ourdetermined efforttoestablish open,fairandmutually beneficial relations withaswidearangeofpartners aspossible isalsoprevailing inthisregard. ForsomeyearsMalta's relations withBritain weresoured bythefactthatour ex-colonial rulerrefused toassumewhatweconsidered tobeitsresponsibilities inclearing ourwatersofbombsandwrecksleftthereasaresultofitsearlier presence inMalta. Thisyear,however, asettlement ofthisoutstanding problem wasreached. Inafive-mont~ operation between AprilandAugustpersonnel fromthe British RoyalNavyworkedtogether withMaltese diverstoremoveover40maj~r piecesofordnance andvarious wrecksfromthesea-bed inourGrandHarbour in ordertopermitthefullest useofthegrain-loading andotherinfrastructural facilities wehaverecently builtthere. Whatwasalimited problem inabroad sensebutaserious obstacle intermsofoureconomic development has,therefore, nowbeensatisfactorily resolved, thereby opening thewayforustoresumemutually beneficial relations notonlywithBritainitselfbutalsowithotherpartsofthe English-speaking world. Malta's relations withItalyarelargely afunction ofthegeographical proximity ofourtwocountries andourlonghistorical andcultural association. WhileItalywasoneofthefirstcountries torecognize andexpress support for Malta's statusofneutr~lity, therecameatimewhenweconsidered thatthese formalexpressions ofsupport werenotfinding application inpractice. Ahugeand mounting tradeimbalance between usandItaly,toourdisadvantage, couldnot,if unredressed, formthebasisofamutually satisfying partnership. AnewbasisforNR/ta A/40/PV.3l 32 (Mr.Trigona, Malta) agreement hasnowbeenreached. Italyhasasafirststeptakenacommitment to findwaysofoffering usassistance inourinfrastructural development, mainlyin ourwatersupplysystemandourroadnetwork, andthisshouldhelpin re-establishing theclosetiesofco-operation ourtwocountries previously enjoyed. IndeedinthisveryhallonlyafewdaysagotheItalian Foreign Minister, Mr.Andreotti, acknowledged thispositive development inthe~elationship between ourtwocountries whenstatingthatItalyintends"todevelop theserelations with fullrespect fortheMaltese Government's position ofneutrality andnon-alignment, which-Italy considers asaverypositive element" (A/40/PV.8, p.49).Wewelcome thisstatement inthejustifiable expectation thatitwillfindanexpeditious and comprehensive implementation. WiththeEuropean Economic Community asawholeMalta's relations overthe past15yearshavebeenuneven.Ittookyearsoftoughnegotiations forusto persuade theEuropean Economic Community, in1976,toreviseandenlarge a restricted andlop-sided association agreement whichithadfoisted uponusin1970 atatimewhenitwasstilltakenforgr;·,tedthatMaltalayunquestioningly within Western Europe's sphereofinfluence. WhenthefirstFinancial Protocol between MaltaandtheEuropean Economic Community expired in1983ittookanother longanddifficult process ofnegotiation topersuade theCommunity tocomeupwithanewofferresponding toMalta's particular situation asasmallandneutral StateintheMediterranean. Thishas nowbeenachieved, andtheCommunity's recently announced financial offerlaysa goodfoundation fordiscussions toproceed ontheforgingofaspecial relationship between MaltaandtheEuropean Economic Community underwhichco-operation in trade,investment andtheflowoftechnology willbeensured.NR/"d A/40/PV.31 33 (Mr.Trigona, Malta) wewelcome thisdevelopment alsobecausettappearstoformapartofthe European Economic Community'S newcommitment toadoptamoreresponsive attitude t~wardstheneedtoestablish equitable relationships withMediterranean developing countries. Attheirmeeting inMaltalastSeptember theForeign Ministers ofthe non-aligned Mediterranean countries underlined thisaeedwhilestressing their deter1;'.:ination toplaytheirownpartindeveloping programmes ofco-operation with theEuropean Economic·Community. Maltaconsiders thatthereisatremendous potential stilltobeexplored in thatdirection. Thisincludes notonlytheclosereconomic andcommercial links between aligned andnon-aligned countries intheMediterranean butalsothelinks betweentheEuropean Economic Community andcountries inotherregions whichcanbe encouraged tt1l:~"lu(Jhcloserco-operation attheMediterranean level. Itissignificant, atthispoint,tonotethecontrast between theslowmanner inwhichindustrialized countries usually respond totheneedsofdeveloping countries witt.,themuchmorereadily forthcoming attitude displayed by
**Analysis**
The text appears to be focused on Malta's international relations, specifically on its efforts to establish and improve relationships with various countries, including Britain, Italy, and the European Economic Community. It highlights the country's determination to establish open, fair, and mutually beneficial relations with its partners. The text also touches on economic development, infrastructure, and trade, indicating that these are important aspects of Malta's relations with other countries.

**Category**
International trade, Economic development