In the margins of the 79th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, Prime Minister Robert Abela had a bilateral meeting with the Secretary General of the United Nations António Guterres, in which several themes were discussed, including Libya and Mediterranean, the tensions that continue to escalate in the Middle East and Malta’s term in the Security Council within the United Nations.
Regarding Libya, the Prime Minister Robert Abela said that Malta has been advocating in favor of the stability of this country, particularly so that the prosperity and stability in the heart and the South of the Mediterranean is more health. He explained the importance of different parties in Libya coming closer to each other in order to have a legitimate process led by Libyans for Libyans and it is necessary for this to continue moving forward without hindrance in the interest of sovereignty, security and – the territorial integrity of this country and its people.
At the United Nations General Headquarters in New York, the Maltese Prime Minister expressed concern with Secretary General Guterres about the escalation of the war in the Middle East, now continuing to grow even in Lebanon. Regarding the situation in Gaza, Dr. Abela said that Malta welcomed the decision of the International Court of Justice to protect the interests of civilians in the Gaza strip and to request access to humanitarian aid particularly in Rafah
The Prime Minister said that the Maltese Government also reiterates the appeal for Hamas to unconditionally release the hostages still being held after the attacks on Israel on October 7 last year. Prime Minister Robert Abela said that dialogue remains the best tool and other parties, including the European Union, should work together in favor of peace and stability in the Middle East and the Mediterranean. He added that our country continues to believe in its firm position in favor of the two-state solution where the peoples of Israel and Palestine live side by side in peace and security.
The Secretary General of the United Nations António Guterres thanked Malta for its strong role in favor of peace through its important role in the Security Council. This is apart from the fact that our country has put on the agenda other important themes related to climate change, equality and the emancipation of women and the protection of children against them ending up in armies in areas of conflicts.
Accompanying the Maltese Prime Minister for the bilateral meeting were the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade Ian Borg, the Minister for Health and Active Aging Jo Etienne Abela, the Representative Malta’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vanessa Frazier and the Head of the Secretariat of the Office of the Prime Minister Mark Mallia.
