Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Tourism of the Republic of Malta, H E Christopher Cutajar. Pics: Rajan Vadakkemuriyil/The Peninsula.
Doha, Qatar: Terming Qatar’s diplomacy ‘quite extraordinary’, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Tourism of the Republic of Malta, H E Christopher Cutajar has said that Qatar’s mediatory prowess within the region and beyond remains unequivocal.
In an exclusive interview with The Peninsula during his visit to Qatar last week, Cutajar further said that Malta and Qatar have an extremely positive relationship built on mutual trust and a shared commitment to promote peace and prosperity in their respective regions and beyond. The second round of political consultations between the foreign ministries of Qatar and Malta was held on Tuesday in Doha. The Qatari side was chaired by Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs H E Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi while the Maltese delegation was headed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Tourism of Malta.
He noted with Malta and Qatar’s relationship having witnessed a notable intensification of bilateral relations since the opening of Malta’s Embassy in Doha in 2021 coupled by the introduction of direct flights will surely see the consolidation of this friendship in coming years.
“We need to engage in more in-depth discussions, similar to those we had earlier today (Tuesday), to agree on a long-term programme of bilateral cooperation on topics of mutual interest. Our similar foreign policy objectives provide us with the necessary impetus to pursue high-level exchanges on new areas of cooperation both at a bilateral and regional level, which would certainly provide a structured foundation for deeper, long-term engagement between the two countries,” he added.
Christopher Cutajar said that resumption of Qatar Airways flights to Malta from July 2 this year offers a direct connection between Malta and Qatar. “They are not only offering a new mode of connectivity for the two destinations but they are offering also the possibility for Maltese to be able to visit places in Asia and for our sizeable diaspora in Australia to be able to reach Malta. We’ve got also a sizeable expatriate community working in Malta that has to visit their countries of origin frequently during the year and that is helping a lot for them to get connected via Qatar. And now, we need to have Maltese coming to Qatar to understand the culture and the history of Qatar.”
On Qatar’s diplomacy, he noted: “We can only commend Qatar’s regional diplomacy which is, to say the least, quite extraordinary. Its mediatory prowess within the region and beyond remains unequivocal.”
Cutajar further said, “Needless to say, its credentials extend far and wide as attested by, most notably, its relentless efforts, including in the latest round of intensive negotiations on Gaza aimed achieving a ceasefire, and many other initiatives, including its family reunification efforts which, to date, have successfully resulted in 100 Ukrainian children being reunited with their families.”
He added, “Qatar’s very recent brokering and hosting of the signing ceremony of the Declaration of Principles between the contesting parties should be hailed for what it truly is, a remarkable development that will go a long way towards achieving peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Malta continues to welcome and support Qatar’s diplomatic efforts and has pronounced itself on this at UN and EU-level on numerous occasions.”
On Malta’s role for expanding existing close ties between EU and GCC, he said Malta will continue to push for enhanced cooperation between the two blocs. “This relationship has grown from strength to strength since 2022 and, it is our intention that this is bolstered even further. In light of our strategic position within the Mediterranean, Malta can actively pursue dialogue with both the EU and GCC in advancing certain areas of cooperation forward for the sake of mutual benefit.”
He noted that Malta looks forward to the 29th EU-GCC Joint Council and Ministerial Meeting scheduled for October 2025 in Kuwait, in which Malta will also be participating, with a view to further boost this positive collaboration on multiple fronts.
Talking on the purpose of his visit to Qatar and about outcomes, agreements, he said that Malta and Qatar have an extremely positive relationship built on mutual trust and a shared commitment to promote peace and prosperity in their respective regions and beyond.
“This year we are celebrating 50 years since the establishment of our very active diplomatic relationship. Attesting to this spirit of friendship, Malta and Qatar have decided to hold the second round of Political Consultations to discuss aspects of mutual bilateral interest as well as pertinent regional developments. We are certain that these Consultations will pave the way for further high-level engagements while further solidifying our people-to-people contacts, cultural as well as our economic ties. This, in itself, sets the basis for deepened exchanges on dynamics in the region including Qatar’s impressive role in the Gulf region and beyond, most notably, in terms of its active humanitarian diplomacy, numerous mediation initiatives and its standing within the Gulf Cooperation Council.”
