Malta on the UN Security Council
Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland were formally welcomed into the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday, taking the two-year seats they won unopposed in June.
While Malta and the other four countries that have taken up seats on the Security Council do not have a veto, as that is a privilege only the five permanent members (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States) have, it does mean that our country will have a stronger voice on the global stage. The Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, but Malta is taking this seat up during an international crisis.
One of the permanent members on the Council, Russia, is at war with its European neighbour. International condemnation of Russia for its action has been frequent, and votes in the UN General Assembly have been taken.
As an example, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution by a large majority in October, calling on countries not to recognise the four regions of Ukraine which
Russia had claimed, following so-called referendums held, and demanded that Moscow reverse course on its “attempted illegal annexation.” Malta was one of the countries that voted in favour of the resolution.
One hopes that Malta will stay the course throughout its time on the Council, vote against Putin’s actions regarding the war, and push for Russia to withdraw from Ukraine and move towards peace.
Peace needs to be achieved, but a bully must never be rewarded with concessions, lest history repeat itself.
Malta’s United Nations Ambassador Vanessa Frazier set out Malta’s priorities in a brief address. She said: “Serving on the council is a significant responsibility. We will rise to the challenge and the opportunity. Malta is a bridge builder committed to neutrality, disarmament, peace and consensus through dialogue with all. We will be guided by the three pillars of security, sustainability and solidarity and we’ll continue to advocate for peace, security, stability, dialogue, de-escalation and respect of international law. Leading on matters of children and armed conflicts; advancing the women, peace and security agenda; highlighting climate change as an existential threat; and emphasising literacy as a peace-building tool are some of the focuses we will pursue during the next two years. In a spirit of respect and openness, we look forward to working with all actors, from the media and civil society to UN member states in order to deliver on the UN Security Council’s most important mandate of upholding and maintaining international peace and security.”
This is the second time Malta will hold a seat on the Security Council. While the big countries will, as is always the case, wield far more power than the rest, this does not mean that Malta will not be able to make its voice heard, or push for any changes. The idea of literacy being used as a peace-building tool is a good issue to push forward for instance. Malta’s other priorities are also admirable. As for what, and how much Malta will be able to do on the international stage… that remains to be seen.