YouSaid · the spoken record

Joseph Muscat

lines on the record: 108
first: 2013-09-24
most recent: 2019-09-24
sittings or episodes: 7
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“In this regard, we believe that such an approach should be complemented by individualized and tailored supports, for example, for children with disabilities, to ensure, in the spirit of the SDGs, that no child is left behind. We should therefore be committed to continuing to provide the best for our peoples for an improved quality of life and a brighter future. Sustainable development is all about current and future generations, not just about specific economic sectors or social strata. A “generation” implies that we are all involved, and that therefore we are all expected to contribute to defining our own future and to leaving a better world for future generations — a future that we hope will be equal.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We are committed to providing an education through which our children develop their personal and social potential to the fullest and acquire the appropriate knowledge, competencies and attitudes through a curriculum that is oriented around such values as equity, social justice, diversity and inclusiveness. Such inclusion will result from ensuring that the educational environment is accessible in every way. While striving to implement a mainstream approach to education, including through the adoption of a national inclusion policy, Malta also recognizes the importance of working to achieve equality in outcomes for all.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Good health, well-being and quality inclusive education are fundamental human rights and indispensable for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the realization of what we all agree upon. In this vein, all children — boys and girls — should have access to good quality health care and education to ensure their well-being. Our objective is to equip all children with the appropriate environment and tools that allow them to acquire all of the necessary skills and talents for citizenship and employability in the twenty-first century and beyond.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We have to come to terms with the fact that social advancement has always been equated with empowerment and that therefore discrimination ultimately affects a nation’s resilience and standing. When I think about the future, my mind instantly goes to my daughters. Considering that this year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, we should not be reflecting on the milestones achieved in its implementation, but, more importantly, we should be seeing that the areas that need to be addressed, such as including children’s perspectives in all policies and decisions, are actually being made. Malta is currently working to fully incorporating the Convention into its legislation to enhance the full realization of children’s rights, making them portable and fully accessible.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Their wages ended up financing childcare costs. We in Malta therefore introduced universal free childcare for all working parents. The result was essentially a silent social revolution. The female employment rate grew from 52 per cent to 63.4 per cent. Yet that is not enough. We firmly believe that gender balance in politics would benefit not only women and female politicians, but also parties and society. Our country’s record in female representation in the taking of political decisions is meagre, to say the least. In this regard, and aware of the persistent underrepresentation of women in Parliament, we launched a reform proposing affirmative action that can help us bridge the gap. An individual’s contribution to society and the relevance of one’s thoughts and capabilities should not be affected by gender.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We were not willing to continue to accept a situation in which we allowed thousands of lives to be spent in situations of unnecessary inactivity, in which families and individuals, mostly women, were trapped in a life on the edge, scraping through and marginalized at the edges of our society. This is why we introduced the tapering of social benefits, so that, when someone finds a job, they lose their benefits after a period of years, not immediately. Liberated from the excessive tax burden, those on social benefits — mostly women, once again — responded. The number of those on social assistance in our country has been cut in half in the past three years. On the other hand, until a few years ago, working parents, mostly mothers, faced staggering childcare costs if they opted to go off to work.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Yet this role has been under-appreciated, insufficiently acknowledged and at times even unrecognized. I firmly believe that the strong worldwide momentum pushing for women’s rights should inspire leaders to review the pace of progress and ensure that Governments commit to achieving gender equality in our lifetime. On a national level, Malta has been promoting numerous initiatives that underscore the country’s commitment to the gender-equality agenda and the promotion of equal opportunities for all. We replaced our passive-benefit system, with its underlying poverty trap, with an active system that puts people back to work.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“On the other hand, we note that we need to do a lot more to ensure that certain issues, such as family acceptance, have a more holistic approach. Autonomy and empowerment are values that our legislation and practice seek to mainstream, while ensuring appropriate support for persons who could find themselves in more vulnerable situations. That is why we have also enacted cutting-edge legislation in the area of gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics and why we are currently working to follow up on United Nations recommendations in other areas. The future is female. We need to understand that we cannot succeed when approximately half of our global population is being held back. For centuries, women have played an important role in society, both in communities and, for the past decades, in the workplace.