“The decision by the Secretary General of the United Nations to submit Filippo Grandi’s nomination to the General Assembly as High Commissioner for Refugees is a source of great satisfaction for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and for Italy. I wish to thank the Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, for this choice. It is a recognition of the ability that Grandi has shown in managing humanitarian questions, most notably in his most recent position as Commissioner General of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA, and of Italy’s efforts and commitment over the years on behalf of refugees”.
With these words, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Paolo Gentiloni, welcomed Grandi’s nomination for the position of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). It is now up to the UN General Assembly to confirm the appointment.
“We have firmly supported Filippo Grandi’s bid because it is fully in line with the priority status that Italy has attributed to respecting human dignity and to the need to rapidly and effectively address the numerous humanitarian challenges facing the United Nations. We have been in the front line in tackling these challenges, working to save human lives through the rescue operations in the Mediterranean. I wish Grandi every success in his new job, and can assure him of our full support for the UNHCR”, concluded Minister Gentiloni.
