Malta, 2011

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.