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Our experience has taught us that empowering citizens and ensuring that they have a voice in addressing and resolving issues that concern them and affect their lives is an important part of our success as a country. And yet in spite of our success, there is still a long way to go. Our ambition is clear. We want not only to provide the necessary legal platform but to contest social norms that abet stigma and discrimination. Legislation alone does not guarantee social change. We are working fast and actively on this aspect and our efforts are starting to bear fruit. The latest European Commission Eurobarometer survey on LGBTQI equality ranked Malta first in acceptance of gender-identity recognition. It also showed positive results in social acceptance of LGBTQI people and the need for inclusive educational curricula in schools.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“From marriage equality to gender-neutral markers, the advancements made by Malta in the field of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) community are described by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights as the global gold standard. It is a privilege and a responsibility to be seen as a world leader on such an important matter. With a rating of 94 per cent on the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association Rainbow Map, Malta is now consistently the leading European country in protecting people’s rights in the areas of equality and non-discrimination, hate crime and hate speech, legal gender recognition and bodily integrity, civil-society space and asylum. All of that was achieved in just a few years, thanks to a strong bond between Government and civil society.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Transformations should be used to benefit our peoples, not to create divisions between the haves and the have-nots or those on the outside and those on the inside. Economic prosperity does not mean social injustice, and being a patriot does not equate to isolating a nation. The future should be equal. It is our responsibility to show the value of all peoples, irrespective of their age, race, sexual orientation, gender, creed and ability. Diversity is an enriching factor for any society. Firm in this belief, our country has embarked on a journey of conviction to fight social marginalization and address the needs and rights of those who for decades were considered to be the daughters and sons of a lesser God.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We can describe today’s world in many ways — interdependent, aware and diverse. Yet it is also polluted, isolationist and unequal. We have never been so close together and yet so far apart. We are living in an era when individuals are at the centre of the decision-making process and yet the decisions that are being taken are not necessarily people-centred. Contradictory situations and outcomes are the order of the day. We cannot just accept all of that as inevitable. We are fortunate enough to be living in an age when we are not only aware of the changes that are happening around us, we are also part of them. We are duty-bound to ensure that these ongoing changes and transformations leave no one behind.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We can make sure that people are not deprived of their legitimate property because of compromised data. Corporations will be able to become more accountable to their shareholders. States will have to move from hoarding information on citizens to regulating an environment where citizens trust the handling of their data. Those are just a few of the ways in which we can counter regressive and reactionary politics. This forum shows that we stand to gain through dialogue and cooperation, which will always triumph over division and self-absorption because in unity we can have hope.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Only time will tell. But it is the accessibility of advanced technologies that will lead to solutions, hopefully for the whole world. I believe passionately that technology can revolutionize and improve systems. That is why we have launched Malta as the blockchain island by being the first jurisdiction worldwide to regulate that new technology, which previously existed in a legal vacuum. Blockchain makes cryptocurrencies, the inevitable future of money, more transparent, since it helps to separate good business from bad. But such distributed-ledger technologies can do much more. They can provide solutions to health- care systems in which patients have real ownership of their medical records. Emissions-trading systems can be taken to the next level. We can help to verify that humanitarian assistance is reaching its intended destination.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Those who will be able to pair the digital economy with a new State, the digital State, will be best poised to have a future-proof society in which change does not galvanize extremes but helps to ensure further decades of sensible, mainstream policymaking and prosperity. Then there are the other big questions for which the dawn of the digital age requires answers. Can we solve diplomatic negotiations that are at a stalemate by applying algorithms that can avoid war? Can we disarm terrorists by using the latest technologies? Is it possible to know immediately which remote parts of our planet need international humanitarian assistance? Could we create new organs for people so that no one on a waiting list dies for lack of a donor? Can we look forward to the day when humankind can be told that there is a cure for all cancers?”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“While such concerns may serve the needs of some politicians in the short term, and even appeal to well-meaning people who are afraid that progress will cost them their jobs or even more, such an approach is as myopic as advocating in the past that horse-drawn carts should not be replaced by motor vehicles. Whether we are talking about immigration or technology, we do not arrive at solutions by closing doors. The digital economy should be seen as an opportunity, but we must realize that we cannot do the best job of harnessing its opportunities without evolving the current social contracts we have in place.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Clearly, the fast and obvious transition to the digital economy and society poses challenges, which have to do with the very nature of concepts that we believed would stay as they were forever. One of them is the nature of work — how we envisage it, how we compensate it, how we maximize its efficiency and how the State creates new safety nets. That is a conversation that has just started globally, but that will shape public debate during our lifetime. We can take the antagonistic view that technological progress is bad for us, that it will lead to new types of poverty, that it will strip people of their rights or even take decisions out of our hands.