Malta, 2007

I would like, first of all, to

extend my congratulations to you, Sir, on his election

to the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty-

second session. I am convinced that you will guide the

General Assembly through its important deliberations

and challenges. I assure you of my full support and that

of the Maltese delegation.

I also take this opportunity to express the

appreciation of the Maltese delegation to the outgoing

President of the General Assembly at its sixty-first

session, Sheikha Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa, for her

untiring work in facilitating a constructive dialogue

among all the United Nations Member States.

Once again, the General Assembly is meeting to

consider and debate international issues that impact on

the heart and soul of the world populations. We are

concerned with the life and survival of those that do

not have a voice to cry out against the injustices,

underdevelopment, human rights violations, gender

discrimination, poverty, child labour and

environmental degradation.

Malta applauds the efforts of Secretary-General

Ban Ki-moon who, since taking up his office, has

validly been making a solid contribution towards a

more secure world, which is “our shared

responsibility”.

The challenge of global climate change,

particularly of global warming, induces me to make a

few remarks about this environmental threat and its

serious economic and social impacts which will impede

progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. I

am very proud of the fact that almost 20 years ago, in

1988, my country, Malta, raised awareness about the

grave repercussions of climate change through an

initiative which led the General Assembly to declare

that "climate change is the common concern of

mankind". Eventually, that initiative led to the

adoption of the Framework Convention on Climate

Change and its Kyoto Protocol.

I note with satisfaction the remarkable

participation in last Monday's high-level event. The

Secretary-General was unequivocal in outlining the

challenge the world community is facing today. He

said:

Much has happened since those early days.

But the fundamental challenge remains

unchanged, and has become even more pressing.

Indeed, I am convinced that climate change, and

what we do about it, will define us, our era, and

ultimately the global legacy we leave for future

generations.” (Press release GA/10619)

The disastrous effects on local populations that

weather extremes are having as a result of global

warming, such as Hurricane Dean, which, the

Assembly will recall, devastated the economies and

infrastructure of the island States of Dominica, Saint

Lucia, Jamaica, Martinique and Guadeloupe, and other

small island States in the Pacific and the Caribbean. All

of that requires the United Nations to strengthen its

leadership in dealing with natural disasters.

Malta believes that the issue of climate change

and its repercussions must be addressed in a more

cohesive and concerted manner among all the

international institutions and organizations. It is

imperative that all actors involved in climate risk

reduction take a unified stand on a strategy and action

to strengthen the resilience of affected countries in

building their ability to face and adapt to the adverse

impact of climate change.

Malta also believes that the United Nations

should establish a mechanism through the General

Assembly which will report on the activities in the

field of climate change throughout the past 20 years

and propose elements of a possible future global

strategy which avoids the current fragmented approach

and takes special account of the needs of small island

States.

We owe such an effort to present and future

generations. Malta looks forward to decisions at the

Bali summit next December that we are sure will orient

and accelerate action within the United Nations

framework to obtain agreement on a comprehensive,

effective, fair and urgent global strategy to limit

climate change and adapt to its impacts.

In a few weeks time, Malta together with the

international community will be celebrating the fortieth

anniversary of the initiative launched also by Malta on

the law of the sea, which, 15 years later, saw the

adoption of the United Nations Convention, declaring

the seabed and its subsoil as the common heritage of

mankind. Forty years after the launch of the Maltese

initiative and 25 years after the adoption of the 1982

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, we

can safely state that this concept could also be

appropriately applied to the global environment, with

the knowledge that this priceless possession is owned

by all human beings on this planet. The environment is

our common area, our common heritage and as such it

is our global concern. As States Members of the United

Nations, we must work together to ensure that this

precious possession is protected and enhanced.

The maintenance of a special focus on furthering

dialogue, peace, stability and prosperity in the

Mediterranean and the Middle East is one of the

primary objectives of Malta's foreign policy. Together

with other European Union member States as well as

with our Mediterranean neighbours, Malta will

continue to join in the calls for creating the necessary

conditions for strengthening peace and cooperation in

the region. Malta's participation in the Euro-

Mediterranean Barcelona Partnership, the Five plus

Five Summit, the Mediterranean Forum, the Euro-Med

Parliamentary Assembly and the Parliamentary

Assembly for the Mediterranean complement Malta's

long-standing vocation and commitment to, and

understanding of, the Mediterranean region. Malta is

proud to host the headquarters of the newly established

Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean which

will meet for the first time in my country this

November, launching a new dimension of discussions

on Mediterranean affairs.

Close to Mediterranean affairs in the order of

priorities is the Middle East, with the Palestinian

question at its core. Malta intends to continue, as it has

done for many decades now, to support efforts to bring

lasting peace in the Middle East. We find the economic

and social repercussions on the living conditions of the

Palestinian people worrisome. We remain concerned

about the security of the State of Israel and of the

Israeli people. We are troubled by the continuing

violence between Israelis and Palestinians, as well as

among Palestinians, violence that continues to claim

innocent lives on both sides. Malta will persist in

working with the United Nations and the concerned

parties for a two-State solution to the Israeli-

Palestinian question. Malta supports the decision of

Prime Minister Olmert and Palestinian President Abbas

to meet regularly in their quest for a durable and long-

lasting solution. We also welcome the appointment of

former British Prime Minister Tony Blair as the special

representative of the Quartet and the initiative of

President Bush to convene a major meeting on the

issue in November of this year.

