On Thursday, December 16th, 2010, H.E. Ambassador Robert L. Shafer and his wife Ellen hosted a diplomatic reception at the Permanent Observer Mission celebrating over fifteen years of collaboration between the Permanent Observer Mission of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta the United Nations community in New York. It was a warm and celebratory gathering of friends and colleagues from the United Nations Secretariat and Permanent Missions. The Order of Malta has maintained a permanent mission to facilitate diplomatic relations with the United Nations since 1994 when it was granted Observer Status with the organization