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Injustice remains, and climate change could be the greatest threat to life in our history. As we solve one issue, another replaces it. That is life. However, the important thing is that we continue to strive and work towards the greater good. But we can only do that together. One way forward that Malta advocates is the harnessing of new technologies, which offer endless possibilities. We are currently in exciting technological times. With the lightning pace of current technological advances, each incredible piece of innovation could hold a new solution to problems that may have persisted for decades — from advanced robotics and artificial intelligence to 3D printing and the Internet of things.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“However, let us take some comfort in knowing that in the 73 years of the existence of the United Nations, the going has always been tough. In fact, those who have stood where I am standing today have faced much worse crises, from wars and famines to injustice and killer diseases. But through unified approaches, solutions were found and nations survived. Each time we came together we emerged stronger as an institution, as a global community. We currently live in a world with fewer wars and more dialogue and cooperation than ever before. But our work is not done, and it probably never will be. Although fewer people live in extreme poverty, that scourge has not been eradicated. We have found solutions to many life-threatening diseases, yet cures are still needed for others.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“The soon to be adopted global compact on migration, which aims to establish a new global migration governance architecture on the principle of shared international responsibilities and solidarity, is a welcome move in the right direction. But it is a milestone on the road rather than the end of the road. We must now walk the talk by engaging in operational action. Narratives that use inflated or false facts and thrive on a nation’s fear of openness have led to painful outcomes in history, not only producing the obvious effects but also affecting the dynamics of international relationships, which overflow into other issues with devastating results. The current surge in nationalism and tighter border controls threatens to do just that, with the potential for obstructing democratic decisions fuelling extremism of all kinds.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“In recent weeks — because of the actions of a few who have not abided by the relevant conventions — Malta had to bring together like-minded nations with a humanitarian conscience to offer a place of safety for stranded migrants. We had no legal obligation to do so, but we did it in a spirit of seeking unified solutions. And it proved that when solidarity works, complex issues can often have simple solutions. Although I am under no illusion and know that this was just a temporary respite in a much bigger problem, such actions could provide a foundation for long-term solutions, if all European Union member States could come together in a solution resembling a Bretton Woods-style institutional arrangement for addressing and managing migration with international support.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Most important, working together, we can stop the people profiting from a practice that has often resulted in the deaths of so many innocent people. Malta is a small State that has one of the highest rates of economic growth in Europe and in the world, but that also ranks among the highest worldwide in terms of the number of asylum applications per capita. Despite that, our humanitarian response is still fully in line with our international commitments. That is also true for Malta’s embarkation policy, which has been consistent and clear. And we expect others, not only States but also the non-State actors involved, to abide by international rules.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“We have been grappling with complexities that have existed for years — much longer than has been recognized on a priority basis by the international community — and that have dominated media headlines in Europe and beyond. Although crossings through the central Mediterranean have decreased in the past year, the concerns of our populations have grown. And many feel the international community has failed to provide solutions for them. That has given rise to movements that preach simplistic solutions to complex problems. What can surely be stopped, if we have a unified approach, are the criminal gangs profiting from smuggling human beings. With a global strategy that can deliver incisive blows to migrant smugglers, we can disrupt their online recruitment efforts, their payment methods and their supply of sea vessels.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“We are seeing divisions not just among global leaders or nations, but within our own societies, neighbourhoods and even families. Local solutions breed global problems, which then manifest themselves with devastating results, from the use of plastic products that are polluting our seas to the point that they are killing our sea life, to mass migrations and the effect of displacement on both migrants and host societies, where there are vulnerable people on both sides. I mention those examples because both of them have hit us particularly hard in Malta and in the Mediterranean Sea. The latter is visible to all. We are in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea, in the middle of the route between North Africa, Libya and mainland Europe, the centre of a journey that thousands of people have undertaken in recent years.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Malta, being a member of both the European Union and the Commonwealth, knows only too well that no single nation, big or small, can tackle global problems alone. The trend of nations drifting towards reactions based only on their own borders is a worrying one. Some, unfortunately, are wanting to solve global issues with local solutions, which, as many here recognize, can at best give the illusion of working for a limited period of time, and at worst lead to almost immediate implosion. We must, of course, respect the sovereignty of all nations, and we have no right to stand here before the Assembly hoping to judge others. But those who are closing themselves off from debate believe falsely that they can escape certain issues.