Italian Senate approves Malta protocol

by Rosanne Zammit (timesofmalta.com)

Italian Ambassador Dr Alvise Memmo addressing the members of the Italian Red Cross at the presentation of certificates. Next to him is Professor Lino Cutajar, president of the Malta Red Cross Society.
The Italian Senate has approved the fifth financial protocol between Italy and Malta, Italy's ambassador to Malta, Alvise Memmo, said yesterday. He was speaking during the presentation of certificates to 36 Italian members of the Red Cross who attended a week-long course in "Operational Multi Skill Water Rescue and Basic Life Support", run by the Water Rescue Academy of the Malta Red Cross Society. The protocol, under which the island is set to receive Lm31 million over three years, was signed last year. It covers the period 2003-2005.The protocol now has to be approved by the Italian House of Representatives. Dr Memmo said the role of the 50-man Italian military mission in Malta was being slightly altered for coastal surveillance to be increased.Parliamentary Secretary Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, who presented the certificates, said he was satisfied with the constant collaboration between Malta and Italy, adding that the two countries were continuously trying to find new ways of increasing their collaboration. He also praised voluntary organisations, which also had offered assistance in the recent storm which caused a natural disaster but which, fortunately, had not taken any lives. Course director Horace Zahra said Malta had initially received training from the Spanish, German and Italian Red Cross. The latter, he said, had given Malta the necessary knowledge so that Malta could eventually set up a teaching academy at the Villa Rosa Hotel in St Julian's. The Italians were now coming to Malta to receive their training from the academy, which would be a training hub for Red Cross organisations in the Mediterranean.