 23 October 2003 The Malta Tourist Authority's London office has launched its autumn advertisingcampaign with a £200,000 promotion in all major British cities, aimed at boosting winter bookings.• 23 October 2003 Be Smart - Don't Start is the punchline of a competition among Form 3 students inEU member states and accession countries to see which class manages to cut down most on smoking.This is the first time that local state schools will take part in The International Smoke-free ClassCompetition which has been held annually since 1997.• 24 October 2003 During an official dinner in honour of Libyan Prime Minister Shokry Ghanim,Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami spoke of Malta's potential, as a future EU member, to be astepping stone to Europe for products or services developed through co-operation between Malta andLibya. Video and audio recordings of the speeches delivered during the official dinner can be accessedatwww.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/audiorecording%20-%2023.10.03%20-%20Libya.asp• 24 October 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that the Government was a responsibleone that strongly believed in the value of solidarity. That was why it was tackling the pensions issuetoday. He said that Government was working to ensure that, while the elderly and pensioners wouldlive decently through the social welfare system, future generations would have a standard of livingunder a reformed, sustainable system. Dr Fenech-Adami was addressing pensioners.• 24 October 2003 The Apostolic Nuncio, Mgr Felix Del Blanco Prieto, paid a courtesy visit to PrimeMinister Edward Fenech-Adami, his first since his recent appointment.• 24 October 2003 On behalf of the Malta Community Chest Fund, President Guido de Marco and Mrsde Marco presented Lm34,000 in financial aid and goods to a number of philanthropic institutions andindividuals in need. A total of 126 individuals and six philanthropic institutions benefited from thedonations. The presentation took place at the Palace, in Valletta.

• 24 October 2003 Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Social Policy Lawrence Gonzi said that theGovernment and the General Workers' Union had hammered out the ‘basis of an agreement’ on thecollective agreement for shipyard workers. The two sides agreed to report back to Cabinet and Councilrespectively before finalising the agreement.• 24 October 2003 Finance Minister John Dalli addressed a conference on pension reform organised bythe Malta Employers' Association. He said that the Government did not intend to opt for cosmeticchanges but for long-term solutions that, with everybody's contribution, ‘should be well-thoughtthrough’. Mr Dalli added that some measures would be implemented at once, while others would beintroduced more gradually.• 24 October 2003 The European Parliament approved the first reading of the EU Budget for 2004, theyear in which the European Union will, for the first time, be made up of 25 member states. Theapproval came in a joint debate that followed Budget Committee meetings held over the past twomonths. Government MP Tonio Fenech, a member of the Budget Committee on behalf of theEuropean People's Party group, was present for the joint debate.• 24 October 2003 Malta joined the rest of the European Union candidate countries in co-sponsoring aUN resolution on "the illegal Israeli actions in occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the occupiedPalestinian territory". The resolution was discussed during the 10th Emergency Special Session of theUnited Nations General Assembly and adopted by an overwhelming majority, 144 in favour to fouragainst, with 12 abstentions.• 24 October 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea said that Arabic is back on the educational agenda.Speaking at the Institut du Monde Arabe, in Paris, Dr Galea mentioned a number of initiatives beingtaken by his Ministry to promote knowledge and appreciation of the Arabic language, culture, andcivilisation.• 24 October 2003 According to a new Eurobarometer survey, knowledge of foreign languages and useof information technology is more widespread in Malta than in any other future EU country. On theother hand, Malta's youths are the least likely to read books in their leisure time and are among theleast travelled. Eurobarometer surveyed people aged between 15 and 24 in the 10 acceding countriesas well as in Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey.• 24 October 2003The Malta Environment and Planning Authority approved the outline developmentpermit application for the Lm25 million White Rocks tourist complex in Bahar ic-Caghaq. The projectis expected to pump Lm200 million into the economy over a 10-year period, generating 250 full-timejobs.• 24 October 2003 The historic Caraffa Palace on the Vittoriosa waterfront has been restored to itsformer glory by the Cottonera Waterfront Group after years of neglect. Restoration work on both theexternal and internal structure of the palace was carried out over the past 18 months, at a cost of someLm250,000.• 24 October 2003 The Malta Tourism Authority launched a tourism awareness campaign on theeconomic benefits of tourism. The campaign is part of a nation-wide effort that the Tourism Ministryand the MTA have been leading to stress the importance of the industry.• 24 October 2003 The National Statistics Office said that the total population at the end of Septemberstood at 398,985, an increase of 2,344 over the same period last year. The figures include work andresident permit holders and foreigners residing in Malta. The Maltese population alone totalled388,287, made up of 192,668 males and 195,619 females - an increase of 1,846 over the same periodlast year.• 24 October 2003 The National Folklore Commission announced that, next year, Carnival will be heldin the period 19 to 24 February.• 25 October 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami received Libyan Prime Minister ShokryGhanim at Auberge de Castille, in Valletta. Dr Fenech-Adami later described the meeting as "talksbetween friends". Malta and Libya also signed an agreement on the promotion, safeguarding andprotection of investment between the two countries.

• 25 October 2003 Libyan Prime Minister Shokry Ghanim said that Malta and Libya had discussedways of strengthening the fight against illegal immigration in the region. Dr Ghanim was addressing ajoint press conference with Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami shortly after their meeting.• 25 October 2003 The Malta Federation of Industry and the Mouvement des Entreprises De Francesigned a co-operation agreement signalling their determination to promote the strengthening of tradeand economic relations between the two countries. The event was organised by the Malta EnterpriseParis office, in collaboration with MEDEF Paris and the Paris Chamber of Commerce, in the presenceof Finance and Economic Affairs Minister John Dalli.• 25 October 2003 Transport and Communications Minister Censu Galea said that Government's policyon road transport for the next five years would again focus on road safety and the environment.Minister Galea was speaking on road safety at an informal meeting of Ministers for Transport of theEuropean Union, in Verona.• 25 October 2003 US Ambassador Anthony H. Gioia met a group of junior diplomats and studentscurrently attending a Master of Arts in Diplomatic Studies course at the Mediterranean Academy ofDiplomatic Studies. The students, who represent more than a dozen countries, including Malta, had anopportunity to discuss with Mr Gioia current foreign policy issues and, in particular, US foreignpolicy.• 25 October 2003 The Health Authorities are participating in research related to the treatment of heartattacks. The process was launched with success at the Emergency Department of St Luke's Hospital,the Government said. The treatment concerns the use of the medicine, in the form of an injection,known as tenecteplase.• 25 October 2003 The Malta Tourism Authority's Vienna office has launched a publicity campaign ontrams in Vienna. The trams’ route takes them to various prime sites in the city centre that includes theTown Hall, Parliament, and the Vienna Opera House. www.mta.com.mt• 26 October 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami inaugurated the new Lm13 millionPlaymobil factory, in Hal Far. Dr Fenech-Adami said that, anybody who feared globalisation andquestioned whether Malta could remain competitive in the light of EU membership should look toBrandstätter for courage. "The company is a success story. It is very heartening to be here and witnessa company which has succeeded with good management, innovation and a flexible workforce," hesaid.• 26 October 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg said that the Mediterranean region is increasingly besetwith the incursion of organised crime of all types. He said: “Trafficking in human beings, drugs andarms, illegal migration, as well as terrorism are present-day threats and challenges to the stability ofthe region which need to be addressed at the root." Dr Borg was addressing the 15th Euro-Mediterranean Seminar on Training and Information for Diplomats, at St. Julian’s.• 26 October 2003 Minister for Information Technology and Investment Austin Gatt took part in aministerial round table at UNESCO on the Knowledge Society. The Ministers present agreed thatinformation and communications technology should be used by creators and cultural institutions andindustries to preserve and promote endangered and minority languages and cultures.• 26 October 2003 President Guido de Marco said that Farsons can be defined as a shining example ofa commendable relationship between management and workforce. Prof. de Marco was speakingduring celebrations to mark the 75 th anniversary of Simonds Farsons Cisk, at the new HiltonConference Centre, Portomaso. Among the distinguished guests were the Prime Minister and MrsFenech-Adami, as well as senior representatives of international companies associated with theFarsons group.• 27 October 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami referred to the visit in Malta by LibyanPrime Minister Shokry Chanim and announced that Malta and Libya had agreed to co-operate in oilexploration. He also said that the Maltese Government had asked the Libyan Government to continueselling oil to Malta at reduced prices. Dr Fenech Adami was addressing a political conference in Luqa.• 27 October 2003 At Luqa, Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that following months ofconsideration and analysis, the time had come for welfare reform decisions to be taken. He said thatthe Government would consider what the social partners were saying, but they also had to carry

esponsibility. Dr Fenech-Adami said everyone had been thinking and analysing for a long time nowand the moment of truth had come.• 27 October 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi observed that, in the past four years, at least20 national conferences on pension reform were held by the Government, unions, employers, and theconstituted bodies. The parties involved had now been given three weeks to think about the issue andon November 1 they would be meeting to analyse the proposal made by the Chairman of the WelfareReform Commission and submit their own proposals on the general criteria without going into thedetails.• 27 October 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami inaugurated a brand new three-storey blockat St Vincent de Paul Residence for the Elderly. The block, named after St Pio of Pietralcina, boastsstate-of-the-art equipment and will take 108 male residents. The inauguration was also attended bySocial Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi and the Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry for SocialPolicy, Francis Agius.• 28 October 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that it was important that the generalparameters of pension reform be established and possibly announced by the coming Budget. Hestressed that his Government believed in co-operation and not confrontation. Dr Gonzi was addressinga seminar on pension reform organised by the Federation of Professional Associations.• 28 October 2003 Transport and Communications Minister Censu Galea said that the Government isconsidering whether it needs to issue a call for expressions of interest in digital terrestrial televisionnetworks to determine the amount of interest in providing such services. Mr Galea was speakingduring a ministerial conference on digital television in Italy for Communication Ministers of the EU10 acceding states and representatives of the main telecommunications companies world-wide.• 28 October 2003 Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, EdwinVassallo, called on university students to train in entrepreneurship in order to prepare themselves forthe job market. Mr Vassallo was speaking during the launch of an initiative by Startup Malta, whichpromotes business skills among students through a business plan competition.• 28 October 2003 Senior Col. Tian Wanguang, head of a military delegation from the Chinese People'sLiberation Army, presented the Armed Forces of Malta with some Lm500,000 worth of weapons.Present at the signing ceremony at Luqa Barracks were Chinese Ambassador Liu Zhengxiu andDefence Attaché Senior Col Wang Wenming.• 28 October 2003 The National Statistics Office said that the number of tourist arrivals in August haddeclined by two per cent, from 152,082 last year to 149,036 this year. The cumulative figures for thefirst eight months this year show a two per cent overall increase compared with the same eight monthslast year.• 29 October 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami announced that Malta and Libya areexpected to have a technical meeting shortly on joint exploration of areas of the continental shelfbetween the two countries which were not conclusively decided in the boundary ruling of theInternational Court of Justice in 1986. Dr Fenech-Adami was replying to parliamentary question.• 29 October 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg said that the Government had informed the EuropeanUnion that it agreed with a proposal for the presidency of the EU to be made up of team presidencies.The proposal, made by Italy as current holder of the EU Presidency, is for the presidency to beallocated to a team of member states for two years. Dr Borg said that the Government's position wasrelayed in a letter to Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini.• 29 October 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg said in reply to a parliamentary question that Malta hadmade a token contribution of €25,000 for the reconstruction of Iraq and was also offering twoscholarships for Iraqis involved in restoration works. Dr Borg said that Malta's Ambassador to Madridhad represented Malta at a ministerial meeting and a senior officials meeting as part of the Donors'Conference on the Reconstruction of Iraq, held earlier this month.• 29 October 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that outlay on pensions given under theSocial Security Act accounted for 7.71 per cent of GDP last year, compared to 6.81 per cent in 1992.Dr Gonzi was replying to a parliamentary question.

• 29 October 2003 According to figures tabled in Parliament by IT and Investment Minister AustinGatt, losses made by Public Broadcasting Services in the past 10 years fluctuated from Lm1.77 millionin 1996 to Lm2.28 million last year. Dr Gatt was replying to a parliamentary question.• 29 October 2003 Health Minister Louis Deguara urged the public not to abuse antibiotics, saying thatabout half of the antibiotics consumed were taken needlessly. Dr Deguara was addressing a newsconference at the Health Ministry, in Valletta.• 29 October 2003 Youth and the Arts Minister Jesmond Mugliett presented the first CulturalRecognition Awards to social anthropologist Jeremy Boissevain, artist Antoine Camilleri, and sculptorGabriel Caruana. The three personalities were recognised for their outstanding lifelong contributionsto culture and the arts.• 30 October 2003 IT and Investment Minister Austin Gatt announced that the m-government service,through which information on direct deposits of social welfare benefits to people's accounts can besent via mobile phones, could potentially be used by around 27,000 people. Social Policy MinisterLawrence Gonzi said that the Social Security Department issued over 1.5 million payments everyyear, 250,000 of which were made through direct credit.• 30 October 2003 The Constitutional Court ruled that words used by Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami in his news conference on former Chief Justice Noel Arrigo and former Judge Patrick Vellawere insufficient to respect the presumption of innocence of an accused person. The criminalproceedings against the former judges are however to continue following the judgement.• 30 October 2003 IT and Investment Minister Austin Gatt praised the two new state-of-the-art systemsthat have been operating at Malta Air Traffic Services since September. Dr. Gatt, who was beingshown around at MATS, said that the company had met “its technological challenges and is anexample for others".• 30 October 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech announced that 400,000 cruise linerpassengers are expected to visit Malta this year. Minister Zammit Dimech was speaking during theinauguration of the new Maltese Cross Story, within the Sterling Group complex, in Valletta.• 30 October 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea said that, up to 20 th October 2003, a total of 56,361students had come to Malta to study English. Minister Galea was replying to a parliamentary question.• 30 October 2003 Ambassador Joseph Licari signed the European Convention on nationality on behalfof Malta. The convention is designed to make it easier to acquire a new nationality or recover aformer one. Dr. Licari is Malta's permanent representative at the Council of Europe, in Strasbourg.• 30 October 2003 An eight-member delegation from the Foreign Affairs Committee of the ChinesePeople's Political Consultative Conference met the newly set up Standing Committee on Foreign andEuropean Affairs of the House of Representatives. The Chinese delegation augured that Malta’smembership of the European Union would serve as a link with China, and that Malta would worktowards further strengthening trade, economic, and cultural relations between the EU and China.• 30 October 2003 The Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign and European Affairs of theHouse of Representatives, Michael Frendo, said that he hoped that the frequent contacts andexchanges between Malta and China would result in closer economic, trade, and cultural relations.• 30 October 2003 Baxter Malta Manufacturing Director Sergio Vella announced that the company hasbeen awarded the prestigious international health and safety management certification OHSAS 18001.The announcement was made during the inauguration of the Environment, Health and SafetyAwareness Week.• 30 October 2003 Representatives from UK Trade and Investment and Malta Enteprise held meetingsto discuss how best the two sister organisations could work together to their mutual benefit. BritishHigh Commissioner Vincent Fean expressed satisfaction at the renewed interest shown by Malta withregards to exporting to the U.K.

