Wisma Putra: Anifah to open embassy in the Vatican

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24 KUALA LUMPUR- Immigration Department director-general Mustafar Ali and Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) managing director Datuk Badlisham Ghazali hold press conference at AV Room, VIP Room, KL International Airport (KLIA) at 0945 (0145 GMT) KUALA LUMPUR- Curtain-raiser by Foreign Minister Anifah Aman(pic) on the forthcoming state visit of King Salman Abdulaziz Al-Saud to Malaysia at press conference room, WP 1 Building, Ministry of Foreign Affairs at 1500 (0700 GMT)

PUTRAJAYA: Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman will officially open the Malay­sian Embassy in the Vatican during a visit to the Holy See.

“The opening of the embassy marks an important milestone and will elevate relations between Malaysia and the Holy See to greater heights,” Wisma Putra said in a statement.

During this inaugural visit from today till Wednesday, Anifah is scheduled to meet his counterpart, the Most Reverend Archbishop Paul Gallagher, and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Both sides are keen to collaborate on efforts to promote inter-religious dialogue and understanding.

They are also expected to discuss regional and global issues of common concern during which Anifah would relay Malaysia’s views on matters affecting the international community, the statement said.

Diplomatic ties between Malaysia and the Holy See were established on July 27, 2011, following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s visit to the Vatican City.

Ever since then, bilateral relations between Malaysia and the Holy See had witnessed a positive trajectory, the statement added.

Anifah’s visit would also provide Malaysia with the opportunity to make clear its concept of moderation under the Global Move­ment of Moderates (GMM), which is aimed at promoting tolerance, understanding and respect through upholding the values of moderation and the rejection of extremism, it said.

The GMM initiative was formulated based on Malaysia’s experience in successfully developing its political, economical and social infrastructure by providing an environment of racial and religious harmony, the statement said. — Bernama