Minister Mogherini, there are several hotspots brewing just outside the gates of Europe. One is Ukraine, where they are holding elections today, as they are in Egypt. You have said that even in this case it is necessary to invest in the common good and work on the creation of win-win situations. Is it enough to want dialogue to reach solutions?
«There is no solution that doesn’t come through dialogue. There is no military solution to the Ukraine crisis, and the Ukrainians, Europeans and Russians are all aware of that. So the only path is political».
Meaning?
«There has to be dialogue in Ukraine and between Ukraine and its neighbours, including Russia. In this context there could be a need for forms of pressure, such as sanctions, but always with the goal of leading the parties to the negotiating table. The true point is to concentrate on the presidential elections in order to then create a minimal climate of mutual trust that will allow for the launch of serious constitutional reforms that involve everyone. It will not be easy, but compared with two months ago it seems that progress has been made».
Another very hot spot is Libya. What can be done to give hope back to the Libyans?
«The Libyan people need to be told that the entire international community is ready to sustain their democratic transition, but that the process of dialogue remains in their hands and that it is up to them to guide it, peacefully, politically…».
The dialogue of recent days has been carried out by tanks. It appears difficult to set up a peaceful encounter…
«It is difficult because Libya does not have a tradition of democratic institutions. But on the one hand there is the model of Tunisia; on the other, chronic instability. The international community has every interest in stability and is ready to lend its technical and political assistance. But, as in the case of Ukraine, there is no military option for Libya».
If Libya is an unborn State, after all, this is also the responsibility of Europe, which was very active in eliminating Gaddafi and then left Libya to itself…
«The mistake was made of not seeing the complexity of the Libyan situation. Distracted by other scenarios, the international community believed that after the fall of Gaddafi things would fall into place. What was missing was solid support for the internal political process, which is what we are having to do now».
Closely associated with this is the question of immigration from Libya. Everyone is saying that Europe cannot shift the problem onto our shoulders. Will we call for structural modifications or settle for these symbolic gestures?
«We are going to have to act on three levels, none of which is symbolic. We have to look at the long-term, root causes underlying the migrations, work towards conflict prevention and crisis management and draft a stronger development cooperation policy. Over the medium term we have to work toward the stabilisation of transit countries. And then we have to look at the ordinary management of migration flows».
How?
«We have to change European policies of asylum and integrate “Mare Nostrum” with Frontex, which has to invest much more. Europe has to share the problem and of this we will be speaking at the June European Council».
You have decided to change the pace on the case of the Marines. Are you optimistic or pessimistic after the elections in Delhi?
«I do not apply the categories of optimism/pessimism, but rather those of rationality and hard work. We accepted the Parliament’s invitation to internationalise the case. We have restated that we do not recognise Indian jurisdiction and that the Marines were on a counter-piracy mission and, therefore, covered by functional immunity. We have set up a panel of nine Italian and foreign legal experts, who have already begun to work, and we are following the path agreed on with the Parliament and with the families of the men themselves: that of recourse to international legal instruments».