• 30 October 2003 The Product Planning and Development Directorate of the Malta Tourism Authorityreached agreement with the Church authorities for the latter to leave six churches in Valletta open tovisitors during mornings. Leaflets featuring information on each of the six churches may be obtainedfrom tourist information centres.• 30 October 2003 The National Statistics Office announced that there was a 4.5 per cent increase in thevolume of fruit and vegetables which passed through the organised markets during the third quarter ofthis year. The increase was from 13.5 million kilos in 2002 to 14.1 million kilos in 2003.• 31 October 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami launched a White Paper on the public serviceduring a news conference held at Auberge de Castille. The White Paper, entitled ‘A Public Service forthe 21st Century’, makes selection on merit the fundamental principle governing staffing decisions inthe public service and government agencies. The White Paper is available online on the website of theDepartment of Information www.doi.gov.mt• 31 October 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami noted that the Constitutional Courtjudgement had made it clear that the criminal case against former Chief Justice Noel Arrigo andformer Judge Patrick Vella was to continue. The Prime Minister was answering a question from themedia during a news conference called to launch the White Paper ‘A Public Service for the 21stCentury’.• 31 October 2003 Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Social Policy Lawrence Gonzi said thatwork is now underway on the drafting of the final text of the agreement on the shipyards. "I amlooking forward to signing the agreement. We will be closing a chapter and opening a new one thatwill translate into reality the matters we have discussed and agreed on," Dr Gonzi said.• 31 October 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg took part in an extraordinary meeting of the '5+5'dialogue of European and Mediterranean Foreign Ministers, held in Paris. The 10 Ministers expressedtheir concern over the situation in both Iraq and the Middle East. During his stay in Paris, Dr Borg alsohad a number of informal bilateral contacts with his counterparts.• 31 October 2003 The World Economic Forum annual ‘Global Competitiveness Index’ placed Malta19 th out of 102 countries for growth competitiveness, and 42 nd in a separate ranking for businesscompetitiveness. This is the first time that Malta has been featured in the report.• 31 October 2003 The European Commission believes that the Government's fiscal policy stance hasloosened considerably and that this year the government deficit is likely to deteriorate further to 7.6per cent of the gross domestic product. However, the report holds out better prospects for next yearand the year following, projecting a general government deficit of 5.8 per cent in 2004, and 4.1 percent in 2005.• 31 October 2003 The Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry for Social Policy, Dolores Cristina, saidthat evidence available in Malta suggested that the use of different types of drugs was a norm, with alimited number of users appearing to use drugs to suit the occasion. Ms Cristina was addressing theconference of EU Ministers, known as the Pompidou Group, in Dublin, with the theme ‘NewChallenges for Drug Policy in Europe’.• 31 October 2003 The British High Commissioner and Mrs Fean hosted a reception in honour ofJanatha Stubbs, who has recently been awarded the MBE by the Queen for her outstandingcontribution to relations between the UK and Malta. The award was made in recognition of MrsStubbs's work with the Park of Friendship at Marsascala, and also her tireless support for, both thePresident's Award Scheme and the Duke of Edinburgh Award.• 31 October 2003 The Central Bank of Malta left the central intervention rate unchanged at three percent. The decision was taken at the end of the Monetary Policy Advisory Council.• 31 October 2003 According to figures released by the National Statistics Office, the number of peopleregistering as unemployed was 7,238 in June this year, representing an unemployment rate of five percent. The labour supply went up by 339 in comparison to May 2003 to reach 144,996 in June. Thefull-time gainfully occupied population increased by 422 persons in relation to May 2003, and by 122compared with June last year, reaching 137,758 persons in June.

NOVEMBER• 1 November 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami strongly defended the agreement hisGovernment has reached with the General Workers’ Union over the new collective agreement for theshipyards. Dr Fenech-Adami was speaking to journalists before his departure to Tunisia.• 1 November 2003 Government announced that it has formed two new companies in line with itsrestructuring plan for the shipyards. Malta Shipyards Ltd will assume responsibility for ship repairfunctions, steel works, and yacht repair. The second company, Industrial Projects and Services Ltd,will assume all the other responsibilities that used to be carried out by Malta Drydocks and MaltaShipbuilding.• 1 November 2003 Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Social Policy Lawrence Gonzi and IT andInvestment Minister Austin Gatt met the shipyards' council. The two Ministers gave council membersdetails about the restructuring programme for the two 'yards, and about the new collective agreementreached with the General Workers’ Union. They also thanked them for services rendered.• 1 November 2003 A board of appeal has annulled the decision of the Director General of Contracts toaward a Lm25 million contract to Italian company INSO SpA for the supply of medical equipment toMater Dei Hospital in Tal-Qroqq. The board of appeal also disqualified German Company HospitaliaInternational, originally recommended for the tender by the Foundation for Medical Services.• 1 November 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg had talks with Marc Forne, Head of Government ofAndorra, and Julie Minoves Triquell, Foreign Minister. The two sides spoke about the possibility ofenhancing further bilateral relations between the two countries. They also discussed the possibility ofdrawing up a co-operation agreement at a political and technical level between Malta and Andorra.• 1 November 2003 Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Social Policy Lawrence Gonzi said that theintention to raise the retirement age was a partial recognition of the challenge to keep older people inemployment, as older people bring a number of assets to a workplace. Dr Gonzi was speaking at aconference organised by the Federation of Industry on the theme 'Europe, most competitive economyby 2010?’• 1 November 2003 Speaking at the same conference, Finance and Economic Affairs Minister JohnDalli said that higher standards of living have to be sustained with better productivity or wealthgeneratingprocesses.• 1 November 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that, in August this year, seapassengers declined by 32 per cent to 9,442 from 13,952 in the same month last year, contributing to adrop in the total number of arrivals. The cumulative figures for the first eight months, however, show atwo per cent overall increase compared with the same eight months last year.• 1 November 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea announced that, nearly 900 state school studentswere to start tests for their European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL). Dr Galea added that over thepast eight years the Government had invested heavily in an infrastructure for the training of teachersand in the teaching of computer skills in general.• 1 November 2003 Making the ECDL tests announcement with Dr Galea, IT and Investment MinisterAustin Gatt noted the positive results achieved by Malta in the much watched World Economic ForumGlobal Competitiveness Index. He said that the fact that Malta ranked first among 109 countries in thetransfer of Foreign Direct Investment in Technology demonstrated that Malta was now positioningitself prominently on the ICT Map.• 1 November 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea said that a major concern for the Ministry ofEducation was how to improve the quality of the teaching of English in Malta. Dr Galea wasaddressing a seminar for experts and practitioners in the field of English language teaching, organisedby the Ministry. The seminar was the first in a series that the Ministry is aiming to hold on everysubject, the next being mathematics.

• 1 November 2003 Michael C. Bonello has been re-appointed Governor of the Central Bank of Maltafor a period of five years, with effect from October 1. Mr Bonello's re-appointment was made by thePresident, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister. Following recent amendments to the CentralBank of Malta Act, the term of office of the Governor and other members of the Board of Directors isof five years and renewable.• 1 November 2003 The National Statistics Office said that outstanding debt at the end of Septemberstood at Lm1,209 million, up by Lm166.4 million, or 16 per cent, from Lm1,042.7 million at the endof September last year. Compared to the same period last year, recurrent revenue decreased by Lm9million, or 1.8 per cent. At the same time, total expenditure amounted to Lm638.6 million, an increaseof Lm41.3 million, or 6.9 per cent, over the same period in 2002.• 1 November 2003 The Retail Price Index went up by 0.35 per cent, from 100.47 in August to 100.82last month. The inflation rate in September stood at 1.10.• 1 November 2003 The Bank of Valletta group registered an operating profit before tax of Lm14.8million for the financial year ended September 30. Addressing a news conference at BoV head office,in Sliema, Chairman Joseph F.X. Zahra said that the figure represents an increase of 1.7 per cent overthe profit registered last year.• 2 November 2003 Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Minister of Finance and EconomicAffairs John Dalli participated in a meeting of the Welfare Reform Commission. During the meeting,a government report on welfare reform was presented to constituted bodies and the unions.• 2 November 2003 Health Minister Louis Deguara said that the decision by the Board of Appeal toannul the award of the Lm25million contract for medical equipment to INSO would undoubtedly delayworks on the Mater Dei Hospital. Dr Deguara was speaking to The Sunday Times newspaper.• 2 November 2003 Minister for Resources and Infrastructure Ninu Zammit said that his Ministry hadsubmitted a development application to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority for the projectthat will eventually lead to the restoration of the Maghtab, tal-Qortin and Wied Fulija dump sites. Theproject is to be co-funded by the Maltese Government and the European Union.• 2 November 2003 According to a new report on working conditions, the proportion of women inemployment in Malta is the lowest among all the EU member states and acceding countries. Thereport, prepared by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions,said the average participation rate was 46 per cent in acceding countries and 42 per cent in EU memberstates. The proportion of women in employment in Malta is 30 per cent.• 3 November 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami advanced the idea of a Mediterranean"common sea heritage management system" which, he said, could be the only prospect open as aEuropean Union initiative "with the co-operation of non-European Mediterranean partners". ThePrime Minister was addressing the 15th international symposium of the Democratic ConstitutionalRally, in Tunis. The full text of the Prime Minister's speech may be accessed at:www.doi.gov.mt/EN/press_releases/2003/11/pr1307.asp• 3 November 2003 Transport and Communications Minister Censu Galea announced that Malta is setto receive almost Lm20 million from the EU and from the fifth financial protocol with Italy. Mr Galeasaid that the money would be used for road infrastructure. Minister Galea was speaking, together withInfrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit, during a political activity in Hamrun.• 3 November 2003 At Hamrun, Minister for Transport and Communications Censu Galea also referredto the way that the country's access to mobile phones had soared, from 20,000 three years ago, to270,000 to date. The Minister also mentioned the Government’s intention to introduce four or fivesmaller bus centres, as opposed to having one main bus terminus in Valletta.• 3 November 2003 The Director General of the Consumer and Competition Division, Marcel Pizzuto,expressed the hope that more defaulting traders would start to co-operate and pay up when found atfault following consumer complaints. Mr Pizzuto said that the names of those who fail to adhere toConsumer Claims Tribunal decisions are being published in the media.• 4 November 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami accused Opposition Leader Alfred Sant of"lacking all sense of reality and responsibility" for suggesting that he had predicted the Appeal Court's

judgement in connection with the Judges' bribery case. In a statement reacting to Dr Sant's comments,Dr Fenech-Adami accused Dr Sant of going against an agreement reached between the Prime Ministerand the Leader of the Opposition not to refer to the criminal proceedings "in a partisan manner".• 4 November 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that the agreement for Libya to sell oilto Malta at below market prices is expected to be renewed. The Prime Minister was replying to aparliamentary question.• 4 November 2003 Life Senator Giulio Andreotti said that Malta's membership in the European Unionwould complete Europe's design. Sig. Andreotti was paying a courtesy visit to President Guido deMarco at the Palace in Valletta. Sig. Andreotti was also received by Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami.• 4 November 2003 President Guido de Marco said that the annual charity campaign L-Istrina is achallenge for the Maltese people to show solidarity. “There is a hidden poverty in the country,” saidProf. de Marco. The President was speaking at the launch of this year’s L-Istrina.• 4 November 2003 The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Anton Tabone, received the newlyappointed High Commissioner of New Zealand, Julie MacKenzie, at The Palace, in Valletta.• 4 November 2003 Mr Winston Spadafora Galvez, newly appointed Ambassador of Panama, paid acourtesy call on the Speaker of the House of Representatives.• 4 November 2003 IT and Investment Minister Austin Gatt said that the Malta Drydocks owes HSBCand Bank of Valletta a total of Lm40.8 million and has paid Lm2.2 million in interest on that amount.The amount due by Malta Shipbuilding was Lm1.2 million. The Minister was replying to aparliamentary question.• 4 November 2003 According to figures released by the National Statistics Office, in September thisyear, the number of cruise passengers went up by 11,068 over the previous year to 57,735, from 46,667a year earlier. In the first nine months of this year, the number of cruise passengers who visited theMaltese Islands went up by 28,594 over the same period last year to 293,139 from 264,545.• 5 November 2003 International ratings agency Fitch revised Malta's outlook for foreign currencyrating to positive. Fitch analyst Lionel Price said that the forthcoming budget will be scrutinised “witheven keener interest than normal to see how likely the Maltese Government is to fill the hole in itsfinances".• 5 November 2003 German Social Democrat MP Dieter Grasedieck said that Malta's decision to jointhe EU was a good move and the right one, both for the country and for the European Union itself. MrGrasedieck, who is the Commissioner of the Bundestag for contacts with the Maltese Parliament, wasin Malta for talks on possible avenues for co-operation between Malta and Germany.• 5 November 2003 Resources and Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit praised the Building IndustryConsultative Council saying that, since its inception, it has been instrumental in the training ofworkers in the industry at all levels. The Minister was speaking during the presentation of safety cardsand certificates to participants who attended courses in masonry and concrete technology, at ProjectHouse, Floriana.• 5 November 2003 The National Statistics Office released figures which showed that, in the first eightmonths of 2003, a total of 753,851 departing tourists were recorded, an increase of about three per centover the same period last year. In the period under review, holiday tourists accounted for 83.7 per centof all tourist departures, while business tourists accounted for 7.4 per cent.• 5 November 2003 Maltese-born film-maker Mario Azzopardi has been signed on by a Canadian andUK company to direct ‘Flight to Oblivion’. The film is based on the true story of the Egyptair hijack,which ended tragically in Malta in 1985.• 5 November 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami expressed his satisfaction on the agreementreached with the General Workers’ Union with regards to the future of the dockyards. In a statementfollowing the signing, Dr Fenech-Adami stressed the need for all the parties concerned to do their bitin order to make the agreement a success.

