January 3, 2023
Excellencies, colleagues,
Today is a historic day for Malta as we return to the UN Security Council for the second time in our nation’s history.
Sitting on the Security Council provides Malta with an opportunity to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security. It gives Malta a chance to work towards safeguarding the values and principles enshrined in the UN Charter, at a time when these values and principles are most threatened.
It is in this context, that I am honoured to represent Malta, and stand along representatives from Ecuador, Japan, Mozambique and Switzerland during today’s ceremony.
I pay thanks to the mission of Kazakhstan for hosting this event, and extend our congratulations to the outgoing members: India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico and Norway for their significant contributions over the past two years.
Our upcoming tenure as an elected member on the Security Council continues our years of active multilateral engagement.
Serving on the Council is a significant responsibility. We will rise to the challenge and the opportunity.
Malta is a bridge-builder, committed to neutrality, disarmament, peace, and consensus through dialogue with all.
We will be guided by the three pillars of security, sustainability, and solidarity, and will continue to advocate for peace, security, stability, dialogue, de-escalation, and respect of international law.
Leading on matters of Children and Armed Conflict, advancing the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, highlighting climate change as an existential threat, and emphasizing literacy as a peacebuilding tool are some of the focuses we will pursue during the next two years.
In a spirit of respect and openness, we look forward to working with all actors, from the media, to civil society, to UN member States, in order to deliver on the Security Council’s most important mandate of upholding and maintaining international peace and security.
Thank you.