Gorbachev's momentous visit to Malta

Mikhail Gorbachev, who died late on Monday, was the only leader of the Soviet Union to ever visit Malta, in a December 1989 trip that is remembered as a milestone in contemporary Maltese history.

Gorbachev was here, of course, to meet US President George Bush in a historic summit that was credited with having buried the Cold War in the stormy waters of Marsaxlokk Bay.

The Soviet leader flew to Malta after another historic meeting - with Pope John Paul II in Rome.

In contrast to Bush, he was accompanied by his wife Raisa on the trip. Also in contrast to Bush, he did not use a helicopter to travel from Luqa to Valletta to meet Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami, instead opting to be driven in a Russian presidential car.

The Valletta meeting with Fenech Adami was held at around midnight, but  despite the late hour Castille Square was full of onlookers, eager to get a glimpse of the popular, reformist leader.

Mikhail Gorbachev meets with Eddie Fenech Adami.

People burst out shouting 'Gorby, Gorby,' as he appeared before and after the meeting at the top of the Castille steps and he delighted the crowd by shaking hands with quite a number of people before getting into his car after the...