I heartily congratulate the
President on his unanimous election to preside over the
General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session. I wish him
every success and assure him that Malta, which enjoys
excellent relations and increasing cooperation with his
country, Qatar, will extend its full support and
collaboration in the tasks ahead of him. I would also
like to pay tribute to his predecessor, Mr. Joseph Deiss,
for his leadership and effective role over the last 12
months.
I would also like to convey my warm and sincere
congratulations to His Excellency Ban Ki-moon on his
re-election to serve our Organization as its Secretary-
General for another term. My Government would like
to put on record its appreciation for his firm and
capable leadership.
Just two months ago this Assembly admitted by
acclamation the Republic of South Sudan as the
193rd Member of the United Nations. Malta is proud to
have been one of the Member States co-sponsoring the
resolution that ushered the new nation-State of the
Republic of South Sudan into the world community of
nations (resolution 65/308).
Throughout the 12 months that have passed since
we last gathered here in this Assembly, we have all
been witness to the continuing upheavals and crises
resulting from the strife, poverty and social inequalities
that unfortunately persist in many parts of the world.
This situation has been compounded by food
insecurity, which in turn is exacerbated by the drought
and famine that threaten the survival of millions of
people, particularly in Somalia and the rest of the Horn
of Africa.
Malta has long recognized the difficulties facing
countries in the Horn of Africa and has directed most
of its development and humanitarian aid to them
through development projects. The participation of
Maltese non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in
implementing those projects has been pivotal in
enabling Malta to help relieve some of the most
pressing needs. My Government has also answered the
call of the United Nations for financial contributions to
assist in alleviating the sufferings of people in the Horn
of Africa. This we did through the Central Emergency
Response Fund.
It is a matter of concern, however, that only four
years remain to meet the goals that we unanimously
agreed, in the Millennium Declaration of 2000
(resolution 55/2), to achieve by 2015. We
acknowledge, of course, that progress has been made in
some critical areas, notwithstanding continuing
adversities. But we are still not there.
Within its limited means, Malta has been able to
financially assist and support NGOs and interested
individuals to carry out projects in developing and least
developed countries. Over the past 19 months, these
projects have included building schools, clinics,
centres for persons with disabilities, social housing,
and extensions at hospitals in various countries in
Africa, as well as in Central and South America.
My Government continues to ask the membership
of this Organization to consider the case for assistance
in dealing with the influx of illegal immigrants who are
continuing to reach Malta as a result of the situation in
Libya and North Africa. We continue to call for
international solidarity and burden-sharing in dealing
with this phenomenon. It is also our hope that the
European Union’s Asylum Support Office, which
opened in Malta in June, will contribute to the task of
streamlining asylum policies in the European Union
and its member States and improve cooperation among
the authorities. In that context, may I express the
appreciation of the Government of Malta for the
assistance we have received so far from a number of
European States and the United States of America in
the resettlement process.
The Mediterranean, which links Europe, Africa
and the Middle East, has not been spared the many
challenges and difficulties facing other parts of the
world. It is, however, also seeing the birth of hope in
the form of a new political and social reality as a result
of the sacrifices being made by the peoples of Tunisia,
Egypt, Libya and Syria as they strive to take back the
political leadership of their countries. Malta salutes
these brave people.
As we heard a few minutes ago from His
Excellency Mr. Jibreel, who spoke on behalf of Libya,
these are turbulent times for Libya, a crucial and
momentous point in the history of the Libyan people.
During this time, Malta, which over the course of its
history has earned the title “nurse of the
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Mediterranean”, has also been serving as a safe
harbour, where thousands have found refuge and
assistance.
As a Member of this esteemed Organization, of
the European Union and of the international contact
group on Libya, my Government has provided, over the
past several months, a humanitarian hub for the
evacuation of nearly 20,000 people, medical assistance
and relief efforts by intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations, including such United
Nations agencies as the World Food Programme. Malta
is proud of this role, which it continues to play in
alleviating hardships, particularly those of the Libyan
people, to this very day.
As a result of the courage, vision and tenacity of
its people, Libya is today on the threshold of assuming
its place in the community of free and democratic
nations. The approach taken by the Libyan National
Transitional Council (NTC) over these recent, highly
charged weeks has undoubtedly enhanced its standing
and legitimacy. We welcome the NTC’s determination
to ensure that justice, and not vengeance, will be
pursued by these brave people. It is important that the
process of national reconciliation take hold as soon as
possible and that it be underpinned by the fullest
respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms
of all segments of the population.
Allow me, at this juncture, to take this
opportunity to join others in welcoming the delegation
of Libya as the new and rightful representatives of
Libya to the United Nations and in this Assembly.
