Malta, 2001

Allow me to begin by

expressing my congratulations to you, Sir, on your

election as President of the General Assembly. The

fifty-sixth session is clearly going to be a challenging

one, and one that I predict will further strengthen the

resolve of members to work hand in hand on all the

different issues requiring our attention. I would like

also to convey my appreciation to His Excellency Mr.

Harri Holkeri for the determined and skilful manner in

which he presided over the previous session.

I would also like to take this opportunity to

congratulate the United Nations and its tireless

Secretary-General on the Nobel Peace Prize that they

have jointly and so deservedly been awarded.

This session started in a markedly different

manner from those of previous years. The horrendous

11 September terrorist attacks brought home the very

real threat of terrorism to each and every one of us no

matter what corner of the world we inhabit.

International terrorism does not limit its actions to

individual countries. In fact, although the attacks were

launched on United States soil, the specific targets

chosen clearly show the intent to destroy symbols of

the modern world, icons to free people everywhere.

Indeed, by attacking this cosmopolitan city and

its World Trade Center, the perpetrators targeted us all.

Nationals of more than 60 countries met their death in

those dastardly attacks. Even if our own nationals were

not among those who lost their lives, we all felt under

attack. We all felt violated. In one way or another, our

lives have been altered forever, and we must respond

accordingly.

We must fight the scourge of terrorism with

unreserved and unhesitating resolve. We must do this

not merely as a means to defend all that we hold dear.

We must do it to secure a safer world for ourselves, for

those who will follow us and for those who have had

their lives irrevocably transformed as a result of these

terrorist attacks. That resolve must be our tribute to the

innocent and the brave who lost their lives in the l1

September attacks.

The two-month postponement of the general

debate has provided us with time to reflect and to act.

Malta has joined the international community’s

absolute and unreserved condemnation of the terrorist

acts. We have also stepped up our action in pursuit of

the effective implementation of anti-terrorism

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measures, including comprehensive compliance with

Security Council resolution 1373 (2001).

Malta was among the first six countries to sign

the International Convention for the Suppression of the

Financing of Terrorism, and yesterday became one of

the first States to ratify it. On Sunday, Malta also

acceded to the Convention on the Prevention and

Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected

Persons, including Diplomatic Agents; to the

International Convention against the Taking of

Hostages; and to the International Convention for the

Suppression of Terrorist Bombings.

The new realities of today’s world have certainly

brought to the fore the importance of those conventions

on terrorism. At the same time, they have also brought

into bold relief the wisdom that underpins the efforts of

the international community in its pursuit of the

establishment of the International Criminal Court. My

Government is politically committed to the Court and

will seek ratification of the Rome Statute by the

Maltese parliament in the near future. We feel that, in

that way, we are doing all we can to ensure that no

stone is left unturned in our fight against terrorism.

With each passing day, we witness the domino

effect that acts of terror may have at a national,

regional and global level. The impact this has on the

lives of millions must be addressed. We feel therefore

that the time is ripe to conclude the debate on an

operational definition of the perpetration of a terrorist

act. Intensified efforts aimed at the expeditious

conclusion of negotiations on the Indian proposal

should subsequently yield a comprehensive convention

on international terrorism, which will be of benefit to

us all. We firmly believe that such an umbrella

agreement will give added value to, and further

complement, other existing conventions on terrorism.

We also believe that the General Assembly should

actively consider convening a high-level conference on

terrorism under United Nations auspices upon or

immediately after the conclusion of such a convention.

That would serve to reinforce ongoing international

efforts to formulate a collective response to terrorism.

The unity of purpose currently prevailing within

the international community in its fight against

terrorism is perhaps unprecedented. Indeed, the

political will displayed over the past two months is a

clear manifestation, if any were needed, that

multilateralism remains a vital tool in the conduct of

relations among States at a global level. That political

will has also been seen in the other work of the

Organization. Allow me therefore to turn to other

issues on the agenda of the General Assembly.

I would like first to express my Government’s full

support for the initiative of the German and French

Governments to bring the issue of human cloning

before the United Nations. Aimed at drafting a

convention banning human cloning for the purposes of

reproduction, that initiative has received wide support

from all quarters. The concern expressed underlines the

fundamental nature of the threat to humanity posed by

scientists who are unwilling to accept ethical and moral

limits on their work. In responding to the Franco-

German initiative, the United Nations will ensure that a

strong and meaningful convention can be drafted and

adopted within as short a time frame as possible.

The United Nations has already had occasion to

exhibit its ability to act swiftly and decisively when the

conscience of the international community is

heightened. The entry into force of the Ottawa

Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling,

Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and

on Their Destruction, which Malta ratified earlier this

year, was made possible by the international

community’s outrage at the devastating impact of those

indiscriminate weapons, whose horrific effects long

outlast their military purpose.

Similarly, the seriousness and urgency of the

problem of human cloning should expedite the

conclusion of an internationally binding agreement on

that issue. I have no doubt that the richly diverse

beliefs reflected in this room are united in their respect

for human dignity and identity, and their concern with

the fundamental and far-reaching implications of

human cloning.

Other world events continue to pose a threat to

the fundamental right of peoples to live in a secure,

stable and prosperous environment. The current state of

affairs in the Middle East is an example. The dramatic

contrast between the optimism apparent at the

Millennium Assembly’s opening and the escalation in

violence over the past few months has made it

increasingly difficult for the parties to return to the

positions they were in just over 12 months ago.

