MALTESE FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER DEPOSITS INSTRUMENTS OF ACCESSION AND RATIFICATION OF VARIOUS CONVENTIONS

Foreign Minister, Joe Borg, currently in New York to participate in the 56^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, yesterday 11^th November, deposited the instruments of accession and ratification of four terrorism Conventions as follows:

• 1973 New York Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Interntionally Protected Persons, including Diplomatic Agents;
• The International Convention against the Taking of Hostages;
• The Convention of the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings;
• The International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism

Minister Joe Borg, yesterday, 11^th November also deposited Malta’s instrument of accession to the United Nations Agreement on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks. As a result of Malta’s accession, the said Agreement has entered into force. This Agreement is seen as milestone in the development of international Law relating to oceans and the Law of the Sea and is aimed at furthering the international community’s ability to promote the sustainability and conservation of fish-stocks.

In addition Foreign Minister Borg ratified on behalf of the Malta Government the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

While in New York the Minister of Foreign Affairs addressed the Second Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty where he called upon those thirteen states whose ratification is necessary for the Treaty to enter into force to move to ratification as soon as possible.

Foreign Minister Joe Borg stated the hope that the new sense of urgency and purpose that has characterised the work of the international community in the last weeks will fuel the necessary resolve to bring the international community closer to the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs also held a meeting with the Honorary Consuls for Malta in the United States where various issues were discussed including developments taking place in Malta and the service given by Malta’s Honorary Consuls to Maltese nationals who were stranded in the United States as a result of the terrorist attacks of the 11^th of September.

Dr Joe Borg held bilateral meetings with a number of Foreign Ministers and yesterday also presided over a session of the General Assembly.

This morning, 12^th November, Foreign Minister, Joe Borg addressed the General Assembly. In his address, Dr Joe Borg underscored the political commitment of the Malta Government to the International Criminal Court declared the intention of the Government to seek the ratification of the Rome Statute by the Maltese Parliament in the near future.

Foreign Minister Borg stated that the time was ripe to conclude the debate on an operational definition of the perpetration of a terrorist act. In this respect he supported intensified efforts aimed at an expeditious conclusion of negotiations on the Indian proposal that should subsequently yield a comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. He further stated that the General Assembly should actively consider convening a high-level conference on terrorism under the aegis of the United Nations upon, or immediately after, the conclusion of this convention.

With respect to the Middle East Dr Joe Borg stated that Malta was convinced that the Mitchell report and the Tenet Plan provide a realistic and readily achievable way out of the spiral of violence that had engulfed the region. The peace, security and welfare of all the people concerned required that their full implementation be urgently embarked upon. This necessitated the re-establishment of security co-operation between the parties in the interests of both Israelis and Palestinians, the stationing of international observers, preferably from several regions, and an end to all new settlement activity, including so-called "natural growth". He further stated the hope that both parties would be able to return to the negotiating table with the aim of achieving a just and permanent peace in the region on the basis of the relevant Security Council resolutions.

Foreign Minister Joe Borg is expected to return to Malta, tomorrow 13^th November.