RIVISTA
1995 
United Nations
The Order of Malta at the General
Assembly of the United Nations
“THE
ORDER’S COMMITMENT
TO
THE COMMUNITY OF NATIONS”
Address of the Sovereign
Military Order of Malta on the Occasion of the Celebration
of the 50th Anniversary of
the United Nations - 22 October 1995
Mr. President,
On this happy occasion, the 50th anniversary of the United Nations, it
is a great honour for me to give to the General Assembly the greetings of the
Sovereign Military Order of Malta and its Prince and Grand Master Fra' Andrew
Bertie. Our institution joined this Assembly just over one year ago as
Permanent Observer, but it has been a member of the international community for
many centuries. We are therefore well qualified to understand - together with
all the peoples in the world - the meaning of today's celebration, to rejoice
at having accomplished so much, and to co-operate to the fullest in
implementing the principles of the Charter. Fifty years ago the creation of the
organisation of the United Nations marked the hope for a new era of peace and
well-being in the world. An era meant to leave behind the horrors of the
biggest war ever known to man, a war that with the introduction of the nuclear
weapon had convinced peoples and governments that peace had to be pursued at
all costs: a failure of that attempt could mean the destruction of mankind. Today, after the end of the Cold War and the
fall of the Berlin wall, the hope of a lasting peace in the world appears a
much more achievable target than fifty years ago, and it is a great privilege
to extend to this General Assembly the wish and the testimony of the Sovereign
Military Order of Malta for a constant and meaningful commitment to the
community of nations.
The Sovereign Military Order
of Malta, established about nine centuries ago in Jerusalem, today has its seat
in Rome. It has diplomatic relations at embassy level with 68 member states of
the United Nations, over one third of its present members. This fact by itself explains
the status of the Order in the international community, since it is recognised
by these members as par inter pares.
The Order of Malta, thanks to its high moral standing, its religious
and chivalrous nature, its military traditions which exalt the self-sacrifice,
the high-mindedness and the discipline of the Knights of St. John, operates in
ninety countries on the five continents. The Order counts 10,500 members who
are able to mobilise thousands of volunteers world-wide for charitable and
welfare actions.
Today the flag of the Order flies world-wide over specialised
hospitals, clinics, first-aid centres and general surgeries where children,
women, the elderly, the disabled and chronic invalids are cared for. These
facilities provide medical and pharmaceutical assistance where epidemics are
most widespread.
The Order's vocation focuses on assistance and solidarity, especially
towards the weakest, those who suffer and the victims of discrimination and
intolerance.
The humanitarian aid supplied by the Order has always been among the
first to reach the most critical areas of social and civil conflicts. I
remember, for example, that during the long years of the civil war in Lebanon,
our dispensaries scattered over the entire country took care of thousands of
wounded; this was possible because all the fighting parties respected the flag
of the Order of Malta with its eight-point cross. Recently, we agreed to
contribute to the sanitary needs of the blue helmets in Lebanon and Kuwait, as
we did in the past in Central America.
Furthermore, in 1989, the Order gave assistance to thousands of
refugees going from East to West Germany through Hungary and Austria.
The Order has also been one of the first to assure humanitarian aid to
the former Yugoslavia. The Order looks on its humanitarian assistance as a
safeguard of the fundamental values of man and as an indispensable instrument
for helping to guarantee international peace and security: without these
values, political, military and diplomatic action is not sufficient to
establish an international order worthy of man. Inspired by these principles,
the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, thanks to its political neutrality and
its supranational character, can carry out a peacemaking and mediating action,
respectful of dialogue and understanding among peoples.
The values and purposes of the Order match well with Article One of the
United Nations Charter. The Order, in its capacity as Permanent Observer, is
fully available to co-operate with the United Nations, especially in the field
of humanitarian assistance. In particular, the Order is ready to offer its
co-operation to organise forms of medical assistance in support of
peace-keeping operations.
With these observations, the «people» of the Sovereign Military Order
of Malta join all the PEOPLES of the United Nations in today's celebration,
confirming their commitment to co-operate for an even fuller implementation of
the objectives of the United Nations Charter.
Finally, let me express the wish that the beginning of the «second fifty years»
of the United Nations, with the help of the Almighty, be the dawn of a new era
for future generations. May the United Nations increasingly meet the PEOPLES'
ambitions of peace, well-being, social progress and human solidarity.
Città del Vaticano. S.Em.za
Rev.ma il Segretario di Stato, Cardinale Angelo Sodano, in colloquio con S.A.
Em.ma il Principe e Gran Maestro Fra’ Andrew Bertie, e con il Gran Cancelliere,
Amb. Conte Carlo Marullo, dopo l’Udienza Pontificia in occasione della Festa di
San Giovanni.
Vatican
City. His
Most Reverend Highness the State Secretary, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, talking
with His Most Eminent Highness the Prince and Grand Master Fra’ Andrew Bertie,
and with the Grand Chancellor, Amb. Count Carlo Marullo, after the Papal
Hearing in occasion of the feast of St. John.