On Thursday, 19 September 2019, the Ambassador of Malta to Spain, Dr Vanni Xuereb, and his spouse Mr Charlò Baldacchino, hosted a reception at their residence in Madrid to celebrate the 55th Anniversary of Malta’s attainment of Independence on 21 September 1964. Guests included the Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities of Spain, Pedro Duque, the Director-General for Western, Central and South East Europe at the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Aurora Mejía Errasquín, ambassadors of various countries and international organisations accredited to Spain, Malta’s honorary consuls in Spain, a number of Maltese nationals resident in Spain, and friends of Malta in Spain.

Following the playing of the national anthems of Spain and Malta, and the European anthem,  Ambassador Xuereb delivered a brief address in Spanish in which he conveyed the message for this year’s Malta Day of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion of Malta, Carmelo Abela, and also spoke of the work of the Embassy to further strengthen the excellent relations between Malta and Spain.

At the end of his speech, Ambassador Xuereb announced the formal appointment of Malta’s new Honorary Consul in Barcelona, Juan Ignacio Alonso Dregi, and presented him with the Letter of Commission by the President of Malta and the document bearing the formal acceptance of his appointment by H.M. King Felipe VI of Spain.

The guests were then treated to a buffet, prepared for the occasion by the Ambassador’s spouse, Mr Baldacchino.