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“This summer we lost a great man, Kofi Annan. He stood for the need for Member States to be united in our approach if we wish to achieve the goals of the United Nations. That is why I am here addressing the General Assembly today, because I believe that global problems require global solutions. Advocating a global approach does not mean loving your country less than others. It means that working together makes it less likely that a might-is-right doctrine will prevail. Furthermore, better solutions can be found together, rather than alone. In order to find solutions we must remain committed to communicating and understanding one another. Whatever challenges we need to address and however different each nation’s views and perspectives are, we have a better chance at solving them as a united force, rather than divided or on our own.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Challenging times require us to act swiftly to meet such challenges. And that time is now. It is sooner rather than later. Systematic action by stakeholders at all levels and across all strata is crucial if its benefits are to be felt by people in every corner of the world. The United Nations is the prime mobilizer and anchor of international peace, security and stability and has a crucial role to play if we are to secure a peaceful, sustainable and better world for all. Malta is a firm believer in the overarching power of multilateralism. We do not believe that the United Nations is simply a sum of its parts. Rather, it is a force that grows exponentially when we think and act as one rather than alone.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“That should reaffirm the sovereign right of States to decide their immigration policies, but it should also commit them to building a migration system and institutions that operate in a timely manner so that migrants are treated fairly and with dignity. It should protect migrants’ human rights and create awareness of the importance of combating exploitation and modern slavery. It should lead campaigns against xenophobia while providing support for the integration of long- term migrants and taking account of the feelings of people in host countries. It is also our belief that although the global compact should encompass all of these measures, it should also facilitate orderly, safe and regular migration, while committing States, particularly those of origin and transit, to taking action to reduce illegal and unmanaged flows.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“It must continue to spearhead, sustain and mobilize the international community as we journey along the ambitious path to 2030. But so much more must be done. The exploitation of human misery knows no boundaries. Migrant smuggling and human trafficking by criminal groups are prevalent all over the world, and Malta has witnessed much of that very close to home, along the central Mediterranean routes. As a State member of the European Union, Malta is part of a wider European response aimed at tackling human-trafficking networks in the Mediterranean Sea. However, without a global response, national and even regional action is insufficient. Malta welcomes the progress that has been made in developing a global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“We are proud to be the only European country providing universal free child care to all working parents, an initiative that has liberated the potential of so many women in our society. We want to ensure more gender- balanced political representation, coupled with recent initiatives to increase youth participation by lowering the voting age in general and in European elections from 18 to 16 years of age, after having already lowered it for local elections. Malta, despite its small size, can now serve as a beacon of political courage that inspires others to introduce concrete measures and reforms. Everyone must feel empowered in today’s society. The protection of marginalized and vulnerable people is a must if we are to strive for an inclusive world. The United Nations is pivotal in all this.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“We have put human rights, equality and empowerment at the forefront of our political agenda, particularly on the priority issues of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer rights and gender equality. We have redefined marriage to grant full equality and affirm gender neutral access. All this has been complemented by amendments to our constitution to protect people against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. These individual choices should really have as little significance as the colour of one’s eyes. The economic and political empowerment of our citizens, regardless of their gender, is a priority for us. We have been gradually introducing measures to help reconcile work and family responsibilities.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“As a Government, we base our policies on four overarching principles: social mobility, social justice, equality and unity. Only today did we learn that, for another year in a row, fewer people in Malta are at risk of poverty. That follows our Government’s efforts to distribute the proceeds that come from sustained growth fairly. That is an achievement that is as dear to us as our record-setting economic growth and minimal levels of unemployment. It is exactly what we strive for. Our raison d’être is what we describe as prosperity with a purpose. A prosperous future must be accompanied by an inclusive society. People who live in fear or who are oppressed or discriminated against cannot realize their potential, and are therefore not at peace. Malta seeks to lead by example and ensure equality as a hallmark of our political legacy.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“Furthermore, we fully support the establishment of an intergovernmental panel on ocean governance that would report to the General Assembly through the Secretary-General. I also wish to underline the recent initiative undertaken by the Commonwealth to develop a “blue charter”, which will serve to assist the countries of the Commonwealth, most of them small developing States, in meeting the requirements outlined in SDG 14. Likewise, we wholeheartedly welcome the November 2016 entry into force of the Paris Agreement. It is only by greening our actions that we can ensure that sustainable development complements and respects Mother Earth. Malta, together with all of its partners in the European Union, is strongly committed to the Paris Agreement.