I’ve seen in the New Year in many parts of the world: this year I did so in Malta, and seldom have I enjoyed myself so much. I was last in Malta for the 2005 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting CHOGM, and decided then that I would return with my family to this lovely island. We left behind a grey cold London: a few hours later we were walking along Golden Bay; and on New Year’s Eve we joined Maltese friends for a night of dancing and celebration.

Now, for all of us, it’s back to work. In meetings to be held today with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the acting Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, I will again see the Maltese dynamism that is turning into action the words of the political declarations we made 14 months ago here in Valletta. Ever since this country so generously and efficiently hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November 2005, you have been in the vanguard of this family of 1.8 billion people, with Prime Minister Laurence Gonzi as our Chair-in-Office.

Take the Gozo Statement on Vulnerable Small States, which was agreed at the CHOGM. Malta has since spear-headed a new initiative to create a small states network that will be a clearing house for sharing expertise and technology. This comes on the back of years of critically acclaimed work by the University of Malta with the Commonwealth Secretariat and others to map out the unique vulnerabilities and resilience of small states.

Malta has also run courses for “small state” public servants in areas such as banking and finance policies, national competitiveness strategies, coastal management and insurance. Over the past five years, Maltese institutions have run some e1.5 million-worth of courses for the Commonwealth.

Similarly, the Malta Communiqué called for much more effort to bridge the digital divide between the Commonwealth’s technological haves and have-nots. Malta has responded strongly – and has led this initiative under Foreign Minister Michael Frendo. The result is over e1 million to ensure all member countries have clear IT policies, as well as the launch of some 20 individual projects in Africa and Asia to use technology as an engine both for education and economic development. Repre-sentatives from all over the Commonwealth will be meeting in Malta later this month to accelerate cooperation in this area.

Your commitment to the Commonwealth’s overarching principles of democracy, tolerance, respect and justice has also been shown in clear terms. Last month, Fiji Islands’ military overthrew the democratically elected government. Malta, in the person of Foreign Minister Frendo, chairs the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG). CMAG is our watchdog that works to protect the organisation’s fundamental values and principles. CMAG took immediate action to suspend Fiji from our Councils – the clearest possible sign that our Commonwealth will not tolerate the usurping of democratic government.

Your commitment to maximising your membership of the European Union and the Commonwealth has seen you promoting the interests of each organisation to the other. Last October you lobbied hard for the EU to support the Commonwealth in its efforts to promote good governance programmes in Africa, under the aegis of the African Union.

Malta’s care for the welfare of those in neighbouring countries – as well as its concern for rising numbers of illegal migrants – has led it to support a variety of Common-wealth activities to promote a more stable and prosperous African continent. You have lent an enthusiastic voice to the two Commonwealth Recruitment Protocols which attempt to manage the flows of teachers and health workers from poorer Common-wealth countries to wealthier ones. Both protocols have now become international best practice, endorsed by the International Labour Organi-sations and the World Health Organisation.

Malta’s own development has in part happened thanks to its willingness to learn from others and from Commonwealth support. This country has benefited directly from about e1 million of technical assistance, and e15 million of pan-Commonwealth assistance. Commonwealth experts have also shared their expertise with Malta in areas such as promoting the competitiveness of small enterprises, enhancing the professional services sector, improving waste management, public administration and debt management. Eighty Maltese officials have benefited from Common-wealth-funded training and study programmes in countries like Singapore, India and Malaysia.

November 2007 will see Malta hand over the Commonwealth chair to Uganda. Yet I know that it will continue to shoulder its Commonwealth responsibilities – to its own citizens, to the citizens of all small states, and to a better world for all. Malta is successfully steering an organisation that accounts for a third of the world’s population, a quarter of its countries, and a fifth of its trade. It may be a small state, but Malta continues to contribute in a disproportionately large and positive way. It is a win for Malta and a win for the Commonwealth.