Malta is convinced that the Mitchell report and

the Tenet Plan provide a realistic and readily

achievable way out of the spiral of violence that has

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engulfed the region. The peace, security and welfare of

all the people concerned require that their full

implementation be urgently embarked upon. This

necessitates the re-establishment of security

cooperation between the parties in the interests of both

Israelis and Palestinians; the stationing of international

observers, preferably from several regions; and an end

to all new settlement activity, including so-called

“natural growth”. Against this backdrop, Malta hopes

that both parties will be able to return to the

negotiating table with the aim of achieving a just and

permanent peace in the region on the basis of the

relevant Security Council resolutions.

Also in the Mediterranean, the situation in Cyprus

has remained a cause of concern for over 25 years. We

earnestly hope that an early settlement of the Cyprus

question will be found. In this connection, we reaffirm

our full support for efforts to find a solution on the

basis of the relevant Security Council resolutions.

Progress towards lasting peace and stability in the

Mediterranean often appears to unfold very slowly.

Events in the Balkans since we met here last year,

however, bring fresh hope to us all. The end of the

Milosevic era was a clear example of the positive

change that can be wrought through the power of the

people, signalling a fresh beginning for the Federal

Republic of Yugoslavia and indeed for all the

neighbouring independent republics.

In recent months, turmoil and unrest have also

threatened to engulf the former Yugoslav Republic of

Macedonia. Yet the unfolding situation now reveals

encouraging signs of the power of diplomacy.

International assistance extended to republics in the

Balkan region is also indicative of the power within

each of us to make our own contribution and to play a

part.

Malta feels this onus most strongly and actively

seeks to play a role on the international stage that goes

beyond the mere limitations of its geographical size. In

fact, in keeping with this consciousness, Malta is

proceeding steadily towards its objective of acceding to

the European Union — a union of like-minded States

where we naturally belong, not only politically, but

also economically, culturally and historically. Our

intention is therefore to become an integral part of the

European Union at its next enlargement, enabling us to

participate fully in a decision-making process that all

too often carries wide-ranging implications for our

country.

Like other candidate countries, Malta is currently

negotiating the terms of entry into the European Union

in what will be an unprecedented widening and

deepening of the Union. Already more than halfway

through this process, we are working hard to ensure

that Malta is not only well equipped to deal with the

challenges of membership but is also in a position to

make a significant contribution to the Union. This

historic project and the enhancement of Mediterranean

cooperation are both of immediate concern to Malta.

We feel that they go hand in hand.

An increase in dialogue between all nations and a

move towards securing a safer planet are in everyone’s

interest. However, threats to international security, not

least those posed by weapons of mass destruction,

continue to lurk in the background. In July this year,

Malta deposited its instrument of ratification of the

Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. Malta hopes

that the remaining 13 countries whose ratification is

necessary for the Treaty to come into force will join the

84 countries that have already done this. Thus a

significant collective step will have been taken towards

reducing the risk of nuclear disaster.

Not so long ago, the terms “environment” and

“international security” in the same sentence would

have drawn a perplexed response from most audiences.

Today, the link between the two is becoming

increasingly apparent. The urgency in addressing the

greatest threats to our natural environment was made

amply clear in Bonn during the sixth session of the

Conference of the Parties to the United Nations

Framework Convention on Climate Change. Despite

being faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles,

the international community succeeded in forging the

Earth’s first major action-oriented response to the

phenomenon of global warming.

In this respect, allow me to offer my

Government’s expression of gratitude to the Chairman

of the Conference, Mr. Jan Pronk, as well as to my

compatriot Mr. Michael Zammit Cutajar, Executive

Secretary of the United Nations Framework

Convention on Climate Change, for their enormous

personal efforts to secure a successful outcome. Their

success laid the groundwork for the breakthrough

achieved at the seventh session of the Conference in

Marrakech last week. The agreement on the modalities

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of implementation of the Kyoto Protocol has opened

the door to its ratification by all States signatories.

Indeed, Malta deposited its instrument of ratification

yesterday and looks forward to the present momentum

being sustained, leading to an early entry into force of

this landmark Protocol.

Difficult and complex as it may be to tackle

environmental global problems, the most challenging

environmental problems are often those in our own

backyards. With one of the highest population densities

in the world, Malta has achieved a high level of human

development without any natural resources at its

disposal. In seeking to continue to raise our living

standards, we grapple daily with difficult decisions

aimed at ensuring that economic development on our

islands is environmentally sustainable.

There is no simple trade-off between the

protection of the environment and the production of

wealth. The Mediterranean Sea, which provides Malta

with its economic lifeline, is perhaps the most tangible

proof of the fact that economic progress at the expense

of the environment is no progress at all. In reaping its

bountiful fruits, we know that they are not unlimited

and, if not tended to, will dry up altogether. The same

applies to other seas and oceans.

With this in mind, Malta yesterday became the

thirtieth State to accede to the Agreement for the

Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations

Convention on the Law of the Sea relating to the

Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish

Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks — a move

that will bring the Agreement itself into force on 11

December 2001. For Malta, having initiated the process

that led to the United Nations Convention on the Law

of the Sea, it is a source of great satisfaction to

contribute to the further development of this veritable

pillar of international law.

While there is inevitably still more that can be

done, both at a domestic and an international level, I

hope that this General Assembly session will serve as a

renewed impetus for us all to promote everything

necessary to make the world safer and more secure.

This is our fundamental duty, as political leaders, for

the welfare of present and future generations. We must

continue to foster social justice, promote equitable

development, nurture confidence among peoples, settle

conflicts and take the appropriate measures to ensure

security for all. Yet in doing all this, Governments and

peoples must ensure that we continue first and

foremost to build peace in the minds of men and

women. That undertaking, adopted by the generation

that survived the Second World War, retains its noble

authenticity today as we face the challenges of our own

times.