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“Fifty years ago, Malta’s first Permanent Representative to the United Nations, the late Arvid Pardo, made a famous speech that triggered the negotiation of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It is in a similar spirit that we support the valuable work being done to achieve a legally binding international instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, which will be crucial to finally bringing legal protection to the biodiversity of the high seas. For our part, we will continue contributing to the good governance of the oceans by hosting the next Ocean Conference in Malta in October.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“Every sector of society must be on board if we are to deliver on such an arduous task. As the Commonwealth’s Chair-in-Office, I would like to highlight its strong commitment to its role in realizing the SDGs. The Commonwealth represents 52 different realities, which has led us to launch, in broad terms, a number of common initiatives to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Malta is taking action at the national level. We have made a voluntary commitment to designating 30 per cent of all waters under Maltese jurisdiction as marine protected areas. As is well known, Malta has been at the forefront of international maritime and marine-related issues.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“There can be no peace while poverty, especially extreme poverty, exists. Peace is not just about the absence of war or conflict. Rather, is is about managing and addressing climate change, migration and food and water insecurity. The instrument of the United Nations that weaves sustainable peace together with universal challenges is the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In that regard, Malta, as President of the Council of the European Union, has worked hard with its other member States to achieve a successful march towards a new European consensus on development that encompasses the 2030 Agenda through a resolute plan of action to eradicate poverty. Never has it been more urgent to work to preserve the future of humankind. The 2030 Agenda is the first step towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“Malta will continue to play its part within the Organization to contribute, support and advance its initiatives and to foster new ones for the common good.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“We will also continue to actively support the revitalization of relations with the Gulf States and the Gulf Cooperation Council, which would also serve as another opportunity to step up multilevel regional cooperation with the European Union. Over the past 70 years, the United Nations has strived to work together to achieve peace, security, development and human rights. In spite of the atrocities we have witnessed in past years, we must continue to hold onto these principles. We must not allow fear to be the driving, and at times paralysing, force. We must continue to keep in mind the larger picture and recognize that our diversity is our strength, that to understand each other fortifies our progress and that one people’s concerns are collectively our concerns.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“These are all challenges that cannot be addressed by individual countries and which require concerted resolve and action. Apart from ensuring ownership of this cause by all stakeholders in the region, Malta will also promote the fostering of better synergies among regional Mediterranean mechanisms — including the Five+Five, the Union for the Mediterranean and the Anna Lindh Foundation — to address threats and achieve shared goals. Furthermore, the Maltese presidency of the European Council will endeavour to continue strengthening relations with the League of Arab States with the aim of consolidating institutions and achieving better relations.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“As I have suggested previously, Malta is deeply committed to Euro-Mediterranean dialogue and cooperation, inspired by our long-lasting policy, forged by former Prime Minister Dom Mintoff, based on the principle that there can be no peace and security in Europe without peace and security in the Mediterranean. We believe that this principle was never more true than today and that it can be broadened to say that there can be no peace and security, not just in Europe but in the world, without peace and security in the Mediterranean. This vision will be a primary driving force behind Malta’s presidency of the Council of the European Union. Countries bordering the southern Mediterranean shores are facing serious challenges, ranging from conflict to terrorism to extremism and radicalization.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“All of these aspects are priority areas for Malta, which is currently Chair-in-Office of the Commonwealth of Nations and is looking forward to holding the presidency of the Council of the European Union during the first half of next year. As we near this milestone in our political history, Malta continues to successfully broaden its foreign-policy focus. While our neighbourhood will naturally remain among the leading priorities for the months and years to come, our country seeks to intensify its outreach to other regions and countries that present potential for further exchanges. The overriding driving force of our global perspective is oriented towards dialogue and mutual understanding — a vocation to which Malta has genuinely adhered for decades.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“No religion or belief in discrimination can ever be a defensible cause for maiming, terrorizing or killing others. A global society that is truly determined to counter all facets of terrorism must rise above prescriptive pronouncements and take action. In that regard, Malta believes that the United Nations is central to the global fight against terrorism. As host to the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law, Malta believes that the most effective way to counter terrorism is by empowering the rule of law and strengthening the judiciary in States where terrorist activity is gaining ground. This is what this centre is doing, without much fanfare, each and every day.