DOCSLIB.ORG

Remarks by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker At

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Remarks by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker At European Commission - Speech Remarks by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker at the joint press conference with Joseph Muscat, Prime Minister of Malta Valletta, 11 January 2017 Joseph, thank you. I am happy to be back in Malta. It is the sixth time I am visiting this marvellous country. I remember the second time before last time, I was campaigning in this country against the Socialists, against the Prime Minister – I won. You are a local winner, I am a global winner. But we have the best relations – professional and personal, personal relations between those being in charge of European affairs are more important than people normally think. And I have built with Joseph an excellent personal and professional relation. The professional part of this is as important as the other one, and we were preparing together the first Maltese Presidency. Malta has now been a member of the European Union for 13 years; it is the first time that Malta is in the chair of the Presidency. I had that chance – if it is a chance – four times in my life, and so I know how heavy the duties are. And we, as the Commission, have the impression and the knowledge indicating that the Maltese Government has prepared this Presidency in an excellent way. We noted that when the Prime Minister was visiting Brussels back in November last year, and we have seen today in our contacts with the Ministers in charge that Malta is best prepared for this Presidency. We are very much on the same line, swimming in the same channel, swimming in the same direction. The six overarching priorities of the Maltese Government are fitting into the programme of the Commission and of the three institutions we have concluded the other day in Strasbourg. We are most interested in seeing the Maltese Government achieving further progress as far as the migration issue is concerned. This is of vital importance. And I am quite confident that the Prime Minister and his team will allow us to make the progress which is desperately needed with proposals to be connected with the work of the outgoing Slovak Presidency. And I am quite confident that on the internal side and on the external side of this dramatic problem progress will be achieved. We will try, together with our Maltese friends, to have the border and coast control, where all the relevant decisions have been taken, being in a position to be more workable. We have 800 people on the ground, mainly on the Bulgarian-Turkish border and we have to make sure that Member States are delivering on their commitments as far as the European presence on the Mediterranean side is concerned. I am happy that the Maltese Government – more than Presidencies before – is heavily insisting on the social dimension of the Internal Market and of the Economic and Monetary Union. We are confident that we can work together when it comes to the putting into place of the pillar of the social rights. We do think that the Malta Summit, the Valletta Summit, of 3 February has crucial importance, not only because this is a summit leading to the Rome Summit by the end of March, but also because it is of crucial importance that on all the other issues the European Union is delivering in a better and more performant way than this was the case until now. We are leaving Malta in a good mood. But I am leaving Malta early tomorrow morning for Geneva – Cyprus reunification. That is a different issue, but I would like to say here that I do think that time has come to reunite the island. The two leaders of the two communities were doing an excellent job and I hope that we will be able to conclude in a positive way the Geneva talks tomorrow. I had Prime Minister Tsipras on the phone this morning; I will have the French President on the phone this night. And I hope that we will be able to conclude this difficult dossier in the next coming hours and days. Questions and Answers Q1 Today, the European Commission announced that the new gas power station project is in line with EU state aid rules. Is this a coincidence that the decision was announced today on the first day of the Maltese Presidency? President Juncker: I have to say that I am never interfering in competition cases. This is a matter for Commissioner Vestager and she is acting on her own – she is in total autonomy when it comes to these questions. I am told that the undertaking you are referring to is completely in line with the basic state aid rules of the European Union, and so that is fine for us. Is it a coincidence? I do not know, because I am never interfering in this kind of things. Q2 You both said that migration would be on the top of the agenda for the next six months, but the most difficult point is what you diplomatically called "shared responsibility", so the question: how confident are you that you can convince those countries who have opposed the idea of relocating refugees? How confident are you that you can convince them during your Presidency – during the Maltese Presidency? And if so, how can you unlock the situation? President Juncker: Yes, there are different elements in this complicated dossier and issue. Since 2014 I am repeating myself by saying that this is not only the problem of Greece, of Italy, of Malta, but that this is a European problem. And this problem needs a European answer – an answer built around