L-Eċċellenza Tagħha, President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović,
Eċċellenzi,
Mistiedna distinti,
Għeżież ħbieb,
Mill-ġdid nilqa’ lill-Eċċellenza Tiegħek, President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, fit-tieni żjara tiegħek fil-Gżejjer Maltin.
Se jkolli l-opportunità li nerġa’ nilqgħak f’Malta għal-laqgħa tal-Arraiolos Group, li se ssir f’Settembru ta’ din is-sena.
Il-laqgħa tal-Arraiolos, li hija laqgħa ta’ livell għoli u li se tlaqqa’ flimkien Kapijiet ta’ Stat mhux eżekuttivi minn pajjiżi Ewropej, se sservi ta’ pjattaforma qawwija biex niddiskutu l-isfidi u l-opportunitajiet li qed jaffaċċjaw l-Unjoni Ewropea, ir-reġjun tagħna u lil hinn minnu.
Huwa pjaċir tiegħi li se tkun preżenti fostna, u ċerta li l-impenn kollettiv tal-kollegi tagħna waqt il-laqgħa tal-Arraiolos se joħloq ambjent ta’ djalogu u kollaborazzjoni ħajja.
Nieħu din l-opportunità biex infakkarkom fil-laqgħat l-oħra, ta’ livell għoli, li saru dan l-aħħar, u li huma xhieda tar-rabtiet bejn iż-żewġ pajjiżi tagħna.
Dawn kienu jinkludu laqgħat f’April bejn il-Ministri tal-Affarijiet Barranin rispettivi tagħna, kif ukoll taħditiet bilaterali bejn il-Prim Ministri tagħna, li saru f’Marzu, fejn iddiskutew il-futur tal-Unjoni Ewropea, fost temi oħrajn.
Ir-relazzjonijiet bejn Malta u r-Repubblika tal-Kroazja ssaħħew permezz tal-importanza li nagħtu lis-suċċess tal-Proġett Ewropew.
L-impenn taż-żewġ pajjiżi tagħna jirrifletti l-importanza li nagħtu lill-valuri, ibbażata fuq ħsibijiet komuni għall-paċi fost ir-reġjuni tagħna, fl-Unjoni Ewropea u madwar id-dinja.
Nemmen bis-sħiħ li rridu nkomplu naħdmu flimkien, biex nagħtu prominenza lill-kwistjonijiet kollha li jippromwovu l-prosperità u l-ġid tal-membri kollha tas-soċjetà fil-pajjiżi tagħna.
Sabiex niksbu dan kollu, jeħtieġ li nkomplu ninkoraġġixxu t-tisħiħ tad-diversità soċjali u kulturali, il-parteċipazzjoni tas-soċjetà ċivili, u t-trawwim ta’ sens inklussiv ta’ ċittadinanza attiva.
Permezz ta’ dan, se nkunu qegħdin inħarsu l-ideali l-aktar għeżież tad-demokraziji tagħna, li huma essenzjali f’dawn iż-żminijiet ta’ inċertezza globali.
Ir-rwol tal-Unjoni Ewropea sabiex jitħarsu l-ideali tagħna huwa ċar.
Għalhekk, nixtieq infaħħar lir-Repubblika tal-Kroazja għall-isforzi tagħha sabiex tassigura l-istabbilità fir-reġjun tal-Balkani tal-Punent. Jeħtieġ li nkomplu niffukaw fuq il-bini ta’ rabtiet aktar sodi bejn, u fost, il-pajjiżi kollha tagħna u madwar ir-reġjuni varji tal-Ewropa.
Il-fokus fuq l-istabbilità u l-opportunitajiet fil-Balkani tal-Punent u l-potenzjal ta’ prosperità paċifika, hija prijorità tal-Presidenza ta’ Malta tal-Kunsill tal-Unjoni Ewropea li għaddejja bħalissa .
Barra minn hekk, fi spirtu ta’ prosperità, huwa inkoraġġanti li ninnutaw in-numbru kbir ta’ impjegati Kroati li huma reġistrati li qed jaħdmu f’Malta.
It-turiżmu bejn iż-żewġ pajjiżi tagħna qed jikber kontinwament. Opportunitajiet bħal dawn, permezz tal-impjiegi u t-turiżmu, huma mezz eċċellenti ta’ kif jgħaqqdu lin-nies flimkien, u jrawmu l-konnessjonijiet u l-ħbiberiji, fost il-komunitajiet tal-pajjiżi rispettivi tagħna.
Ejjew naħdmu flimkien sabiex inkabbru sinerġija akbar bejn il-komunitajiet tan-negozju fil-pajjiżi rispettivi tagħna. B’dan il-mod, ikunu jistgħu jidentifikaw b’mod effettiv u effiċjenti, opportunitajiet ġodda għal tkabbir reċiproku.
