NEW YORK
Does Netanyahu’s red line really signal war in 2013?
«Attacking Iran would be highly risky for Italy and the rest of Europe, and the consequences could include the destabilisation of the entire region. We in Italy”, says Minister for Foreign Affairs Giulio Terzi at the UN, “are convinced that the path we have been following for several years now achieved a leap in quality with the application of the oil sanctions and the new more severe measures that Brussels is currently discussing. We must persevere; the regime must be pressured to come back to the negotiating table, not to talk about procedures but about its nuclear programme».
A proposal has been made to offer military defence to the areas liberated by the Syrian rebels What is Italy going to do?
«We have discussed this with the principal members of the Syrian opposition both inside the country and out. It is an attractive notion that, nevertheless, is not without complexity. Setting up protected areas would require the significant deployment of military means and, above all, a Security Council mandate. And here we fall into the trap of the Security Council’s irrelevance in recent months caused by the vetoes of some permanent members that have brought the UN back to the climate of the 1990s. There are those who do not understand that war doesn’t get anyone anywhere, and accepting the status quo of a conflict that only spreads and gets worse opens the door to Jihadism».
The Mediterranean is in flames, the Arab Spring is showing its violent side. Italy is exposed. Do Libya and Egypt remain reliable for our business enterprises and markets?
«President Morsi confirmed this in his speech to the UN. The Egypt of tomorrow wants to be an integrated and moderate country in a system of other moderate nations, even if it remains home to some fundamentalists forces. Morsi is intensifying ties with Europe in the areas of the economy, free enterprise and research. Cairo considers Italy its top partner in Europe. We have the same excellent and broad-based relations with the new Libya, recognised in the Tripoli Declaration that refers back to the Italy-Libya Treaty. The document contains approaches to border controls, immigration, infrastructure agreements, loans to businesses on which negotiations have already begun that we intend to pursue with the new government. We also plan to contribute to creating new administrative facilities in Libya that are currently lacking».
Paths crossed frequently with the Indian authorities in the UN corridors. What hopes were they able to provide on the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the two Italian marines?
«We have already met 100 times on this case. We are confident in the Indian Court’s ruling. I want to think positively and will wait for the outcome. If we were not able to bring them home, the UN could become an important forum in which to confront the issue. But the decision lies with the government since it would be a question of a dispute between States».
Italy has taken up the question of Security Council reform again. But are we not an under-represented country at the level of United Nations staff, while the UN could be an excellent choice for young people wanting to work in an international organisation?
«We are among the main suppliers to peacekeeping missions, and one of the most active in training. We are convinced that the Security Council needs to be adapted to the times and enlarged. Our battle began a long time ago and was relaunched by Ambassador Paolo Fulci, with whom I am honoured to have worked. Today it is necessary to make the Security Council more representative of the world and give more space to the countries of other continents, such as Africa. If it is not possible to cancel veto rights for the 5 permanent members, the United for Consensus group, which we support, will ask that the new rotating States be democratically elected and not co-opted. Monti and I met with the Italian contingent at the UN – not big in number but highly qualified. We are counting on being able to fill more high level posts, and are working on that, but we will also ask that more room be made for our most brilliant young people».