the principle of solidarity. And we are continuing to work in that direction, relying on what the Maltese Presidency will propose in that field. But there are other elements – Joseph was referring to the external border protection: I said just minutes ago that we have to strengthen the European presence in the Mediterranean. Of course, we have to discuss with Libya and other Northern African countries the way we can better cooperate than we are doing now. There too, I have full confidence in the ability of the Maltese Government, and mainly the one of the Prime Minister to bring this issue nearer toa definite answer. Then we have launched the idea of a Common European Asylum System which has to be rechecked and which has to be revisited – this will be done in the next coming months. We want to transform the European Asylum Support Office you were visiting this morning into a real European agency in order to strengthen the modus operandi of that important Agency. And we were launching months ago the European External Investment Plan, trying to tackle the root causes of migration. It is by far more intelligent to have European companies investing in Africa than to have these poor people jumping into the water without reaching the destination they initially tried to reach. So there are different elements and we are working together on all these dimensions. Q3 President Juncker, you have chosen to go personally to Geneva when Prime Minister Tsipras, Prime Minister May and President Erdoğan are hesitant to go there. Is that some kind of strategy? Are you trying by this to push them to play ball? President Juncker: I took a personal interest in the reunification issue of Cyprus. I really do think – without overdramatising what is happening in Geneva – that this is the last chance to see the island being recomposed in a normal way. And that is the reason why I was visiting Cyprus different times, that is the reason why I was in permanent discussion with President Anastasiades and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community Mustafa Akıncı. When it is about peace, you have to take the plane. And I do think that it is the duty of the President of the European Commission to be there and to try to bridge the points of view of the two parties involved. I would not be happy with my own behaviour if I were to hide away. It is risky, but when it is about peace you have to take risks. When it is about peace, those who are taking no risks are taking the greater risk. Q4 Mr Juncker, this Rome Summit that is coming up seems to be surrounded by a very palpable sense of pessimism. I have never known the Brussels corridors so pessimistic in my time. It is not just that there is no vision anymore; it seems to me that there is not even a real sort of self-belief and there certainly does not seem to be any mood of celebration. Can you tell us a bit what you expect out of Rome, what you want to hear and see? President Juncker: In my time in Brussels and before my time in Brussels, pessimism was always very palpable, not only in the corridors but also in the meeting rooms. That is nothing new. But something has changed. When I was appointed President of the Commission after the vote of Parliament and the approval by the European Council, I wanted to play – how could I say – a constructive role. I wanted – without being euro-enthusiastic or euro-fanatic, these are not really helpful behaviours – I wanted to bring the European integration to a point of no return. What I am charge of now together with Joseph and with others is a deconstruction we are asked to organise. That was not the perspective I had when I was becoming President of the European Commission.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Outgoing Prime Minister Joseph Muscat's Labour Party Wins The
    GENERAL ELECTIONS IN MALTA 3rd June 2017 European Outgoing Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s Labour Elections monitor Party wins the snap election in Malta. Corinne Deloy The Labour Party (MLP) of outgoing Prime Minister Joseph Muscat came out ahead in the Analysis snap election that took place on 3rd June in Malta. Taking 55.04% of the vote he beat his main rival, the Nationalist Party led by Simon Busuttil, who won 43.68% of the vote. Together the four other political parties which were standing a snap election at the beginning of May after attacks made – the Democratic Party (PD), founded in 2016 by Marlene by the blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia, who revealed that Farrugia, forged an alliance with the nationalists in this election; Muscat’s chief of cabinet Keith Schembri and Energy Minister, Democratic Alternative (AD), an ecologist party led by Arnold Konrad Mizzi (MLP) were the respective owners of the Cassola; the Maltese Patriotic Movement (NPM), a nationalist businesses Hearnville Inc and Tillgate Inc, two Panamanian party led by Henry Battistino and the Bidla Alliance (BA) a offshore companies that they are said to have acquired thanks Christian, Eurosceptic party led by Ivan Grech Mintoff – won to the help of the Panamanian legal firm Mossack Fonseca, 1.29% of the vote and no seats in Parliament. which was involved in the international Panama Papers scandal. Turnout, which is always high in the archipelago, was almost At the end of April Joseph Muscat’s wife was accused of being the same as that recorded in the previous general election on the owner of part of the Panamanian offshore company Egrant 9th March 2013: it lay at 92.1% (- 0.9 point).
