Malta did not have any contacts with Saudi Arabia over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and did not take a position beyond the EU’s common stance, Foreign Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela said.
“We align ourselves with the EU’s position, which not only condemns what happened but insists that the full truth emerges on who was involved in the journalist’s murder,” Mr Abela told Times of Malta.
Asked whether he foresaw any change to Malta’s relations with Saudi Arabia following the murder, the minister replied he believed in maintaining open communication with all countries.
“I’m a firm believer in dialogue and any problems or challenges should be resolved through talks, not other means,” Mr Abela added. He was speaking following a meeting with Algerian Energy Minister Mustapha Guitoni.
Mr Abela last met a Saudi government minister in May, when he had praised the country for its “unprecedented” political, economic and social reforms and expressed hope the already “excellent” relations between the two countries could be improved further.
Saudi Arabia has been under consistent pressure from the international community ever since Mr Khashoggi, an open critic of the Saudi regime…