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“As neighbours, we stand by the Libyan people’s efforts to transform their country into a safe, democratic and unified State, with a reconciled people, where State authority and the rule of law are restored. I am certain that this is the dream of our Libyan friends themselves. We reiterate the need to remain supportive of the Libyan Peace Accord and the Presidency Council and to respect Libyan sovereignty and take into account Libyan ownership. This has been a year of atrocious terrorist acts against innocent victims. Bystanders — men, women and children — have been killed while going about their daily lives, going to work, taking a stroll, eating with family and praying. This year has seen a rise in the spread of a culture of violence and death that is spanning continents and hurting people of every gender, race and creed.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“We have managed to come a considerable way since last December, and Malta commends and continues to support the hard work of the United Nations and the Secretary-General’s Special Representatives, including their unrelenting efforts and perseverance to improve the political setting for a stable and democratic Libya. We also welcome the recent adoption of resolution 2298 (2016), allowing for the destruction of the chemical weapons present in the country. That is a commendable effort aimed at reducing the risk of these weapons fall ing into the hands of extremists. However, despite this progress, the situation remains fragile. The Libyan population needs a concretely functioning Government that addresses their basic needs — proper medication, food security and education.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“In our most immediate neighbourhood, Malta has supported, and will continue to support, its neighbour Tunisia towards stability and democracy. Despite facing serious challenges, Tunisia is gradually emerging as the first, albeit fragile, Arab democracy. But for it to succeed, it is important that the international community not abandon Tunisia at this critical juncture. Yet while Tunisia offers hope, the overall picture in Libya continues to be bleak. I am afraid that I am one of the few speakers to have mentioned Libya. I must note the important, incremental positive developments.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“With a clear view on the rights of the Israelis and Palestinians, my country continues to back initiatives aimed at rekindling the prospects for peace talks and for keeping the two- State solution alive. But in doing so we acknowledge that there is a need to create the right conditions for rebuilding trust as a means of bringing the two parties back to the negotiating table. To achieve this, both sides must take bold steps and refrain from all actions that undermine progress in the resumed peace talks. We support international efforts aimed at creating new dynamics around the peace process that would build upon other efforts towards a lasting solution, including the Arab Peace Initiative and the French initiative. We hope that there will be the right traction to create the conditions for a lasting and durable solution.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“It pains me to dwell on the fact that we are still absolutely nowhere near a solution in the context of the Middle East peace process. Malta is deeply concerned about the lack of progress towards a just and lasting peace in the region. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. We call on all parties to change the political, security and economic structures, including the end of the closure and a full opening of the crossing points to assist Palestinians in Gaza in rebuilding their lives. On the other hand, Malta continues to believe that the State of Israel’s legitimate right to exist must not be called into question. We believe that Israelis have the right to live in peace within secure borders.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Having just participated in the General Assembly high-level summit, I am immensely pleased and encouraged to see that the New York Declaration and the spirit of the Valletta summit live on, at least in words and in intentions. Unfortunately, most follow- up actions still need to be implemented. As I have said previously, steps need to be taken now, especially by those countries that bear the moral responsibility for mass movements, either through their actions or their inaction. The Somali-British poet Warsan Shire writes in her poem entitled “Home” that “no one puts their children in a boat unless the water is safer than the land”. My country’s vision is for a safe Mediterranean region that offers peace, wealth, stability and work. The situation in the Middle East has a huge bearing on that of our region and of the entire world.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“We should seriously consider a structure where traffickers are brought to justice before an international tribunal in order to drive home the message that we are looking at this tragedy not only from the humanitarian angle, which is appropriate, but also from the security perspective, and that profiting from human trafficking does not pay. Malta believes that there is no such thing as a unilateral solution to migration. A global perspective is required. Closer cooperation among the countries of origin, transit and destination is essential and needed. This was the focus of the Valletta summit on migration, which we were proud to have host lasted November in Malta, when European and African leaders met to see what they can do together and for one another.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Together with our European partners, and sometimes on our own, or almost, Malta has been working tirelessly to address the common concerns and challenges being presented. In that respect, our international efforts to address migrant smuggling and human trafficking through measures aimed at disrupting the business models of criminals, who harbour a total disregard for human life and profit from other people’s tragedies, are key. Though commendable, these efforts need to be stepped up. Information-sharing, improved implementation of national enforcement policies and stronger penalties to punish smugglers are essential dimensions of an effective response to this challenge. I believe people-smugglers are in the same category as the worst type of criminals and must be treated as such.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)