University co-operationd

Abstract

Because of our geographical position and as a result of our history we are a country of contrasts where the east blends with the west in harmony. Consequently Malta is a bridge between Africa and Europe. We speak a mixed language which has a large number of loan words from Italian and English but is, nonetheless, basically Arabic. This gives us the key to the Arab World. Linguistically we look eastwards. Culturally we look westwards. Thanks to this dual combination which is unique in the Mediterranean we can act as a bridge between Europe on the one part and Africa through the Arab World on the other. Although the idea evolved as early as 1553 -by Loyola- this is the political path followed by our present Government. Just as we are trying to enlarge our former London/Rome routes we have been making new contacts largely with the Arab world. We now wish to go one step further by extending our contacts with the Eastern countries especially Yugoslavia where I was so happy to find myself among other delegates during the 21st Session of the International Conference on Universities Today.