By Carmen Tabar

VALLETTA – Illegal immigration, one of the problems most affecting Spain and Malta, was one of the main topics of discussion Thursday during the talks between King Juan Carlos and the president, prime minister and opposition leader of the tiny Mediterranean archipelago.

On the second and last day of the Spanish king’s visit to Malta, the two countries finalized seven accords on culture, education, science and maritime transport, among other things, thus increasing the cooperation of the two countries with common interests and a common past, who met five years ago when the islands joined the European Union.

Juan Carlos’s visit to Malta, called “historic” by Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, served to bring the two countries’ positions closer on one of the key issues confronting them: immigration.

The Spanish diplomatic chief publicly announced during the king’s visit that Spain will support Malta’s candidacy – as it vies with Cyprus and Bulgaria – to be the headquarters of the European Asylum Support Office, which will aid immigrants and refugees.

Maltese Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi in his meeting with Juan Carlos said that Malta and Spain are the two ports of entry for immigrants to Europe.

Malta also will support Spain in its idea of presenting to the U.N. Security Council a proposal to hold an international conference on Somalia.

Fifty percent of the immigrants who arrive in Malta come from Somalia and Eritrea.

In the conversations held on Thursday the participants also discussed one of the requests made by Maltese President George Abela at the dinner he offered Wednesday in honor of the Spanish monarch that Madrid set up in Malta a Cervantes Institute.

Moratinos said that Spain’s aim before the end of 2012 is for each European capital to have a Cervantes Institute, although the establishment of the centers could be delayed in some cases due to the current economic situation.

In the meetings, the king also spoke about the interests of countries in southern Europe and the role that Mediterranean states can play in matters such as the Middle East peace process.

King Juan Carlos attended a reception offered by Gonzi where he viewed the document whereby Holy Roman Emperor Charles V – known as Carlos I in Spain – gave Malta in perpetual lease to the Order of Knights of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in 1530.

Most of the majestic buildings in the archipelago’s walled capital of Valletta – now a World Heritage Site – were built by the knights, now known as the Knights of Malta, and those buildings now constitute the main government entities of the archipelago, including the prime minister’s residence, the presidential palace and others.

Juan Carlos had time during his visit to go – in the company of the prime minister – to the Barrakka Gardens, from where one has one of the best views on Malta of its walls and its port.

The Maltese president and top officials finally bid farewell to Juan Carlos at the palace in downtown Valletta, and from there the Spanish delegation went to the international airport to return to Madrid. EFE