A centrepiece of our Organization is the

protection of human rights worldwide. The Human

Rights Council's first year of existence has witnessed

the successful conclusion of its institution-building

process. Malta predicts that the universal periodic

review will become an effective and a proactive

mechanism that not only provides an appraisal of

Member States' human rights records but also

encourages further achievements.

Malta welcomes the adoption of the United

Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous

Peoples by the General Assembly (resolution 61/295).

Linked to the promotion and protection of human

rights is the right to life. It is Malta’s belief that the

abolition of the death penalty would enhance respect

for the protection of the right to life. Malta also

commends and welcomes the Secretary-General's

decision to appoint a Special Adviser on the Prevention

of Genocide with the “responsibility to protect” and

with an expanded mandate to cover cases of mass

atrocities.

This year is the tenth anniversary of the Rome

Statute which established the International Criminal

Court. Malta reiterates its full support and

commitment. My country intends to work with the

United Nations and the States parties to the Rome

Statute, to ensure that the International Criminal Court

strengthens its tools in the administration of justice,

reconciliation and the promotion of the rule of law and

democracy.

Two weeks ago, the international community

joined the people of the City of New York to

commemorate the sixth anniversary of the terrorist

attack on the World Trade Centre. While grieving with

those who have lost their loved ones and with all the

people of the United States, we reaffirm our

commitment with States Members of the United

Nations in the fight against terrorism. The completion

of negotiations on a United Nations comprehensive

convention against international terrorism would

complement and strengthen the United Nations Global

Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the Secretary-General's

Counter-Terrorism Committee Implementation Task

Force in addressing the threat of terrorism to global

peace and security.

Allow me to touch on another subject. The plight

of internally displaced persons and those who are

seeking a better life elsewhere has continued to be one

of the priority issues of the international community.

Indeed, Malta has for some time now been witnessing

that tragic human migration, caused primarily by

internal conflicts, poverty and underdevelopment, and

resulting in a large influx of asylum seekers arriving

irregularly on our small island State, which, at 1,200

persons per square kilometre, has one of the highest

population densities in the world. The impact on us is

therefore enormous.

I would like to reiterate the calls made by Malta

in this same Assembly last year for a concerted

response from the international community, as well as

from the United Nations, its institutions and

organizations, particularly the Office of the United

Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in

addressing the problem appropriately and adequately.

The response should be undertaken particularly by

combating the criminal organizations that are

financially benefiting from illegal immigration while

they put the lives of those same immigrants at risk, and

by providing special assistance to those countries

which, like Malta, carry a disproportionate burden in

addressing the phenomenon.

Malta hopes that the High-Level Dialogue on

International Migration and Development held last year

and the follow-up meetings will continue to find

support in establishing a comprehensive institutional

and holistic response to international migration and

solutions that I hope will be based on the values of

solidarity, on respect for human dignity, and on the

sharing of responsibility.

In a month's time, the United Nations will be

hosting the High-level Dialogue on Financing for

Development with a view to reviewing the six areas of

the Monterrey Consensus. The detailed report of the

Secretary-General recommends a series of policies for

action by United Nations Member States and other

stakeholders in advancing and consolidating economic

growth, sustainable development, and social progress.

As rightly pointed out by the Secretary-General,

The Monterrey Consensus embodies a major

commitment to keeping fully engaged at all

levels, and to continuing to build bridges

among development, finance and trade

organizations and initiatives (A/62/217,

para. 127).

In that context, the roles of the International

Monetary Fund and the World Bank are crucial. In

addition, the conclusion of negotiations on the Doha

development agenda would significantly contribute to

the sustainable development of developing countries.

In order to ensure that the United Nations is

better equipped to accomplish the mission and

mandates given to it by its principal organs, the

ongoing process of reform has to be accelerated. The

World Summit in 2005 agreed on a number of reforms,

and especially on the need to restructure the main

United Nations bodies, including the General

Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the

Security Council. Progress has been made, but, I

submit, more progress has still to be achieved. Malta is

an advocate of a stronger United Nations that is

representative of the whole membership, transparent in

its role and actions, and accountable, efficient and

effective in its management.

It is also in that context that Malta strongly

supports efforts to strengthen the system-wide

coherence of the United Nations operational

development activities. The reform of the United

Nations and the proposed establishment of the “One

United Nations” country approach are, in Malta’s view,

two important pillars on which our Organization can

appropriately address the new and growing challenges

it is facing. Member States must give the United

Nations a new face, a stronger meaning and an

innovative way of thinking, implementing and acting.

The United Nations, our Organization, must be

given the ability to respond, the capacity to effectively

coordinate and deliver, and the means to truly reflect

the aspirations of its whole membership.