Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this evening called on the United Nations to face up to five challenges, namely the Middle East, Syria, Libya, the spread of extremism and illegal migration.
Addressing the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Dr Muscat said that peace in the Mediterranean was a pre-requisite for global stability.
Speaking on the Middle East challenge he said;
“We need a return to meaningful negotiations. And I stress the word ‘meaningful’. The ongoing tit-for-tat; the culture of hatred and intolerance; the self-righteous proclamations and the recriminations are leaving nothing but death and destruction.
“If you build walls around people, no wonder they will dig tunnels to escape. The current frame of mind will lead nowhere.”
Another challenge was to the end the ghastly war in “a war that is fast becoming a forgotten conflict of major proportions.
“Let us stop this humanitarian disaster which, as we know, is now morphing into the new threats we have heard so much about,” Dr Muscat said as he called on the Security Council to act urgently and decisively to bring an end to the bloodshed.
The third challenge, Dr Muscat said, was Libya.
“As if we haven’t yet learnt our lessons from Syria, as if we haven’t yet realised what sectarian divisions can lead to, we are allowing the problems in Libya to continue almost unabated. We are fast witnessing a descent towards another forgotten conflict.
“We need to help the Libyan people take their country forward. There is a bright future for Libya but the Libyans themselves need to find the hope to realize it and they can only begin to do that with the help of the international community. The United Nations can, and must, provide capacity-building and security to bring stability and prosperity.”
In spite of the constructive role being played by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya immense challenges remained, particularly in restoring the country’s security and law and order.
“This cannot be allowed to continue further. The repercussions of this situation are severe not just for the Libyans themselves, not just for the immediate neighbours of Libya, but further afield. The international community cannot risk a takeover of this country by extremists.
“Together with our international partners, especially our colleagues in the European Union, Malta continues to actively support the efforts of the Libyan people to move forward. We are providing all assistance within our means to aid the wounded. We will stand for dialogue and reconciliation in Libya. We will stand for peace and resolution. We will continue to draw attention to this festering wound. Our Libyan people deserve this.
“Indeed, disarmament and national reconciliation are the pre-requisites for Libya to move forward. And the United Nations must be ready to answer calls for action from the Libyan people themselves.
“The families, the children of Libya deserve a future. Freedom and justice for all Libyans can only be achieved if differences are resolved through consultation and compromise.”
The Prime Minister said that another challenge was the spread of extremism and intolerance.
“We need to look beyond the borders of our nation states and work together if we are to face up to the threats that the extremists are posing... We have to spread a culture of mutual understanding and humanity.”
The fifth challenge, Dr Muscat said, was the plight of illegal immigrants in the Mediterranean.
“Malta, with all its limitations, is doing its utmost to save lives. As is our neighbour and friend Italy.
“Again I call on the international community to help us stop the great human tragedies that come with risky crossings across the Mediterranean. The receiving states of the waves of migrants cannot stand up to this challenge alone. No country in the world can solve the problem of illegal immigration alone. Just last week we witnessed yet another tragedy, which the UNHCR has described as mass murder.
“Closer cooperation between the countries of origin, transit and destination is needed. The United Nations and its agencies must help address its causes. Better governance, better resources and better development policies are needed. We need better enforcement mechanisms and stronger penalties to stop and punish human traffickers. We need better implementation of internationally agreed commitments. We need all this and more, and we need to remember to keep the wellbeing of all human beings themselves at the centre of our policy.”
Dr Muscat said that as a Mediterranean country, Malta called for the world’s attention to these challenges that were threatening not just the security of the region, but also its development and growth.
“These threats are stopping the Mediterranean Sea basin from reaching its full potential - a potential that is just waiting to be unleashed if only weapons were traded for books, and hatred for education.”
He said:
“It has always been our belief that without peace in the Mediterranean, there cannot be peace in Europe. Today’s unprecedented levels of interconnectivity lead us to believe that peace in the Mediterranean is a pre-requisite for global stability.
“Malta will continue to serve as a voice of reason, striving to unite the Mediterranean. Our only weapon is our historical and natural vocation for peace. Our resolve only grows stronger in such testing times.”