Fil-fatt, hemm bżonn ta’ fokus ċar fuq il-prosperità tas-soċjetajiet tagħna, jekk irridu nassiguraw li l-isfidi li ġejjin mill-faqar u l-prekarjat ikunu indirizzati. Ma nistgħux inħallu ċerti gruppi jew komunitajiet li jaqgħu f’riskju ta’ esklużjoni ekonomika jew soċjali. Pjuttost, jeħtieġ li nibnu relazzjonijiet b’saħħithom bejn il-gruppi differenti, fost is-soċjetà, għall-benefiċċju ta’ kulħadd.
Irridu nżommu f’moħħna l-ideali ta’ parteċipazzjoni demokratika, ir-rispett lejn id-Drittijiet Umani u l-ħarsien tal-liġi.
Dawn huma l-wirt prezzjuż u l-legat tal-kulturi tagħna Ewropej, u dawl fid-diffikultajiet attwali.
Jiena fiduċjuża li se jkompli jikber dan l-ispirtu qawwi ta’ sħubija fost il-popli tagħna, biex b’hekk jitrawwem prosperità reċiproka u ġid sinifikanti, fil-pajjiżi tagħna, madwar l-Unjoni Ewropea, u madwar id-dinja kollha.
B’saħħet l-Eċċellenza Tagħha, President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, u għar-relazzjonijiet tajba u l-ħbiberija bejn il-popli tagħna.
PR171209en
PRESS RELEASE BY THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
Speech by President of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca at state dinner in honour of President of the Republic of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović
Your Excellency, President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Dear Friends,
Let me begin by once again, welcoming Your Excellency, President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, on your second visit to the Maltese Islands.
Furthermore, I look forward to your participation at the upcoming Arraiolos Group Meeting, which shall be held in September of this year.
The high level Arraiolos meeting, which brings together non-executive Heads of State, from different European countries, will once again give us a powerful platform to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the European Union, our region and beyond.
I am so pleased to have you on board, and I am sure that the united commitment of our colleagues, during the Arraiolos meeting, will produce an environment of active dialogue and collaboration.
Let me also take this opportunity to note the various other high level meetings that have recently taken place, and are evidence of the vibrant ties between our two countries.
These have included meetings between our respective Ministers of Foreign Affairs, held in April, and bilateral talks between our Prime Ministers, held in March, where they discussed the future of the European Union, amongst other topics.
Relations between Malta and the Republic of Croatia have been strengthened by the importance that we both place, in the success of the European Project.
Our mutual commitment reflects a deep kinship of values, founded on a common concern for peace within our regions, in our European Union, and throughout our world.
I firmly believe that we must continue working together, to give due prominence to all issues that promote the prosperity and the wellbeing of all members of society in our nations.
In order to achieve this, we must continue to encourage the strengthening of social and cultural diversity; the participation of civil society; and the fostering of an inclusive sense of active citizenship.
By doing so, we shall be safeguarding the most treasured ideals of our democracies, which are essential during these times of global uncertainty.
The role of the European Union to safeguard our ideals is clear.
Therefore, I would like to commend the Republic of Croatia for its efforts to ensure stability in the Western Balkan region.
We must continue to focus on building stronger links between, and among, all our countries, and across the various regions of Europe.
A focus on stability and opportunity in the Western Balkans, and the potential for peaceful prosperity, is a priority of Malta’s ongoing presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Furthermore, in this spirit of prosperity, it is encouraging to note the large number of registered Croatian employees who are active in the Maltese workforce.
Moreover, tourism between our countries is also steadily growing. Such opportunities, through employment and tourism, are an excellent means of bringing people together, nurturing connections and friendships among the communities of our respective countries.
Let us work together, to encourage greater synergy between the business communities of our respective countries. In this way, they shall be able to effectively and efficiently identify new opportunities for mutual growth.
Indeed, a clear focus on the prosperity of our societies is essential if we are to ensure that the challenges posed by poverty and precarity are proactively addressed. We cannot allow certain groups or communities to face a heightened risk of economic or social exclusion. Rather, we must build healthy relationships between diverse groups, across society, for the benefit of all.
Let us always remember that we must be guided by the ideals of democratic participation, respect for Human Rights, and the upholding of the rule of law.
These are the precious heritage and legacy of all our European cultures, and a light on our journey through contemporary difficulties.
I trust that a strong spirit of partnership will continue to grow between our peoples, fostering mutual prosperity, and meaningful wellbeing, in our countries, across our European Union, and throughout our world.
Let’s raise our glasses and drink to the health of Her Excellency, President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, and to the excellent relations and friendship between our peoples.