The Governments of Malta and the United States discussed the latest developments in the Mediterranean during a meeting between Foreign Affairs Minister George Vella and Kathleen Doherty Deputy Assistant Secretary from the Bureaun of European & Eurasian Affairs.

The Deputy Assistant Secretary said that the aim of her visit was to get the Maltese perspective on global issues, particularly within the Mediterranean, and to see how to could continue working with the Republic of Malta on the bilateral front.

While explaining the new administration’s vision on foreign policy, Foreign Minister George Vella expressed his concern over North Africa and Middle East saying that Syria was the most acute problem at the moment.

The two side exchanged views on the discussions that are currently taking place within EU institutions on the arms embargo and the Geneva II Conference which had been agreed to by the US and Russia.

Doherty also asked about the Maltese perspective on Libya, saying that the US was increasingly concerned about the growing instability. The two sides exchange views on the recent developments in Libya including the standoff with the armed militias and the adoption of the Political Isolation Law.

The two sides also discussed the situation in Tunisia and Egypt and exchanged views on the EU’s and the US’ engagement with regard to the Mediterranean region. The Minister recalled that the Republic of Malta had pointed out way back in 1975 that the situation in the Mediterranean was intrinsically linked with that in Europe.

The Minister said that the immediate challenge was Syria but if it were to quieten down, this would allow the necessary breathing space to try to find a regional solution, a central element of which was of course the Middle East Peace Process.

Kathleen Doherty informed of the US position on the Peace Process and the US’ efforts on both the economic and political tracks while the Minister stated that at the end of the day the central problem remained the same; the construction of settlements on occupied land and that any initiative which did not address this issue would be doomed to fail.

During the meeting Minister Vella took the opportunity to express the government’s gratitude to the US side for the solidarity shown in the resettlement of migrants, saying that he hoped the cooperation established in this field would continue

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