President Guido de Marco in talks with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan

H.E. Prof. Guido de Marco, President of Malta, on Tuesday morning met with H.E. Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations at the Headquarters in New York. During the meeting various issues were discussed regarding the situation in the Mediterranean and in particular the situation in Kosovo.

The President stated that the United Nations through its principal organs, particularly the General Assembly and the Security Council, had a definite role and responsibility in matters affecting international peace and security. Diplomacy had to be allowed to run its course, in order to seek solutions which would be lasting and which would accord to the United Nations its mandated role in the maintenance of international peace and security.

The Secretary-General shared this view, stating the United Nations definitely had a role to play in the evolution of the whole situation in the Kosovo, especially at this point in time, when different options and solutions were being studied. He explained to the President recent developments which had taken place and informed him that two special envoys had been appointed by him in order to further assist in the seeking of solutions.

Prof. de Marco recalled Malta's proposal for the reform of the Trusteeship Council and stated that the United Nations could start viewing the issues in terms of its impact on the rights of the peoples of Kosovo. He explained that the United Nations through its Trusteeship Council holds in trust the rights of peoples. According to the Charter such a principle was founded within the context of the Trusteeship System, which spoke of the need for the protection of the human rights of peoples held in trust. This could be utilized to ensure the moral authority which is required for action to help find solutions, which afforded adequate protection of those whose fundamental rights are being jeopardized. One had to move from a trusteeship of territories to a trusteeship of peoples.

The Secretary-General showed appreciation for the views and opinions of the President of Malta and expressed the hope that, indeed, any final solution to the whole crises would inevitably involve the notion of the need for the protection of the rights of the peoples of Kosovo.

The Secretary-General also took the opportunity to thank Prof. de Marco personally and through him, the Government of Malta, for their contribution leading to a solution to the dispute with Libya, against whom sanctions have been suspended. He stated that this was indeed an important step and expressed the hope that the constructive role played by Malta in the past would continue in future.

The Secretary General also wished the President his best wishes for the fruitful outcome of the meeting of the Council of Presidents. He stated the hope that such a body of eminent persons could discuss issues related to the evolving international situation and also provide to him useful advice as necessary.