After the Arab revolts “we feel the need to strengthen relations between the northern and southern shores of the Mediterranean, through authentic, lasting and equal relationships”. These were the words of Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi, opening a conference at the Foreign Ministry in Rome on the role of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in the Mediterranean. The conference was promoted by the Institute for Relations between Italy and the Countries of Africa, Latin America, and the Middle and Far East (IPALMO) and the Institute of Foreign Affairs (IAI).
The OSCE, explained Terzi, “can help implement this long-term approach” through its expertise in developing human capital, supporting the electoral cycle, ensuring that the armed forces and police are under democratic control and capacity building in the judicial sector. It can also help protect religious minorities and ensure that civil society is involved in political decision-making. People-trafficking is another area in which the OSCE can intervene, and which will be discussed at a conference in Rome in autumn 2012, announced Terzi.
The goal is to “build a common euro-Mediterranean home, but for this project we need to involve our partner countries more. The OSCE must deepen and strengthen its relations with regional organisations such as the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council”, continued Terzi. He added that “the possibility of setting up a centre with the OSCE, linked to our think tanks, to disseminate the values of the organisation is being evaluated. Another aim would be to foster the positive energies of civil society, the academic world and young people and channel them towards new initiatives”.
“Italy does not intend to shirk this challenge”, added the Minister. He noted that the new governments in North Africa “have asked for the strategic partnership with Italy to be formalised and placed on a new footing, as happened with Libya and Tunisia”. As for Egypt, “Italy has excellent relations with the new political forces and with civil society. Our country will respect Egypt’s democratic choices, expressed through a high turnout at the first round of presidential elections”.
