The Minister for European Funds and the Implementation of the Electoral Programme, Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, represented Malta at the Diplomatic Conference for the Adoption of the Convention establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine, held in The Hague, the Netherlands.
The Conference was co-hosted by the Council of Europe and the Kingdom of the Netherlands and brought together a large number of States and international organisations.
During the Conference, both the Final Act and the Convention were signed. In total, 42 countries and the European Union signed the Final Act, while 34 countries and the European Union signed the Convention, a step that confirms the broad commitment of the international community in favour of justice, accountability and reparations for Ukraine.
In his intervention, Minister Zrinzo Azzopardi stressed that the adoption of this Convention represents another historic step towards achieving justice and reparations for the victims of Russia's illegal and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine. He noted that the Claims Commission builds on the work of the Register of Damage and will ensure that the Russian Federation, as the responsible State, is held accountable for the damage caused and provides full reparations in accordance with international law.
The Minister also recalled the active role played by Malta throughout the entire process, including under the Maltese Presidency of the Council of Europe, when last October the Committee of Ministers approved the draft Convention, which has now reached its formal adoption. "Malta is a full member of the Register of Damage and will continue to cooperate closely to ensure that this international mechanism is effective and credible," a government statement read.
The Diplomatic Conference was also attended by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, as well as the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who addressed the participants and thanked all States showing concrete solidarity with the Ukrainian people and supporting the international order. At the opening of the conference, the Dutch Prime Minister, Dick Schoof, also delivered an address.
Minister Zrinzo Azzopardi concluded by stressing that Malta will continue to stand on the right side of history by upholding the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, peace and stability in Europe, and invited the international community to continue working together to ensure full justice for Ukraine and the victims of aggression.