An audio recording of the comments made by the Prime Minister following the signing can beaccessed at www.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/audiorecording-drydocks.asp• 5 November 2003 Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi announced in Parliament that MaltaDrydocks Corporation and Malta Shipbuilding were to be dissolved and their assets and liabilitiestransferred to the Government. A new company, Malta Shipyards, would absorb 1,700 workers fromthe current workforce of 2,600, while the remaining 900 workers would be offered early retirementschemes or be absorbed into another new company, Industrial Projects and Services Ltd.• 6 November 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea praised the partnership agreement signed by theMalta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) and Malta Freeport Terminals Ltd,respectively. Dr Galea said that the agreement heralds a new era of co-operation between employersand vocational education.• 6 November 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that the 1,700 workers selected tocontinue working at the shipyards would not be eligible for early retirement and would be asked toreport for work. The remainder would be given details of the early retirement schemes applicable tothem, and would be given two weeks paid leave within which to apply for the schemes or refuse them.The Minister was replying to a parliamentary question.• 6 November 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi launched the 16 th edition of the Worker ofthe Year Award 2003. The national event, to be held on November 22 nd , was set up to recognise thatthe country's development depended on its only major resource - the Maltese worker.• 6 November 2003 The House of Representatives gave the first reading to a Bill on the MalteseLanguage.• 6 November 2003 Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said that Lm82,000 have been spent this yearon the repatriation of 445 illegal immigrants. The Minister was replying to a parliamentary question.• 6 November 2003 Health Minister Louis Deguara said that the new Mater Dei Hospital is expected tocost Lm200 million when completed. The Minister was replying to a parliamentary question.• 6 November 2003 EU Ambassador Ronald Gallimore presented a copy of the ComprehensiveMonitoring Report to Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami. The first part of the report deals witheconomic issues and describes economic developments in Malta. The second part gives an overviewof Malta’s standing in the implementation of the commitments and requirements arising from theaccession negotiations for each chapter of the acquis. The full text of the report can be viewed atwww.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/audiorecording%20-%2005.11.03%20monitoring.asp• 6 November 2003 EU Ambassador Ronald Gallimore said that Malta was “generally in line” intransposing European Union legislation prior to becoming a member state. However, there were a fewareas where action was still needed, he said. Mr Gallimore was speaking at a joint press conferencewith Foreign Affairs Minister Joe Borg on the latest comprehensive monitoring report on Malta'spreparations for membership.• 7 November 2003 President Guido de Marco commented on Malta’s reluctance to seriously considerincluding in the law the concept of ‘diminished responsibility’ in drug abuse cases. Prof. de Marcowas speaking during a donation of Lm10,000, on behalf of the Malta Community Chest Fund, toCaritas' San Blas Drug Rehabilitation Centre, in Zebbug.• 7 November 2003 IT and Investment Minister Austin Gatt described in detail the building blocks ofthe emalta.mt model, which is constituted of investment, competitiveness, and employment. MinisterGatt was speaking during a Malta Communications Authority conference on new generation networks.• 7 November 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech stressed that the tourism sector hadachieved positive results but not at the detriment of the environment. The Minister proceeded to quotefigures that showed that restricted space was being utilised better. Dr. Zammit Dimech wasaddressing a conference on sustainability indicators.• 7 November 2003 IT and Investment Minister Austin Gatt announced that Microsoft had chosenMalta to develop new specialised software for persons with disability. Dr Gatt was speaking during thedistribution of Microsoft software to the National Commission for Persons with Disability.

• 7 November 2003 Malta placed second in the medal table among the 100 countries that offer City &Guilds qualification. Education Minister Louis Galea presented six Maltese students with their medalsat a ceremony held at the Education Division, in Floriana.• 7 November 2003 The Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs,Edwin Vassallo, announced that according to figures registered by the National Statistics Office,almost Lm11.2 million are estimated to have been spent on weddings in 2002. Mr. Vassallo wasspeaking during the inauguration of the Weddings Fair, in Naxxar.• 7 November 2003 The Foreign and European Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives helda meeting with two members of the Lower House of the Dutch Parliament. Socialist Member Harryvan Bommel and Liberal Member Hans van Baalen were in Malta to understand the challenges Maltafaces in the light of its accession to the European Union.• 7 November 2003 According to a report commissioned by the Malta Environment and PlanningAuthority lead concentration levels in the air have dropped by half in the space of a year. The reportsaid that this reduction to acceptable levels was mainly due to the phasing out of leaded fuel at thebeginning of the year.• 7 November 2003 Customs Director General John Mifsud said that the Customs Department'sintellectual property rights enforcement team dealt with 19 counterfeiting and intellectual propertyrights piracy cases in the first 10 months of this year. Mr. Mifsud was speaking at the opening of atwo-day seminar for front-line Customs officers and other government officers and managers, at theMediterranean Conference Centre, in Valletta.• 7 November 2003 Malta Tourism Authority Chairman John C. Grech admitted that there was amismatch between the experience Malta promised in international promotions or magazine articles andthe real thing. He said that the Authority was working hard to rectify the matter and to raise theIsland's exposure abroad. Dr Grech was speaking at a joint press conference with Air Malta ChairmanLawrence Zammit, during the signing of a co-operation agreement between the two entities.• 7 November 2003 The Sea Malta group announced that the company had managed to break even inthe financial year ended March 31, with an increase of 2.7 per cent in turnover over the previous year.Sea Malta stated that this increase was the result of an aggressive marketing drive, both locally andoverseas, cutting down on administrative costs and, above all, through a team of commerciallyorientedmanagement and resourceful staff.• 7 November 2003 The October edition of prominent UK magazine Green Hotelier featured the MaltaTourism Authority’s eco-certification scheme. MTA’s scheme aims to reduce the impact hotels haveon the environment by cutting operational costs without reducing quality.• 7 November 2003 The National Statistics Office announced that tourist arrivals had dropped by 4.5per cent in September to reach 119,695, a decline of 5,625 from the same month last year. On thebright side, gross earnings from tourism in the first nine months reached Lm193.9 million, a gain ofLm9.9 million, or 5.4 per cent, over the same period last year.• 7 November 2003 The Maltese authorities were informed in writing by the European Central Bankthat all 25 EU member states, including Malta, would be represented on the second series of Euronotes.• 7 November 2003 Snowflake, the low-cost carrier of Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), announced that itplans to start services between Malta, Copenhagen, and Stockholm next March. The company saidthat the Copenhagen service would be operated on Saturdays and the Stockholm service onWednesdays and Saturdays.• 8 November 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that Turkey's greater involvement inEuropean affairs would add considerable weight to the Mediterranean component of the EU. ThePrime Minister was speaking at an international conference entitled ‘Europe and Its Neighbours’, heldby the European Movement at the Foundation for International Studies, in Valletta.

• 8 November 2003 EU European Economic and Social Committee President Roger Briesch said thatMalta would have five representatives on ECOSOC. Mr Briesch said that 70 per cent of ECOSOC’sadvice was taken on board.• 8 November 2003 The EU strategy for a Wider Europe should benefit Mediterranean partner countriesand enhance dialogue in the region. This is one of the points in a declaration adopted by the eighthEuro-Mediterranean summit of Economic and Social Councils and similar institutions, which came to aclose in Malta.• 8 November 2003 Transport and Communications Minister Censu Galea said that the MaltaCommunications Authority commenced the process of public consultation and strategic plans in theareas of broad connectivity, third generation cellular technology, and digital television. Minister Galeawas addressing the Third Generation Networks Conference.• 8 November 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that, when one considered that 1.2million tourists opted for a Mediterranean cruise as their holiday, Malta was attracting one third of themarket. Dr Zammit Dimech was speaking during a site visit to the Lm10 million cruise-liner passengerterminal being built in Floriana by the consortium Viset Malta plc.• 8 November 2003 The National Statistics Office said that turnover in industry rose by 6.7 per cent inJuly 2003, compared to July 2002. NSO noted that employment and salaries had increased by 2.52 percent and 4.27 per cent respectively.• 8 November 2003 The Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs,Edwin Vassallo, said that the Consumer and Competition Division is urging consumers to report anyunsafe products or toys being offered for sale. The division is embarking on an education campaign tohelp it regulate the market and remove any toys, machinery, or products that pose a danger.• 9 November 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami spoke about a new ‘mature’ way of doingpolitics in Malta, which necessitated the need to remove ‘political blinkers’. Dr Fenech-Adami calledupon the Opposition to act in the national interest when the upcoming Budget is announced: "The firsttest for the Opposition is the next budget. We will now see whether the Opposition is really going towork all the time in the national interest," he said.• 9 November 2003 Finance and Economic Affairs Minister John Dalli met the members of the MaltaCouncil for Economic and Social Development, at a Gozo hotel. On the agenda was a weekend ofdiscussions on the budget proposals and welfare reform. Discussions were based on two reportsdealing with a range of issues, including measures to tackle abuse, a possible increase in VAT, andconsumer legislation.• 10 November 2003 The victims of the two World Wars were remembered in a wreath-layingceremony, at the War Memorial, in Floriana. Wreaths were laid at the foot of the War Memorial by,amongst others, President Guido de Marco, Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami, and the Speaker ofthe House of Representatives, Anton Tabone. Leader of the Opposition Alfred Sant, who wasaddressing the Labour general conference at the time of the ceremony, laid wreaths early in theafternoon.• 10 November 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami gave his reassurances that Malta, as amember of the European Union, would make progress and grow. Speaking at Ta' Qali, Dr Fenech-Adami expressed satisfaction that the Opposition was now finally recognising that it should work forthe country to bring the best out of EU membership.• 10 November 2003 President Guido de Marco visited the Scout Association’s new camp-site at GhajnTuffieha. During camp, scouts from the different groups enjoyed activities that included pioneering,backwoods cooking, and an orienteering hike.• 10 November 2003 Malta and Gozo featured in a number of prominent US magazines hosted by theMalta Tourism Authority with the support of Air Malta. Prospective honeymooners going over thelatest issue of ‘Conde Nast Bride’ read that “There is no better place to write the first pages of yourshared history than Malta.” Meanwhile, Gozo was featured in a special supplement included in‘Departures’ magazine.

• 11 November 2003 Thousands of people in the South were left without water after Ta' Kandjapumping station, in the limits of Siggiewi, was sabotaged and the water contaminated with apetroleum mixture. A magisterial inquiry is underway.• 11 November 2003 Government MP Michael Frendo said that the European Commission needed tohave a Commissioner with voting rights from each country, otherwise it would be "detrimental to theinterests of Europe". Dr Frendo was speaking at a summit of Presidents of the European People'sParty-European Democrat Parliamentary Groups in the 25 EU member states and acceding countries,where he was representing Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami.• 11 November 2003 Health Minister Louis Deguara said that antibiotic resistance is fast becoming oneof the major problems in medical practice. He said that, in the light of this 'microbial threat' as definedby the EU, the Government had set up a National Antibiotic Committee and launched a nationalcampaign to improve the use of antibiotics in all the spheres of healthcare. Minister Deguara wasaddressing the fourth congress of the International Federation of Infection Control.• 11 November 2003 The Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Riyadh, SaudiArabia, which killed at least 18 people and wounded 120. "This latest terrorist attack has once againled to the loss of innocent lives and the Government and the people of Malta would like to conveytheir condolences to the Government and the people of Saudi Arabia and to the bereaved families ofthe victims," the Ministry said in a statement.• 11 November 2003 The Central Bank of Malta has revised its forecast for real GDP growth, from theprevious range of 3.1 to 3.7 per cent, published in its annual report in April, to a range of 1 to 1.3 percent. The September issue of the Bank’s ‘Quarterly Review’ states that the revision was made in thelight of new information on both the external environment and domestic developments.• 11 November 2003 According to figures issued by the National Statistics Office, in September 2003there were 7,942 persons registering for work with the Employment and Training Corporation,representing an unemployment rate of 5.5 per cent.• 11 November 2003 A spokesman for the Foreign Affairs Ministry said that the Libyan Governmenthad informed the Ministry that it "is no longer interested in giving any further contributions to theshort-wave radio station Voice of the Mediterranean". The station, set up 20 years ago, is co-owned bythe Maltese and Libyan Governments, with each respective Government contributing an annualLm180,000 to keep it running.• 12 November 2003 President Guido de Marco told a US audience that the emergence of a EuropeanForeign and Security Policy should not be seen as a challenge to present Euro-American relations.Prof. de Marco was delivering a lecture entitled ‘The New Europe: a Study on Enlargement’, at theFairleigh Dickinson University of New Jersey. The President was in the United Stated for the annualmeeting of the Council of Presidents of the UN General Assembly.• 12 November 2003 According to an announcement by the Curia, Archbishop Joseph Mercieca hasoffered his resignation to the Pope. Mgr Mercieca has turned 75 and, as such, is bound by Canon Lawto offer his resignation as diocesan bishop.• 12 November 2003 IT and Investment Minister Austin Gatt and Justice and Home Affairs MinisterTonio Borg said that an online police reporting system was launched at the Police Headquarters, inFloriana. Under the system, individuals will be able to report minor crimes, such as small theft andvandalism. The service will facilitate people's communication with the Police.• 12 November 2003 Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said that rents, paid to the LandsDepartment by tenants of government housing units, range from a low of Lm1.02c5 to a maximum ofLm600. The Minister was replying to a parliamentary question.• 12 November 2003 Malta has deposited the instrument of accession to the Convention on the PhysicalProtection of Nuclear Material with the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency.The convention is one of the 13 anti-terrorism conventions identified by the UN, which have now allbeen ratified by Malta.

