A memorandum of understanding and cooperation has been signed between the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies of the University of Malta and the Institute of Diplomatic Studies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – a country renowned for its gross human rights abuses and its horrible record of public beheadings.
The government yesterday said the general cooperation agreement was signed by Foreign Minister Michael Frendo with his Saudi counterpart when he visited Saudi Arabia in April 2003 and which was ratified by the Saudi authorities in July of this year.
The aims of the memorandum are to establish and strengthen cooperation in the areas of information, research activities and training programmes and exchange documents, studies and expertise between the two parties.
On Monday, a Saudi delegation from the Majlis-ash-Shura, the advisors to the Saudi monarchy, met the parliamentary foreign affairs committee, although there were no formal discussions held over the state of human rights in the oil-rich country, where women are not even allowed to drive.
The government yesterday said both countries recognised the need for developing and introducing modern methods in specialists training in foreign policy, international relations, international law, foreign economic relations, political science and other pertinent subjects.
The Maltese Academy and the Saudi Institute agreed to cooperate in establishing joint programmes of basic and specialised training in view of improving their professional qualifications and to inform each other on matters related to teaching techniques and scientific research together with the exchange of relevant literature, publications and experts.
Both parties also agreed to exchange invitations to specialists to attend workshops, symposia and conferences, expertise in areas related to library organisation, education and administration of educational institutions, exchange lecturers and students with the aim to upgrade their professional qualifications and promote meeting and discussions on issues of mutual interest with the participation of ministers, officials, diplomats, students and faculty members.
The Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation has a duration of three years and was signed in Riyadh by Malta’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Godwin Montanaro and Ambassador Saad A Al Ammar on behalf of the Saudi Foreign Affairs Ministry.