MINISTER of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly signed a diplomatic declaration with the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta.
The minister signed alongside the organisation’s Grand Counsellor Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo, who is also Malta’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The declaration expresses the parties’ desire to develop and strengthen collaboration and friendship for mutual benefit. It also provides a basis for advancing reciprocal understanding, cooperation and for developing fruitful relations between the two parties.
It reflects the shared interest of Eswatini and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta in strengthening engagement and identifying areas of mutual benefit. Minister Shakantu said government views the strengthening of international partnerships as an important component of its foreign policy and diplomatic engagement.
She said the signing further demonstrates Eswatini’s commitment to constructive international cooperation and to building partnerships that contribute to mutual understanding and shared objectives.
“We welcome this development as the Kingdom of Eswatini as it represents an important milestone in our relations with the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
The Grand Chancellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs, di Montecupo is responsible for the foreign policy and the diplomatic missions of the Sovereign Order of Malta. He is also the Minister of Internal Affairs, in charge of the 49 National Associations of the Order in the world.
Minister Shakantu said Eswatini looks forward to continued engagement with the Sovereign Military Order of Malta in advancing the commitments contained in the declaration and in further strengthening relations between the two parties.
