'The magic that is Malta'

Former ambassador Michael Bartolo takes a cue from Sarkozy's reflection visit to Malta following the French presidential elections to discuss the global attraction of Malta:

..Whether he chose Malta to make up for the faux pas of originally omitting Malta from the countries to be involved in his Mediterranean strategy (as the French media seemed to imply) or for any other reason, his choice should not have surprised anyone. As I found out while at the United Nations, and later as a representative of Malta to the UN, Malta always fascinated people whenever it was proposed as a host for regional or international meetings, or simply as a venue for some historical meeting like the Bush/Gorbachev encounter.

Malta's magic and the sense of history and mystery it invokes is due primarily to the impact left by its past civilizations and its being in the centre of the clear, blue Mediterranean sought after by many adventurers going back in history, even, as some believe, to the time of Ulysses. I am sure it is also due to its reputation of always contributing to international affairs (as we saw by its contributions to the UN, for example) beyond what is expected of it, considering its size and resources. Malta's weather and the friendliness of its people and certainly its history of democracy and the climate of calm and normally level-headedness, even in times of crisis, adds appeal and charm to the islands of Malta and Gozo. So it should not be surprising when personalities come to Malta to relax and recharge their batteries or for some other reason.

The Bush/Gorbachev historical meeting in Malta some years ago formally marked the end of the dangerous period of the Cold War between the two superpowers, the US and the USSR, that more than once put the rest of the world on the brink of another global confrontation. Malta supplied the venue in spite of one of the most severe storms in recent memory. Delimara bay was calmer and more welcoming to Sarko.

A few years ago when the former President of Ireland, Mrs Mary Robinson, was appointed UN Commissioner of Human Rights she told me that it was a difficult decision for her whether to accept Kofi Annan's offer at the end of her presidency of Ireland. As it is well known, she accepted to become Commissioner of Human Rights, but only after spending a few days "reflecting on the offer" in Malta.

While the mention of Malta abroad elicits curiosity and fascination, and while Malta's international proposals in fora like the UN General Assembly have generally always found support, Malta's magic has not worked so well in one area - namely in the area of nominations and appointments of Maltese candidates to senior international positions...