On Malta’s principled position of recognising Palestinian state in September this year, Cutajar said that Malta’s principled support for Palestinian self-determination has been a longstanding pillar of our foreign policy.
“I had the honour of representing Malta at the High-Level Conference on the Two State Solution that took place in New York last month, announcing Malta’s intention to recognise the State of Palestine in September at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. In this context, our recognition of the State of Palestine aligns with and reaffirms the strong convergence of perspectives between Malta, the Gulf, and the Arab world, affirming our joint expectations for the Middle East.” He also appreciated Qatar Government’s statement on July 31, welcoming Malta’s commitment to recognise the Palestinian State.
“We are gravely concerned that the Two-State Solution is facing an existential threat. We firmly believe that this is not the time for platitudes and rhetoric, but tangible action. Our decision to recognise a State of Palestine reflects this belief in the need for concrete steps to safeguard the Two-State Solution, and once more demonstrates Malta’s reliability as a credible partner in the interests of peace, security, and prosperity in the Middle East.”
When asked about Malta’s position on the situation in the Middle East, especially regarding peace, security, and humanitarian issues, he said Malta remains deeply concerned by the humanitarian crisis unfolding across the Middle East, particularly in Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. “Our position is rooted in a steadfast commitment to international humanitarian law, the protection of civilians, and the pursuit of a just and lasting peace.”
He added, “Malta strongly supports the establishment of humanitarian corridors and sustained pauses to ensure the safe delivery of aid and the protection of vulnerable populations. We have consistently advocated for the urgent release of hostages and condemned all forms of violence, including extremist settler attacks and violations of civilian infrastructure.”
In Gaza, he noted, Malta has pledged substantial humanitarian assistance, including contributions to UN agencies and the Food and Agriculture Organization, and continues to support UNRWA’s life-saving operations. “We reaffirm the importance of safeguarding UNRWA’s mandate and ensuring unhindered access to aid.” “As an elected member of the UN Security Council, Malta had endorsed key resolutions calling for humanitarian access and civilian protection. We believe that multilateral engagement is essential to address both the humanitarian and political dimensions of the crisis.
“Ultimately, Malta’s approach is guided by principle, compassion, and a belief in the transformative power of diplomacy. We call on all parties concerned to act responsibly and uphold the dignity and rights of every individual affected by this conflict.
“Malta has consistently expressed deep concern over the humanitarian crisis in Syria, advocating for unimpeded access to aid and the protection of civilians. As a neutral Mediterranean country and member of the UN Security Council, Malta has actively participated in the Brussels Syria Conferences since 2017, pledging annual contributions to support UN agencies such as UNHCR and IFRC. In 2023 and 2024, Malta also provided targeted funding to the International Rescue Committee and IOM in response to the Türkiye-Syria earthquakes and provided a contribution to the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Syria.”
In Lebanon, he said, Malta’s humanitarian engagement has included support through the UNRWA Flash Appeal, with a contribution in 2023. “Malta has also participated in EU-led information-sharing meetings focused on the humanitarian impact of regional violence, particularly in Lebanon, where the situation remains fragile due to economic collapse and political instability. Malta’s strategy emphasises neutrality, solidarity, and adherence to humanitarian principles, and is aligned with EU frameworks and the Good Humanitarian Donorship initiative.
“Even so, throughout its UNSC mandate, Malta supported the renewal of UNIFIL mandate with the aim to assist in stabilising southern Lebanon. As a troop contributing country, Malta has been contributing a small contingent of peacekeepers to UNIFIL since 2018 (typically, 8–9 AFM officials). Armed Forces of Malta personnel are embedded within an Irish-led UNIFIL battalion, carrying out duties like patrols and base security. Maltese peacekeepers undergo extensive training with partner forces (mainly Ireland) before deployment. This long-standing cooperation reflects Malta’s tangible support to UN peacekeeping operations and underscores Malta’s commitment to regional stability and effective burden-sharing within multinational peacekeeping frameworks.”
