Rome. Magistral Palace. (Left picture) H.M.E.H. Fra' Andrew Bertie with the Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Order, the Ambassador of Ivory Coast, Joseph Amichia, during the audience for the customary New Year's wishes. (bottom righe) the Prince and Grand Master addressing the Members of the Diplomatic Corps. Rome. Magistral Palace. (Right picture) The members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Order during the solemn audience for the New Year's greetings to the H.M. E. H. the Prince and Grand Master.

According to tradition, His Most Eminent Highness the Prince and Grand Master Fra' Andrew Bertie, received on 14th January the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Order in the Magistral Palace in Rome for the customary greetings. The ambassador's Doyen, Amb. Joseph Amichia, spoke for his fellow ambassadors stressing, among other things, the positive results obtained on the international scene thanks to the mediation of institutions such as the Order of Malta. Fra' Andrew Bertie pointed out the progress achieved in the peace-making processes in some countries up to now torn by terrible conflicts, starting with the former Yugoslavia and the Middle East. And in other countries, such as Ireland, Algeria, Angola, Mozambique and the Caribbean, there is the hope that peaceful solutions are on the way. The Order of Malta has always promoted these solutions, remaining neutral and intervening with the charitable and spiritual activities which are an essential part of its character. To this end, the Grand Master concluded, the Order in its position as Permanent Observer has confirmed its willingness to support peace operations to the General Assembly of the United Nations, as it had already done for the UN forces in the Lebanon and Kuwait.

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