Diskors mill-President Myriam Spiteri Debono waqt iċ-ċelebrazzjoni tal-Indipendenza tal-Istati Uniti

I address you today on the occasion of the National Day of the United States of America.

Malta and the United States have had a strong and friendly bond since the very first day of Malta’s independence on 21 September 1964. As we celebrate sixty years of independence this year, we also recognize, with deep appreciation, sixty years of bilateral relations between our two countries – relations which have always been founded on mutual respect and a desire to strive towards consistent strengthening of our important relationship.

If we look back in history, we Maltese recollect images of SS Ohio making its way into the Grand Harbour partially destroyed but filled with hope that the suffering caused by World War II would come to an end. As President Franklin D. Roosevelt put it, Malta was “one tiny bright flame in the darkness – a beacon of hope for the clearer days which have come.” The arrival of this historical vessel is forever etched into Malta’s collective memory as the day which saved these islands from the destruction caused by the war.

While fully appreciating our strong bilateral ties, the bond between Malta and the United States goes beyond political considerations – since the United States is home to the third largest Maltese diaspora in the world, the connection of many Maltese to the United States is a familial one, an emotional bond!

It should come as no surprise that, to many Maltese, the United States is not just any country, but it is the home of loved ones. It is through these person-to-person encounters that strong foundations for goodwill between nations are built.

It is evidently clear, through the statistics available, that the United States remains a high priority nation for Malta in terms of commercial investment and trade, with Malta maintaining a trade surplus with the United States for over two decades. The United States is a crucial commercial partner for Malta, with significant American investment in Malta having had a strong and positive impact on the Maltese economy. This mutually beneficial relationship between our countries is testament to our common commitment towards maintaining and developing the strong ties that we have forged.

In a time of global instability caused by conflict and aggression, where the rule of force at times appears to have achieved priority over the rule of law, diplomacy and peaceful means of conflict resolution as the primary solutions towards peace, with full adherence to international law, and the principles outlined in the UN Charter, cannot be overemphasized.

It is truly in times like these where the common objectives and values of both Malta and the United States, come to the fore. Our small nation, with its vision for world peace and harmony, and the United States, with its stronger influence in world affairs, can still find points of convergence, in our common pursuit of democracy, the protection and promotion of human rights, as well as the unalienable rights of liberty, solidarity and equality.

Unfortunately, in present times, the world is facing adverse situations. A feeling of insecurity pervades certain corners of the world. The ongoing and persistent aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, as well as the conflict between Israel and Hamas have presented the peace-loving nations of the world with worrying humanitarian consequences – consequences which in both regions overflow well beyond the politics the respective situations involve.

These humanitarian consequences, and here I am referring to the suffering of civilians and particularly women and children, will necessitate firstly a gargantuan effort to reach peaceful solutions and, after that, also provide assistance to help the peoples involved reconstruct and look ahead towards a secure and stable future.

We cannot remain silent. We have to be active in order to secure diplomatic solutions towards a long just and lasting peace. Malta stresses the importance of discussions following a ceasefire. We cannot only advocate a ceasefire, but a ceasefire has to be the means to an end: namely, getting the conflicting parties round a table for discussions.

In our current presence as a member of the United Nations Security Council and as Chair of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Malta remains firmly committed towards diplomacy and conflict resolution through peaceful means. In this regard, we express our appreciation for the United States’ support during these mandates. Malta finds in the United States a likeminded partner and ally, and therefore, we look forward to further cooperation between our two nations on both bilateral and multilateral fora.

It is only together that we can work towards solving the issues that persistently threaten international security. Our dedication towards these issues is evident – the presence of the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law in Malta shows our firm support towards counterterrorism initiatives. Malta has also joined numerous institutions that display our dedication towards international security, such as the Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities and the Commission on Narcotic Drugs for the term 2024-2029.

The relationship between Malta and the United States is testament to the notion that cooperation, trust and mutual respect are the fundamental elements for any bilateral relation to flourish. Allow me to express my deep appreciation for our bond, through which we will continue to make significant strides towards the common good of our nations and for the entire world.

Excellencies
Distinguished guests,

On behalf of the people of Malta, I kindly ask your Excellency to convey my heartfelt greetings to His Excellency, President Joe Biden and to the people of the United States of America, on the occasion of the National Day.