Milan, 3 June 2000
Within the framework of the development of the Order's diplomatic service and in response to the acknowledged need to enhance its communications and information, the Grand Chancellor, Amb. Count Don Carlo Marullo di Condojanni convened the Order's ambassadors accredited to the countries of Europe and Africa for a working meeting and exchange of ideas to plan the Order's diplomatic action worldwide.

The two working sessions were also attended by heads of the Order's diplomatic missions on the other continents and heads of national bodies as observers. Two personalities of the international diplomatic world, Amb. Bernard Dorin and Amb. Prof. Luigi Vittorio Ferraris, talked about the general themes and organisational problems of the Order's international structures, their needs and developments in the respective governments. Specific issues were examined by working groups which were set up during the meeting and which will continue their work afterwards.

The assembly was chaired by the Grand Chancellor, head of the Order's Diplomatic Service, and co-ordinated by the Secretary General for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Francesco Guariglia.

The Sovereign Military Order of Malta, subject of International Law, is present with its humanitarian action in over 100 countries on all continents. It maintains diplomatic relations on a level of embassy with 85 States, of which 23 are in Europe and 31 in Africa. It has diplomatic missions in Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and Monaco, in the European Council and Commission of the European Communities. It is a Permanent Observer to the General Assembly of the United Nations and, as such, maintains permanent delegations in international organisations in New York, Geneva, Paris, Rome and Vienna.