\u201c2012 has been a difficult year; 2013 is filled with unknowns\u201d and the main challenge is to \u201cstrengthen and build on the high rate of renewed credibility that Italy can boast in the world\u201d. President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano spoke before the 9th Conference of Ambassadors at the foreign ministry in Rome. \u201cThis is not a time to linger over flattering self-assessments, the country needs more than ever before to be able to count on the solidity and reliability of its international reach\u201d, the Head of State stressed, according to whom \u201cit is necessary to encourage the rise of a Europe that speaks in a unified voice and expresses a common intention to be a leader in international relations at an historic stage in which the risks include backsliding, division and irrelevance\u201d.<\/P>
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International presidential activities impossible without foreign ministry support<\/STRONG><\/P> Napolitano had eloquent words for Italian diplomacy: \u201cThe intense international activities I have engaged in throughout my mandate\u201d, he said, addressing the over 130 diplomats gathering in Rome today from around the world, \u201cwould never have been possible without the constant, intelligent and operational support of the foreign ministry and the entire diplomatic-consular network\u201d. \u201cThe foreign ministry is an excellent school for service to the State\u201d, Napolitano continued, and \u201cthis is demonstrated by the professional skill and self-denial with which you perform that service, which also carries personal and family-related sacrifices. Your career is both open to the world and representative of our national patrimony\u201d.<\/P> Terzi: diplomacy as a “growth engine”<\/STRONG><\/P> Diplomacy as an \u201cengine\u201d for growth, spurring the country toward recovery and increased exports and foreign investments, is the main theme of the 9th Conference of Ambassadors opening today at the foreign ministry in Rome. It was also the central thrust of Minister Giulio Terzi\u2019s speech, preceded by a welcome address from Secretary General Michele Valensise who, after recalling that the conference was taking place at a \u201cparticular\u201d moment for the country with \u201cpressing political and institutional deadlines\u201d, underscored that it was also a moment for reflection on foreign policy choices with a view to \u201cinstitutional continuity and stability\u201d. Valensise also emphasised the need for a \u201cmounting commitment to rewriting the rules in an increasingly complex world\u201d, recalling the \u201crichness of our extraordinary and capillary diplomatic network\u201d. <\/P> \u201cWe view growth today as an absolute priority for Italy and for Europe\u201d; a priority that \u201cmust be ours as we join other leaders in promoting it\u201d, according to Minister Terzi, who observed that the theme \u201cto which we have chosen to dedicate this conference, fully concerns Italy\u2019s diplomatic aims\u201d. Today \u201cwe are looking at growth, aware that discipline and efficiency in public spending and structural reforms are respectively its pre-requisite and fuel\u201d, the nation\u2019s top diplomat explained, pointing out, at the same time, how the theme of growth could not be reduced to a mere economic factor. Growth also means \u201cacting on behalf of stability, resolving conflicts and rebuilding countries crippled by war, in support of human rights and democracy\u201d, the minister concluded.<\/P> Italy<\/STRONG> increasingly a leader in global decision-making dynamics<\/STRONG><\/P> The influence of a country on the International scenario \u201cis not only defined by its economic prospects, but more in general, by the solidity and reliability that it inspires in its partners\u201d, Terzi then added, explaining that \u201cthere is still much to be done, but Italy is playing an increasing role in global decision-making dynamics, in security and, more in general, in the international agenda\u201d. Prime Minister Mario Monti is scheduled to participate in the conference closing tomorrow, Friday <\/P> 21 December. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius is also expected to speak.<\/P> ***<\/P> 9th Conference of Ambassadors (20-21 December)<\/STRONG><\/P> Focus on diplomacy\u2019s role in the country\u2019s growth. <\/STRONG><\/P> \u201cPutting public finances back in order and regenerating growth will contribute to strengthening Italy\u2019s position in Europe and, more in general, our foreign policy\u201d. This orientation, taken from a speech by Prime Minister Mario Monti to the Parliament, has underpinned Minister Terzi\u2019s and the Foreign Ministry\u2019s agenda over the past six months and will, in a spirit of continuity and coherence and a focus on strengthening Italy\u2019s international credibility, be the inspiration for the next Conference of Ambassadors of Italy.<\/P> Diplomacy at the service of growth<\/STRONG><\/P> The main theme of the 9th Conference of Ambassadors, working on the basis of an acquis consisting of the updated priorities and strategies that emerged from the preceding one, will be the role of diplomacy in growth, this latter being understood in a context not only economic and with special attention to the European context, our primary point of reference. <\/P> The nation\u2019s image and credibility, thanks not least to its status and influence in the European Union, are the fundamental prerequisites for the diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving our objectives. In turn, those efforts must stimulate a systemic organisation that avoids fragmentation and overlaps. <\/P> The country\u2019s growth, which the Ambassadors represent in all its aspects, means far more that GDP. It means economic and social progress, wider-spread and better-balanced prosperity, future prospects for young people, research, innovation, culture and more solid public ethics. All dimensions requiring the best European and international standards in global collaboration\/competition, and essential also as factors in the formulation of national policies and interests.<\/P> An all-inclusive strategy<\/STRONG><\/P> Diplomacy has an impact on growth conditions and their sustainability over time. It underpins the stability of the geopolitical areas that affect our security, exports and supplies, the defence of businesses and citizens abroad and the internationalisation of the various components of the country system, which includes attracting investments and tourism. For the first time on 22 October, in collaboration with Minister for Economic Development Passera, an all-inclusive plan was launched for foreign promotion activities, prepared on the basis of the goals identified by the Embassies for each country. <\/P> Strong point: Italy\u2019s international vocation<\/STRONG><\/P> Italy has a very decisive strong point \u2013 its intense international vocation, free of hegemonic ambition. It therefore has a primary and genuine interest in cooperative international relations based on legality, on strengthening democracy, human rights and freedoms, on the spread of sustainable development and balanced global governance that responds more effectively to global challenges.<\/P> ***<\/P> The Conference will address two contexts. <\/P> In the sessions with members of the government, discussions will revolve around global themes and the horizontal profile of diplomacy. An introductory document prepared by the Directorates General and diplomatic advisors will help to guide the ministers\u2019 debate on matters of greater importance for Italian bilateral, EU and multilateral diplomatic efforts. <\/P> Regional work group sessions will focus on the principal opportunities and problems in pursuing our interests, also in the EU, in their respective areas. In this case also, brief introductory documents will be distributed in advance in order to orient discussions.<\/P> The Conference agenda also includes a session for discussion between the mission heads and the minister himself, and a round table discussion with business community leaders. These will also be moments useful to improving the overall framework of the foreign ministry and its network\u2019s renewed centrality, investments in which will support the nation\u2019s growth.<\/P><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201c2012 has been a difficult year; 2013 is filled with unknowns\u201d and the main challenge is to \u201cstrengthen and build on the high rate of renewed credibility that Italy can boast in the world\u201d. President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano spoke before the 9th Conference of Ambassadors at the foreign ministry in Rome. \u201cThis is […]","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[44,7,6,76],"class_list":["post-18175","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-approfondimenti","tag-energia-ambiente","tag-italiani-nel-mondo","tag-mediterraneo-e-medio-oriente","tag-ministri-precedenti"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18175","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18175"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18175\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18175"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18175"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18175"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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