    [Show full text]
  • Submission to the Human Rights Committee by the Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation
    Submission to the Human Rights Committee by The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation 130th Session, 12th October 2020​ - 6th November 2020 Malta’s third periodic review Under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights I. Introduction 1. Submitting Parties The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation welcomes the Human Rights Committee’s (HRC) request for information regarding human rights issues concerning the ‘State Party’ of Malta. The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation is a ​non-profit, independent and non-governmental organisation registered in Malta and was established by the family of the investigative journalist, Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was assassinated in a car bomb attack in Malta on 16th October 2017. 2. The Foundation’s mission is accordingly; ensuring the public interest of full justice for Daphne’s assasination; supporting efforts to protect investigative journalists; ending impunity for the murder of journalists; ensuring the guardianship of Daphne’s work; promoting a culture of public interest litigation; supporting independent, non-partisan media.1 In doing so, we advocate for the complete fulfilment of the core values of international human rights laws, including but not limited to, the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which Malta is a state party. 3. Our submission will focus specially on the failures to implement Article 2, Article 14, Article 17 and Article 19 of the ICCPR in Malta. The Foundation hopes that our assessment of these issues will contribute towards the Human Right Committee’s evaluation of Malta’s adherence to their obligations under international law. We support the full adherence to the 2018 Venice Commission recommendations to Malta, many of which are outstanding.
    [Show full text]
  • Call from Members of the Nizami Ganjavi International Centre to the United Nations Security Council to Support the UN Secretary
    Call from Members of the Nizami Ganjavi International Centre to the United Nations Security Council to Support the UN Secretary-General’s Urgent Call for an Immediate Global Ceasefire amid the COVID-19 Pandemic We are deeply alarmed that the United Nations Security Council has not been able to reach agreement on a draft resolution put before it on COVID-19. This draft resolution called for an end to hostilities worldwide so that there could be a full focus on fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. If passed it would have given powerful backing to the call made earlier by the Secretary-General. Yet, agreement could not be reached on the resolution in the Security Council because of its reference to “the urgent need to support…. all relevant entities of the United Nations system, including specialized health agencies” in the fight against the pandemic. The failure to reach agreement saddens us at this time when our world is in crisis. The Covid-19 pandemic has brought about immense human suffering and is having a devastating impact on economies and societies. It is exactly at times like this that the leadership of the Security Council is needed. It should not be silent in the face of the serious threat to global peace and security which Covid-19 represents. Global action and partnership are vital now to deal with the global pandemic and its aftermath. This is the time for the premier institution responsible for leading on global security to show strength, not weakness. We support UN Secretary-General António Guterres in his call for an immediate global ceasefire, in all corners of the world, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
    [Show full text]
  • LETTER to G20, IMF, WORLD BANK, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT BANKS and NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS
    LETTER TO G20, IMF, WORLD BANK, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT BANKS and NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS We write to call for urgent action to address the global education emergency triggered by Covid-19. With over 1 billion children still out of school because of the lockdown, there is now a real and present danger that the public health crisis will create a COVID generation who lose out on schooling and whose opportunities are permanently damaged. While the more fortunate have had access to alternatives, the world’s poorest children have been locked out of learning, denied internet access, and with the loss of free school meals - once a lifeline for 300 million boys and girls – hunger has grown. An immediate concern, as we bring the lockdown to an end, is the fate of an estimated 30 million children who according to UNESCO may never return to school. For these, the world’s least advantaged children, education is often the only escape from poverty - a route that is in danger of closing. Many of these children are adolescent girls for whom being in school is the best defence against forced marriage and the best hope for a life of expanded opportunity. Many more are young children who risk being forced into exploitative and dangerous labour. And because education is linked to progress in virtually every area of human development – from child survival to maternal health, gender equality, job creation and inclusive economic growth – the education emergency will undermine the prospects for achieving all our 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and potentially set back progress on gender equity by years.
