In the run-up to CHOGM 2015, a day conference debating the role of the Commonwealth was successfully held at the Valletta Campus of the University of Malta on 24 November. The event was jointly organised by The Round Table: Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs (TRT) and the Department of International Relations of the University of Malta. Themes that were keenly discussed by various experts included radical Islam, small states, democratisation and human rights.
The conference was opened by insightful remarks from Prof. Alfred J. Vella (Pro-Rector), Mr Stuart Mole (Chair of The Round Table) and a captivating keynote address by Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Speaker Emeritus of the House of Representatives, Dr Michael Frendo.
Photo shows the panel at the opening session, with (from left): Mr Stuart Mole (at the lecturn), Dr Michael Frendo, Ms Terry Barringer (TRT Deputy Editor and Session Chair), Prof. Alfred J. Vella and Prof. Godfrey Baldacchino (University of Malta and member of the International Advisory Board for TRT).