On Yemen, Cutajar said: “While Malta’s direct humanitarian contributions to Yemen are less documented in recent communications, Malta contributed to Unicef, WHO and Save the Children for Yemen. Malta’s overarching Official Development Assistance (ODA) strategy for 2025–2030 outlines a commitment to poverty reduction, disaster preparedness, and anticipatory action. This includes support for vulnerable populations in conflict zones and regions affected by climate change. Malta’s aid is guided by principles of impartiality and independence and prioritises children and women within peace and security frameworks. The strategy also promotes localisation and flexible funding mechanisms to ensure rapid response to emergencies.”
Talking about bilateral investments and opportunities, he told The Peninsula that the most notable Qatari investment in Malta is BNF Bank. “Its majority shareholder is JUD Investment Group Ltd, a subsidiary of Al Faisal International for Investment. In terms of inbound investment, Malta’s Foreign Direct Investment efforts have focused on knowledge-intensive, innovative sectors that generate highly skilled and well-remunerated employment. These include all technology verticals, the green and blue economy, high value-added manufacturing, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, medtech, and biotech. Moving forward, we remain open to explore further areas of collaboration for mutual benefit.”
To another question about bilateral trade or reducing bureaucratic hurdles for businesses, he said Malta has been engaging in EU-level discussions aimed at establishing an ambitious region-to-region trade relationship with the GCC.
“Opportunities for the EU to reach agreements with GCC countries are being explored, to progressively liberalise trade in goods, services, foreign direct investment, and to ultimately streamline processes for our businesses to increase engagement. These various efforts underway at EU level do not exclude, but rather, support joint efforts to identify initiatives which are possible bilaterally in order to continue to strengthen the volume of trade exchange between our two countries. Such efforts are particularly relevant to Malta’s ongoing trade relationship with Qatar, which in 2024 alone saw the exchange of imports and exports valued in the millions.”
About opportunities for Qatari investors in Malta’s renewable energy or technology sectors, Cutajar noted that following previous talks held, Malta would like to maintain discussions with Qatar on the possibility of exploring avenues for collaboration on Liquified Natural Gas. “Malta looks forward to engaging with potential future suppliers of LNG, including suppliers from Qatar, towards exploring possibilities of future collaboration. Malta also encourages the participation of investment opportunities in sustainable energy, including renewable energy. The sharing of best practices and technical expertise in the field of renewable energy systems and emerging technologies, may also be explored.”
On enhancing cooperation in cultural, educational spheres, he said that culture is an important tool for fostering mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation between nations and in this regard, there is certainly ample scope for potential collaboration. “Our Embassy is active in this field and has participated in a number of cultural events in Doha. However, we can pursue other initiatives in, for example, the field of linguistic policy, whereby meetings and discussions with various universities in Qatar could be held focusing on comparisons of the Maltese language with the local dialect in Qatar.
“Malta and Qatar had already signed a cultural cooperation agreement back in 2010, and there is the opportunity to revisit this agreement and explore further ways of deepening this cooperation, and thus ensuring greater people-to-people exchanges through joint cultural efforts that help bring people together and raise greater awareness and understanding amongst them.”
In the field of education, in terms of Vocational and Educational Training (VET) provision, he said, the Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology is Malta’s largest provider and would be very keen to explore opportunities for collaboration with Qatar, especially around post-graduate diplomas. “The Institute of Tourism Studies has expressed an interest to collaborate in areas specific to tourism and hospitality industry. The University of Malta also remains open to collaborate with Qatar and would certainly welcome opportunities to engage with pertinent counterparts in the country.”
On existing opportunities for cooperation in tourism, climate resilience, and green innovation, he said that at that juncture, both sides would surely be reaping the benefits of the re-established direct flights between Qatar and Malta as of 2nd of July, coupled by a substantial increase in tourism, commercial opportunities and people-to-people contacts, with the opportunity to facilitate further cultural collaboration.
“Furthermore, both countries exist and operate in geographical regions which have a higher-than average set of risks arising from global warming and climate change. These include rising temperatures, increased aridity and sea water rise. All have potential impacts on tourism activity and destinations such as Qatar and Malta need to be much more proactive in this field. There is a lot of best practice which is undoubtedly in existence in both jurisdictions and this gives rise to increased collaboration opportunities for cross-fertilisation of ideas to take place.”
