En-route to Tunis, to attend the meeting of the Multilateral Talk's Steering Committee, Deputy Foreign Minister Beilin stopped off in Malta for a meeting with Foreign Minister Guido De Marco. In recent years Malta played a growing and positive role in facilitating the peace process in the Middle East. This has come in contrast to its previous position, which was marked on occasion by tension in the relations between Israel and Malta. But tension dissipated when Malta, began to support Israel in various Mediterranean and Middle East forums.
Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Yossi Beilin, yesterday (Sunday), 10 July 94, met with Maltese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Guido de Marco. The meeting took place during the Israeli delegation's three hour stopover in the Maltese capital, Valetta, on its way to the meeting in Tunis of the Multilateral Talks' Steering Committee. This short visit was the first one by an Israeli with ministerial rank to Malta.
Dr. Beilin thanked his host for his efforts to renew the negotiations with the Palestinians after the Hebron massacre and for his efforts to involve Israel in the various Mediterranean Sea and other regional forums. Dr. Beilin briefed his host on developments in the peace process in the wake of the Cairo Agreement and the resumption talks with the Palestinians prior to the opening of the negotiations with Jordan next week.
Foreign Minister De Marco discussed his recent meeting with the Syrian Foreign Minister at which he tried to convince him of the importance of negotiations with Israel, and of the centrality of the security component to any arrangement. The two ministers also discussed the importance of Syria's participation in regional dialogues.
Dr. Beilin and the Maltese Foreign Minister expressed satisfaction at the state of bilateral relations,
Foreign Minister De Marco invited Foreign Minister Shimon Peres to visit Malta. It was agreed that the visit will take place soon.