Rome, 17 January 2000
Prof. Guido de Marco, President of Malta, made a State Visit to H.M.E.H., Fra' Andrew Bertie, Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

The meeting took place on 16 January in SMOM's headquarters in the Magistral Palace in Rome. The President was accompanied by Mrs de Marco, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joe Borg, the Ambassador of Malta to the Order, Jimmy Farrugia, and the Cabinet Secretary, Alfred Fiorini Lowell. The Order's delegation was composed of Count Don Carlo Marullo di Condojanni, Prince of Casalnuovo and Grand Chancellor, Amb. Francesco Guariglia, Secretary General for International Affairs and the Ambassador to Malta, Prince Sforza Mariscotto Ruspoli.

The Grand Master consigned the Collar of the Order of Merit on the President, reserved for Heads of State