Bilateral relations between the United States and Malta are good. Given the island?s strategic location, security/defense related issues dominate the relationship, ranging from the transit of weapons of mass destruction materials to some 40 U.S. Navy ship visits annually. Embassy Valletta actively promotes U.S. trade and investment. The embassy effectively uses public diplomacy as an essential tool across the spectrum of U.S. interests. New embassy managers have achieved in an admirably short time a high degree
of internal cohesion in a mission formerly divided by conflicts within the embassy?s leadership.
The chancery is inadequate to the needs of the mission. The Department and the embassy should identify alternatives for relocating the chancery on a priority basis. The RSO has performed well. Overall, administrative services are adequate, and the budget and fiscal unit is well run. However, there are a number of problem areas in the administrative section, which require attention, and, in the case of information management, Department assistance. These include weaknesses in inventory controls, inadequate oversight of the American Employees Association, and the need to strengthen FSN personnel management. There are residual problem areas in the consular section, which are being addressed. Throughout the mission, priority attention needs to be given to professional training for FSNs.
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