Prime Minister Robert Abela addresses the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly

Secretary General, 

President, 

Excellencies, 

Distinguished Delegates, 

Dear friends. 

When we gathered this time last year, little could we have predicted that - just a couple of  weeks later - our world would be plunged into even greater turmoil by the despicable attacks  of October 7th. 

In the twelve months since, we have seen continued loss of life and a humanitarian emergency  on such a scale that it is all too easy to give up hope. All too easy to believe that nothing can  be done. All too easy to turn the other cheek. 

We cannot escape from the stark reality that our world faces the gravest of challenges, and  the populations of far too many of these United Nations face the gravest perils. The gravity of  those threats is such that we – as leaders from across the globe – are confronted with a choice  of two paths. We can choose the path of despair – dejectedly deciding that is simply  impossible to make a difference or we can choose the path of persistence. 

Determined that, no matter how rough the waters, we can, and we must redouble our efforts  to meet those challenges and mitigate those perils. I emphatically believe that we have a  moral responsibility to take the path of persistence. 

I will never apologize for reaffirming the simple belief that motivated me to come into public  life, that tomorrow can be better than today. And no matter what the headwinds, it is a belief  that still motivates all I do. I refuse to believe that we should just give up. I refuse to listen to  those siren whispers that the worst is inevitable, and it is not worth working for better  outcomes. I refuse to give into the notion that we can defer difficult decisions, or that small  countries just have to passively accept the actions of larger players. 

To acquiesce to that negativity would be to accept that this General Assembly, that this United  Nations is nothing more than a counsel of despair. To that I say a resounding no. This United  Nations can and must be a counsel of hope. Nobody is going to pretend that we can wave any  sort of magic wand or deliver instant solutions. But we have a duty to keep hope alive, to keep  trying, to keep working. To keep battling for the values that were the very foundation of the  idea of a United Nations. 

Eight decades ago – from the rubble of the first truly global conflict – our forerunners had the  courage and the foresight to see that the world had to have a forum where the voice of every nation could be heard. And as colonialism rightly crumbled, there were to be a lot of newly  independent nations to add their signatures to the Charter. Malta is one such nation. As we  gained our independence from the United Kingdom, we took our place in the world. This year  marks the sixtieth anniversary of Malta’s accession to the United Nations. Over those six 

decades, my country has developed beyond the wildest dreams of the pioneers who saw us  to statehood. 

So, as we mark 60 years of Malta as a proud member of the United Nations, and as the UN  itself gets ready to mark its 80th anniversary, my message is clear. The world needs the United  Nations now more than ever. Malta values the United Nations now more than ever. And make  no mistake – Malta may be a small country, but we will always be a loud voice against deferring  difficult decisions and avoiding difficult conversations. We will never resign ourselves to a  future devoid of peace. We will never abandon our commitment to supporting peace  processes – no matter how tough those processes may be.  

We will remain steadfast in our support for steps to build and maintain peace in every region  of conflict. We will remain as committed to – and confident in – this United Nations as that day in December sixty years ago when the ink dried on Malta’s signature. 

Malta has a unique political and geographical position. At the heart of the Mediterranean, a  bridge between Europe and North Africa, and the crossroads of Europe and the Middle East. A full member of the EU, but with neutrality enshrined in our constitution. We are acutely  aware of the responsibility this position brings. Two words sum-up the role I believe Malta can  and does play. Honest broker. From hosting peace talks, to brokering difficult dialogues, we  aim to harness our position to bring those in conflict together to at least try and find a way  forward.  

This is exactly the approach Malta has brought to our membership of the Security Council over  the past two years. And that is exactly the approach we have brought to the Chair of the OSCE which we assumed in January. Malta was happy to step-up and take the Chair as an honest  broker – allowing all members to endorse our leadership, and ensuring the work of this vital  body can continue. Like Malta, the OSCE is a bridge between neighbours across continents. 

