“The promotion of an effective multilateralism centred on the role of the United Nations represents one of the fundamental priorities of Italian foreign policy.” The Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. Marina Sereni, stated as much at the conference promoted by the University of Bari and SIOI for the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations. The Vice Minister added: “We are aware of the difficulties that the multilateral method encounters today, but we remain convinced that it represents the privileged tool to address the current, complex global challenges effectively”.
“This year – she continued – Italy holds the Presidency of the G20. It is a key opportunity to give our proactive contribution for a global response to the main challenges we are facing. For this reason, we support the reform of international institutions, including the one promoted by Secretary-General Guterres, to make the UN more efficient, transparent, democratic, and representative. Since the beginning, Italy has supported the ‘Action for Peacekeeping ‘ initiative, launched in 2018, to revive peacekeeping’s image and effectiveness. We are the seventh financial contributor. Our country – reminded the Vice Minister – has taken part in 29 UN peacekeeping missions and is now the first supplier of Blue Helmets among Western countries, with about 1,100 units deployed in 5 different missions. Within the framework of these missions, Italy needs to ensure the protection of civilians including children, the promotion of women’s role, the protection of cultural heritage and the reduction of the environmental impact”.
“The collaboration with the EU – she explained – within the framework of the Strategic Partnership for crisis management and prevention, the partnership with NATO, as well as trilateral cooperation between the UN, the European Union and the African Union, that we hope to strengthen, are fundamental. The pandemic has also demonstrated the crucial role of efficient global logistics and supply chains in crisis response. The Global Service Centre, hosted by Italy in Brindisi for over 25 years is a UN structure of excellence. It depends on all the logistics of UN Peacekeeping Operations and Special Political Missions. “Among the Italian humanitarian expeditions departed from the Base – said the Vice Minister in conclusion – it is worth mentioning the one for the Lebanese people following the tragic explosions in the port of Beirut last summer and those to deal with the emergency floods in Somalia or the health crisis in South Sudan”.
