Watch: ‘End War In Ukraine Immediately’ – Malta Prepares For UN Security Council Tenure
Malta will formally take its seat at the United Nations Security Council tomorrow and has started its tenure off by calling for an “immediate end” to the war in Ukraine.
As the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine approaches, Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg announced Malta’s intention to help towards “ending the war immediately”.
As an elected member of the UNSC for the next two years, Malta will have a seat on the same international Russia, one of five UNSC permanent members, along with the USA, the UK, China, and France.
“It is crucial for us to be prepared for developments in the ongoing invasive Russian aggression towards sovereign Ukrainian territory and its people,” Borg said.
His speech outlined Malta’s four priorities durign its UNSC tenure, centred around the “promotion of civil, political, social and economic rights”:
1. Children in Armed Conflict
Highlighting the importance of listening to those in afflicted territories, with the aim of protecting children within them, Borg explained how there is a “local element” to this priority.
He announced a meeting in New York on 13th February, during which members of the UNSC will discuss experiences with attempting to help families and children trapped in the midst of armed conflict.
Given that Malta is home to families and children seeking asylum as a result of conflict, Borg announced the government intends to “listen to children and families who have escaped armed conflict and sought asylum in Malta.”
2. Climate and Oceans
Recounting how Malta was the first country to place climate change on the UN’s agenda back in the 1960s, Borg acknowledged that climate science has improved significantly since then, while the effects of climate catastrophe have been setting in to disastrous effect,
He highlighted Malta’s continued commitment – as a small island nation – to curbing the effects of climate change, and announced a UN event for small island nations on 14th February, during which they will discuss the problem posed to their nations by rising sea levels.
“Kiribati is already thinking about the time when their country will no longer exist,” Borg warned. “Water levels are projected to rise so much that entire communities, and the entire country, will have to be displaced to other islands nearby in Fiji.”
3. Women in International Peace and Security
Borg stated Malta’s commitment to safeguarding the position of women as a priority to ensure higher levels of international peace, stability and order.
4. Literacy and Security
Borg said there is undoubtedly a correlation between high illiteracy levels and conflict, and Malta will therefore be pushing to promote global literacy as a security issue.
Alongside these priorities, Borg announced what could be the most important meeting in Malta during its UNSC tenure – a high-level debate on Ukraine on 24th February to mark the first anniversary of the Russian invasion.
“We are working to have a worthy representation which gives enough information to the council, which will help us looking forward while working to end this war immediately,” he said.
Malta was elected to the UNSC position by more than 97% of votes, and Borg acknowledged the position as an honour to be tempered by the importance of the task at hand.
“You cannot forget national interests, yet you are there to serve. In the case of Ukraine, there is 100% convergence between national interests and those of the international community we are representing,” he said.
“While Malta may have concerns that are closer to home, nobody is going to be able to tear our attention away from the needless and unprovoked war taking place in Ukraine. We choose to prioritise above all, that which is best for our friends in Ukraine and Europe who wish for this needless war comes to an end immediately.”
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