Europe can only be secure, and at peace, if its neighbours are secure and at peace. Which is  why – both in the Security Council and in the OSCE – our guiding watchwords are always promoting Sustainability, Peace and Security. This approach sits well alongside the OSCE’s  comprehensive conception of security as not just about ending military conflict, but also  addressing the social and economic tensions that create and exacerbate international  tensions. To that end we will continue to press for all nations to comply with the Arms Trade  Treaty. The failure of too many countries to comply with international rules poses too great a  threat to too many innocent citizens. 

President, as I’ve reflected on my country’s six decades of membership of this United Nations  - I’ve looked back at the wisdom of some of those who have held the office of Secretary  General. Sadly, these words of Ban Ki Moon remain as true and urgent today as ever: “The  world is over-armed, and peace is under-funded.” 

The peace and humanitarian budgets - which are at the heart of the UN’s mission - remain  severely underfunded, harshly impacting too many of the world’s most vulnerable people. Which is why Malta urges all member states to play their part by remitting the resources to

ensure the hard-working, hard-pressed frontline UN staff can play their part in bringing relief  and hope where it is so desperately needed. 

As Malta concludes its current term on the Security Council, I am proud of what we have been  able to help achieve. Amidst the tragedy of events in Israel and Gaza we have worked with  others to prioritize the relief of humanitarian suffering. 

We used our seat on the Security Council to work for Resolution 2712, which demanded urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and the provision of corridors through Gaza to  supply critical supplies needed by so many civilians, not least children. The resolution also  called for the release of hostages held captive by Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza.  We are proud that this led to the release of 105 hostages during the negotiated seven-day  pause. 

Similarly, I am pleased Malta played a key role in the Security Council adopting Resolution  2728 – which demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza for the month of Ramadan, alongside  the immediate release of all hostages. This was the first joint motion from the non-permanent  members on a geographic situation in the Security Council's history. 

Understandably, much of the world’s attention has been on Israel/Gaza since October 7th,  which has now expanded to a dangerous and deeply worrying escalation in Lebanon. We stand  firm in our belief that we must all strive to ensure that the flames of this conflict do not engulf  the whole region, and that we all take decisive steps to resolve this conflict before it is too  late.  

Furthermore, it is imperative that we, as a global community, do not lose focus on those other  parts of the world where war and the killing of civilians is also all too present, and all too  tragic, a daily reality. Sudan, Yemen, Syria and, of course, Ukraine. 

So, let me turn to another country in conflict. Malta’s southern neighbour – Libya. Helping the  Libyan people achieve a genuine and lasting resolution to the institutional crisis - for which  they have paid too high a price for too long – is a key priority for Malta. For such a resolution  would not only benefit the Libyan people, but it would also benefit all Libya’s neighbours and  the wider region. Only with a single functioning government -supported by citizens acrossthe  whole country - can Libya play its full part in addressing the migrant crisis which puts so many  lives at risk. 

Which is why Malta warmly welcomes the initiatives taken by UNS-MIL in bringing the parties  together to sign an agreement that will hopefully end a crisis at the Central Bank of Libya; and  also to kickstart the stalled wider political process. Malta will continue to stand ready to do  anything it can to aid that process, and we will be unstinting in advocating for proactive  engagement by the international community to support and enhance these UN led efforts. Together we have a duty to aid the mediation needed to create a pathway towards national 

parliamentary and presidential elections in Libya. 

As friends and neighbours of Libya, we can and must help. But for the process to truly succeed, it must be Libyan led and Libyan owned. To which end, we unequivocally call for the immediate 

withdrawal of all foreign forces, fighters and mercenaries from Libya. And Malta re emphasises the need for a full impletion of the Libyan arms embargo in line with all the  relevant Security Council resolutions. 

Equality is a key value for my government and my country. Just as the situation in Libya will  only be resolved by all the people of the country knowing they have an equal voice, so are so  many of the conflicts, disputes and tensions around the world fuelled by inequality. Equality  isn’t some sort of added extra – nice to have but not vital to tackling the world’s problems.  That view couldn’t be more misguided. Equality – across gender, race, religion, age, disability,  sexuality – is not just imperative for its own sake. Equality is also imperative in finding lasting  solutions to so many of the challenges that face us all. 