The next few months will be a major challenge
for the international community and the people of
Libya alike. At this defining moment the Libyan people
deserve the fullest international solidarity on the
political, economic and financial fronts. My
Government supports United Nations leadership in the
international community’s programme of action and
endorses the three fundamental principles under which
the United Nations intends to operate: Libyan national
ownership, rapid response and delivery and, lastly,
effective coordination. Close coordination, in particular
with the European Union, which we believe to be a key
player in post-conflict assistance and support, will be
especially crucial in this scenario.
Egypt and Tunisia also deserve every
encouragement as they embark on the reforms ahead.
Democratic transition processes need to be sustained,
including from the economic perspective. A holistic
approach is a crucial element in maximizing
international endeavours, not least to stimulate
economic growth. Democracy stands a better chance of
flourishing if there is economic development and
tangible improvement in living standards enjoyed by
the entire population.
At a time when people in the Middle East, North
Africa and beyond have embarked on a new path
towards freedom, dignity and prosperity, we must also
invest our efforts and determination to fulfil the long-
sought aspirations of the Palestinian people. The
dramatic developments unfolding in the Arab world
make progress on the Israeli-Palestinian track even
more urgent than before.
Malta was heartened by, and welcomed, the
speech of President Obama last May, in which he laid
out the foundation for future negotiations and outlined
a comprehensive vision for peace between Israelis and
Palestinians. The resumption of meaningful and
sustainable negotiations seemed, at the time, to be
within reach.
Unfortunately, that was not to be. The time
frames set by the international community for the
establishment of a Palestinian State are now with us. A
political stalemate persists, despite the fact that from
an institutional perspective, the preparations for
statehood have been successfully completed. The
situation on the ground further complicates matters and
undermines the resumption of negotiations and the goal
of two viable States living side by side in peace.
No effort should be spared to break the deadlock
in the Israeli-Palestinian talks. Getting Israelis and
Palestinians back to the negotiating table with the
political will necessary to embark on meaningful and
sustainable negotiations must remain the overriding
goal. Agreement on parameters for negotiations would
clearly be a step in the right direction. In this regard,
Malta fully stands behind the efforts of the European
Union, particularly those of its High Representative for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, to make this
happen.
My Government strongly believes that the
elements set out in the conclusions adopted by the
Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union in
December 2009, December 2010 and May 2011
provide balanced parameters for the resumption of
negotiations.
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Two weeks ago, the New York community and
the American people were joined by the international
community in commemorating the victims of one of
the most heinous crimes committed in recent history.
We all remember with sadness and sorrow that fateful
day of 11 September 2001, when the hand of evil
carried out a terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre
in downtown New York. The 10 years that have passed
since that tragic event, when nearly 3,000 innocent
people met their deaths and thousands more were
wounded, have not erased the scars or the pain.
Terrorism continues to respect no frontiers. Many
States have been and continue to be the victims of
deadly attacks by terrorists. In Afghanistan, Iraq, India,
Pakistan, Russia, Spain, Indonesia, the United
Kingdom and China, terrorism has struck with intensity
and brutality. Only one month ago, another
reprehensible and deadly attack was carried out, on the
United Nations complex in Nigeria. Malta strongly
condemns those cowardly and horrible acts and pledges
to continue to work with other Member States to ensure
that such criminal acts are not only condemned in
absolute terms, but also suppressed.
The events unfolding in North Africa highlight
that we must continue to promote and protect human
rights across the world. That is a responsibility that our
present generation bears on behalf of future
generations. It was in that spirit that, in my address to
the sixty-fourth session of the Assembly in 2009 (see
A/64/PV.6), I proposed the drafting of a universal
declaration of human responsibilities, as the second
part of a diptych to be formed with the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. Such a declaration
would be open for signature to any Member State
wishing to subscribe to it.
We have been encouraged to move forward in
presenting such a draft declaration by a number of
Member States that share with us a belief in the
growing need to embrace responsibilities and duties in
the international setting. In the light of that positive
response, my Government intends to call an
international gathering in 2012, at the official level but
with the presence of experts, to examine the draft
declaration that will have been prepared and finalize it
in such a way that it can be opened for signature in
2012. Malta strongly believes that such a declaration
would strengthen the solidarity that our rapidly
changing world demands.
In conclusion, allow me to state that the
environmental sustainability of our planet is one of the
priorities of my Government. Malta is working towards
a successful outcome at next year’s United Nations
Conference on Sustainable Development in the hope
that it will build further on the commitments agreed at
the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment
and Development. In that context, since 1988, when
Malta put the protection of climate for present and
future generations on the political agenda of the
Organization, my Government has worked to support
and endorse efforts that address climate change. Malta
has also made a contribution to the Special Climate
Change Fund.
The coming 12 months under the presidency of
Ambassador Al-Nasser offer the membership of the
Organization challenging and exciting times. The
agenda of the Assembly is long and demanding. We
recognize that the President’s task will not be at all
easy, and we assure him of our full support.
Malta will also continue to shoulder its
international responsibilities with vigour, commitment
and determination. We stand ready to work with other
Member States to make the Organization stronger and
better able to tackle the global challenges facing
mankind.