Malta
The Foreign Minister of Malta, Evarist Bartolo, said in the Conference on Disarmament on 22 February 2021 that the TPNW has 'strengthened the global norm against the worst weapons of mass destruction', and it is 'our duty to promote the benefits of such treaty, help fight misconceptions about it, and ensure that its obligations are adhered to'.[1]
| TPNW Article 1(1) prohibitions: Compliance in 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Develop, produce, manufacture, acquire | Compliant |
| Test | Compliant | |
| Possess or stockpile | Compliant | |
| (b) | Transfer | Compliant |
| (c) | Receive transfer or control | Compliant |
| (d) | Use | Compliant |
| Threaten to use | Compliant | |
| (e) | Assist, encourage or induce | Compliant |
| (f) | Seek or receive assistance | Compliant |
| (g) | Allow stationing, installation, deployment | Compliant |
| TPNW voting and participation | |
|---|---|
| 2021 UNGA resolution on TPNW | |
| 2020 UNGA resolution on TPNW | |
| 2019 UNGA resolution on TPNW | Voted yes |
| 2018 UNGA resolution on TPNW | Voted yes |
| Participated in TPNW negotiations | Yes |
| Share of women in TPNW negotiations | 33% |
| Vote on adoption of treaty text | Voted yes |
| Adoption of TPNW (7 July 2017) | Voted yes |
| IAEA safeguards and fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Safeguards Agreement | Yes |
| TPNW Art 3(2) deadline | N/A |
| Small Quantities Protocol | No |
| Additional Protocol | Yes |
| Fissile material production facilities | No |
| Highly enriched uranium stocks | No |
| Plutonium stocks (mil/civ) | No/No |
| Related treaties and regimes | |
|---|---|
| Party to the BWC | Yes |
| Party to the CWC | Yes |
| Party to the PTBT | Yes |
| Ratified the CTBT | Yes |
| Party to the NPT | Yes |
| Party to a NWFZ | No |
| Member of the CD | No (Observer) |
Latest developments
In a statement to the 2021 UN General Assembly's High-Level Plenary Meeting to Commemorate and Promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, Foreign Minister Bartolo said: 'Malta was one of the first countries to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. As this Treaty has now entered into force, we urge all States to accede to this important Treaty, which would send a strong political signal against the production, stockpiling, and use of nuclear weapons. We hope that increased universalisation of this important Treaty will create the necessary momentum to embark on serious disarmament talks which have been stalled for too long.'2
The Foreign Minister participated in a webinar hosted by ICAN, Mayors for Peace, and Nuclear Free Local Authorities on 21 October to talk about the First Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW and strategy to encourage more states to support the Treaty.3
Malta was one of the co-sponsors of the 2021 UN General Assembly resolution on the TPNW, which called 'upon all States that have not yet done so to sign, ratify, accept, approve or accede to the Treaty at the earliest possible date'.4
Recommendations
- Malta should continue to encourage other states to adhere to the TPNW.
- Malta should ensure that all the TPNW obligations are implemented domestically, through legal, administrative, and other necessary measures.