Foreign affairs minister at 5+5 meeting in Mauritania

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, George Vella will be leading a delegation to Nouakchott, Mauritania, where he will be participating in the 10th 5+5 Foreign Ministers' meeting between tomorrow and Tuesday.

The 5+5 Dialogue is an informal sub-regional body that brings together Western Mediterranean countries, Malta, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and their North African neighbours Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya.

Malta has maintained a very active profile in the 5+5 Dialogue, particularly in hosting the Summit at Heads of Government level held in October 2012, following almost a decade's lapse since the first-ever Summit held in Tunis in 2003.

The Mauritania foreign ministers' meeting is based on the issues highlighted in the Malta Declaration which was adopted during the 2012 Summit with importance being placed on sensitive regional issues like Syria as well as sectorial issues such as  renewable energy, health, the economic situation in the Mediterranean, and very importantly as focus on youth.

Ministers are expected to adopt a declaration that will cover the issues being discussed and pave the way for follow-up action in the coming months.

Vella is expected to address the conference on Tuesday.