regional stability, whichitisourobjectiue toapplyinourfuturerelationships withotherStates.* Maltafacedasimilar experience intheprocess ofestablishing relations with theSovietUnionandothercountries ofEastern Europe. Deeply eJTbedded misconceptions abouttherangeofpolicyoptions permissible tosmallStates foza longtimeswayedopinion inWestern EuropethatMalta's opening totheEastwasan outright replacement, andnotsimply alegitimate extension, ofexisting partnerships. Theincongruity ofnotpermitting asmallislandStatetoadoptthe samerangeofoptions asother,andlarger, States, washardlyeveracknowledged. TheWestern press, whichafewyearsagomadesuchafussabouttheopening ofa Soviet Embassy inMalta, neverforamomentstopped toreflect thataUnitedStates Embassy hadalready beeninMaltaformanyyearsandthatclosediplomatic co-operation withtheSoviet UnionwasafactoflifeinallWestern European states. HowmuchthiswasalsothecaseforMaltacantodaybegauged fromthe mutuallybeneficial economic co-opera tionwhichhasresulted,notwithouthard work,fromourrelations withtheSoviet Union. Thisincludes theuseofour *Mr.Gauci(Malta), Vice-President, tooktheChair.AW/ljb A/40/W.3l 29 (Mr.Trigona, Malta) Merchant Navyservicing facilities andthesigning ofatradeagreement, the centre-piece ofwhich,theorderfortheconstruction ofeighttimbercarriers in Malta,istheenvyofshipyards throughout outregion. Thesameobjectives whichhaveprompted ustoseektheopenings withChinaand withtheSovietUnioncontinue toinspire ustodevelop oureconomic co-operation withtheUnitedStatesofAmerica. Malta con~iders thatoneofthebestguarantees whichcanbegivenofthepositive contribution whichitsstatusofneutrality makestowards Mediterranean stability liesinthegenuine interest withwhichit pursuesitseconomic relationships withthemajorPowers. Weremaindeeply conscious ofthefactthat,whileeachindividual relationship mustalsobea function ofthespecific economic interests andpotential ofourrespective partners, thecommonpolitical element whichbindsthemalltogether isthe endeavour toconsolidate ourstatusofneutrality asafactorofstability inour immediate neighbourhood. Perhaps mostreflective oftheirrational prejUdice whichinspires attitudes towards theactionofsmallStatesarecertain reactions andinterpretations concerning ourrelations withourcloseneighbour Libya. Anactivepartnership withitsclosest neighbours isanindispensible factorinthesecurity and well-being ofanypeace-loving State,moreespecially so,inthecaseofaState which,likeMalta,hasplacedprimaryimportanceonapolicy 0fneutralityand openness toall. Libyahastraditionally beenMalta's mostrewarding trading partner inthe developing world. Thankstoourpolicyofcloseco-operation withLibya,this partnership hasexpanded intomanyothersectors, withresultant benefitsto Malta's economic development, especially atatimeofunemployment ande~onomic disarray inmanyindustrialized countries, whichcouldnotbuthavetheirnegativeAW/ljb A/40/PV.3l 30 (Mr.Trigona, Malta) effects alsoonus.AtthesametimetheL'ehasbeenabundant evidence available to showthatnosideinthispartnership hadanyillusions atanytimeaboutthe maintenance ofMalta's sovereignty andindependence ofaction. Thisemerged mostclearly inconnection withthedifferences whicharose between thetwosidesonthedivision ofthecontinental shelf. Bothsidesacted energetically tosafeguard whattheyperceived astheirlegitimate interests inthe matter•WithoutanyassistancefromanythirdpartyMaltamaintaineditsposition andeventually thematter wasreferred totheInternational CourtofJustice which, earlier thisyear,proposed asolution whichnowoffers agoodbasisfora negotiated settlement. Thenecessary stability andpredictability aretherefore nowassured forinterested corporations toenterintomutually beneficial arrangementswiththeMaltese Gavernmentfortheexplorationandexploitationof petroleum resources inoursea-bed. Malta's jealous guardianship ofitssovereignty andindependence ofaction, alsocalledfor,duringthe1970sandearly1980s, arevision ofexisting relations withmanytraditional partners inWestern Europe. Hereagaintheentrenched prejudice against thefreedom ofchoiceavailable tosmallStatesdistorted ~be perception ofthenatureofthemeasures whichwewereundertaking andthus retarded theachievement oftheobjectives whichwewereseeking.NR/td A/40/PV.3l 31 (Mr.Trigona, Malta) Ihavehadoccasion tospeakinthisAssembly aboutthevarious problems we facedatonetimeoranother withmanyofourlong-standing partners, including Britain, theEuropean Economic Community, ItalyandJapan. Iamgratified tohave toputonrecordtodaythatmanyofthesedifficulties arenowbehindusandthat
**Analysis**
The text primarily discusses the economic relations and partnerships of Malta with various countries, including the Soviet Union, China, the United States, and Libya. It highlights the benefits of these relationships, such as the use of merchant navy facilities and the signing of trade agreements. The text also touches on the importance of Malta's neutrality and its status as a small state, emphasizing the need to overcome prejudices and misconceptions about its ability to maintain sovereignty and independence. The tone is largely diplomatic and focused on promoting Malta's interests and stability in the region.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade