Home / National Book Prize / Diplomat by Destiny Letteratura Mhux Fittizja Diplomat by Destiny George Saliba was a career diplomat, whose service to his country spanned decades. From a childhood in the southern Maltese coastal village of Żurrieq, he pursued his studies, ultimately earning a Master’s degree from John Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, after which Saliba joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and went on to walk the highest international corridors of power. Starting as Malta’s ambassador to the Arabian Gulf states, he moved on to serve as ambassador to Libya, and then to Russia, from where he was summoned to New York to serve as Malta’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, after which he served as ambassador to the United States. His long and distinguished career saw him serving under both Labour and Nationalist administrations, a feat in its own right in such a polarised political climate as Malta’s. Against the backdrop of momentous global events during his time at the heart of Malta’s diplomatic efforts, George Saliba explores the delicate art of diplomacy. Through personal stories and professional insights, he reflects on the challenges and triumphs of balancing national and international interests, navigating geopolitical tensions, interactions with world leaders and representing a nation in a career dedicated to advocating for Malta on the international stage. He takes great care to give us glimpses of how family and personal connections contributed in no small way to his struggles and successes in his career. Ixtri l-ktieb SKS Publishers Letteratura Mhux Fittizja 2026 George Saliba George Saliba miżżewweġ u għandu tliet ulied u erba’ neputijiet subien. Twieled u trabba ż-Żurrieq, u kważi kiber iltim. Missieru miet meta George kellu biss sentejn u disa’ xhur, filwaqt li ommu kellha tmur taħdem biex trabbi l-erbat uliedha. Kienet taħdem 52 siegħa fil-ġimgħa fuq medda ta’ sitt ijiem. Għalhekk, George trabba man-nanniet u maz-zijiet tiegħu, flimkien mat-tliet ħutu bniet. L-ewwel edukazzjoni tiegħu ħadha fl-Iskola Primarja taż-Żurrieq, mingħand għalliema li għamlu minn kollox biex jagħtuh pedament sod ta’ edukazzjoni. Wara kompla l-istudji tiegħu għal ħames snin fil-Liċeo tal-Ħamrun. L-istudji terzjarji tiegħu ffukaw l-aktar fuq ir-Relazzjonijiet Internazzjonali, b’studji f’Oxford, Bologna u Washington, DC. Fl-aħħar parti tal-istudji universitarji tiegħu, huwa speċjalizza fil-Lvant Nofsani. Qabel ma beda l-karriera diplomatika tiegħu, George għamel żmien jaħdem fil-qasam tal-kooperattivi agrikoli. Matul il-karriera diplomatika tiegħu bħala ambaxxatur, serva fil-pajjiżi tal-Golf Għarbi, fil-Libja u fir-Russja, kif ukoll fin-Nazzjonijiet Magħquda u f’Washington, DC. Fl-aħħar serva f’Barċellona bħala rappreżentant tal-Unjoni għall-Mediterran. Mill-postijiet kollha fejn serva, George jgħid li l-Libja kienet l-aktar waħda li tatu sodisfazzjon, minkejja d-diffikultajiet li ltaqa’ magħhom hemmhekk. Il-karriera li kellu qatt ma kienet waħda li ppjana jew ħolom biha. Meta jħares lura lejn ħajtu, faċilment seta’ jagħti lill-awtobijografija tiegħu s-sottotitlu Minn Jaf Li Kieku? NEED ANY HELP? GET IN TOUCH contact us