THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ADDRESSES THE ENLARGED EUROPEAN CONFERENCE BEING HELD IN BRUSSELS

SPEECH BY THE HON JOE BORG MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AT THE ENLARGED EUROPEAN CONFERENCE – BRUSSELS – 20^TH OCTOBER, 2001

Madame. Chair,

I would like to join my colleagues in condemning the terrorist attacks carried out on US soil on 11September and extending the solidarity of the Maltese government and people to the thousands whose lives have been affected irrevocably by these barbaric and cowardly acts. While these acts were atrocious in every sense, the feeling of horror they have caused, has given rise to a new impetus and a new sense of urgency to the common objectives of peace, stability and prosperity for which we all strive.

I would like to thank the Belgian Presidency for providing us with this opportunity to share information on the measures being taken by each of us both at a national and multilateral level.

Allow me to focus on the measures being taken by Malta at home.

The Maltese Parliament has unequivocally resolved to work to combat this scourge of terrorism by whatever means and possibilities at Malta’s disposal. At a political level, Malta has aligned itself with various EU statements - both those made in EU fora and those made in the UN and OSCE. We are working hard to ensure that these statements are now translated into readily implementable tools and that appropriate action is taken.

As a means of enhancing police and judicial co-operation, our Security Services in Malta have undertaken to share intelligence and information at both a national and international level. We are also following, most closely, developments with respect to the introduction of a European arrest warrant and the adoption of a common definition for terrorism.

In the field of air security, Malta has also stepped up security measures with respect to passenger security and air traffic control. We will also shortly be publishing legislation with respect to the control of the export of dual use goods and military equipment in line with EU directives in this field.

Malta has also committed itself to sharing information in connection with putting an end to the funding of terrorism.

Malta had issued legislation in terms of its obligations to implement UN Security Council Resolutions 1267 and 1333 covering the freezing of funds and financial assets of individuals and entities associated with Bin Laden as designated by the Taliban Sanctions Committee. This legislation also covers the recent list reflected in Commission Regulation 1996/2000 of 11 October.

The Maltese authorities have directed all financial and credit institutions to scrutinise their records and provide the authorities without delay with any information of any nature which may be related to the individuals and organisations in question.

Malta has comprehensive anti-money laundering legislation, which it is currently reviewing in order to strengthen it in line with current international standards. A new, independent Finance Intelligence Unit is also currently being established which will work with national and international bodies to detect and deter money laundering.

Malta also works closely on this issue within the OECD and Council of Europe and in fact currently serves as Chairman of the Council of Europe Select Committee of Experts on Anti-Money Laundering Measures. Malta has also recently reformed its financial services legislation in line with EU directives.

Malta has acceded to several of the conventions related to international terrorism, amongst which one finds the Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism which Malta signed together with five other countries on the first day of its opening for signature. Malta is working with renewed impetus to make progress on the other conventions related to international terrorism that remain to be signed and/or ratified. Indeed, we welcome the efforts being made to bring all these international instruments to combat terrorism into one comprehensive convention on international terrorism and in this sense would like to extend our own full support for the work of India in this regard.

Malta is following developments closely, particularly with respect to the work of the Counter-Terrorism Committee set up under UN Security Council Resolution 1373 with a view to implementing all appropriate action.

As a tangible expression of our support for the efforts being undertaken by the UN in Afghanistan and the wider region, Malta has also made a contribution to the Afghanistan Emergency Fund set up by the United Nations.

In conclusion, I would like to state that Malta welcomes the outcome of the Extraordinary General Affairs Council of 17 October wherein the action to be taken by the European Union in the wake of the terrorist attacks on the US are outlined. Malta pledges its support for the measures connected with the provision of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and its reconstruction once it is freed of the Al-Qaeda network and its terrorists. We also welcome the intensification of the relations with the countries neighbouring Afghanistan and the further encouragement of an open and constructive dialogue with our Arab and Muslim partners, also in line with the idea expressed by the Turkish Foreign Minister Cem.

In this regard we cannot stress enough the imminent need to dedicate all our resources to a relaunch of the Middle East peace process on the basis of the relevant resolutions and founded on the recognition of the principle of two states.

Thank you.