October 6, 2004

The Permanent Mission of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to the United Nations is pleased to announce that on Monday, 20 September 2004, in New York City, H.E. Ms. Paulette A. Bethel, Ambassador/Permanent Representative of The Bahamas to the United Nations, signed a Joint Communiqué establishing formal diplomatic relations between The Bahamas and Malta. 

The Joint Communiqué, which was also signed on behalf of Malta by H.E. Mr. Victor Camilleri, Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Malta to the United Nations, states that the Government of' the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and the Government of Malta, guided by the mutual willingness to develop friendly relations and cooperation between the two States in political, economic, cultural, humanitarian and other fields, have decided to establish diplomatic relations at the Ambassadorial level with effect from 20 September 2004.

The Governments agreed that their diplomatic relations would be founded on the principles and norms of the United Nations Charter and International Law. The Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and the Government of Malta are folly convinced that the establishment of diplomatic relations corresponds to the interests of both States and will strengthen international peace and security. The two Parties further agreed that their diplomatic relations shall be guided by the provision of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 18 Apri11961. 

Located in the Mediterranean Sea, just south of Sicily, the Maltese archipelago basically consists of three islands: Malta, Gozo and Camino. Their total population in 2000 was 382,525. The largest island of the group is Malta, from which the archipelago takes its name. The Bahamas and Malta have 1ong history of close cooperation in organisations such as the United Nations, the Commonwealth, and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). Malta acceded to membership of the European Union on 1 May 2004. The establishment of formal relations with Malta is a part of the Bahamas Government's long-term foreign policy of fostering closer partnerships with like-minded countries in all comers of the globe. The Bahamas looks forward to continued close collaboration with Malta, not only on a bilateral basis, but a1so in the United Nations and other multilateral arena.