The President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek was received by the Grand Master Fra’ Matthew Festing in the Order of Malta’s Magistral Villa in Rome.

During the meeting, President Buzek said that “the Order of Malta is very important for Europeans, it is part of our historic identity and we will continue to support its programmes, including the development of healthcare and welfare services in developing countries”. Speaking of the Order of Malta’s project to safeguard the World Heritage Holy Sites, he stated that “the Order’s efforts in this area are very significant. The European Parliament and I personally have often defended the religious freedom and protection of the world’s minorities.” On this “we expect the same respect and protection from all the other states,” he concluded.

The Grand Master recalled that the Order of Malta has for some time been engaged – supported by the President of the European Commission Barroso, together with the Italian and Maltese Republic Foreign Ministries– in a project involving access to and projection of the Holy Sites. “These places have a value that goes beyond the borders of a specific community; they have to be respected and protected as a common good, a heritage of universal value, and no longer a target for destruction and desecration during conflicts”.

On the basis of the close ties, the Grand Master continued, the Order of Malta has forged with the Christian and Muslim communities in the Middle East, we also intend to “expand our healthcare and welfare services, and especially in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Iraq, where the cultural and religious diversity is at risk”. Through these projects, “we propose helping the population to remain in their places of origin, thus strengthening the region’s stability”.

Fra’ Matthew Festing also recalled the signature in 2009 in Brussels of the Cooperation Agreement between the European Commission and the Order of Malta, and especially in the healthcare and emergency relief sectors.

Also taking part in the meeting, that ended with a luncheon in honour of President Buzek, were the Hon. Enzo Scotti, Secretary of State, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Senator Lamberto Dini, Msgr. Luigi Travaglino, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the FAO and ten ambassadors of European countries accredited to the Order of Malta.

In the morning President Buzek was received in the Vatican by His Holiness Benedict XVI.