On 20 August, Mikhail Gorbachev met Hon. Carmelo Abela, Malta’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion, who is currently in Russia on an official visit.

 

Participants in the meeting also included the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion Fiona Formosa, H.E. Pierre Clive Agius, Ambassador of Malta to the Russian Federation, members of the Maltese delegation, the Gorbachev Foundation’s Executive Director Olga Zdravomyslova, and Pavel Palazhchenko, head of the Gorbachev Foundation's International and Media Relations.

 

Hon. Carmelo Abela told Mikhail Gorbachev about the planned events in Malta to celebrate the forthcoming 30th anniversary of the summit meeting in Malta between Presidents Gorbachev and Bush held on 2–3 December 1989. “Our goal is to remind people about this historic event of fundamental importance, highlight its significance to the world, and at the same time provoke meaningful reflection on the current state of international relations, and the challenges that need to be addressed today through joint efforts based on dialogue and collaboration,” said Hon. Carmelo Abela.

Mikhail Gorbachev said it was extremely important to sustain what has been achieved through a joint effort during the years leading to the end of the Cold War.

 

The former Soviet President shared his memories of the Malta Summit with participants in the meeting:

 

“The US side suggested that we meet aboard navy vessels offshore Malta and we agreed. Both the Soviet and the US vessels were sitting anchored awaiting the summit. However, a storm started during the night and it was so heavy that the two delegations just could not get aboard. And we were lucky to have a civilian cruise ship, Maxim Gorky, anchored in the port at the time. We invited President Bush and the US delegation to meet aboard the ship and that’s where the summit took place. It was very symbolic. In Malta, the US President and I stated that our two nations no longer regarded each other as enemies and we were willing to build relations based on cooperation, and partnership going forward. We discussed many problems, and there were plenty of them in those turbulent times. And we reached agreement on many issues. We have gone through a lot following the Malta Summit but still we were able to continue what we have started during our summits with President Ronald Reagan in Geneva and Reykjavik – primarily in reducing nuclear weapons. Today, there is a strong need for dialogue, for promoting engagement however difficult it may be. And every country has a role to play in this process”.

 

Hon. Carmelo Abela fully agreed with this statement. “We on our part will do everything we can within the framework of bilateral relations. As an EU member, we will facilitate a dialogue with the Russian Federation to increase convergence on all issues”.

 

Mikhail Gorbachev wished Minister Carmelo Abela a successful completion of his visit to Moscow and every success in his efforts.