Growth, territorial development and sustainable policies, cooperation between SMEs: the three macro-headings of the sessions of the 6th Italy-Latin America and Caribbean Conference, opened today at the foreign ministry in Rome by Minister Emma Bonino. The conference runs through Friday and its participants include a large number of Central and South American ministers and representatives of the Italian government.
Minister Bonino speaks
We set ourselves the task of jointly building this conference with the country members of the IILA, of all of Latin America and the Caribbean. We identified this objective and, I underscore this with pride, we set a pace that, thanks not least to the work method adopted, will act as a driver toward the 2015 conference, which coincides with the Milan EXPO. And will share its focus on some of the crucial challenges to the future of humanity, from food security to sustainable development, and from access to food to improved living standards, in light of preparations for the new Post-Millennium Development Goals.
We have been moving “together toward the future”, as the conference slogan says, for 10 years now. Relations between our peoples, though, go back hundreds of years, to before the birth of the modern nations to which we now belong.
A consolidated bond
What Italy and Latin America have is a consolidated bond that has been formed over generations. Italy’s presence on the Latin American subcontinent (the Italian community is nearly 20 million persons strong, 2 million of whom possess Italian passports) has fed a precious flow of ideas, contacts and culture over time, which has further enriched a privileged relationship founded on ties of friendship and shared values. And this, for us, is a legacy of inestimable value and an extremely strategic resource.
Latin America’s ties with the European Union
For this reason also, Italy has always believed that Latin America had to become a vast area of well being and prosperity with solid ties to the European Union and, in particular, to those countries, like our own, that view the development of that region with natural affinity and interest.
Extraordinary economic reawakening
These conferences are special moments of rediscovery and renewed purpose. And I would like to underscore that this is a commitment pursued tenaciously by the Italian government, with the support of the parliament, by the many and qualified Italo-Latin American societies, businesses and communities. Latin America and the Caribbean have witnessed an extraordinary economic, cultural and political reawakening over the last two decades. They have become laboratories for public policies courageously designed to respond to the social challenges that globalisation poses, obtaining substantial results in the reduction of poverty. That there is still much to be done is obvious; that much has been done is equally clear to everyone.
New challenges and responsibilities
With it this growth brings new challenges and responsibilities, to which Latin America is courageously seeking to respond, as witnessed by the membership of two of the region’s countries in the G-20 (Brazil and Mexico). Proof also lies in your own attempts at regional aggregation, from MERCOSUR to the more recent UNASUR, as well as the CARIFORUM, ALBA, and the Pacific Alliance (I believe there are now 14 members!). Forms of “integration”, based at times on geography, at times on social or political ones but, in any case, aimed at the quest for a multilateral coordination that can best respond to the challenges of the accelerated interdependence demanded by globalisation.
Integration process
This is the same process that Italy chose in its decision to participate in community integration. It is the same path that was reflected in Italy’s approach to redirecting the many emerging and evolving international crises toward the multilateral context of the United Nations. Strengthening European integration, support for forms of regional aggregation, equal and pragmatic cooperation on common challenges are constants in Italian foreign policy.
Shared responses to global challenges
Today, more than ever, faced with challenges that are “global” by their very nature, there is a need for shared analysis and coordinated response. Previously unknown geometries have to be set in motion, and new ideas that take into consideration the contributions that can emerge from the civil society, the work force and cultural spheres. And I believe that it is precisely the involvement of a broad spectrum of our societies’ components, and their important contributions, that is the secret to the longevity of the Italy-Latin America Conference: periodic high-level forums enlarged to the participation of businesses and civil society components.
Quality economic growth
One of the priority themes on the agenda of the next two days is that of “quality economic growth”, meaning growth capable of considering the impact on the lives of individuals on the basis of criteria of inclusiveness and sustainable development, and capable of offering dignified opportunities to young people. Decisive to meeting this challenge will be greater integration within Latin American and the Caribbean and of that region and the European Union. In the words of poet and intellectual Octavio Paz, “relations between Europe and Latin America must not so much preserve a tradition as build a common future”. We must let go of sector protectionism, even though this process will necessarily have to be a gradual one.
Immigration
The theme of migration is going to be confronted with equal determination. Italian immigration has contributed, at times decisively, to building your societies, creating an immediate communion and familiarity between our peoples. Latin-Americans are today retracing the same path as Italians once did toward your countries. At the same time the movement of Italians toward yours continues, in many cases no longer as a life choice, but one spurred by a professional mobility poised to seize the extraordinary opportunities offered by your continent. Allow me to take this opportunity to assure Italy’s maximum willingness to consider all initiatives and proposals aimed at facilitating the entry and residence of our Latin American friends in Italy.
Fighting organised crime
Another sector that demands stronger coordination is the fight against organised crime. The opportunities offered by globalisation, widespread trade deregulation and the freer circulation of persons were seized by organised crime even before awareness of the need for operational coordination between the authorities of individual States emerged. I would like to point out here the success of SICA, which involves Italy and various Central American countries in coordinated counter-organised crime efforts. As with organised crime, there are many other potential areas in which to develop and strengthen cooperation, and these conference sessions will be useful in better defining a common approach.
IILA a “common home”
The spirit and willingness to cooperate are not lacking. Italy offers the tool of this conference and support for IILA, to which a sum of €500,000 was recently donated, additionally donated. Your delegates to IILA have jointly drafted this conference’s concluding statement, demonstrating how this institute is a “common home for us all”. The delegates then unanimously decided to open it to the assessment of the Caribbean countries who, in turn, added their ideas and expectations of strengthened collaboration with us and with IILA. In this way we have expanded the radius of consensus to the CELAC format.
It is my hope that a common path will emerge from the conference on which to proceed, not least with regard to the United Nations and regional associations. We all believe in a more representative world. We have two days of intense work before us and we do not wish to waste the positive energy that recent months have brought. I hope that 2014 will be an opportunity to prepare for the 7th Conference in Milan, which will coincide with the EXPO and the year of Italo-Latin American culture. This is no accidental coincidence, and one that promises intense exchanges, beginning with my visits to your countries starting in the early months of the coming year.
Latin America and Caribbean a “priority”
Latin America and the Caribbean are a priority for this government, witnessed by the many political visits to your countries just over the past six months, and additionally by my eminent minister colleagues’ presence at today’s thematic sessions”.
