I wish to extend a warm
welcome to all readers visiting the website of the Embassy of the Republic of
Malta in Warsaw.
Diplomatic relations
between Malta and Poland were established on the 23rd October 1971. Since then, bilateral relations grew
stronger, year after year, as clearly demonstrated by the ever increasing list
of official visits and exchanges taking place between the two countries, at the
highest level of government, particularly following the accession of both
countries to the European Union in 2004 and to Schengen in 2008.
The development of these
bilateral relations led to several important visits, including, inter alia, a
State Visit to Poland by H.E. Professor Guido de Marco, President of the
Republic of Malta and a State Visit to Malta by H.E. Mr. Aleksander
Kwasniewski, President of the Republic of Poland, both in 2004.
In
June 2014, the President of the Republic of Malta, H.E. Marie-Louise Coleiro
Preca paid an official visit to Poland on the occasion of the celebrations
marking the 25th Anniversary of Polish Freedom in Warsaw. In
January 2015, H.E. The President of the Republic once again was invited to
Poland to participate in the ceremony marking the anniversary of the liberation
of Auschwitz.
Other important visits
including that by the Prime Minister of Poland, Mr. Donald Tusk to Malta in
October 2009 as well as the visit of the Prime Minister of Malta, Dr. Lawrence
Gonzi to Poland, in April 2011. During
this latter visit, Prime Minister Gonzi inaugurated the Embassy of the Republic
of Malta to the Republic of Poland, in Warsaw.
Since then, the two
countries engaged in further strengthening political consultations at all
levels of government, including through visits at Foreign Ministers’ level, at
the level of Speaker of the House of Representatives, other Ministerial levels
and Senior Officials.
There exists ample scope
for Poland and Malta to explore and develop ways to promote ties at the
economic and cultural levels, given the natural complementarity which the two
countries enjoy. History has it that both
countries share the same colours – red and white – in their respective national
flags. Needless to say, cultural ties go
way beyond this. In 2007, a
Maltese-Polish Friendship Society was set up with a view to foster a
people-to-people approach, while, in the meantime, twinning agreements were
signed between Gzira and Walbrzych; Marsaskala and Chojna; Sliema and Bialystok. During the last few years, the Embassy has
been instrumental in organising a number of cultural events, seeking in so
doing, to promote Maltese culture and the arts in the main cities and
localities in Poland, thereby ensuring that the cultural connections existing between
the two peoples are deepened further.
Economic relations
between the two countries have strengthened considerably, with statistics
indicating both an impressive expansion of trade and commerce taking place as
well as clear promise for the future. Tourism traffic between the two countries
has increased significantly, particularly following the recently-introduced air
travel connections between Malta and Poland’s main airports in Gdansk, Poznan,
Warsaw, Wroclaw, Katowice and Krakow.
I encourage all readers
to keep in touch with the Embassy of Malta in Warsaw and to communicate with us
should you require any information or assistance which we would be delighted to
extend.