Director-General of UNOG meets with the Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta

On Wednesday, 3 February 2010, Sergei A. Ordzhonikidze, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, met with Fra’ Matthew Festing, Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, in the context of the Grand Master’s participation in a conference at the Palais des Nations on 1 and 2 February 2010 of 60 Ambassadors of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta posted in Europe and Africa.

The Director-General and the Grand Master exchanged views on a range of issues of mutual interest and concern to the United Nations and the Sovereign Order of Malta, including progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, the Secretary-General’s priorities for 2010, disarmament issues, climate change, the empowerment of women and the situation in Haiti.

The Director-General expressed appreciation for the Sovereign Order of Malta’s strong support in many areas of the work of the United Nations. The two organizations shared a commitment to improving the lives of people around the world and were often involved together in some of the most difficult contexts, he said. He thanked the Grand Master for the firm commitment to global humanitarian action, which had once again been demonstrated by its rapid response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Mr. Ordzhonikidze welcomed the efforts of the Sovereign Order of Malta for the protection of civilians in armed conflict and its interest in disarmament-related issues.

The Grand Master commended the enhancement in the humanitarian coordination efforts of the United Nations in recent years. Noting the unique role of the Sovereign Order of Malta as an impartial and non-political entity, he outlined its humanitarian efforts, including in politically sensitive regions. The Grand Master highlighted the Sovereign Order of Malta’s work in the protection of civilians in armed conflict and called for stronger collective action by the international community in restricting small arms and light weapons.