Minister Tajani, with specific reference to the conflicts in Gaza and the Lebanon, as well as the Israeli attacks on Iran, what is your message to Iran’s government with which you have had important contacts and which represents the more moderate part of the regime?
“I say that Iran must not react now, because escalation must be prevented. In these hours Israel has carried out a targeted action in retaliation to a targeted attack. This is not a generalised war. Responsibility must prevail now. Everyone must play their part. And Iran must also convince Hezbollah, the Houthi and the Syrian militia to stop attacking Israel.”
On what do your wishes for sensibleness and good sense rest, while the situation seems to be getting ever more inflamed?
“I hope that Iran’s new government will not want to start a war. Everyone has had their reaction and counterreaction; now diplomacy shall prevail.”
But how can we make diplomacy prevail?
“As I said, it is necessary for Iran to restrain its supporters. Israel has now won militarily in Gaza and can reach a ceasefire that can lead to the release of hostages and the safe exit of the last terrorist leaders from Gaza. Let them go abroad and seek asylum in some country that wants to host them.”
Should the Foreign Ministry continue to endeavour to curb the spreading of this war?
“We are convinced that we can play a role in this transition phase, both in Palestine and in the Lebanon. We need to favour the appointment – as soon as possible – of the new President of the Lebanon who, by Constitution, must be a Maronite Christian. In the absence of the Head of State, the government in the Lebanon cannot function fully and will not be able to concretely address the issue of the truce with Israel. Furthermore, the Lebanese regular army needs to be strengthened so that it can effectively control the national territory. These regular forces should occupy one of the two buffer territories between Israel and Hezbollah. The first of these territories, the one closest to the Lebanese-Israeli border, i.e. the one further south, remains under the control of the UNIFIL contingent, which, however, must be strengthened. New rules of engagement are needed. Further north, after the Litani river, the regular Lebanese army is needed to prevent any attack by Hezbollah on Israel.”
These are the two strategic objectives to be achieved but, in the meantime, the civilian populations are tormented.
“We are also endeavouring to safeguard the lives and living conditions of civilians: of Palestinians, Lebanese and Syrians living in the Lebanon. There is the Food for Gaza project initiated by our Foreign Ministry. We have already sent and distributed some 60 tonnes of food. Now, we have given the World Food Programme fifteen trucks that will leave the port of Genoa loaded with medical supplies and foodstuffs. After the first distribution, these trucks will remain in Gaza to continue distributing the remaining aid. Last week, we allocated additional EUR 25 million to help the civilian populations not only in Palestine but also in the Lebanon.”
But at least on the humanitarian level, are there any forms of collaboration between enemies?
“I assure you that they do exist. Everything we do in Gaza is done with the support of Israel and the Palestinian National Authority. We have this kind of cooperation thanks to Italy’s diplomatic ability. I want to remind you of the fact that – at the international Conference for humanitarian aid within the G7 Summit in Pescara – Palestinians, Israelis and Lebanese participated and this was a political success for Italy. In Paris, instead, at the other aid Conference, only Palestinians and Lebanese participated.”
You have been the last European leader to see Netanyahu. Don’t you think that the Israeli Prime Minister should now commit himself to building a new political phase, otherwise he would deserve real international isolation?”
“He wants to put Hamas and Hezbollah out of play and we are concerned about the fate of the civilian populations. Netanyahu must be sensitised in this regard. Obviously without denying Israel the right to self-defence. There has just been an attack in Tel Aviv, after an attempt was made on Netanyahu’s residence. If others continue the attacks, he cannot be expected to give up his defence. Iran has therefore an important responsibility, which is to stop terrorism. In any case, the time has come for a ceasefire and everyone must do their part. Israel included’.
Meanwhile, a vote was held in Georgia. How worried are you about the disputed victory of the pro-Russians?
“There is an attack from the Russian side that is not only military. It is also an attempt to influence the political and electoral situation in Moldova and Georgia. At the same time, the Russians continue to make cyberattacks in many countries.”
Including Italy?
‘Unfortunately, yes. And indeed we have raised all cyber defence barriers. We have to be ever more vigilant in every election in EU countries.’
Hence are the defeated Georgian parties right in denouncing intolerable manipulations?
‘They are completely right. And we all know what Russian systems of interference are.
If we turn to the United States, we find an increasingly tough election campaign. Donald Trump is saying that if Kamala Harris wins we will have World War III. Is this the case, in your opinion?
“As you know, electoral campaign tones are hyperbolic. I can tell you what our government’s position is on the presidential election in the United States. We are friends of that great country regardless of who wins the election. It is our Republican history that has placed us side by side with the USA and we will continue along that path with both Trump and Harris.”
However, there is among you Salvini who is super-Trumpian.
‘Everyone has their own legitimate positions. Mine is that, just as we do not want the interference of others, we should not interfere in the politics of other countries.“
What could be the consequences for Europe and Italy if Trump wins and what if Harris wins?
‘I hope that neither one nor the other will think of abandoning the European geopolitical scenario and the Mediterranean-African one. Because political and economic challenges of fundamental interest to the United States are also at stake here. Therefore, as President of the G7, I continue to say that a very ambitious strategy is needed from the world’s great liberal democracies.”
What would that strategy be?
“The strategy of encouraging democracy ever more because, in the confrontation between democracies and autocracies, there is also the attack on the dollar and the euro to replace them in the big contracts with other currencies”.
In order to stop China’s and Russia’s expansionism, wouldn’t we need a Europe that is less fragile internally and less in the grip of Orban-style sovereignism?
“What is needed is to really focus on our strength. Hence there must be more Europe, more NATO, more G7. And more ability to stop the nationalistic impulses that – just thinking about Europe and the rest of the world – cause damage everywhere.”
Speaking about the EU, what is the mood with regard to Fitto’s hearing?
‘I would say very good. Both because his political qualities are unquestionable and because he has the support of the EPP. I see no problems for him. If the socialists were to attack him, they would do severe damage to the designated vice-President of the Commission, the socialist Ribera.”