So, I am honoured Malta stands at the forefront of promoting civil liberties globally. We are  one of the few countries that has already implemented an Anti-Racism Strategy, and now we  are in the process of drafting a second, renewed Anti-Racism Strategy. We will never take  equality at home for granted, and we will always advocate and support greater equality  internationally. All too often, it is women and girls who bear the brunt of conflict, and all too infrequently are the voices of women and girls heard when it comes to solving those conflicts. 

Without women, there can be no peace. As the world redoubles its efforts to bring peace, so  must we all redouble our efforts to ensure the voice of women and girls is heard, at the top  tables, as well as on the ground. 

During our term on the Security Council, Malta has worked hard to do just that. Malta has  chaired the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict. In the last  eighteen months, the Working Group has issued conclusions on the role of children in the  conflicts in South Sudan, Nigeria, Mali, Afghanistan, CAR, Colombia, Iraq and Somalia. That list  is a sad testament to the magnitude and gravity of the repeated violations against children in  crisis zones. We must never let up in our outrage and action at these persistent and flagrant abuses of the rights of the child – as enshrined by this United Nations. 

President, we have a saying in Maltese: Il-bahar sinjur. The sea is wealthy. And indeed it is. As  an island nation, for Malta, the wealth of the sea equates to the wealth of our people. The  health of the sea equates to the health of our people. So we need no reminder just how  essential it is to protect the wealth, health and bio-diversity of the earth’s seas and oceans.  And we know just how much small island nations like ours will be impacted as climate change  warms oceans and raises sea levels. We,small island nations, are amongst the lowest emitters  of greenhouse gases, but we are literally the frontline of the climate emergency. 

The impact of climate change will be felt by all our citizens. It is our duty to them to do all we  can to minimise that change and maximise our resilience to the changes already being felt. Delay and prevarication simply aren’t options. Climate change must remain at the top of the  global agenda. 

Solidarity – standing shoulder to shoulder – with our fellow small island nations is a key value  for Malta. Solidarity means actions, not just words. The ‘Islands for Islands’ initiative is central  to our foreign policy – providing concrete, practical assistance to Small Island Developing  States. Sharing best practice and building capacity. That’s why Malta has jointly taken the lead 

in developing the ‘Climate Vulnerability and Resilience Index’ – a practical resource to help  small islands identify and prepare for the effects of the changing climate. As sea levels become  an ever greater concern so does the health of our seas and oceans become ever greater a  priority. Malta remains, and will always remain, at the forefront of efforts to protect our  oceans.  

In the very first years of our UN membership, we were one of the foremost proponents of the  principle of the Common Heritage of Mankind – thank you Arvid Pardo - and it remains our  lodestar. We have consistently spoken up in the Security Council about the existential threat  from rising sea levels. And Malta will always remain unwavering in our support for the UN  Convention on the Law of the Sea. 

Malta welcomes the first ratifications of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction  Agreement – which will provide much needed, much greater protection for the two-thirds of  global oceans that lie beyond national jurisdictions. The treaty will only come into force when  sixty nations have ratified it. Our oceans need it. Our peoples deserve it. So I say to my fellow  leaders – speed up and sign!  

To preserve healthy maritime environments we all need to take practical, innovative steps. That’s why I am delighted at the success Malta’s new ‘Shore to Ship’ initiative is having. The  stunning Grand Harbour in our capital Valetta is a magnet for cruise ships. But while docked  in berth, they can produce serious amounts of pollution if relying on their engines in the  confined space. So ‘shore to ship’ is installing onshore power supply alongside the quays used  by cruise ships. Meaning they can switch off their engines and help reduce pollution in this  most special of places by around ninety percent. 