    [Show full text]
  • Page 1 of 3 Address Delivered by Her Excellency, Marie-Louise Coleiro
    Page 1 of 3 Address delivered by Her Excellency, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta, at the Parliament in Palermo, following the conferment of Honorary Membership to the Societa' Italiana di Storia della Medicina, 11 June 2018 Honourable Gianfranco Miccichè, President of the Sicilian Regional Assembly Honourable Members of the Sicilian Regional Assembly Distinguished guests Dear friends I feel truly honoured to be welcomed to the prestigious parliament of Palermo, which was once also historically, so connected to my country. I would like to show my deep appreciation to all of you for attending this memorable occasion. Be- ing a parliamentarian myself for many years, I know how much your time is precious, and hence, I really appreciate the time you are sparing to welcome me to your parliamentary chambers. I also feel a deep of sense of connection with all of you and all the people of Sicily. The Sicilians and the Maltese share the same sea, share the same climate, share the same challenges and share the same successes. This has been our story since our formation. Our history is interlinked. Our human stories have brought us many a time together. Above all, nature made us so near to each other, in a most geostrategic position in the midst of our Mediterranean Sea. Together we form this natural bridge that brings together two most important continents. Both of our countries played important roles in the history of the diverse civilisations and cultures which made the Mediterranean Sea such an enriched region in the world. At a time when unfortunately the world seems so uncertain, when many of us feel suspicious and wary of one another, we have a most important role to play.
    [Show full text]
  • Melita Historico
    melita historico Vol. VIII No. 2 Published by The Historical Society Malta 1981 MELITA HISTORICA A JOURNAL OF MALTESE HISTORY Editorial Board: Michael Ellul (Editor), Vincent Borg, Alben Ganado, Godfrey Wettinger, Jos. f. Grima, Joseph M21i The annual subscription to The Historical Society :s £M2.00 payable in advance. for members residing abroad: $4.50, 6.500 lire, 12DM, etc. Melita Historica is sent free of charge to members of The Hlstorical Society. Price per copy in Malta for non-members: fM2.25. Abroad, $5.50 or equiva· ent amount plus packing and postag2. Prospective members of the Society are requested to contact any member of the Committee, or apply in writing to the Hon. Secretary. All correspondence should be addressed to: The Historical Society, c/o The Catholic Institute, flor:ana, MALTA. CONTENTS OF VOL. VIII No, 2 (1981) Paul Cassar Overseas Medical Graduates and Students at the University of Malta in the N:neteenth Century p. 93 Joseph Muscat Visitatio Turrium p. 10 I J. Cassar Pullicino Some Nineteemh Century Hotels in Malta p. 109 Raffae'e Grillo Un Pernicioso Contrasto tIa la Malta dei Cavalieri e il Re di Sicilia (1745-55) p. 125 George Zammit·Maempel The Earliest "Treatse" on Maltese Foss Is p. 133 Carmel Cassar "0 Melita Infelix' - A Poem on the Great Siege written in 1565 p. 149 Anthony Luttrell The 'Cappera' of Birkirkara: 1402 p. L56 Book Reviews p. 161 MeJitensia p. 170 Society News p. 174 "0 MELITA INFELIX" A poem on the Great Siege written in 1565 CARMEL CASSAR Ad Patriam (0 M elita Infelix) was discovered by coincidence in a volume of the Magna Curia Castellani a - the Grand Master's courts.
    [Show full text]
  • Combatting and Preventing Corruption in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia How Anti-Corruption Measures Can Promote Democracy and the Rule of Law
    Combatting and preventing corruption in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia How anti-corruption measures can promote democracy and the rule of law Combatting and preventing corruption in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia How anti-corruption measures can promote democracy and the rule of law Silvia Stöber Combatting and preventing corruption in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia 4 Contents Contents 1. Instead of a preface: Why (read) this study? 9 2. Introduction 11 2.1 Methodology 11 2.2 Corruption 11 2.2.1 Consequences of corruption 12 2.2.2 Forms of corruption 13 2.3 Combatting corruption 13 2.4 References 14 3. Executive Summaries 15 3.1 Armenia – A promising change of power 15 3.2 Azerbaijan – Retaining power and preventing petty corruption 16 3.3 Georgia – An anti-corruption role model with dents 18 4. Armenia 22 4.1 Introduction to the current situation 22 4.2 Historical background 24 4.2.1 Consolidation of the oligarchic system 25 4.2.2 Lack of trust in the government 25 4.3 The Pashinyan government’s anti-corruption measures 27 4.3.1 Background conditions 27 4.3.2 Measures to combat grand corruption 28 4.3.3 Judiciary 30 4.3.4 Monopoly structures in the economy 31 4.4 Petty corruption 33 4.4.1 Higher education 33 4.4.2 Health-care sector 34 4.4.3 Law enforcement 35 4.5 International implications 36 4.5.1 Organized crime and money laundering 36 4.5.2 Migration and asylum 36 4.6 References 37 5 Combatting and preventing corruption in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia 5.
