Mr. Carmelo Abela:

I am grateful for the kind invitation the Chairman and members have extended to me to address this esteemed committee on the occasion of my visit to Ireland. I wish to provide them with an updated résumé on bilateral relations between my country, Malta, and Ireland, as well as to discuss issues of common interest at bilateral and global levels, namely, migration, the Middle East peace process, the situation in Libya and Syria, as well as Brexit and the future of Europe.

I underline that Malta and Ireland have enjoyed strong bilateral relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties on 13 June 1990. During the years these ties have been strengthened by means of several agreements in various fields such as air services and the avoidance of double taxation, through continued exchanges and high level meetings and within the framework of co-operation between our two foreign ministries. I am also pleased to observe that in defence matters both countries enjoy excellent, long-standing co-operation, with regular contact. Personnel of the armed forces of Malta receive regular training at Irish military institutions, while Malta co-operates with Ireland in humanitarian search and aid matters. Thanks to co-operation with Ireland and the vessel LÉ Aoife, now renamed P62, Malta's largest naval vessel, the Maltese armed forces have been better able to assist in the rescue of migrants who regularly encounter difficulties in Malta's search and rescue area. Similarly, I am pleased to observe the ongoing postgraduate medical training being offered to Maltese health specialists, in collaboration with the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland. This is a highly prestigious undertaking and Malta is very proud of this collaboration with Ireland. I take the opportunity to inform the esteemed members of the two committees that Malta and Ireland look forward to further amplifying their mutual collaboration on a multilateral level, reflecting the excellent bilateral interface nurtured during the years.

I will speak about migration. Malta wholeheartedly welcomes the efforts of the Irish Government in supporting other EU member states directly hit by large flows of irregular migrants and in relocating asylum seekers. Frankly, we remain concerned about the lack of predictability that prevails before and after the process of disembarkation of migrants arriving by sea. We are disappointed to register that the European Union has been unable to respond effectively to the irregular arrival of migrants along the central Mediterranean route. Were it not for an ad hoc solidarity procedure agreed to every time by a coalition of willing EU member states to relocate migrants, member states in the region would have been left guessing at how the next case would pan out. However, we could not continue with ad hoc arrangements all the time. In view of the status quo, I am particularly grateful for Ireland's direct support in relocating migrants arriving in Malta on the MV Lifeline in June 2018 and, again, aboard the Sea-Watch 3 and the Professor Albrecht Penck in January this year.

The peace process in the Middle East has always been a subject close to the heart of Malta's foreign policy. I reiterate Malta's long-standing position in favour of a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict and the readiness of my country to support any initiative that aims to breathe new life, in concrete and tangible terms, into the peace process, with the aim of advancing the prospects of peace through the revival of negotiations as soon as possible. Malta also believes the status of Jerusalem as a capital city must be mutually agreed to through meaningful peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Any unilateral pronouncement to the contrary jeopardises the prospects for peace in the region. In that regard, I underline the importance of effective multilateralism and the role of the United Nations and its agencies in addressing this conflict that has been ongoing for 70 years.

Malta, together with the European Union and its member states, continues to support the excellent work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA, and will strive to ensure sustainable, continued and effective assistance for Palestinian refugees at this difficult juncture. We regret the United States' decision to cut financial aid to UNRWA and urge it to reconsider. In that context, it is worth noting the efforts of both our countries to further support and sustain UNRWA in its endeavours. Last year Malta tripled its share of overseas development aid, ODA, funding for UNRWA and this year a substantial contribution has already been made prior to my visit here. I am also pleased to note that Ireland fares no less well. With the Middle East peace process firmly consolidated as a priority of its foreign policy, I note with positive interest that Ireland has launched a new initiative, the Ireland-Palestine scholarship programme, about which I look forward to learning more. I also firmly believe the European Union can play a significant role in the region. The Council conclusions of July 2014 on the Middle East peace process remain valid today. EU unity in this regard is crucial. We need to maintain the long-established EU position, particularly on the four parameters.

The situation in Libya is another issue that is very dear to my country, given Malta's proximity and long-standing relations with Libya, including its commercial ties.

Malta continues to fully support the UN-led facilitation process based on the United Nations' recalibrated action plan for Libya. The overarching baseline remains full commitment by the Libyans and the international community to the political process and the renunciation of the military track. In a follow-up to the Paris summit in May 2018 Malta welcomes the conclusions adopted in Palermo to revitalise Libya's road map by all local and international stakeholders. The need for a constitutional and legal framework before elections are held remains essential. The support of the international community is imperative to ensure the necessary technical, legislative and security conditions will be in place prior to the holding of elections by spring 2019, if they are held by then. The results will be acceptable to all if the rules of the game are agreed to prior to the holding of elections. Within this framework, Malta will continue to provide its unwavering support in facilitating capacity-building measures in Libya and reiterates its support for the efforts of the United Nations, especially those of Special Representative Ghassan Salamé, to that end.

Another conflict is happening in Syria where the escalation of violence continues to be a source of grave concern. There can be no military solution to this conflict. We condemn, in the strongest terms, the use of chemical weapons which resulted in numerous casualties. This is unacceptable and the international community has the responsibility to ensure the perpetrators will be held accountable in calling for zero impunity. The Syrian conflict is causing heightened regional instability. Malta urges all regional players to exercise restraint and pursue the path of political dialogue to re-establish peace and security in the region. It also supports the UN-led reconciliation efforts via the Geneva process and the creation of a broadly representative constitutional committee in co-operation with the Astana guarantors which would be charged with drafting a new constitution and laying the ground for the holding of democratic elections to be supervised by the United Nations. Malta looks forward to participating in the upcoming Brussels III conference on Syria and building on the work and outcome of the Brussels II Syria conference last year which asserted the importance of establishing a lasting, fully inclusive political settlement based on the Geneva communiqué and full implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions. For too long - nine years, to be precise - the Syrian people have toiled in the woes of the conflict. It is high time that we regenerated the discussion and took stock of actions taken in the past to forge our present and future. We owe them that much.

I will turn to Brexit which may be the subject of the day for quite some time. Malta fully respects the democratic decision taken by the United Kingdom, although we still find it difficult to come to terms with the fact that it will soon depart the European Union. Notwithstanding this decision, I reiterate Malta's stance that it will do its utmost to maintain a very close relationship with the United Kingdom. We hope the transition, whether through a deal or without one, will be as smooth as possible. I reiterate that the Maltese Government remains committed to the unity of the EU 27 and we reaffirm our support for Ireland on the Irish backstop.

I again thank the committee for the opportunity it has so kindly given me to inform it about some of Malta's bilateral relations with Ireland and share with it our perspective on a number of issues. I look forward to hearing members' perspectives on the issues I have presented or on others and answering questions they may have.