On 30 July 2012 Mr. Joseph Cole who has been appointed Malta’s Ambassador to the US of America, presented his credentials to US President Barack Obama at the White House.
In his speech to the President, Ambassador Cole delivered the special greetings of His Excellency the President of Malta Dr. George Abela to President Obama and recalled the excellent relations enjoyed by both countries, which among others led to exceptional progress during the past few years. In this regard, Ambassador Cole made reference to specific cooperation which took the form of an Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Accession by Malta to the Visa Waiver Programme.
 Furthermore Ambassador Cole highlighted the recent cooperation that unfolded during last year’s Libyan conflict. Malta’s role as hub for humanitarian assistance and the evacuation of more than 20,000 expatriates, including US citizens from war thorn Libya have won the praise of the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
On immigration to Malta, Ambassador Cole thanked the US government for its continued assistance in the resettlement of refugees in the US.
As far as regional and international stability are concerned Ambassador Cole made reference to the importance of the latter in the Magreb and Mashrek regions as well as the peace process in the Middle East. Another important factor that was highlighted is the importance to secure stability through the observance of law through democracy and the international community’s response to Iran.
Ambassador Cole closed his speech by auguring that the two countries continue on the path of addressing global concerns with more dialogue taking place between the EU and the US.
Following the presentation ceremony, President Obama exchanged pleasantries with the Ambassador’s family and expressed his appreciation for Malta’s role during the Libyan crisis and Malta’s endless efforts to implement the sanctions regime on Iran.
President Obama also thanked Ambassador Cole personally for his efforts as Chairman of the Sanctions Monitoring Board to ensure the proper implementation of sanctions
During the ceremony, Ambassador Cole was accompanied by his wife Bernadette.
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Wara l-ħatra tiegħu bħala l-Ambaxxatur Malti għall-iStati Uniti, illum, it-30 ta’Lulju, is-Sur Joseph Cole ippreżenta l-kredenzjali tiegħu lill-President Amerikan Barack Obama fil-White House.
Fid-diskors indirizzat lill-President, l-Ambaxxatur Cole irrefera għar-relazzjonijiet eċċellenti li jeżistu bejn iż-żewġ pajjiżi li ħadu spinta ’l quddiem matul dawn l-aħħar snin. F’dan is-sens l-Ambaxxatur Cole għamel referenza għal koperazzjoni partikolari li ħadet is-sura ta’ Ftehim dwar Helsien ta' Hlas ta' Taxxa Doppja u l-Adeżjoni ta’ Malta fil-Programm ta’ Eżenzjoni mill-Viża.
Barra minnhekk, l-Ambaxxatur Cole irrefera għall-koperazzjoni li seħħet is-sena l-oħra matul il-konflitt Libjan. L-irwol ta’ Malta bħala ċentru għall-assistenza umanitarja u l-evakwazzjoni ta’ iżjed minn 20,000 persuna, inklużi ċittadini Amerikani mil-Libja kienet imfaħħra mis-Segretarju tal-iStat Amerikan Hillary Clinton.
Fejn tidħol stabbilta’ reġjonali u internazzjonali l-Ambaxxatur Cole tenna l-importanza ta’ dan; kemm fir-reġjuni tal-Maxrek u l-Magreb kif ukoll fil-proċess ta’ paċi li għaddej fil-Lvant Nofsani. Xi ħaġa oħra ta’ importanza li ssemmiet kienet il-ħtieġa li tkun assigurata l-istabbilta’ permezz tal-għodod demokratiċi u t-tiswir tar-reazzjoni tal-komunita’ internazzjonali għall-pożizzjoni tal-Iran.
L-Ambaxxatur Cole għalaq id-diskors tiegħu billi awgura li ż-żewġ pajjiżi jkomplu fuq il-linja li jindirizzaw temi ta’ natura globali b’iżjed djalogu bejn l-Unjoni Ewropea u l-iStati Uniti.
Wara ċ-ċerimonja, il-President Obama u l-Ambaxxatur Cole partu l-awguri tagħhom fejn il-President Obama irringrazzja lil Malta ghas-sehem taghha waqt il-krizi Libjana. Il-President Amerikan irringrazzjal personalment lill-Ambaxxatur Cole ghall-hidma tieghu fil-kariga li kellu bhala Chairman tas-Sanctions Monitoring Board Malti u ghall-mod kif gew implimentati s-sanzjonijiet fuq l-Iran.
Waqt iċ-ċerimonja tal-għoti tal-kredenzjali l-Ambaxxatur Cole kien akkumpanjat mill-mara tiegħu Bernadette.
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