Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday said he hoped Malta would play a direct role in the achievement of peace in the Middle East.
Exchanging New Year greetings with the members of the Diplomatic Corps, he said Malta's basic objective remained two sovereign states: Israel and Palestine, living side by side in security and peace.
Malta would, hopefully, be in a position to play a more direct role through its diplomatic representation in Tel Aviv and the one which will soon open in Ramallah.
Dr Gonzi spoke of illegal migration saying that the island found itself overwhelmed by the phenomenon of illegal migration. "The problem gets worse with each passing year."
Malta called on its European partners to recognise the exceptional problems it was facing and to respond with urgent remedial action and longer-term solutions. In the Migration Pact finalised in October, European Union member states agreed to give fuller consideration to the difficulties of member states subjected to disproportionate influxes of immigrants.
"We are working and will continue to work with the Commission, and in the Council, to ensure that the principle of burden sharing is given a practical and effective implementation in the very near future.
"Malta will also continue to consult with its neighbours on a humane, and yet forceful, way in which to tackle illegal migration," Dr Gonzi said.
He said that as the European Union Migration Pact rightly acknowledged, the hypothesis of zero migration was unrealistic and dangerous.
It had to be ensured that the migration which took place did so in an orderly manner that respected the human rights of the migrants while safeguarding the legitimate interests of the host communities.
On the global financial crisis, Dr Gonzi said the government was approaching the problem with a two-pronged strategy: one aimed at remedial short-term measures and the other at maintaining intact the longer-term development programme.
During a reception for the Diplomatic Corps later, Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat urged the government to adopt climate change legislation binding both present and future governments legally to take concrete action addressing climate change.
Dr Muscat also spoke about illegal immigration, saying that the opposition was not happy with how Frontex was carrying out its operations. He appealed for more cooperation among Mediterranean countries and for solidarity from European countries.
On the ongoing Palestine-Israel conflict, Dr Muscat appealed to the parties involved to seek diplomatic means and an end to hostilities, adding that the Labour Party condemned all forms of aggression.
He urged the government to use its voice within the Council of Ministers or the European Council to bring about effective resolutions in the Middle East.