• 12 November 2003 Bank of Valletta Chairman Joseph Zahra announced that, while decreasingoperating costs, the Bank had increased its operating profit before tax to Lm14.8 million. Mr Zahrawas speaking during a business breakfast meeting at the Corinthia Palace Hotel, in Attard.• 12 November 2003 According to a ‘Career Outcomes of Graduates 2002’ study, graduates tend tofind jobs with relatively high incomes and good working conditions, and nearly half further theirstudies. The study was carried out by the Students' Advisory Services, in collaboration with theWorkers' Participation Development Centre.• 13 November 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi announced that the Government waswaiting for the results of actuarial studies before submitting a sustainable pension system. The Ministerwas speaking during a discussion held by student organisation ‘Move’, at the University of Malta.• 13 November 2003 In a joint press conference held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ForeignMinister Joe Borg and Hungarian Foreign Affairs State Secretary Andras Barsony announced thattheir talks had centred primarily on the EU Intergovernmental Conference dealing with the EuropeanConstitution. The possibility of an exchange of ambassadors in the near future was also announced.• 13 November 2003 Minister for Foreign Affairs Joe Borg confirmed that a request has been made tothe United States regarding talks on a double taxation system, however there had not been a positivereply from the US Government so far. Minister Borg was replying to a parliamentary question.• 13 November 2003 WHO Regional Director for Europe Mark Danzon said that Malta’s health systemranked as one of the highest in the world. Dr Danzon was speaking during the signing of a bilateralcollaborative agreement with the Health Ministry that offers financial and technical assistance for thedevelopment of initiatives within the overall objectives of WHO and specific to Malta's needs.• 13 November 2003 Health Minister Louis Deguara referred to the first Public Health Report as a“valuable tool that would be used as a yardstick to compare the effects of the changes that would becarried out in the years ahead". The report was launched during the signing of the third collaborativeagreement with the World Health Organisation. The report is available onwww.health.gov.mt/ministry/dhi/publichealthreport2002.pdf.• 13 November 2003 IT and Investment Minister Austin Gatt stressed that the restructuring of theshipyards was overdue, and that it was "more than necessary" for “the yards to remain relevant in therapidly changing maritime sector”. The Minister was speaking at the official handing-over ofequipment donated by China to the shipyards.• 13 November 2003 Transport and Communications Minister Censu Galea announced that theEuropean Commission has decided to include the Motorways of the Sea project in the list of Trans-European Transport (Ten-T) projects. The Minister said that this meant that Malta would be entitledto EU aid not only to upgrade the physical infrastructure of its ports but also for the upgrading of portmanagement practices.• 13 November 2003 In reply to a parliamentary question, Minister for Transport and CommunicationsCensu Galea said that a total of 122 new route buses have been imported, or built in Malta. MinisterGalea also mentioned plans to modernise the route network, to introduce a night service, as well asnew interchanges between routes.• 13 November 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg announced that the Spanish Government intended toopen an Embassy in Malta. The Minister also said that King Juan Carlos had accepted an invitation tovisit Malta. Dr Borg was replying to a parliamentary question.• 13 November 2003 Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs John Dalli said that Foreign DirectInvestment was in the negative by Lm188 million in 2002, mostly because Maltese subsidiarycompanies paid back loans to their foreign parent companies. Minister Dalli was quoting figures inParliament.• 13 November 2003 The Permanent Secretaries at the Ministries for Transport and Communications,Information Technology and Investment, and Foreign Affairs joined forces to hold a seminar entitled‘Improving Efficiency Through Electronic Means’. The seminar was intended to highlight and

disseminate good practices in the use of information technology to improve efficiency and servicequality.• 13 November 2003 The Malta Tourism Authority has created an online eMalta Movie Map. The mapshows the locations where feature-length and TV films were shot in the Maltese Islands, as well asphotographs and stars' biographies.• 14 November 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that the Government was aware of theneed to benchmark and co-ordinate Malta's policies in research and development with those of the EUacceding and member states, while ensuring that its national concerns and priorities were notcompromised. Dr Fenech-Adami was delivering the inaugural speech at the two-day fourth eForeseeInternational Conference, hosted by the Malta Council for Science and Technology, at the HotelCorinthia San Gorg.• 14 November 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea presented European Computer Driving Licencecertificates to 200 adult learners at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta. The ECDL is theEurope-wide qualification that enables people to demonstrate their competence and skills as computerusers.• 14 November 2003 According to a survey carried out by the European Commission, 57 per cent of theMaltese believe that it is essential for the people to air their opinion, through a referendum, on the newEuropean Constitution. A further 23 per cent believe that holding a referendum on the EuropeanConstitution would be useful but not essential, while nine per cent said that holding a referendum onthe subject was useless.• 15 November 2003 President Guido de Marco chaired the fourth meeting of the World IntellectualProperty Organisation (WIPO), held in Romania. WIPO is a specialised agency of the United NationsOrganisation with a mandate to administer intellectual property matters, such as international treatiesas well as assisting governments and other organisations in this field.• 15 November 2003 Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that courage, realism, anddetermination were needed for Malta to grow in Europe and the Government had proved that itpossessed these characteristics. Dr. Gonzi was addressing a political activity at the New DolmenHotel, in Qawra.• 15 November 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg gave an overview of Malta's position regarding thedraft EU Constitution,, and the points that Malta would be pressing to change. The Minister wasspeaking at a national conference organised by the Malta-EU Information Centre.• 15 November 2003 EU Ambassador Ronald Gallimore said that the European Commission believedthat each Commissioner should have voting rights and that there should be a Commissioner for everycountry. Mr. Gallimore was one of the speakers at the national conference held by the Malta-EUInformation Centre.• 15 November 2003 Minister for Foreign Affairs Joe Borg stressed that Malta’s bid for the threshold ofMembers of the European Parliament to be raised to six was gaining support. He said that a number ofhurdles still remained, however. Minister Borg was addressing a joint press conference with CyrilSvoboda, the Czech Republic's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.• 15 November 2003 The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic, CyrilSvoboda, said that his country supported Malta's demand to raise the threshold of MEPs. During hisjoint press conference with Foreign Minister Joe Borg, Mr. Svoboda said: “It is fair for small countriesto have good representation.”• 15 November 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that the cost of a residential unit inMalta has now become a major consideration. He said that such consideration was contributingtowards the trend of couples marrying at a later stage in their lives, as well as to the increase of onechildfamilies. Minister Gonzi was speaking during a conference organised by the Housing Authorityon ‘Housing and Community Care’.• 15 November 2003 American Ambassador Anthony Gioia visited the Malta branch of the ‘WorldIslamic Call Society’ and the adjoining school, in Corradino. Mr Gioia presented Imam and Secretary

General Mohammed Elftise with a number of copies of Hi magazine, a public-private US partnershipaimed at informing the Arab-speaking public about US society and culture.• 15 November 2003 The National Statistics Office announced that the number of adults followingfurther education and training in 2002 had fallen by 3.1 per cent. Substantial drops in participationwere observed mainly in the private sector and the Government Adult Literacy Centre. In contrast, theSchool of Music and the Government Evening Classes Centre registered an increase of 42.8 per centand 6.4 per cent respectively.• 16 November 2003 Malta entered the Guinness Book of Records after 11,750 persons wearingdifferent coloured T-shirts formed a human rainbow that filled the Granaries, in Floriana. PrimeMinister Edward Fenech-Adami, Opposition Deputy Leader Charles Mangion, and AlternattivaDemokratika Chairman Harry Vassallo attended the event.• 17 November 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that Government was consideringraising the rate of VAT in the next Budget. He also spoke on the reform of the welfare system,stressing that there was a need for people ‘to show solidarity’. “We have targets that have to bereached. There is a lot that has to be done, and everyone has to shoulder the burdens," Dr Fenech-Adami said. The Prime Minister was speaking during a political activity, in Qawra.• 17 November 2003 Government MP Jason Azzopardi has called for the next meeting of theMediterranean Forum in 2005 to be held in Malta. The forum is a parliamentary grouping on theMediterranean within the OSCE Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.• 18 November 2003 President Guido de Marco received the members of the new administration of theMalta Labour Party, at the Palace, in Valletta. Prof. de Marco praised the Labour Party for upholdingthe principle of democracy on the issue of EU membership, and said that, for years, the Party hadcherished democracy.• 18 November 2003 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the terrorist attack on twosynagogues in Istanbul. It expressed solidarity by the Government and people of Malta with theGovernment and people of Turkey, and extended condolences to the bereaved families.• 18 November 2003 The National Statistics Office said that, between March and September, the use of‘Voice over the Internet Protocol’ for international calls had more than trebled. The number of mobiletelephone subscriptions had increased by more than 10 per cent, cable television subscriptions hadedged upwards by over 4 per cent, while the number of satellite receiver licences had gone up by 14.5per cent.• 19 November 2003 A Bill providing for the setting up of the Council for the Maltese Language topromote Maltese has been published. Education Minister Louis Galea said that the bill consolidatedthe language as an essential part of the national heritage, as well as the most democratic tool withwhich the people could express themselves.A copy of the bill may be downloaded from the sitewww.education.gov.mt/ministry/doc/laws.htm• 19 November 2003 The Commissioner of Inland Revenue, Adrian Chetcuti, told The Timesnewspaper that the Department is issuing over 1,000 judicial letters against individuals or companiesthat had repeatedly failed to settle their dues.• 19 November 2003 The 25 Foreign Ministers of existing and future European Union member statesmet in Brussels at an intergovernmental conference meeting to discuss the role of the EU ForeignMinister as laid down in the draft European Constitution. Foreign Minister Joe Borg described themeeting as very fruitful.• 19 November 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi confirmed to the House BusinessCommittee that the budget for 2004 is to be presented on Monday 24 th . He said that a draft schedule ofthe budget debate had been presented to the Opposition.• 19 November 2003 According to the latest survey conducted by the Broadcasting Authority, TVM,the state television channel, has retained its lead in audience share during peak viewing time. Super 1Radio was voted best radio station by the largest portion of those interviewed.

• 19 November 2003 The National Statistics Office said that the number of tourists departing by airduring September was estimated at 118,472, a 3.5 per cent decline over the same month last year. Inthe first nine months of this year, tourist departures increased by two per cent over the same period lastyear, reaching 872,324.• 20 November 2003 President Guido de Marco added his signature to the book of condolences at theItalian Cultural Institute in Valletta, following the tragic death of 19 Italians in a suicide bombing inIraq.• 20 November 2003 Anthony Tabone, Malta's Consul General in Dubai, presented President Guido deMarco with Lm7,000, the proceeds of a charity dinner held in the grand ballroom of the FairmontHotel, in Dubai. Mr Tabone said that this was the first event organised for the Maltese community inDubai, and expressed his hope that it would be maintained as an annual occasion.• 20 November 2003 The Central Bank said that, on the basis of preliminary indications, it wasestimated that the aggregate value of eligible assets registered under the investment registration schemelaunched on 1 st September totalled about Lm130 million.• 20 November 2003 Malta became the 102 nd member of the International Organisation for Migrationduring the 86 th session of the Organisation's Council, meeting in Geneva. The head of the Maltesedelegation, Saviour F. Borg, said that in tackling the considerable increase in illegal migration in theregion, Malta intended to continue to play its Euro-Mediterranean role to strengthen dialogue amongother partners.• 20 November 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that, in September, a total of 996catering establishments catered for 41,900 covers. Dr Zammit Dimech was inaugurating Le SalonCulinaire de Malte, a cookery exhibition and competition organised by the Malta Cookery and FoodAssociation, held at the New Dolmen Hotel, in Qawra.• 20 November 2003 The National Statistics Office said that, during October, there were 8,249registered unemployed persons with the Employment and Training Corporation. In September, thenumber of registered unemployed with the ETC was 7,942.• 20 November 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea said that a total of 575 persons were struck off theunemployment register between January and September this year. Minister Galea said that 155 hadbeen working while registering as unemployed, 370 had refused a job, and 50 had refused training.• 20 November 2003 The National Commission for Persons with a Disability has closed 54 per cent ofits cases where discrimination has been claimed. In its annual report for the third year since theenactment of the Equal Opportunities Act, the Commission said that this year it continued working on62 cases that were still pending from the first two years, and had started investigation on 64 new ones.• 20 November 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi, in reply to a parliamentary question, saidthat a total of 1,861 single mothers are receiving children's allowance.• 20 November 2003 Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs John Dalli was asked in Parliamentwhether his Ministry would, after EU membership, recognise same sex marriages made in othercountries for tax purposes. Mr Dalli replied that there would be no changes in the current situation.21 November 2003 President Guido de Marco stated that, with regards to the speech made by theLeader of the Opposition during the parliamentary sitting of the 19 th November 2003, he had "notmade any determination" on whether he would contest the MEP elections. In the statement issued, thePresident also said that any decision on his future after his presidential term expires would be taken atthe opportune moment.• 21 November 2003 President Guido de Marco received diplomatic credentials and letters ofcommission from three envoys appointed to represent their countries in Malta. The diplomats wereNaceur Mestiri, Ambassador of Tunisia; Janis Lüsis, Ambassador of Latvia; and Dinkar PrakashSrivastava, High Commissioner of India.• 21 November 2003 Addressing the winners of this year’s Skål Malta Tourism Awards, PresidentGuido de Marco emphasised that the commitment of the winners to excellence in product delivery wasthe cornerstone of the industry's success. Skål International – Malta President, Frans Camilleri,

iefed Prof. de Marco about the scope of the awards and the strong interest shown in the event by thetourism and travel trade.• 21 November 2003 Imam Mohammed Elftise, General Secretary of the Malta Branch of the WorldIslamic Call Society, addressed a gathering of Ambassadors and Members from both sides of theHouse celebrating Iftar (Breaking Fast) at the end of Ramadan. The Imam said that the real peacefulmessage of Islam rejected extremism, fanaticism, terrorism, and all kinds of aggression. PrimeMinister Edward Fenech-Adami attended the celebration.• 21 November 2003 An official statement said that the Maltese Government is working to ensure thatMalta acquires a sixth seat in the European Parliament, not only in the formal meetings of the IGC, butalso at a bilateral level. Malta has already obtained support from a number of countries that have cometo realise that its position in this regard is well justified. This was confirmed a number of times byvisiting dignitaries, including the Czech Deputy Prime Minister, and the Hungarian State Secretary inthe Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the statement.• 21 November 2003 Malta's Honorary Consul in Turkey, Oguz Teoman, said that part of the buildinghousing the Maltese Consulate in Turkey had sustained damage following the terrorist blasts thatshook Istanbul the day before.• 21 November 2003 The Foreign Affairs Ministry strongly condemned the terrorist attacks in Istanbul.In a statement the Ministry stated that the Government and people of Malta express their solidaritywith the Government and people of Turkey and Britain and extend their condolences to the bereavedfamilies of the victims.• 21 November 2003 Minister for Justice and Home Affairs Tonio Borg said that the Government wasplanning to accelerate the processing of applications by asylum seekers and to set free illegalimmigrants whose detention had dragged on beyond ‘a reasonable time’. Addressing an internationalconference held at the Old University, in Valletta, Dr Borg said that the number of illegal immigrantswho arrived in Malta last year amounted to half the annual birth rate in the country.• 21 November 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea announced that the University of Malta hassigned 175 Erasmus bilateral agreements with higher education partners in over 14 countries.Erasmus is a European Union programme covering exchanges between educational institutions attertiary level.• 21 November 2003 The Government has confirmed that Air Malta's financial position is ‘precarious’and that it has lost Lm16 million in its last financial year ending last July. The Government said that,in the coming days, the Department of Civil Aviation would be issuing a call for tenders for privatecompanies wishing to operate the air service between Malta and Gozo.• 21 November 2003 The European Commission has issued a citizens' guide to explain the draftConstitution for Europe, as drawn up by the Convention and presented to the Thessaloniki EuropeanCouncil last June. The guide is intended to explain the contribution made by the draft Constitution inlight of the requirements set out in the ‘Declaration on the Future of the European Union’, adopted atLaeken. www.mic.org.mt• 21 November 2003 The National Statistics Office announced that the index of activity in industry forAugust 2003 showed an increase in all its three indicators - turnover, employment, and wages andsalaries. The turnover went up by 13.19 per cent, employment by 1.67 per cent, and wages andsalaries experienced an increase of 9.48 per cent.• 21 November 2003 According to figures released by the National Statistics Office on the occasion ofUniversal Children's Day, Malta's population of children and teenagers aged 18 and under is indecline, with trends showing that it will have dropped by 39 per cent by 2050. This percentage is theequivalent of about 36,000 fewer boys and girls.• 21 November 2003 Maltacom has submitted proposals to the Telecommunications Regulator to allowit to substantially raise its fixed telephony rates and slash its international rates by half. The exercise,known as tariff re-balancing, will now be under the scrutiny of the technical experts within theregulatory body.

