It has been reiterated time and time again that, if the United Nations fails to reform itself in a comprehensive and meaningful way, it runs the serious risk of slipping into irrelevance.
Without an overall review of the Security Council as the body entrusted with the primary responsibility for the…
Ten weeks ago this Hall was the venue of a very special occasion in the form of the Conference of Presiding Officers of National Parliaments, members of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). Parliamentarians of the world, whose legitimacy to speak on behalf of their constituents runs parallel to that…
The delegation of Malta would like to express its gratitude to the Permanent Representative of Namibia, Ambassador Andjaba, for his comprehensive and informative presentation of the annual report of the Security Council. Allow me also to offer to the members of the Secretariat our sincere thanks for…
I would like to join the other delegations here in congratulating you, Mr.; President, on your election as President of the General Assembly. May I also pay tribute to your predecessor, Mr. Theo- Ben Gurirab who, through his experience and diplomatic skills, guided the fifty-fourth session to a succ…
Homer, the first great poet of humanity, chose the state of siege as the basic image of the human condition in his first epic, the Iliad. He later moved to another metaphor for human life in his second epic, the Odyssey, where human existence becomes a sea voyage as opposed to one marked by the stag…
The significant number of delegations choosing to speak on this agenda item illustrates the interest and paramount importance attached to the report of the Security Council as the organ with primary responsibility for the maintenance of peace and security — a responsibility that reflects in the clea…
I join other delegations in congratulating you, Mr. President, on your election as President of the General Assembly. Your experience and diplomatic skills will undoubtedly guide us successfully through the fifty-fourth session. I would also like to express our gratitude to your predecessor, Mr. Did…
First of all, I must commend you, Sir, on the way you always succeed in finding the middle way. You are very good at it.
I feel honoured and privileged to address the General Assembly today on the occasion of this important anniversary. The United Nations is uniquely positioned to promote and prote…
My delegation would like to explain its position on draft resolution H, entitled “Regional disarmament”. Malta has reviewed the text under consideration and would like to say that the terms of the draft resolution continue to give rise to questions regarding its scope. It is not clear what the inten…
Today this body is discussing a very important agenda item: “Oceans and the law of the sea”. Malta, having taken the initiative on the law of the sea, will always follow this matter with interest. The reports of the Secretary-General under items 38 (a) and 38 (b) give us a factual overview of the de…
It is again my pleasure to address this Assembly on this very important issue. The significance of this issue can be seen both in the attendance and participation in this debate today, as well as in the number of meetings of the Open-Ended Working Group on Security Council reform held during the las…
As this is the first time that I am addressing the fifty-third session of the General Assembly, I should like to take the opportunity to congratulate Mr. Didier Opertti on his election and on the able manner in which he is conducting our work.
We also look forward to the planned IPU conference of s…
I join other delegations in congratulating you, Sir, on your election as President of the General Assembly. We are confident that your ability and experience will successfully guide our work during this session. I also wish to express our gratitude to your predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Hennadiy Ud…
The importance of the item on Security Council reform has been demonstrated once again by the large number of delegations which have taken the floor on this item. The consideration of the reform of this principle organ of the United Nations assumes crucial importance through the role assigned to the…
The item on oceans and the law of the sea has assumed importance in the Assembly’s agenda. Over the years the issues discussed under this item have grown as we have seen the further development of international law in this field.
Paramount among all the items dealing with oceans is the United Natio…
Cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations has assumed increasing importance following the demise of the cold war. The regional conflicts characteristic of our time have led the international community to examine this question in greater depth in attempting to address the root…
Malta joins other delegations in thanking the Secretary-General for his report on the implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development (A/52/305). We welcome the various activities being undertaken by Governments, regional organizations and the United Nations system in fulfil…
I wish to join other delegations in congratulating you, Sir, on your election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its fifty-second session. I am sure that, with your vast experience and diplomatic skill, this Assembly will be guided towards achieving the goals to which all peace-loving nati…
May I join others in congratulating you and the Co-Vice-Chairmen of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group of the General Assembly on an Agenda for Development, Ambassador Powles of New Zealand and Ambassador Mangoaela of Lesotho, on the good work undertaken in the finalization of this Agenda.
In welc…
Born amid the division of the cold war, the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) set unique negotiating parameters. It contributed to the consolidation of an otherwise fragile stability on a continent in which bloc antagonism and ideological confrontation reigned supreme. Through …
