Prime Minister Robert Abela addresses the Diplomatic Corps during exchanges of New Year Greetings.

PR250049

15/01/2025

Excellencies,

As we stand at the beginning of 2025, it is with a sense of reflection, gratitude, and resolve

that I extend to you, your governments and your loved ones my heartfelt best wishes for a

New Year filled with peace, prosperity, and progress.

Profound challenges continue to test the resilience of the international community.

These include ongoing conflicts in too many places around the world, including the continued

war in Ukraine, the situation in Gaza, and the threat of instability in the Middle East.

This has been accompanied by an unprecedented wave of geopolitical challenges which if left

unchecked, will continue to pose enormous risks.

Global challenges threaten to spiral out of our collective control, and the erosion of

international norms has contributed to a decline in trust and cooperation among nations,

making it more difficult to effectively address them.

But I am encouraged by the fact that Malta, together with many partners around the world,

has not wavered in the commitment to work towards an effective international system, which

must foster dialogue, champion global cooperation, advocate for peace, and uphold the rule

of law, including international law.

We have demonstrated this commitment through our efforts on both the United Nations

Security Council and at the OSCE.

In the EU context, we have worked with our European peers to advocate for international

humanitarian law, and the promotion of human dignity around the world.

In Ukraine, we have called for a comprehensive and just resolution to the war, grounded in

the principles of the UN Charter and respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial

integrity, within its internationally recognised borders.

We have not relied on words alone: we have provided financial contributions and in-kind

assistance, supporting medical facilities, de-mining initiatives, and education reintegration

programs.

From the beginning of the current conflict in Gaza, Malta has been clear on the need for an

immediate permanent ceasefire and for the immediate and unconditional release of all

hostages.

Indeed, in March 2024 we were proud to have penned Resolution 2728 together with the

Elected 10 members of the Security Council, calling for a ceasefire during Ramadan.

The ceasefire in Lebanon is an encouraging step in the right direction and we hope that it will

continue to hold for the benefit of the Lebanese and Israeli people alike.

1However, we are deeply concerned about the potential for additional instability in the wider

Middle East.

While recent events in Syria have provoked hope of a better future for the Syrian people, we

must ensure that Syria is not fragmented between the parties of this conflict.

The political process in Syria should be Syrian-led, and Syrian-owned.

Malta will continue to use all the means at its disposal, working with our international

partners, to emphasise the need for immediate, unhindered, and unimpeded humanitarian

access in and to conflict zones worldwide.

Civilians everywhere deserve to enjoy the protections offered by international law, including

the laws of war.

Excellencies,

Reflecting on the past two years at the UNSC, Malta is grateful for your countries’ invaluable

support and cooperation.

As we continued our work on the United Nations Security Council during the second year of

our mandate, we took up the challenge of concurrently chairing the world’s largest regional

security organisation, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

Our success in reaching consensus on the filling of the organisation’s top leadership posts and

on the Chairpersonship was a crucial lifeline for this organisation, and a demonstration that,

collectively, a belief in the relevance of the multilateral approach remains.

Malta looks forward to assuming the Presidency of the Council of Europe from May to

November, which will coincide with the 60th anniversary of our accession to the

organisation.

Malta’s priorities will reflect our ongoing advocacy for the protection of children,

accountability for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, youth, and the safeguarding of

democracy and the rule of law.

This year, Malta will continue to engage actively in the International Maritime Organisation,

as a Category C member of the IMO Council, and we will continue our campaign for re-

election to this prestigious body.

I would also like to recall that during the most recent Commonwealth Heads of Government

Meeting in Samoa, Malta had the honour of being elected to chair the Commonwealth

Ministerial Action Group for the coming two years.

This will provide us with the opportunity to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to

democracy, human rights, and shared prosperity.

And looking further ahead, we are preparing our bid for membership of the Human Rights

Council from 2032 to 2034 and for a further UNSC term from 2043.

2As an island state, and one which recognises the particular and pressing climate challenges

faced by SIDS, we have launched and championed the Climate Vulnerability and Resilience

Index, developed in close partnership with the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific

States and the Islands and Small States Institute at the University of Malta.

This innovative Index is designed to quantify and capture the pressing climate challenges

faced by SIDS, providing them with additional tools for developing climate resilience.

Excellencies,

Union.

Last year, we celebrated the twentieth anniversary of Malta’s accession to the European

It marked an important milestone and a key moment of reflection on the challenges and

opportunities that lie ahead of us, as we consolidate our roots in the Union.

As we step into the new year, we remain committed to working more closely with our

European family in addressing the complex foreign and domestic policy challenges which lie

ahead of us.

In November, we launched Malta’s Foreign Policy Statement, which elaborates upon the

objectives of our Foreign Policy Strategy by setting out a strategic framework for 2025-2026.

This framework is built upon three key pillars: supporting the values, well-being and

prosperity of Maltese citizens; promoting peace, security, and dialogue; and maximising

opportunities for influence in strategic regions and multilateral fora.

These three pillars will ground the work that is to come, providing a foundation as we build

upon the achievements already registered and seek to promote our priorities and ideals on the

international stage.

For a country as open to the world as Malta is, this work is indistinguishable from our

domestic priorities under the transformative Malta Vision 2050, which will build a stronger,

more inclusive Malta for current and future generations.

Excellencies,

Let us hope that 2025 is a year where our common humanity will prevail above all, and

where we recognise that peace and stability can only be guaranteed through continuous

dialogue and engagement.

I thank you for your continued partnership as we support each other in pursuing the ideals

that we hold dear, and I assure you that Malta will remain a committed and reliable partner as

we work together to address our current and future challenges.

On behalf of the Government of Malta, I would once again like to wish you and your nations

a peaceful, and prosperous New Year.

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