• 22 November 2003 Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said that Malta has made a requestfor assistance from the ‘European Fund for Refugees’. Dr Borg said that so far no funds have beenallocated within the EU to ease the cost of detention of illegal immigrants, although talks are beingheld. The Minister was replying to a parliamentary question.• 22 November 2003 Malta's first resident Ambassador to Hungary, Noel Buttigieg-Scicluna, presentedhis diplomatic credentials to the President of Hungary, Ferenc Madl. The new Maltese Embassy islocated at Andrassy ut, 100, H-1062 Budapest.• 22 November 2003 The National Statistics Office said that the number of cruise passengers to theMaltese Islands in the first 10 months of this year went up by 39,595 over the same period in theprevious year, to 355,847 from 316,252. The highest number of cruise passengers were those comingfrom the British market, followed by the Spanish and the US markets.• 23 November 2003 Finance and Economic Affairs Minister John Dalli said that the Budget's main aimwould be to help with structural reform, even if other measures and initiatives would also be thrown in.Mr Dalli was interviewed by The Sunday Times newspaper.• 23 November 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea stressed that "as important as it is to speakMaltese, it is essential to master the English language". It would be a grave mistake to reduce theimportance of English in order to promote Maltese, he said. Dr Galea was delivering the closingaddress at a seminar organised to get feedback on the draft law providing for the setting up of aNational Council for the Maltese Language, at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, in Valletta.• 23 November 2003 Youth and the Arts Minister Jesmond Mugliett launched an international designcompetition for the Hagar Qim and Mnajdra Heritage Park. Speaking at a press conference, MrMugliett said that it was the Government's intention to attract the participation of the best design andarchitectural practice in the world for this competition.• 23 November 2003 Mr George Borg, Headmaster of San Miguel School, was awarded the Worker ofthe Year Award 2003. Mr Borg was selected from 17 nominations. The school caters for pupils withprofound and multiple disabilities.• 24 November 2003 Finance and Economic Affairs Minister John Dalli said that the deficit would be"more than projected but much less than expected". He predicted that the country's financial situationshould be stabilised in about three years' time. Mr Dalli was speaking during a political activity atSanta Lucia, a day before presenting his Budget estimates.• 24 November 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that the country was moving fromwords to action. He added that actuarial studies on pensions were expected to be ready in January andit had been agreed with the social partners that a decision on the subject would be taken by June. DrFenech-Adami was addressing a political activity at Santa Lucia.• 24 November 2003 Malta Financial Services Authority Chairman Joe Bannister said that theAuthority was ready for EU integration and legislation and directives were almost harmonised withthose of the EU. Prof. Bannister was addressing Affilica International members from the UK,Belgium, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Russia, and Malta who met at the Corinthia Palace Hotel, Attard.• 24 November 2003 The Kampanja Milied Hieni Committee of St Luke's Hospital held a 12-hourmusic marathon to raise money to buy gifts for patients. Among the visitors to the marathon werePrime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami, Opposition Leader Alfred Sant, Health Minister LouisDeguara, and Shadow Health Minister Michael Farrugia.• 24 November 2003 Italian tourism trade magazine ‘Trend’ ran a full-page interview with the MaltaTourism Authority's Regional Director in Milan, Dominic Micallef. Mr Micallef spoke about Malta asthe ideal destination for short breaks, and outlined Valletta's characteristics as a cultural city.• 25 November 2003 Finance and Economic Affairs Minister John Dalli presented the Budget for 2004.In his speech, Mr Dalli announced a number of revenue raising measures meant to lower the deficit tobelow three per cent of GDP in 2006 from the current 6.3 per cent.• 25 November 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami described the Budget as fitting the newtimes that Malta was passing through. He said that it was in line with the Government’s plans to boost

the economy and strengthen economic stability while keeping tabs on the social dimension. Dr.Fenech-Adami was speaking to journalists in his office in Parliament.• 25 November 2003 The full text of the Budget, the Economic Survey, as well as a BudgetPresentation is available on the Department of Information's website. Video and audio recordings ofthe Prime Minister’s news conference can also be accessed from the same website athttp://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/News/newsitems/newspage.asp. Further information may be obtained bycalling Freephone 153 or by sending an e-mail to info@gov.mt.• 25 November 2003 Housing Authority Chairperson Marisa Micallef Leyson announced the issue of143 housing units for sale. This consists of 117 apartments, 24 maisonettes, and two houses, locatedin various localities of Malta. The average government subsidy for each unit stands at Lm10,000.• 25 November 2003 Department of Chemistry lecturer Emmanuel Sinagra said that, contrary topopular belief, university studies did prepare a student to face real life problems, by giving him/her anability to think and to approach problems analytically and creatively. The lecturer was speaking aboutThe Benefits and Responsibilities of a University Education during his address at this year’sgraduation ceremony.• 25 November 2003 Central Bank of Malta Governor Michael Bonello presented the third in a seriesof commemorative silver coins to President Guido de Marco, at the Palace, in Valletta. The coinfeatures one of Malta’s eminent jurists, Sir Adriano Dingli.• 25 November 2003 The National Statistics Office announced that Malta's Gross Domestic Product(GDP) had increased in real terms by Lm7.1 million to Lm380.9 million during the third quarter. Theincrease registered came about following improvements in the overall profits in the manufacturingsector and the agriculture and fisheries sector.• 26 November 2003 Moody's Investor's Service said that new niche activities for Malta could includethe repair of super yachts, back office administration, and special interest tourism such as languageteaching, culture and cruise liners. Moody’s added that, in the medium and long run, Malta was wellplaced to develop higher value-added technology-based industries and services.• 26 November 2003 Finance Minister John Dalli hit out at those who criticised the VAT increase onthe premise that it would erode disposable income and raise costs. The Minister said that Malta had avery low inflation rate and the removal of more levies should continue to deflate prices. Hence, theincrease in VAT would not have the effect that employers were claiming it would.• 26 November 2003 More than 350 professionals in the field of hospital infection control attended theFourth Congress of the International Federation of Infection Control, hosted by the Health Divisionand the Infection Control Unit of St Luke's Hospital.• 26 November 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that, according to the NationalOffice of Statistics, in the first nine months of this year the number of tourists reached 911,609 - anincrease of 1.1 per cent over the same period last year. Gross earnings amounted to Lm193.9 million,an increase of Lm9.9 million or 5.4 per cent over the same period last year. The Minister wasaddressing the annual conference of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association.• 26 November 2003 Minister for Resources and Infrastructure Ninu Zammit spoke about A Bring-InSite for the separation of waste at source that has been set up near Fort St Elmo, in Valletta, as part ofthe Clean up the World campaign. The Minister said the aim was to keep as much recyclable waste aspossible away from the proposed landfills.• 26 November 2003 According to the National Statistics Office, the number of reported accidents in thethird quarter this year reached 3,637, a marginal increase of 24 over the same quarter last year. A totalof 182 drivers sustained injuries as a result of traffic accidents. There were four traffic deaths in thisquarter.• 27 November 2003 President Guido de Marco addressed the general assembly of the Unione degliIndustriali di Roma on ‘Roma: Imprese e Finanza fra Europa e Mediterraneo’. The Conference, heldin the Auditorium Parco della Musica di Roma, was attended by over 2,000 delegates.

• 27 November 2003 The possibility of nurse exchanges between Malta and the UK was discussedbetween British High Commissioner Vincent Feane and Rene H. Formosa, Chairman of theFoundation for Medical Services. The British High Commission said that the proposed co-operationwould include specialised training in the UK.• 27 November 2003 Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg presented appointments to two newAssistant Police Commissioners and nine Superintendents, including the first woman to make it to thatrank. Police Commissioner John Rizzo attended the ceremony, held in the officers’ mess.• 27 November 2003 Malta presented the instrument of ratification of the Council of Europe's Protocolto the European Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. The presentation was made byJoseph Licari, Malta's Permanent Representative at the Council of Europe, to Walter Schwimmer,Secretary General of the Council of Europe, in Strasbourg.• 27 November 2003 The National Statistics Office said that the provisional turnover index of thecapital goods group decreased by 16.58% in September when compared to September last year. In thesame period, the group registered an increase in employment of 1.60%, from 98.79 to 100.37. It alsoregistered an increase in wages and salaries of 15.83%, from 103.58 in September 2002 to 119.98 inSeptember 2003.• 27 November 2003 EU Finance Ministers unanimously agreed to postpone action on VAT harmonisedrates for at least six months. The Ministers failed to move closer to a compromise over VAT despite anend-2003 deadline for agreement. During the meeting in Brussels, Malta was represented by the actingpermanent representative, Tarcisio Zammit.• 28 November 2003 Air Malta Chairman Lawrence Zammit announced the launching of a new lowcostservice to and from London Stansted Airport with one-way prices starting from as little as Lm23excluding tax. Addressing a press conference at the airline headquarters, Mr Zammit stressed that thiswas only the beginning of Air Malta's operations in the low-cost, no-frills sector of the industry.• 28 November 2003 The National Statistics Office announced that the producer price index foragriculture stood at 97.01 points in September, which means an increase of 0.20 percentage pointswhen compared to the same month last year. The marginal rise was the result of an increase in theaverage price of potatoes from 11c1 in September 2002 to 16c1 in September 2003.• 28 November 2003 A technical committee of the European Commission has recommended that Maltareceive compensation from the EU for the damage caused by the devastating 15 th September storm.The Government said that a final decision on the 1 million euro financial assistance package wasexpected to be taken on December 10 by the college of EU commissioners.• 28 November 2003 Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi announced that Lm1.3 million have beenretrieved so far this year from people who had claimed benefits to which they were not entitled.Speaking during a radio programme about the Budget, Dr Gonzi said that in the future the informationgiven by people applying for benefits would be investigated.• 28 November 2003 Health Minister Louis Deguara said that the Government was determined to curbthe abuse by travel companies offering medical insurance coverage and medical insurance companiesthat pushed clients towards using the facilities at St Luke's Hospital rather than those of privatehospitals. Dr. Deguara was speaking during a radio programme about the Budget.• 28 November 2003 The University Students’ Representative Council (KSU) presented a copy of itsreport, ‘International Students Working in Malta: a Possibility’, to Education Minister Louis Galea.The report calls for foreign students to be able to seek employment while attending full-time courses atthe University.• 28 November 2003 Education Minister Louis Galea and French Ambassador Patrick Chrismantinaugurated a French teaching kitchen as part of the French Immersion Project within the FrenchResource Centre at the Junior College, in Msida.• 28 November 2003 President Guido de Marco was presented with a donation of Lm1,000 by MikeBennett, director of newly set up trading company Happi Group Malta. The money goes towards theMalta Community Chest Fund.

• 28 November 2003 The Armed Forces of Malta's maritime squadron held a gunnery training exerciseat sea from onboard patrol boats P-51 and P-23. The AFM said that the aim of such training was toincrease the soldiers' familiarity with their patrol crafts’ armaments and to acquaint them with firing inawkward or difficult sea conditions.• 29 November 2003 Transport and Communications Minister Censu Galea said that compulsory use ofchildren's seats or other harnessing in car rear seats will come into force on January 1, and seat beltsfor adults on rear seats will become compulsory on June 1. Mr Galea said that the requirement will beimposed on cars that had seat belts installed at date of manufacture.• 29 November 2003 Parliamentary Secretary at the Finance Ministry, Tony Abela, spoke about theeducational campaign launched by the VAT Department on tax changes due to the intra-communityregime once Malta joins the EU. The Parliamentary Secretary was opening a Deloitte and Toucheconference on ‘Coping with Change: Update Yourself or Sink’.• 29 November 2003 According to the National Statistics Office, the inflation rate for October stood at1.05 per cent, down from 1.10 per cent the previous month. The inflation rate in October last year was2.82 per cent. In October this year, the Retail Prices Index went up by 1.08 per cent to 101.91, from100.82 in the previous month.• 29 November 2003 Central Bank Governor Michael C. Bonello announced that the Monetary PolicyAdvisory Council had left the central intervention rate unchanged at three per cent.• 29 November 2003 According to the National Statistics Office, the structural deficit in Octoberamounted to Lm139.9 million, an increase of Lm48.1 million from a shortfall of Lm91.9 million forthe same period last year. Recurrent revenue in the first 10 months totalled Lm560.9 million whilsttotal expenditure was Lm707.1 million.• 29 November 2003 Malta was elected for the third consecutive time on the Council of theInternational Maritime Organisation. The election was held at the IMO headquarters in London. Theelection was prestigious as it confirmed that Malta, which has the fifth largest merchant shippingregister, enjoyed the respect of the international shipping community.• 29 November 2003 Russian first Deputy Finance Minister Alexei Ulyhkayev told a round tablemeeting in the Audit Chamber that the Russian Finance Ministry intended to settle its debts with anumber of countries, including Malta, next year. However, Mimcol, the government body whichoversees government investments, said the organisation has not been informed of any developments,and there was not even an agreement on the sum due to Malta.• 29 November 2003 Go mobile CEO Juanito Camilleri said that, on its third anniversary, the companyhad reached a subscriber base of 125,000 and now had roaming facilities in 132 countries. Prof.Camilleri said that, with a wide spectrum of services, Go mobile was at the forefront of the latesttechnologies.• 29 November 2003 An Office of the Prime Minister circular sent to Permanent Secretaries, DirectorsGeneral and Directors says that Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Department and other heads of unit orsection "should not accept gifts from their staff". The circular stated that, where money was alreadybeing collected, this should "either be returned to the contributors or given to charity".• 29 November 2003 The Department of Information has placed an electronic version of theGovernment Gazette on the website www.doi.gov.mt The subscription fees of the printed form of theGazette have meanwhile been increased so as to reflect the ‘considerable’ rise in production costs andpostage charges since the fees were last reviewed in 1997.• 29 November 2003 Top Dutch classic-pop singer Petra Berger was in Malta to film footage for videosfor her new CD album ‘Mistress’.• 30 November 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that the Budget presented on Monday24 th would help prepare Malta to get the best out of European Union membership. In order to do so, hesaid, Malta had to have people continuously in Brussels to keep their eyes on what was happening andanalyse situations. That was why it was expanding its embassy in Brussels. Dr Fenech-Adami wasaddressing a political activity in Pietà.

