Migrants could enrich Maltese identity, says President Abela

In the last Christmas speech of his tenure, the President of Malta George Abela urged the Maltese to look back at the past year and cherish the achievements which they've had, whilst learning from the mistakes that they've made.

Looking back on 2014, Abela said that the year was memorable for a number of events, including a general election - which he described as being 'intense but civil' - the ongoing issue of immigration and the economic climate.

He also stressed the value of the Maltese family.

Referring to the March general election and the preceding camapaign, Abela said that he was pleased with how the political leaders conducted themselves in the immediate aftermath of the election. He said that both Joseph Muscat and Lawrence Gonzi acted 'responsibly' in making sure that the transition from one government to another was a smooth one, adding that this should be seen as an example for future elections.

The President, whilst praising Malta's overall economic performance, cautioned that the country would still need to act prudently in a time of economic uncertainty.

On migration, Abela said that Malta must make sure that tragedies such as the one of Lampedusa in which hundreds of migrants died should remain a 'one-off', and believed that Malta had done well in urging the European Union to help combat the issue.

He said that whilst Malta had a reputation of being hospitable - and that this should remain the case - the country had obvious limitations and could not shoulder the burden of migration on its own.

Abela urged Maltese to consider migrants as "a resource, rather than a threat", believing that the integration of such persons would enrich Maltese identity, not weaken it.

Abela stressed that a balance needed to be found between sustainable development and protection of the environment, stating that one need not eliminate the other. He stressed the in order to rwach such a balance, there was a need for sensitivity in the decision-making process, with regard to development.

He said that it was important that people understood the importance of Malta's heritage, and said that it was the responsibility of every generation to leave the country in a better position then what they inherited.

Abela stressed that the family remained the most crucial part of any society, believing that the values of marriage and the family should remain intact. However this, he said, should not overrule the rights of social minorities.

He said that a healthy society must be built on the highest ethical and moral values of honesty, integrity, solidarity, unity and social justice and that this could not take place without a fair distribution of wealth, catering in particular for those most in need such as persons with disabilities, the sick, the unemployed and those at risk of poverty.