Joseph Cuschieri recalled as Italy ambassador, former AFM commander replaces him

Updated at 5:55pm with Foreign Ministry comment

Joseph Cuschieri’s job as ambassador to Italy has been terminated with no official reason being given for the decision.

The recall was confirmed by a Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

A source said Cuschieri breached diplomatic protocols when he travelled to Rome without his appointment being formalised yet.

However, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry on Friday afternoon insisted that "Mr Cuschieri always acted in accordance to official instructions issued by the Ministry and did not, as incorrectly implied, break diplomatic protocols".

Former AFM commander Carmel Vassallo will be Malta's ambassador in Rome

Cuschieri was appointed to the post after his predecessor Vanessa Frazier, was made Malta’s permanent representative to the United Nations in January.

The spokesperson said that Cuschieri will be providing services to the ministry "as and where required of him in due course".

The former MEP will be replaced by former army commander Carmel Vassalo, who is seen as a better fit for the posting, given the renewed diplomatic clash between the countries over migrant arrivals.

The source said that having a former military man in Rome makes sense, with having studied Italian in his earlier days seen as a bonus.

In 2008, Cuschieri gave up his seat in parliament to make way for then newly-elected Labour leader Joseph Muscat. Cuschieri was also MEP between 2011 and 2013, and served in the house of representatives from 1998 to 2008.