OPR- Monday, 13th December, 2003

SPEECH BY H.E. DR. EDWARD FENECH ADAMI, PRESIDENT OF MALTA, ON THE OCCASION OF REPUBLIC DAY – GRAND COUNCIL CHAMBER, THE PALACE, VALLETTA – MONDAY, 13 DECEMBER 2004

Today we celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of our Republic. Thirty years are considered to be a significant period of time in a person’s lifetime, but merely a passing breeze in a country’s annals.

However, this yardstick hardly applies to these last thirty years of our history. For it was during these years that our country firmly established itself as a sovereign state. It was during these thirty years that we radically overhauled our economy. We have taken great strides forward in the health, social and education sectors. During these years, our country rid itself of its developing status and is today regarded as an economically, socially and politically developed nation.

Today, we have earned ourselves, within the international community, the reputation of a trustworthy and peace-loving country. As of 1 May this year, our voice in the international arena has been strengthened further as a direct result of our membership of the European Union.

We managed to achieve so much and we can safely state that Malta today has at its disposal all the tools it needs to build itself the future it deserves. We should never have to question the need to keep abreast with the pace of this global village. Indeed, we should seek to constantly ensure that we have the necessary resources to keep our country on track with world developments.

Life teaches us that nothing comes for free, least of all progress. Unfortunately, part of the price we are paying for progress is the erosion of the traditional values. The effect of this erosion can be seen and felt amongst our families and youth. We need to make a collective effort to halt this erosion. Otherwise, we imminently risk facing a situation similar to building a new storey whilst simultaneously dismantling the very same foundations.

This does not apply only to the local context but applies equally within the European context to which we now more closely belong.

On this day, the anniversary of our Republic, I felt it would be fitting to refer to our constitution. I feel honoured to have contributed towards the long and intense discussions that ultimately led to the finalization of the constitution we have today. A constitution is the creed of a nation. It is an affirmation of what we are and what we believe in and should not be amended without just cause. Otherwise what kind of a nation would we be if we change our beliefs at every turn? Yet the constitution should not be static. It should rather reflect the realities around us. The end of the nineteen eighties and beginning of the nineteen nineties were characterised by the fall of the Berlin Wall, the dismantling of the communist system and the end of the Cold War. The antagonism between East and West, particularly in Europe, gave way to co-operation. I believe that the time has come for a learned discussion as to whether our constitution, without departing from its principles, should reflect these new realities.

This is my first address to you on Republic Day. It is a day in which we give due recognition to those who honoured our country. We often speak of the endearing characteristics that make our country proud. We speak less of those, who through their deeds and talents uphold Malta’s name. It is therefore more than right to salute these persons on this day. I am not simply referring here to those who justly received or will be receiving National recognition. I refer also to those whose work remains silent. Heartfelt thanks to every single one of you.