The University of Malta on May 4 conferred the degree of Doctor of Literature (honoris causa) on Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos Cuyaube for his contribution to peace and stability in the Mediterranean area.
Throughout his distinguished career Dr Moratinos has sought to promote better understanding between Europe and the Mediterranean. This has included a concerted effort to facilitate closer co-operation between the different sub regions of the Mediterranean, especially the Maghreb and Mashreq regions.
Between 1996 and 2003 Dr Moratinos demonstrated his unique dynamism as an international diplomat in his role as the European Union's Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process.
It was his pro-active perseverance that inspired regional protagonists to start implementing confidence-building measures as part of a process that was to lead to final status negotiations in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Dr Moratinos showed a continuous commitment to finding a peaceful solution to the Middle East conflict. As he emphasised during his address at the conferment ceremony: "We cannot wait until tomorrow. Never in the last 50 years have we seen such a meeting of strategic interests between Arabs and Israelis, Americans and Europeans. It is urgent we mobilise ourselves. I know that Maltese diplomacy, wisely led by Minister Michael Frendo, has risen to the challenge and has taken its share of our collective responsibility. Our 'olive belt' of Mediterranean European countries have indeed become main actors in this quest for peace."
A firm believer in a strong Europe, one of the Spanish Foreign Minister's priorities has been to improve his country's relations with all EU member states. In the aftermath of the Cold War, he realised that the Mediterranean epitomises many of the security challenges associated with the North-South debate. These include migration, terrorism, religious intolerance and the lack of human rights. Nurturing co-operative cross-cultural patterns of interaction which addressed these issues thus became a guiding light of his career.
Since the end of the Cold War, he has ensured that the Mediterranean does not become marginalised by Europe. He has consistently emphasised that security dynamics in Europe and the Mediterranean are interdependent and thus must be dealt with simultaneously.
As a leading proponent of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, Dr Moratinos recognised that a stable political and security environment can only be achieved by reducing existing cross-cultural tensions and establishing a co-operative zone of security that focuses on fostering closer social, cultural and human relations across the Euro-Med area.
In honouring Dr Moratinos the University expressed Malta's gratitude for his constructive contribution to post-Cold War regional peace and stability in the Euro-Mediterranean area. Millions of people are benefiting thanks to the promotion of peace across the Mediterranean. Dr Moratinos' wisdom, leadership and perseverance should inspire all those committed to promoting closer Euro-Med relations in the years to come.
Professor Calleya, who is director of the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies at the University of Malta, delivered the oration at the degree conferment ceremony.