Fellow Maltese,
Despite the physical distance, and the time you have spent away from these Islands, you remain close to us both in thought and in our hearts.
I am therefore pleased to take this opportunity to share these few words with you and wish you and your loved ones good wishes at this very special time of year.
Perhaps few expected that the situation in 2021 will be very similar to that of 2020. I admit that, like many, I hope we find a speedy and lasting solution to overcome the adverse effects of the pandemic. It however seems that this virus will continue to pose challenges that will keep changing and will likely last for a long time.
I appeal to everyone to listen to the advice given to us by science and to follow more closely the advice of professionals, including precautionary measures, such as vaccinations.
I believe that international cooperation, especially between affluent and less affluent countries, is crucial for us as one global family to move forward. Despite the geographical distances between us, we all remain committed to achieving the 2030 Sustainability Goals and ensuring that we leave no one behind.
Without detracting from the medical emergency created due to this pandemic, I am optimistic about the new year and wish for a better balance between the health challenges and the protection of fundamental human rights.
I must mention all the workers in the medical field and salute them for the determination and resilience they’ve shown over the last few months as they have continued to be heroes for us all.
Ladies and gentlemen,
As this year approaches its end, I am all the more convinced that the events that continue to shape our country cannot be viewed from an isolated perspective, but in a regional and international context.
The effects of climate change, the humanitarian emergency which is becoming serious in some parts of the world, and the levels of inequality between the northern and the southern countries, continue to sustain an unfair system that is causing harm to our planet.
The sale and trafficking of weapons, especially in war zones and countries fighting extremist forces, continue to hamper our collective efforts for peace and unity. I appeal for more countries to recognise the damage caused by militarising politics and to ensure that international law is used as a tool to safeguard fundamental rights and not as a weapon of extermination.
I welcome the COP26 climate emergency talks held in Glasgow a few weeks ago. Through dialogue and mutual respect, these discussions show an international family that, although embracing many political divergences, is ready to work together to find a solution.
It is this dialogue-based unity that paves the way for a positive and lasting change.
Through my Office, I have also worked hard to strengthen dialogue between different sections in Maltese society. Despite the restrictions, I am pleased to say that during 2021, I chaired several conferences addressing national unity from different aspects. The Conference for National Unity held in February, the Conference marking 100 Years Since the Granting of the Constitution in April, and the Conference on the State of the Nation in June, were important initiatives that brought together many different organisations, experts, and academics.
I am pleased to share with you that preparations are currently underway so that in March 2022, together with the Albabtain Cultural Foundation, I will be organising the second World Forum for Culture of Peace. Through international participation, this forum will serve as an important platform for discussion and a global catalyst for further building a culture of peace.
I invite you to be part of the local discussion as well and, through various opportunities, to get closer to the current affairs of the Maltese islands and to kindle in the younger generations an interest and love for the Maltese culture and language.
I am very fond of the latter as it is the most living expression of our nation and it continues to serve us in the best way, despite outside influences and new technology. Few people can boast of a unique language that has continued to evolve over the years.
I understand that many people have suffered greatly because they could not travel to Malta and experience the warm embraces and the joy of meeting family members. Although technology has eased the separation, a picture on the phone or computer can never replace human contact.
I hope that over the coming months travel between countries will still be permitted and that you will be able to visit our country without issues. I, too, hope to be able to resume my visits to the communities of Maltese living abroad. A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of visiting Maltese patients receiving treatment in London and I also had the opportunity to meet several nuns and monks assisting them. These are heart-warming encounters, but they also instil hope and courage for a better future. As was the meeting I had with a good number of Maltese consultants in Surgery and Medicine holding high positions in the best hospitals in the United Kingdom.
In conclusion, I want to once again wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas.
Above all, I wish you prosperity and health for a year full of happiness, peace, and love.
All the best.