    [Show full text]
  • 2018.06.01-DBI-Guide-Malta-March
    MSI Global Alliance public balance sheets showcase a highly- In 2016, foreign direct investment in industrialised, service-based economy Malta stood at €161.4 billion, an increase with services representing 80%. of €9.5 billion compared to the previous Malta has a total population of over year. 460,000 inhabitants (2016). Other economic sectors include foreign trade, manufacturing, tourism and financial services. Mata has a strong Malta is a unitary parliamentary republic. labour market participation and one of Economic activity is primarily undertaken The current President, Marie Louise the smallest unemployment figures in by self-employed individuals (sole trader) Coleiro Preca, is the Head of State, whilst the EU. During the past months, or through partnerships, companies, Joseph Muscat, the current Prime significant increases were attributed to branches of foreign companies or Minister, is the Head of Government. the following sectors: cooperatives. The Maltese Parliament is the fintech and financial services. constitutional legislative body and is professional, scientific and composed of the House of technical activities, 1. Limited liability company Representatives made up of 67 the arts, entertainment and 2. Partnership representatives, including the Prime recreation, 3. Branch of foreign company Minister, Ministers, Leader of Opposition wholesale and retail, and all other members of parliament. transportation and The legal form most commonly chosen The President of Malta promulgates laws accommodation by international investors to set up passed by the Parliament business in Malta is a Private Limited Italy, United Kingdom and Germany are Liability Company (Ltd). A Malta Ltd must The President is appointed by a the country’s main import partners, have a registered office in Malta and a resolution of the House of while Germany, Libya and France are the minimum issued share capital of Representatives for a five-year term main export countries (2014).
    [Show full text]
  • Carmelo Abela Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion Malta
    Carmelo Abela Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion Malta A social democrat by conviction, Malta’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion, Carmelo Abela (born 10th February 1972, Żejtun, Malta), is a strong believer in the capacity of the individual to make a positive difference. Standing out as a soft-spoken, driven politician, he has always led by example and conscientiously progressed through political circles. Before being first named to Cabinet, Mr Abela was employed with Mid-Med Bank Ltd, today HSBC Bank Malta plc, where he worked as a Manager. He was first elected to parliament in 1996, having served as a local councillor in his hometown of Żejtun, a city in the South Eastern Region of Malta, between 1994 and 1996. He has been returned to Parliament in all subsequent legislations. Over the years he has grown into increasingly senior roles within the Maltese Labour Party as well as Government, serving as Assistant Whip, Opposition Spokesperson for Youth and Sport and, later, Opposition Spokesperson for Education, Youth, Sport, and Culture. In 2008, he was unanimously appointed Deputy Speaker of the House of Representative as well as Opposition Main Spokesperson for Industry, Foreign Investment, and Social Policy. As a Member of Parliament, Mr Abela also served as Regional Representative on the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Head of the Maltese Delegation of the Inter Parliamentary Union, and Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Following his re-election in 2013, he was appointed Whip for the Government Parliamentary Group and, later, Government Spokesperson.
