«On Ukraine we need to stand firm on principles but open and willing to dialogue with Moscow», is the statement made by Ambassador Ettore Sequi, Secretary General at the Farnesina.
Mr Ambassador, with respect to Ukraine: are we facing a more or less dramatized test of strength or a real threat?
«We certainly cannot simply call it a showdown. There is obviously great concern. Situations of this type are always delicate because there is a risk of escalation, of accidents. From our point of view, we think that there is room for diplomacy. Our common stand remains to be firm on the principle of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and its right to determine its own destiny also in terms of alliances but, at the same time, we want to keep the door open to dialogue with Russia. Dialogue and a firm stand on principles: this is what Minister Di Maio told his Russian counterpart Lavrov last Thursday. »
In an interview with our newspaper, Ambassador Sergio Romano said that in order to overcome the crisis we need to obtain Ukraine’s neutrality while offering Kiev accession to the EU. Can this be a credible approach?
«I read the interview. Sergio Romano is always very interesting. This proposal is not new as Kissinger too suggested it at the end of 2014. But we need to be clear on one point: certain solutions cannot be developed on a drawing board, and they cannot be imposed. Every sovereign Country is entitled to choose its own destiny. Sweden is not part of NATO because it so chose. Kiev should be able to do the same. And NATO must be able to decide its own enlargement, without external impositions. Being able to chose one’s own foreign policy is a feat of the last 30 years, and it must be defended. »
You were ambassador in Kabul for 6 years and know the Country well. In Afghanistan, the situation ended with a crushing defeat for the Western world. Was it all useless?
«I don’t think we can call it a crushing defeat, even if the way in which the withdrawal was carried out struck public opinion. The intervention must be assessed in its entirety, and I think that the period of providing assistance to Afghanistan witnessed an effort that was surely not lost. In the sectors of health, education, and infrastructure, the parameters have improved enormously. What has blossomed within the society will remain, as we saw with the demonstrations by Afghan women to defend their rights. These are results that the Taleban will find difficult to dispel. The issue now is to safeguard the results obtained, especially inclusion and women’s condition. And we must also address the issue of humanitarian aid. Afghanistan is facing a dramatic humanitarian emergency. Last year, it required 1 billion dollars. This year, it is estimated that it will need three times as much. And this is what we must focus on. »