In Malta we know that while the sea can yield great gifts, it can also be the host for illicit  activity and the breaking of international laws. The high seas must never become the ‘Wild  West’. The rule of law and the will of the international community must always hold on sea as  on land. Which is why Malta championed the creation of a unified database of all vessels  involved in illicit activity – shareable and usable by all participating states. 

Shipping is central to international trade, so ensuring they are fully applied at sea is central to  any successful sanctions regime. And that can only happen if ship owners know that trying to  break sanctions brings consequences. But it is essential – for reasons of natural justice and to  ensure buy in from member states – that the listing of those breaking sanctions is fair and  transparent. So Malta was proud to jointly hold the pen - alongside the United States - for  resolution 2744, that overhauls the delisting process for the first time in almost two decades.  By creating a better system for delisting where warranted, we can ward against premature  lifting of sanctions which is not warranted. 

President, we have witnessed how effective global health policies can unite nations, especially  when addressing crises that transcend borders and that affect us all. Just yesterday, UN  Member States adopted the Political Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance, which has been  diligently facilitated by Malta and Barbados over many months. AMR presents a collective  threat that demands our urgent attention. We know what must be done to prevent the loss  of millions of lives and to avert trillions of dollars in additional healthcare costs. This 

Declaration should serve as a strategic roadmap for policymakers, guiding their efforts to  tackle AMR in the years ahead. 

President, when we reconvene in a years’ time we will be marking the eightieth birthday of  our United Nations. But we mustn’t ever be just marking time. We need to always be marking  progress. 

As Dag Hammarskjold said: “The pursuit of peace and progress cannot end in a few years in  either victory or defeat. The pursuit of peace and progress, with its trials and its errors, its  successes and its setbacks, can never be relaxed and never abandoned.” 

In Europe the average life expectancy is just over eighty years. The UN will only have life  expectancy longer than that, if we all recommit to its future. As the saying goes, I want reports  of its death to be greatly exaggerated. Yes, we can’t ignore the fact that the architecture of  the world’s collective security is under stress like never before. Voices of nationalism dismiss  the need to work together. Instigators of conflict believe they can escape the wrath and the  writ of the global community. Both couldn’t be more wrong. Acting to end conflict and relieve  suffering is never easy. But that doesn’t mean we should stop trying. 

Reaching consensus across borders and across political differences is never easy. But that  doesn’t mean we should stop trying. Acknowledging we have all contributed to the state our  world is in and setting aside pride to try and make the world a better place is never easy. But  that doesn’t mean we should stop trying. Arguably the temptation to ‘wring hands’ and see  change as too hard to achieve is greatest for small nations like my own. To sit back and sigh  that the big boys have made too much of a mess of things. 

Well, Malta will never sit back. Malta will never wring hands. Malta will never leave it to  others. Yes, Malta will always be realistic. But Malta will always be committed to  multilateralism. When the perils are at their greatest - the need to work together is at its  greatest. 

So, let us use the next twelve months – in the run up to that eightieth anniversary, to reassert  our collective belief in this United Nations, to redouble our efforts. To resolve conflict, to take  the steps the future of the earth needs and to deliver the change the peoples of this planet  need and deserve. To raise our game in supporting the Secretary General in delivering the  institutional reform the UN needs to better fulfil its purpose. 

In short – and with every fibre of my being I say to my fellow leaders: Now is the time to  choose, and we must choose the Path of Persistence. We must reject the path of despair. 

Yes, our world faces huge challenges and huge threats. But if we lose belief in the power of  collective action, if we lose belief in the ability to work together to make a difference, then we  are losing belief in the very idea of a better world. 

If we fail to persist – we fail to lead. If we fail to perceiver – we fail the people who put their  faith in us. Failure simply isn’t an option. The stakes are too high. The risks too great. The 

consequences too severe. So let us make that choice. Let us today recommit as a United  Nations. Let us affirm the Path of Persistence. 

And – no matter how tough the going – let us enter the 80th year of this United Nations with  the simple goal in our head and in our hearts. Let us – now more than ever – never give up  believing that tomorrow can -and must - be better than today. 

Thank you.