    [Show full text]
  • Media Freedom Facing SLAPP
    Blueprint for Free Speech Media Freedom Facing SLAPP Submission to the European Commission consultation (2021 Rule of Law report) regarding strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) March 2021 Blueprint for Free Speech Media Freedom Facing SLAPP Submission to the European Commission consultation (2021 Rule of Law report) regarding strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) 1. INTRODUCTION This report is Blueprint for Free Speech’s (“Blueprint”) submission to the Commission’s stakeholder consultation for the preparation of the 2021 Rule of Law Report (“Consultation”). 1 It’s a response to the question included in Section III(C) of the Consultation’s questionnaire: “Lawsuits and convictions against journalists (incl. defamation cases) and safeguards against abuse”. This memorandum examines cases selected from a number of EU Member States such as: Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Romania, and Spain (“Memorandum”). In line with the instructions included in the Consultation’s questionnaire, for each relevant EU jurisdictions this Memorandum aims to cover feedback and developments with regard to Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (“SLAPPs”), convictions against journalists as well as any significant developments both as regards the legal framework and its implementation in practice. SLAPPs are abusive lawsuits usually filed by powerful individuals (e.g. politicians or public officials acting in their private capacity) and companies as a means of silencing critical expression (e.g. journalism, peaceful protest or whistleblowing). SLAPPs can take many forms, they typically use long and costly legal procedures (such as claims of defamation, interference with contractual relations, and invasion of privacy or infringement of intellectual property) or the threat thereof to intimidate and harass journalists into silence.
    [Show full text]
  • Gonzi Spikes Muscat's Motion
    0.50 mid EDITORIAL 15 | TV & CINEMA 16 | WHAT’S ON 17 | SPORTS 220-230-23 € week EDITORIAL - The thorn in Gonzi's side pg 153 maltaISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, 28 JANUARY 2009 • WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MTtoday Gonzi spikes Muscat’s motion PM to change House timetable in bid to buy time ahead of debate on Cathedral extension to house its armoury in an underground MATTHEW VELLA vault, having even called on government to divert the funds to more deserving LAWRENCE Gonzi yesterday tabled initiatives. Pullicino Orlando has re- a procedural motion to change parlia- fused to declare his voting intentions on ment’s timetable for the first time in the motion tabled by Muscat. 30 years, in a bid to buy time ahead of a Muscat’s motion and Gonzi’s strategy private motion by Joseph Muscat to stop were in fact discussed yesterday during EU funds for the extension of St John’s a PN parliamentary group meeting. Co-Cathedral. Gonzi’s motion seeks to change the The procedural motion comes after a timetable of the House, so that when a ruling by the Speaker of the House on division (a vote) is called, it will be taken Monday, against the Opposition’s re- on the following Wednesday. That way, quest to adjourn the House on Thurs- government – which has a one-seat ma- day, and debate Muscat’s motion. jority – can ensure it will have all its Muscat’s motion calls on government members present for the vote. to revoke its backing for the Cathedral The new motion says changes to the project, which has €14 million in EU timetable are needed because ministers funds approved by the Planning and Pri- and MPs occasionally need to be away orities Coordination Division (PPCD) of on official business, and no pairing the Office of the Prime Minister.
    [Show full text]
  • Statement by H.E. Robert Abela, Prime Minister of Malta at the High
    Statement by H.E. Robert Abela, Prime Minister of Malta at the High-level meeting to commemorate the seventy-fifth Anniversary of the United Nations Item 128(a) 21 September 2020 “The future we want, the United Nations we need: reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism” Secretary General, President of the General Assembly, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen It is highly significant that at the moment the world is gripped by a global pandemic, we come together through virtual means, to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations. In a matter of weeks, the pandemic manifested itself as the largest global challenge in the history of the United Nations. As the Final Declaration, which we endorse today, rightly states, ‘There is no other global organization with the legitimacy, convening power and normative impact as the United Nations. No other global organization gives hope to so many people for a better world and can deliver the future we want. The urgency for all countries to come together, to fulfill the promise of the nations united, has rarely been greater.’ Mr President, Today, the 21st September, Malta celebrates 56 years of Independence, but what is also noteworthy is that Malta became the 114th member of the United Nations Organisation on the 1st December 1964, only a few weeks after gaining Independence. On the raising of the flag the then Maltese Prime Minister, Dr George Borg Olivier, emphasized Malta’s position between East and West, Europe and Africa, and spoke of Malta’s aspirations for peaceful development. Now that Malta had taken her place among the free nations, the Prime Minister pledged Malta’s contribution towards world peace in that, ‘spirit of heroic determination, in defence of traditional concepts of freedom and civilisation’, which have characterized Malta’s long history.
    [Show full text]