On 27 November 2023, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade travelled to Barcelona to participate in the Eight Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Regional Forum.
This year marks the fifteen years anniversary of the UfM, and the Eight UfM Regional Forum was intended to celebrate the successes of the UfM. However, due to the current ongoing situation in the Middle East, the agenda format as well as the dealt subject matter was changed to focus entirely on the situation in Israel and Palestine. This change in format was extraordinary since the UfM does not delve into political issues.
Furthermore, H.H. Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was invited to participate and intervene on behalf of the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee during this year’s Forum.
The speakers relayed a common message, that of expressing grave concern at the unfolding events in Gaza. The rising death toll, the lack of humanitarian aid being allowed into Gaza as well as the apprehension for the safety, security and stability to the Palestinian people, and the region.
Apart from Tunisia, those present agreed that the only way for a just and long-standing peace is to focus all efforts to implement Two-States without further delay.
Unfortunately, Israel did not participate during this year’s Regional Forum. The UfM member States expressed their disappointment on this matter and stated that peace can only be made and maintained if all parties involved are willing and ready to make relevant efforts.
Permanent Secretary Mr. Cutajar stressed that multilateral fora, such as the UfM, are vital to ensure security, stability, and prosperity in the Mediterranean and beyond. He underscored the importance to ensure the safety and security of the people in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, which can only be achieved by working actively against terrorism and radicalisation in the region. He also expressed that the degree of human suffering is unacceptable, and that humanitarian aid is to be reached safely to those in need imminently.
PS Mr. Cutajar also expressed that thanks to Malta, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2712, which called for urgent and extended humanitarian pauses in Gaza. This is considered as a landmark since it is the first Resolution to be adopted on the Israel – Palestine conflict since 2016. Resolution 2712 initiated a series of humanitarian pauses which started on 24 November 2023.
Furthermore, Mr. Cutajar stated that it is pertinent to avoid a regional spill over of the situation, and that the only solution for peace, security, and stability is the Two-State Solution.
The speech of the Permanent Secretary is enclosed herewith to this Press Release.
During his visit in Barcelona, PS Mr. Cutajar held bilateral meetings on the margins of the UfM Regional Forum with: (i) H.E. Riad al-Maliki, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Palestine; (ii) H.E. Eltaher S. M. Elbaour, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Libya; and (iii) H.E. Megi Fino, Deputy Minister of Europe, and Foreign Affairs of Albania.
Permanent Secretary Mr. Christopher Cutajar was accompanied by First Secretary Robert John Micallef.
Speech delivered by Mr Christopher Cutajar, Permanent Secretary for Foreign, European Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Malta during the Union for the Mediterranean – 8th Regional Forum held on the 26-27 November 2023 in Barcelona, Spain
Allow me to first thank the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Secretariat and the UfM Co-Presidency for organising this meeting.
The timing of this meeting could not have been more opportune. Today marks the 4th and last day of the negotiated humanitarian pauses. We need to exert pressure for these pauses to last longer, allowing for more hostages and prisoners to be released, and for more trust to be built in working towards a ceasefire and eventually the most required just and lasting peace.
We need to ensure the safety and security of the people in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel. This can be achieved by working actively against terrorism and radicalisation in the region.
From a humanitarian perspective this degree of suffering is unacceptable, and we must do all it takes to alleviate it. We must ensure a safe environment for people working for international agencies on the ground, making it possible for humanitarian aid to reach the territory of Gaza.
Multilateral fora, such as the UfM, are vital to ensure security, stability, and prosperity in the Mediterranean and beyond.
Malta was happy to lead the drafting and adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2712, which called for urgent and extended humanitarian pauses in Gaza, as a first step. This served as the first resolution to be adopted on the Israel – Palestine conflict since 2016. We managed to do this with the protection of children at the centre of our focus. At this juncture, the crux of the matter is to have all the Member States of the United Nations working towards the implementation of such resolutions as stipulated under article 25 of the UN Charter, and not just leaving them on paper.
We should work to avoid a regional spill over and bring the current situation to an end. This can be done by promoting more opportunities to discuss how to construct peace, as is rightly being promoted by Spain through the organisation of a peace conference.
We must mobilise time, resources and all our efforts to really push forward and bring about a Two-State Solution as per pre-1967 borders, which we believe is the only outcome that will guarantee the security and dignity of the peoples of Israel and Palestine.
