JOINT PRESS RELEASE BY H.E DR IAN BORG, MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AND EUROPEAN AFFAIRS
AND TRADE OF MALTA
AND
H.E. EVERLY PAUL CHET GREENE, MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AGRICULTURE, TRADE &
BARBUDA AFFAIRS OF ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
On 22 April 2024, the Hon. Ian Borg, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of Malta, welcomed His Excellency Everly Paul Chet Greene, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Trade and Barbuda Affairs of Antigua & Barbuda on an official visit to Malta.
Despite the geographic distance between them, both Malta and Antigua & Barbuda share much in common. Their status as small island states and members of the Commonwealth inform their values and priorities to this day, including due to climate change and other shared challenges that both countries are facing.
The meeting today between Malta and Antigua & Barbuda allowed both sides to address issues of bilateral interest, and to remark on pressing foreign and security issues facing the international community. Both sides are committed to promoting peace, and to resolving conflicts and fostering international understanding, both in their own neighbourhood and beyond. The two countries also recognised the abiding importance of respect for international law, and for accountability where international law is not being respected. Finally, looking at their own domestic situation, both countries confirmed their ongoing commitment to promoting fundamental human rights, good governance and the rule of law.
Malta & Antigua also celebrated the growth of their bilateral cooperation in recent years, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the past two years the two countries have been cooperating on water management issues, and the positive momentum in relations has been crowned by the jointsignature today of the founding document of the Global Maritime Sanctions Information Centre. Through this Centre, the two countries hope to promote training and the sharing of information between ship registries around the world, with the aim of isolating bad actors.
Both countries also remarked on the pressing state of environmental challenges in their own regions, and for the need for increased international collaboration and cooperation on climate issues. In this regard, both countries underlined their support for the upcoming COP 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan later during 2024.
Finally, both countries agreed that greater international advocacy on behalf of small island states is required. In this regard, it was further agreed that Malta and Antigua and Barbuda will liaise and pursue advocacy for the interests of Small Island States and Small Island Developing States around the world, at the United Nations and all other pertinent international fora, and in particular given Antigua’s status as host of the upcoming 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States and in Malta’s capacity as a member of the European Union and elected member of the UN Security Council.
