Earlier this afternoon, Speaker of the House of Representatives Anġlu Farrugia received a courtesy visit by Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani. 

Speaker Farrugia highlighted the importance of having some form of dialogue at Parliamentary level between Malta and the Gulf Cooperation Council and the GCC Secretary General promised to convey this message to the pertinent Committee with the GCC.

The two dignitaries referred to the international situation, with particular reference to Libya and Syria. Human rights, terrorism and migration also featured in the talks between Speaker Farrugia and Secretary General Al Zayani as well as the upcoming EU-GCC Senior Officials meeting in March 2017.

Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani was accompanied by Assistant Secretary General for Political & Negotiations Affairs Dr Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg; Political & Negotiations Affairs Abdullatif Alaamer; Dana Al-Thonayan, Political & Negotiations Affairs; Hamad Al-Mannai, Media Advisor to the Secretary General; Supervisor-General of Protocol Talal Al-Ansari, and Protocol Officer Mutlaq Al-Thunayan.