Malta on Wednesday backed the adoption of a convention establishing an international claims commission for Ukraine.

The government said in a statement that Minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi had represented the country at a diplomatic conference at The Hague, the Netherlands. 

The conference was co-hosted by the Council of Europe and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, bringing together a large number of states and international organisations.

Both the Final Act and the convention were signed during the conference.

A total of 42 countries and the EU signed the Final Act, while 34 countries and the EU signed the Convention.

This, the government said, was a step that confirmed the broad commitment of the international community in favour of justice, accountability and reparations for Ukraine.

Zrinzo Azzopardi, meanwhile, told the conference that the adoption of the Convention represented another historic step towards achieving justice and reparations for the victims of Russia’s illegal and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine.

He noted that the claims commission builds on the work of the register of damage and will ensure that the Russian Federation, as the responsible state, is held accountable for the damage caused and provides full reparations in accordance with international law.

The minister also recalled the active role played by Malta throughout the entire process, including under the Maltese presidency of the Council of Europe, when, last October, the Committee of Ministers approved the draft convention.

Malta is a full member of the register of damage and will continue to cooperate closely to ensure that this international mechanism is effective and credible.

Zrinzo Azzopardi said Malta will continue to stand on the right side of history by upholding the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, peace and stability in Europe.

He invited the international community to continue working together to ensure full justice for Ukraine and the victims of aggression.

The diplomatic conference was also attended by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, as well as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The president thanked all states showing concrete solidarity with the Ukrainian people and supporting the international order.