• 30 November 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that there had been great anticipationfor the Budget because the people were longing to see how the Government would deal with the‘unusual times’ the country was going through on the eve of membership of the EU. Dr Fenech-Adamiwas participating in a debate with Opposition Leader Alfred Sant on Church radio station RTK.• 30 November 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg described the meeting of the 25 European ForeignAffairs Ministers in Naples as ‘positive’. Dr Borg continued: "It is true that some substantial issuesremain outstanding. However, we have managed to make progress on a number of importantarguments. Concluding the intergovernmental conference during next month's summit in Brussels nowseems more achievable." The outstanding issues include voting rights and the reference to Europe'sChristian heritage in the Constitution.• 30 November 2003 Education Minster Louis Galea told a conference hosted by the NationalCommission, Persons with Disability that the Education Ministry had launched a review of its policyon inclusive education. He said that the central role of schools as builders of the community needed tobe increasingly emphasised because one should not just aim for inclusive education, but for aninclusive society.• 30 November 2003 Malta Tourism Authority Chairman John C. Grech announced that the MTA wasco-operating with the Church which is making available a number of its prominent monuments,including churches, open for visitors "at more reasonable hours". Dr Grech was addressing the fifthannual conference with the theme ‘Meeting the New Challenges in International Tourism’, at theHilton Conference Centre, in St Julians.DECEMBER• 1 December 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami appealed to the Opposition to be honest inits criticism of the Budget and to start talking seriously about the country's issues. People were nowmature enough to work out who was credible and consistent in his arguments, Dr Fenech-Adami saidduring a political activity in Safi.• 1 December 2003 Finance and Economic Affairs Minister John Dalli shot down Opposition criticismthat the Budget did not create opportunities for work, pointing out that the Government had investedLm40 million in industry. The Minister was speaking in Safi.• 1 December 2003 Health Minister Louis Deguara defended the spiraling costs in the Health sector andsaid that this was partly due to the fact that Malta was adopting modern technology. Dr Deguara wasspeaking in Safi.• 1 December 2003 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malta strongly condemned the terrorist attacktargeting Spanish personnel in Iraq. It expressed its condolences to the Government and people ofSpain and to the families of the victims.• 1 December 2003 Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi has bestowed the decoration of Cavaliere ofthe Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana on Joseph Eynaud in recognition of his dedication tothe Italian language in Malta for over 20 years. The President's honorific award was conferred on Prof.Eynaud by the Italian Ambassador to Malta, Alvise Memmo.• 2 December 2003 President Guido de Marco emphasised that there could not be security and stabilityin the Mediterranean unless there was security and stability in Europe, and vice-versa. Prof. de Marcomade this point in a joint news conference with the President of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, at the end oftalks held at the Presidential Palace, in Cairo.• 2 December 2003 Foreign Affairs Minister Joe Borg reaffirmed Malta's unwavering resolve to combatterrorism in all its forms, describing it as "the most serious threat to our collective security andstability". Minister Borg was speaking at the 11 th Ministerial Meeting of the Organisation for Securityand Co-operation in Europe, convened in Maastricht.• 2 December 2003 Minister for Rural Affairs and the Environment George Pullicino inaugurated therenovated walk-through botanical greenhouse and bird cages at San Anton public gardens.

Environmental Landscapes Consortium Chairman Peter Calamatta said that a future project was thetransformation of the animal pens into an exhibition centre. He said that the Consortium plans to applyfor EU funds normally allocated for such projects.• 3 December 2003 President Guido de Marco said that, “Malta strongly believes in UN SecurityCouncil resolutions as they have a meaning to both the Palestinians, in having the right to a state oftheir own, and to the Israeli people, in securing safe and guaranteed frontiers". The President wasspeaking at a joint news conference in Cairo with the Secretary General of the League of Arab States,Amre Moussa.• 3 December 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami was chosen ‘Achiever of the Year’ and‘European of the Year’ at an annual awards ceremony organised by the European Voice newspaper, inBrussels. There were 10 categories in the event, and the winners were chosen by people voting online,or through a ballot form printed in European Voice.• 3 December 2003 The Government will be allocating funds to constituted bodies and representativeorganisations to assist them in keeping abreast of developments in the European Union and to bettereducate their members about EU matters related to their respective fields of competence. The fund isadministered by a tripartite committee made up of representatives from the Office of the PrimeMinister, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.• 3 December 2003 The Government has decided to extend the period for consultation on the WhitePaper entitled A Public Service for the 21st Century, to February 16, 2004. Comments and submissionsshould be addressed to the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister, Auberge de Castille,Valletta CMR 02. Submissions may also be sent by e-mail to permsec.opm@gov.mt or by fax on 21246362.• 3 December 2003 The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Anton Tabone, took part in a meetingin Paris, of Presidents of Parliaments of acceding countries to the European Union, at the invitation ofJean-Louis Debrè, President of the French National Assembly. The main topic for discussion was,‘Europe, a reality: the future of national parliaments’.• 3 December 2003 Minister for Youth and the Arts Jesmond Mugliett inaugurated the first of Din l-ArtHelwa’s interpretation schemes at the Red Tower, in Mellieha. The Minister said interpretation wasimperative if national assets such as the Red Tower were to be better understood. The Red Towercurrently receives some 1,000 visitors a month.• 3 December 2003 Appogg launched Progett Tereza, a voluntary service under the programme UliedDarna. The service aims to provide donated items to families and individuals in need. AppoggExecutive Head Joe Gerada said donated items varied from baby stuff, including food, to furniture andappliances.• 3 December 2003 The Institute of Financial Services (UK) has awarded Bank of Valletta the 2003‘Financial Innovation Award’ for the world's best customer relationship management strategy. Theprestigious award was presented to BOV Chairman Joseph Zahra during a ceremony at the CityGuildhall, in London.• 4 December 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that he saw a future of stability forMalta, a key ingredient for economic growth. He said that these were new times where even themanner of doing politics was changing, the accent now being on ongoing consultation. Dr Fenech-Adami was speaking in Parliament during the budget debate.• 4 December 2003 President Guido de Marco's two-day official visit to the Arab Republic of Egyptcame to an end with a lecture delivered at the Mubarak Library of Cairo. The lecture was entitled ‘TheNew Architecture for Stability in the Mediterranean’, and focused on the Euro-Mediterranean region.• 4 December 2003 The Italian House of Representatives approved the fifth Financial Protocol withMalta, which had earlier also been approved by the Italian Senate. The Protocol will now be signed bythe Italian President prior to publication in the Italian Government Gazette. The Protocol amounts to€75 million (Lm31 million) over three years.• 4 December 2003 The Consulate of Malta in Dubai was officially opened on the 1 st December 2003.This office was inaugurated by Mohammed Ali Al Abbar from the Government of Dubai, Dr. Saviour

Gauci who is Ambassador for Malta in Riyadh, together with Mr. Anthony Tabone, Consul General inDubai.• 4 December 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi announced that an Employment andTraining Corporation scheme for supported employment for persons with disability will be introducednext January. Dr Gonzi was addressing a seminar on ‘The Disabled and Employment’ at the Accesscomplex, in Vittoriosa. The seminar was organised by the ETC and the Elderly and CommunityService Department, to mark the UN Day for Persons with Disability.• 4 December 2003 During the same seminar, Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that one ofthe most important achievements during this year, International Year of the Disabled, was theintroduction of flats for disabled persons at the former Vajrita Hotel, in Marsascala. He said that theinitiative would bring peace of mind to parents of disabled persons who were preoccupied with thefuture of their disabled children when the parents passed away.• 4 December 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that projections for the tourismsector in 2004 offered hope for a slight improvement on the 2003 volume performance. The Ministersaid that more niche markets should be targeted in an effort to go for further specialisation. Dr ZammitDimech was speaking at the Malta Tourism Authority’s annual conference, which this year had thetheme ‘Meeting New Challenges in International Tourism’.• 4 December 2003 Finance Minister John Dalli said that a number of companies have already showninterest in the facilities offered through the Malta Business Angels Network, which brings togetherinvestors and entrepreneurs, making it more likely that entrepreneurs find suitable investors. MinisterDalli was speaking at a seminar organised by the Malta Business Angels, entitled ‘Business AngelInvestments - high growth strategy for investors and businesses’.• 4 December 2003 Valletta Mayor Paul Borg Olivier addressed a gathering for mayors of cities ofMediterranean states. Dr Borg Olivier stressed the importance of the Mediterranean region and itsprimary role in fostering peace and understanding through cross-cultural dialogue. The event wasorganised by the City of Venice and the European Commission.• 5 December 2003 Speaker of the House of Representatives Anton Tabone outlined Malta's vision ofthe dual role of members of the European Parliament. Mr Tabone was speaking on the theme ‘Thefuture of National Parliaments’ at the meeting of presidents of parliaments of the EU accedingcountries, in Paris.• 5 December 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech invited prospective developers to registertheir interests in a leisure project, which includes a marine aquarium, recreational facilities, and therehabilitation of the foreshore along the coast between the New Dolmen Hotel and the Qawra Tower.The registration of interest is open until noon on March 1, 2004. The project could cost about Lm5million.• 5 December 2003 Finance Minister John Dalli said that the Government's decision to grant atemporary VAT reduction on yachts was nothing more than an amnesty for boat owners to regularisetheir position. With the advent of EU membership, as from 1 st May 2004, all yachts operating inEuropean seas have to be registered in Europe, Mr Dalli pointed out.• 5 December 2003 The Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry for Social Policy, Francis Agius,attended the Council of the European Union Ministers' Meeting on employment, social policy, healthand consumer affairs, in Brussels. During the meeting, a regulation for the setting-up of a EuropeanCentre for Disease Prevention and Control was established.• 5 December 2003 Housing Authority Chairperson Marisa Micallef Leyson said that a total of 101persons/households were assisted in the last financial year through a Housing Authority scheme for thedisabled, representing a total of Lm117,251. The Housing Authority assisted a number of familiesexperiencing disability through its various schemes and sale issues.• 6 December 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said that it was in the interest of thecountries of origin, transit, and destination that the flow of migrants was regulated in order to ensure aproper sustainable balance. Dr Fenech-Adami was addressing the first meeting of Heads of State andGovernment of the Western Mediterranean, known as the 5+5 Dialogue, in Tunis.

• 6 December 2003 The main story in this week’s issue of European Voice focused on the Europeanawards of the year, and Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami's achievement in being voted Europeanof the Year 2003. "I was always sure the Maltese would make the right choice. This is a homecomingfor us. It is where we belong," Dr Fenech-Adami was quoted as saying by European Voice.• 6 December 2003 Finance Minister John Dalli invited the Malta Labour Party to participate in theMalta Council for Economic and Social Development. Mr Dalli’s invitation was addressed to MLPDeputy Leader Charles Mangion when the two came face to face during a business breakfast organisedby The Business Times and the Radisson SAS Baypoint Hotel.• 6 December 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that the 700 students attendingcourses at the Institute for Tourism Studies had made a wise choice in selecting the hospitality andtourism industry on which to base their career. The Minister was speaking at the ITS graduationceremony, during which he gave an overview of the institute's achievements in the past year.• 6 December 2003 The Parliamentary Secretary in the Social Policy Ministry, Dolores Cristina, saidthat she intends to discuss the new laws, amendments, and licences related to the sale and consumptionof alcohol and to incorporate them in the national policy on alcohol to be presented to the SocialAffairs parliamentary committee. Ms Cristina was speaking at a seminar on the theme ‘Drinkingamong children. Why is it done and what should we do?’ organised by the Ghaqda Genituri, at StJames Cavalier.• 6 December 2003 Ambassador John Lowell presented his credentials, as High Commissioner of Maltato Canada, to Ms Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada. The ceremony was held at RideauHall in Ottawa, and was followed by a private meeting between the High Commissioner and theGovernor General. Both sides expressed satisfaction at the excellent and friendly relations betweenMalta and Canada.• 6 December 2003 A delegation led by Paul Dubois, Assistant Deputy Minister (Europe) in theCanadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, met the Foreign and EuropeanAffairs Committee of the House of Representatives, presided over by Michael Frendo. The discussiondealt with EU-Canada relations, Malta's membership of the European Union, and Canada-Maltarelations.• 7 December 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami arrived in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, toattend the final sessions of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. He was just in time tojoin the other Heads of Government for a retreat when country leaders discuss and try to hammer outoutstanding issues in a relaxed atmosphere. Dr Fenech-Adami flew in from Tunis where he attendedthe 5+5 Summit.• 7 December 2003 Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg announced that Malta and Tunisiahad talks at the Tunisian Justice Ministry aimed at concluding an extradition agreement. Dr Borg wasaddressing Maltese journalists at the end of the first summit of Heads of State and Government of fiveWestern European and five North African countries, known as the 5+5 Summit, in Tunis.• 7 December 2003 Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said he was sure that the FroschTouristik International summer 2004 brochures would give the necessary boost to reverse the decliningtrend of arrivals from Germany. Almost 800 German and Austrian travel agents are in Malta for thelaunch. The number of German tourists has been in decline for the past five years, with arrivals goingdown from 212,430 in 1999 to 142,106 last year.• 8 December 2003 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi announced that Malta Shipyards has wontwo major work-contracts in the face of strong competition. He said that work on the first contract wasexpected to start this week, followed by the second shortly after. This work, he said, was an importanttest for the workers who, through these contracts, had the future of the company in their hands. DrGonzi was addressing a political conference.• 9 December 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami told Maltese reporters in Abuja, Nigeria, thatMalta would be hosting the next meeting of Commonwealth Heads of Government to be held in 2005.He said the decision for Malta to organise the next CHOGM came at a most opportune time as thecountry enters the final phase of the path leading to EU membership. The Prime Minister was givinghis comments at the end of the CHOGM, in Nigeria.

• 10 December 2003 The Government of Malta condemned the acts of terror targeting mainly youngcivilians near the town of Yessentuki, in southern Russia. The Government extended its condolences tothe Government and people of Russia and to the families of the victims.• 10 December 2003 Transport Minister Censu Galea said that the Malta Maritime Authority wascommitted to ensuring the effective management of shipping and the protection of the environment.EU monitoring directive 2002/59/EC of 27 th June 2002 establishes a Community vessel monitoring andinformation system, which would also be implemented in Malta, said the Minister. Mr Galea wasspeaking at a seminar entitled ‘Vessel Traffic Services in Maltese Waters’, organised by the NauticalInstitute, Malta branch, in Kalkara.• 10 December 2003 The latest issue of ‘Global Information Technology Report’, published by theWorld Economic Forum, ranks Malta in 27 th place in the networked readiness index rankings. Maltaranks one place ahead of Italy, two behind Estonia, and three ahead of Slovenia. The United States topsthe list for the third consecutive year.• 10 December 2003 According to Employment and Training Corporation records the unemploymentrate this July stood at 5.4 per cent, with 7,914 registered as unemployed. The National Statistics Office,which issued the figures, said this was an increase of 676 over June 2003.• 10 December 2003 A new public transport service is being offered to make important sites more easilyaccessible to the tourist. The Visitmalta bus service is an initiative of the Malta Tourism Authority andthe Malta Transport Authority and is being provided by the Public Transport Association.• 11 December 2003 President Guido de Marco was awarded recognition by the Akkademja tal-Maltifor his constant support throughout his Presidency in further highlighting the importance of theMaltese language. Prof. de Marco was presented with a certificate during a musico-literary evening atthe Palace, in Valletta. The evening was held to mark the 83 rd anniversary of the Akkademja tal-Malti.• 11 December 2003 Whilst on a visit to Malta, the European Union Ombudsman NikiforosDiamandouros, called on Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami at Auberge de Castille, in Valletta.Mr Diamandouros also met Leader of the Opposition Alfred Sant at the Malta Labour Partyheadquarters, in Hamrun.• 11 December 2003 The National Office of Statistics has just published ‘Lifestyle Survey 2003’. Thesurvey on the lifestyle of the Maltese was carried out between June and July this year and was basedon a sample of 1,000 people randomly selected from the electoral register. 52.8% of the personsselected completed and returned questionnaires that they had received through the post.• 11 December 2003 The National Statistics Office said that the visible trade gap from January toOctober this year widened by Lm83.6 million to Lm310.3 million, from Lm226.8 million last year.Total imports increased by Lm52.1 million or 5.1% to Lm1,072.6 million, from Lm1,020.5 millionlast year while total exports went down by Lm31.4 million or 4% to Lm762.3, from Lm793.7 million.• 11 December 2003 Transport and Communications Minister Censu Galea presented a certificateissued by the UK Department of Transport to Contalta Ltd. The certification will enable the companyto start manufacturing stainless steel Intermediate Bulk Containers for export.• 11 December 2003 Rural Affairs and Environment Minister George Pullicino announced that Maltahas been granted a tuna catch quota of 340 tons a year by the International Commission for theConservation of Atlantic Tunas. This means that basically Malta has ensured it retained a quota for thecatches made locally, Mr Pullicino said. The Minister was interviewed by The Times newspaper.• 11 December 2003 Costa Crociere will be operating 12 Mediterranean cruises departing from andreturning to Malta, local agents S. Mifsud & Sons said. The first sailing of these 15-day cruises isscheduled for May 12, 2004. The cruises will be on the 36,000 tonne Costa Tropicale, which has acapacity of 1,411 passengers.• 12 December 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami made his annual message to Maltese livingabroad, on the occasion of Christmas and the New Year. Video and audio recordings, as well as thetext of the Prime Minister’s message, can be accessed athttp://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/archive/PMaudio/audiorecording%20-%2012.12.03%20.asp

• 12 December 2003 The European Ombudsman, Nikiforos Diamandouros, said that he had beenassured that a two-person Parliamentary Committee would be set up to pay more attention to the workcarried out by the office of the Ombudsman in Malta. Mr Diamandouros was addressing a pressconference with the EU head of delegation in Malta, Ronald Gallimore.• 12 December 2003 Two Ambassadors presented their credentials to President Guido de Marco, at thePalace, in Valletta. Alec Aalto is the new Ambassador of Finland and Sverrir Haukur Gunnlaugsson isthe new Ambassador of Iceland.• 12 December 2003 Transport and Communications Minister Censu Galea said in Parliament, that anumber of Italian contractors have shown interest in carrying out major road works in Malta to befinanced through the Italian Financial Protocol. Funds from the protocol have already been allocatedfor road works, even before the protocol was actually ratified.• 12 December 2003 The National Statistics Office said that the composition of the Maltese tax burdenshows a considerably higher reliance on indirect taxes than the EU-15 average. In 2001, indirect taxesmade up 43.9 per cent of the total tax revenue, compared to a 33.7 per cent share in the EU. On theother hand, revenues from social security contributions made up 22.4 per cent of the tax revenue,compared to a 31.4 per cent share in the EU-15.• 12 December 2003 The Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs,Edwin Vassallo, said that the Trade Licensing Unit within the Trade Division at Lascaris had received3,381 applications for commercial activities during the 19-month period from May 2002 to December2003. The Parliamentary Secretary was speaking during a meeting with the business sector.• 12 December 2003 The European Union Programmes Unit within the Education Ministry haspublished a CD Rom entitled ‘Malta - a guide to education and vocational training’. The CD is to bedistributed in several countries as a tool aimed at increasing mobility.• 12 December 2003 The Malta Transport Authority said that a new driving licence test will come intoforce on 1 st January 2004. As from that date, all new licences will be issued as probationary licencesand will be valid for a maximum of three years. All probationary licence holders will be subject to the‘Penalty Points System’.• 12 December 2003 The Malta Tourism Authority has published the 2004 edition of its ‘MaltaCalendar of Events’. The calendar is currently the only extensive digest covering major events andactivities taking place in the Maltese Islands throughout the year.• 13 December 2003 In his message to Maltese and Gozitan migrants the Prime Minister described 2003as an eventful year. Dr Fenech-Adami also said that the decision in favour of EU membership wouldmean that, as from May 1 next year, the migrants would also become European citizens. A video andaudio recording of the speech can be accessed on the following link:http://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/archive/PMaudio/audiorecording%20-%2012.12.03%20.asp• 13 December 2003 Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs EdwinVassallo said that shoppers should ensure that any toys they buy are marked CE, which indicates thatthe product conforms to European safety standards. In a press conference, Mr Vassallo declared thatany manufacturer or importer who allowed toys without the CE mark into the market would be inbreach of the Product Safety Act.• 14 December 2003 President Guido de Marco presented the Republic Day honours and awards at thePalace, in Valletta. During the investiture ceremony, five members were appointed to the Order ofMerit.• 14 December 2003 European Union leaders meeting in Brussels failed to reach agreement on aConstitution for Europe. Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami said, however, that notwithstandingthe lack of agreement, great strides forward had been made. He pointed out that consensus had beenreached on issues that even Malta was pushing for, such as the right of every country to have aCommissioner with voting rights. It was also agreed that any changes concerning taxation, socialsecurity, the criminal justice system and the budget required anonymity, said Dr Fenech-Adami.• 14 December 2003 Dr Michael Frendo said that Malta subscribes to the views being developed in theWorld Summit on the Information Society. He said that the country shares the aspirations on the

creation of a world-wide information society wherein all members of the world-wide community canenjoy a tangible improvement in their quality of life. Dr Frendo addressed the summit in his role ashead of a delegation composed of officials from the Ministry of IT and Investment, Malta's Embassy inGeneva, and Maltacom.• 15 December 2003 IT and Investment Minister Austin Gatt said that the Government has just finaliseda re-deployment exercise for the shipyards' excess workers who had decided not to take up one of theearly retirement schemes. In an interview, Minister Gatt said that productive work with differentMinistries and Local Councils has been found for the 484 former shipyard employees.• 15 December 2003 IT and Investment Minister Austin Gatt said in the same interview that he hadissued instructions so that government-owned organisations would get out of businesses that were notconsidered to be their core operations. "This means that, for instance, Air Malta will be selling its threehotels," explained Dr Gatt.• 15 December 2003 Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg confirmed that the remains ofCarmelo Borg Pisani had been transferred from Corradino prison to the Addolorata Cemetery in 1979.Borg Pisani was the only Maltese man executed during World War II after being found guilty oftreason. Minister Borg said that the Borg Pisani case had been decided through a trial and there was noreason at all to reopen the matter.• 15 December 2003 The Government stressed its stand on the measures announced in the Budgetconcerning the pension contribution of senior citizens staying at retirement homes, insisting that mostof the elderly will end up paying less and not more than before. The Social Policy Ministry explainedthat the measure was not meant to be a revenue-generating initiative but one that should stimulatepublic-private partnerships initiatives in this sector.• 15 December 2003 Scores of couples who intend to separate amicably by notarial deed filedapplications before the Second Hall of the Civil Court in an effort to beat the deadline when the newprovisions of the new law dealing with the Family Court come into force. The law, among other things,introduces procedures of mediation that have to be followed before couples can proceed before thecourts of law to obtain a personal separation.• 16 December 2003 President Guido de Marco was present at the mass for schoolchildren at SanLawrenz parish church, in Gozo. During mass, Prof. de Marco was presented with donations totallingnearly Lm2,000 in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund.• 16 December 2003 President Guido de Marco presented Lm12,301 worth of financial aid, specialisedapparatus, and white goods to various philanthropic institutions and individuals in need. Thepresentation, made on behalf of the Malta Community Chest Fund, took place at Lourdes Home, inGhajnsielem. Altogether, 28 individuals and 10 families in need, together with 11 philanthropicinstitutions, benefited from the donation.• 16 December 2003 Mr Tarcisio Zammit presented his letters of credence, accrediting him Ambassadorto the Kingdom of Belgium, to His Majesty King Albert II, King of the Belgians.• 16 December 2003 Minister of Foreign Affairs Joe Borg told Parliament that Malta would be openingembassies in Dublin and Budapest, while Spain would re-open an embassy in Malta. Dr Borg wasconcluding the budget debate on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.• 16 December 2003 The Minister for Justice, Consumer and Multilateral Affairs of South Australia,Michael Atkinson, was in Malta for talks. During his stay, Mr Atkinson had meetings with Justice andHome Affairs Minister Tonio Borg, Finance and Economic Affairs Minister John Dalli, andOpposition Leader Alfred Sant, among others.• 16 December 2003 The Euromed Regatta 2003 attracted 95 sailors from nine countries. Malta YoungSailors Club Commodore John Ripard said that the regatta is considered to be "one of the largestdinghy sailing fleets to be seen in Malta since the departure of the British services in 1979 and thebiggest international dinghy regatta ever held in Malta".• 16 December 2003 The Malta Tourism Authority's Paris office, in partnership with Air Malta andAccor Vacances, has entered into a barter agreement with French press group Entreprendre. As a resultof the agreement, Malta is being promoted in 30 magazines in France.

• 16 December 2003 Heritage Malta has put together an exhibition celebrating the centenary of thesetting up of the first national museum. The exhibition was officially inaugurated at the salon of theNational Museum of Archaeology, Valletta, and will remain open until March 31, 2004.• 16 December 2003 President and CEO of global semiconductor company ST Microelectronics,Pasquale Pistorio, said that, while ST "intended to continue to stay in Malta" it would be keeping astrict tab on production costs. Mr Pistorio was speaking to reporters visiting the company's plant atKirkop.• 17 December 2003 President Guido de Marco expressed his pride in Maltese and Gozitan emigrants,describing them as testimony to the abilities of the Maltese, who won respect for Malta through theirwork and behaviour. Prof. de Marco’s message to emigrants on the occasion of Christmas and theNew Year can be accessed at http://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/press_releases/2003/12/pr1537.asp• 17 December 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami visited the restoration works of Pinto andForni stores. The masonry restoration carried out was entrusted to TCL Limited, while thereconstruction and trimming processes were handled by Agius Stoneworks. Dr. Fenech-Adami waspresented with a miniature of a bust of Grandmaster Pinto.• 17 December 2003 Minister for Justice and Home Affairs Tonio Borg, together with the ParliamentarySecretary Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, officially inaugurated the Family Court. Dr Mifsud Bonnici saidthat the Court offered the tools that would guarantee the dignity and a just and deserved future tocouples and children, even when these are of unmarried parents.• 17 December 2003 The Economist Intelligence Unit country report on Malta predicts that economicgrowth over the next two years will be dampened by lower consumption, while pension and healthreforms are likely to encourage higher savings as confidence in adequate future provision diminishes.The report was drawn up before the Budget speech, though a number of the measures were pre-empted.• 17 November 2003 The Ministry of IT and Investment announced changes at the helm of threecompanies in which Government has a shareholding. Mr Sonny Portelli has been appointed Chairmanof Maltacom, Mr James Grech Bank of Valletta Worker Director, and Alfred Mallia Milanes Chairmanof Interprint. Mr. Joe Grioli will now be heading Maltapost Plc.• 17 December 2003 Parliamentary Secretary in the Social Policy Ministry Dolores Cristina said thatshe is looking to introduce clear laws prohibiting underage drinking. In fact Ms Cristina andOpposition spokesperson Marie Louise Coleiro are working together to formulate a national policy onalcohol.• 17 December 2003 The National Statistics Office said that the number of cruise passengers thisNovember went down to 22,781, from 26,143 a year earlier. Drops in arrivals were recorded from theBritish (-1,188), the Italian (-1,475), the Spanish (-2,460), and the French (-1,562) markets. However,in the month under review, increases were registered, mainly in the German (+2834), the US (+2,350),and the Canadian (+1,033) markets.• 17 December 2003 The Parliamentary Secretary in the Finance and Economic Services Ministry,Edwin Vassallo, announced that the price of food and medicines would not be affected by the increasein VAT which comes into force in the New Year. Mr Vassallo said that the Department would beanalysing prices to ensure that they are not raised abusively.• 17 December 2003 A total of 1,000 books have been purchased by the Education Ministry, usingmoney that would otherwise have been spent on Christmas cards. The books will be distributed to 4regional libraries, 44 branch libraries, and 49 school libraries.• 18 December 2003 President Guido de Marco said that discussion and change was a vital process thathad to take place in every sector of the nation. Prof. de Marco was speaking with reference to therecent White Paper on the modernisation of the Public Service, during a visit to the Simonds FarsonsCisk brewery, in Mriehel. The visit marked the company's 75 th anniversary.• 18 December 2003 The ‘Report by the Auditor General’ on Public Accounts 2002 identifies severalareas of concern relating to audits carried out in respect of the financial year ending 31 December2002. The analysis of the Financial Report 2002, covering the Consolidated Fund and the Statement of

Assets and Liabilities, highlights issues regarding variances in ordinary revenue and expenditure,outstanding advances, loan repayments, investments and public debt.• 18 December 2003 The Ministry for Information Technology and Investment announced that theGovernment had appointed Paul Mifsud Cremona as new Data Protection Commissioner. In themeantime, the Government has appointed the Data Protection Appeals Tribunal. This tribunal will bechaired by Edward De Bono, with Jennifer Cassingena Harper and George Sammut as members.• 18 December 2003 The Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry for Finance and Economic Affairs,Edwin Vassallo, took the initiative to begin talks on the White Paper on Public Service reform betweenthe Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Industry, the GRTU and the Malta Institute ofManagement.• 18 December 2003 Mr George N. Busuttil presented the letters of credence, appointing him as Malta'sAmbassador to the Eastern Republic of Uruguay, to President Jorge Batlle in Montevideo. Theaccreditation, which is the first to this Latin American country, is on a non-residential basis.• 18 December 2003 Thirteen people who had been registering as unemployed with the Employmentand Training Corporation completed three months of training in hotels in Ireland. The training wassponsored under the Leonardo da Vinci programme. All members of the group found work in hotels inMalta, the corporation said.• 19 December 2003 During a reception for Heads of Department in the Public Service, Prime MinisterEdward Fenech-Adami outlined the challenges that the heads would face over the coming year. He saidthat everyone should make the best of the opportunities that EU membership would offer to Malta.• 19 December 2003 Malta will be able to start tapping EU funds from 1 st January 2004, following theconclusion of negotiations on implementing structural funds for the years 2004-2006. The EuropeanCommission has confirmed that the negotiations have been concluded successfully.• 19 December 2003 In Parliament, Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami tabled the Annual Report ofthe Security Service, 2002. The security committee that oversees the service reported that the internalsecurity section last year had “positive results” in its search for possible terrorist or related cells inMalta.• 19 December 2003 Paul Skytte Christoffersen presented his diplomatic credentials to President Guidode Marco as the Ambassador of Denmark, while Rodney M. Perera presented his letters of credence asHigh Commissioner of Sri Lanka.• 19 December 2003 Foreign Minister Joe Borg said that Russia and Malta had held talks to ensure thatthe adoption of the Schengen Agreement by Malta does not thwart incoming Russian tourism in anymanner. Malta's accession to the EU, and how this process would affect relations between the Islandand Russia, topped the agenda of a meeting between Dr Borg and visiting Russian Deputy Minister ofForeign Affairs, Alexey Meshkov.• 19 December 2003 Bank of Valletta Chairman Joseph F. X. Zahra said that the BoV Group hadregistered a pre-tax profit of Lm14.8 million in the past year, an increase of 1.7% over 2002. Mr Zahraannounced the results when addressing shareholders at the Bank's 30 th annual general meeting, held atthe Mediterranean Conference Centre, in Valletta.• 19 December 2003 Minister for Information Technology and Investment Austin Gatt donatedcomputers to a number of institutions as part of a drive to eliminate the digital divide. Four computerswere presented to Merhba Bik, Ghabex, Lourdes, and Qalb ta' Gesu homes. Sixteen computers werealso presented to homes for the elderly, including nine to be used in a large computer centre at StVincent de Paul Home.• 20 December 2003 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami presented Ms Sonia Camilleri with a letterappointing her the first Commissioner for Children. The appointment was made in the presence ofSocial Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Parliamentary Secretary Dolores Cristina, at Auberge deCastille.• 20 December 2003 The Prime Minister called at the offices of the National Commission Persons withDisability, in St Venera. Dr Fenech-Adami, accompanied by Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi,

was visiting members of the Commission to symbolically mark the close of the ‘European Year forPersons with Disability’.• 20 December 2003 ‘The World Health Report 2003: Shaping the Future’ placed Malta among the topin terms of performance in the health sector. The statistics show that Malta spends 8.8 per cent of itsGross Domestic Product on the health sector: the Government spends two-thirds of this figure andprivate citizens spend the remaining third.• 20 December 2003 The President and Mrs de Marco distributed financial aid, specialised apparatus,and white goods to various individuals and philanthropic institutions in need. The Malta CommunityChest Fund has this year handed out a total of Lm406,500.• 20 December 2003 Minister for Information Technology and Investment Austin Gatt referred to thepossibility of using Enemalta’s power grid to deliver data, voice, and video as “an exciting challengeahead”. Dr Gatt was referring to an agreement signed between Maltacom and Enemalta for the lease offibre strands in a submarine cable between Malta and Gozo.• 20 December 2003 Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg announced that, as from 22 ndDecember, 139 former Drydocks workers were being assigned to local councils. The newly formedcompany, Industrial Projects Services, would be paying their salary. Dr Borg was speaking during aceremony signing over a number of government properties to four local councils.• 20 December 2003 The Malta Communications Authority launched its annual report and financialstatements for 2003 during a news conference at the SAS Radisson. The figures given in the annualreport reflect a thriving sector with increases registered in mobile and internet subscriptions.• 20 December 2003 The National Statistics Office announced that there were 8,277 people on theEmployment and Training Corporation's unemployment register in November. The number representsan increase of 411 men and women over that for November 2002.• 20 December 2003 Magistrate Carol Peralta has been appointed President of the Conditional ReleaseCommission in Kosovo. The Commission was set up to assess the behaviour of prisoners and establishif they were entitled to a reduction in their sentence.• 21 December 2003 President Guido de Marco delivered his Christmas and New Year greetings as partof the ‘Milied Flimkien’ campaign, in Freedom Square, Valletta. Prof. de Marco was joined by PrimeMinister Edward Fenech-Adami, Archbishop Joseph Mercieca, and Opposition Leader Alfred Sant.• 22 December 2003 The law on the International Criminal Court came into effect on December 16.Through it Malta is, for the first time, recognising crimes against humanity, genocide and war crimes.The Court has universal jurisdiction and is able to proceed against those who commit relevant crimesand delve into cases that national authorities would not themselves be able to process.• 22 December 2003 Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono was presented with the Quality Service Charterfor the Emergency Department of the Gozo General Hospital. The Charter is the 46 th since theGovernment initiative to set up charters was taken, less than six years ago, and the 12 th charterapplicable to Gozo.• 23 December 2003 President Guido de Marco announced that, following the setting up of an animalwelfare committee within the Malta Community Chest Fund, animal organisations are set to receive afraction of the money donated in this year's edition of ‘L-Istrina’.• 23 December 2003 Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Social Policy Francis Agius conveyedhis best wishes to the elderly and urged them to look forward to the future with optimism. Dr Agiusurged persons with relatives in old people's homes to pay them a visit during the festive period.• 23 December 2003 According to the National Statistics Office, tourist arrivals dropped by 6.5% lastmonth, when 58,453 tourists visited Malta, that is 4,043 less than in November 2002. Total arrivalsbetween January and November amounted to 1,071,921, a drop of 0.6 per cent over the same periodlast year.• 23 December 2003 According to the National Statistics Office, the number of passengers using theGozo Channel dropped by 10,531, or 0.9 per cent, in the third quarter of this year when compared to

last year. A total of 1,169,993 passengers crossed between the two Islands, compared to 1,180,524 inthe same months last year. The number of vehicles on the ferries increased by 18,881 to 293,599 in thesame period, an increase of 6.9 per cent.• 23 December 2003 Over 140 Maltese applied to work as full-time bus drivers with Wales-basedShamrock Travel. The applications were received by the Employment and Training Corporation,following a meeting for interested people who were registering for work.• 24 December 2003 Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs John Dalli presented the sum ofLm50,000 to be shared between 100 voluntary charitable and sports associations. He said that themoney came from profits made by the Department of Public Lotto. Mr. Dalli also assured those presentthat privatisation of the Lotto would not affect the future of the charity fund.• 24 December 2003 The Times of London quoted the Chairman of the Malta Financial ServicesAgency, Joe Bannister, as saying that, “finance companies in Malta benefit from a reduction inbureaucracy, streamlined procedures, lower fees and compliance costs”. Prof. Bannister was speakingabout Malta’s potential as a financial-services hub.• 24 December 2003 An article on Malta entitled ‘The EU’s springboard to Libya’ featured in a recentedition of Euroinvest. The article included an overview of the important sectors of banking andfinancial services, transport, and tourism in Malta, with an emphasis on the link with the Libyanmarket.• 24 December 2003 The 55 th edition of the review on enlargement issued by the French organisationDREE (la Direction des Relations Economiques Exterieures) described Cyprus and Malta as the most‘bank-conscious’ countries in the first wave of accession.• 24 December 2003 According to a Legal Notice issued in September, smoking will be banned from"any establishments where services are provided to the public, whether for a charge or free of charge,including the sale of goods", starting from April 2004. This effectively means that smoking would beprohibited in places such as bars and restaurants, hospitals, exhibition places, ports, airports andschools.• 27 December 2003 In his Christmas Message to the Nation, President Guido de Marco expressedsolidarity with those people who faced problems during the festive season, including the unemployed,the sick, prisoners and refugees. Prof. de Marco said that the year 2003 would be remembered forMalta’s decision to confirm its place within the EU. www.doi.gov.mt.• 27 December 2003 In his Christmas message, Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami spoke of newchallenges and opportunities ahead. Dr Fenech-Adami said that it had been important for Malta tobecome an EU member, particularly for it to make economic progress. Dr Fenech-Adami said that,whenever there were problems, consensus had to be sought. www.doi.gov.mt.• 27 December 2003 In his message Archbishop Joseph Mercieca said that the Maltese were a charitablepeople whose sense of solidarity showed at all times, but especially at Christmas time. Mgr Merciecawarned, however, that they were also being tainted with a mentality that calculated happiness andpeace in terms of money.• 27 December 2003 According to Euractiv, a specialised EU news agency based in Brussels, ForeignMinister Joe Borg, Finance Minister John Dalli and the Prime Minister's personal assistant, RichardCachia Caruana, are the front runners for the post of Malta's EU Commissioner.• 27 December 2003 The National Statistics Office said that provisional statistics supplied by theCentral Bank of Malta indicate that the Government's debt outstanding at the end of November stood atLm1,242.2 million, up by Lm194.3 million, or 18.5%, over the same period last year. At the end ofNovember, the government debt showed an increase of Lm165.2 million when compared with the endof last year. Compared to a month earlier, it rose by Lm31.2 million.• 27 December 2003 The National Statistics Office said that recurrent revenue in the first 11 months thisyear totalled Lm620.8 million, making up 80.6% of this year's budget forecast. Compared to the sameperiod last year, recurrent revenue increased by Lm7.6 million, or 1.2%. At the same time, totalexpenditure amounted to Lm768.6 million, an increase of Lm39.3 million, or 5.4%, over the Lm729.3million expended in the same period a year earlier.

• 27 December 2003 According to a new study by Eurostat, the statistical office of the EuropeanCommunities, Malta's Gross Domestic Product per capita in terms of purchasing power standards hasreached 69% of the average in current EU member states. Cyprus is the best performer among theacceding and candidate countries, reaching 76% of the 15 EU member states' average in 2002.Slovenia is in second place with Malta.• 27 December 2003 The National Statistics Office said that tourist departures by air in the first 10months of this year increased by 0.3% over the same period last year to reach 982,129. The number oftourists departing by air in October stood at 109,805 tourists, an 11.8% decline over the same monthlast year.• 28 December 2003 Charity fund-raising telethon L-Istrina reached and exceeded its ambitious targetof Lm1 million. The programme opened with a message from President Guido de Marco. Prof. deMarco was followed by other leading personalities. Fifteen organisations stand to benefit from thecharity bonanza.• 28 December 2003 The Malta-EU Information Centre weekly journal, Aggornat, said that about12,300 candidates from the 10 acceding states, including Malta, had applied for posts in the EUinstitutions. The European Personnel Selection Office earlier this year issued a call for applications forthe posts of assistant translators, secretaries, and assistant administrators to work as permanent officialsin EU institutions.• 29 December 2003 Archbishop Joseph Mercieca and Auxiliary Bishop Annetto Depasqualeexchanged season's greetings with members of the public and, particularly, with persons withdisability, at the Curia, in Floriana. Mgr. Mercieca said that, in view of the European Year for Personswith Disability, the focus of the event was on persons with disability.• 30 December 2003 Ombudsman Joe Sammut visited illegal immigrants held at Mount CarmelHospital. Mr Sammut said that following media reports he felt that it was his responsibility to visit theimmigrants and check the circumstances under which they lived.• 30 December 2003 The Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs said that the Government hasawarded the contract for the supply of the Mater Dei Hospital medical equipment to the Italian firmINSO Spa.• 30 December 2003 The Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Social Policy, Francis Agius, saidthat the Government is planning to introduce medical and social assessment of elderly people whoapply for long-term care. Dr Agius said he believes that the results of a study carried out by Dr JosephDimech and Dr Anthony Fiorini in 1997-78 still hold today. The study shows that almost a quarter ofthose who applied for long-term care could remain in the community.• 30 December 2003 The Central Bank left the central intervention rate unchanged at three per cent. Thedecision was taken by the Governor, Michael Bonello, at the end of a meeting of the Monetary PolicyAdvisory Council.• 30 December 2003 The Ministry for Youth and the Arts has issued a call for tenders to organise anappropriate programme of festivities to celebrate in a proper and fitting manner Malta's entry into theEuropean Union.• 30 December 2003 The National Statistics Office said that in October there was an increase in all threeindicators for industry, namely turnover, employment, and wages and salaries. The turnover indexincreased by 16.04% from 104.13 to 120.83 when compared to October last year.• 30 December 2003 According to the National Statistics Office, the unemployment rate in August 2003stood at 5.5%, compared to 5.1% in August 2002. Employment and Training Corporation figures showthat there were 8,052 persons registering for work, that is an increase of 640 over August of last year.• 30 December 2003 According to the MSN Search Trends Barometer for 2003, Malta is among themost searched-for destinations by the British on the internet. Blackpool was in first place, followed byBradford, Prague, and Edinburgh. Malta stood in fifth place.

• 30 December 2003 According to the Director of Primary Health Care, Dr Andrew Amato Gauci, inSeptember and October just under 25,000 doses of influenza vaccines were given to those eligible.This is roughly the same amount as in previous years during this period.• 31 December 2003 Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs John Dalli and China's Ambassador toMalta Lio Zhengxiu signed an agreement which will result in Malta benefiting from about Lm125,000.The donation is to be spent on products and services that are to be decided in meetings between the twocountries in the near future.• 31 December 2003 The National Statistics Office announced that the inflation rate had gone up from1.05% in October to 1.13% in November 2003. In April 2002 the inflation rate had been 3.65%.