ELEVENTH EMERGENCY SPECIAL SESSION
OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED NATIONS
STATEMENT BY ITALY
DELIVERED BY
HIS EXCELLENCY ANTONIO TAJANI
VICE PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION New York, 22 February 2023
(Check against delivery)
Mr. President, Secretary General, Excellencies,
A year ago, the world witnessed the illegal aggression by Russia against Ukraine.
Italy’s position has always been very clear: the ongoing aggression is a blatant violation of the United Nations’ Charter against international security and stability. No Country can be safe if the violation of our common principles and rules remains unaccounted for.
On this anniversary, Ukraine still stands and we stand in full solidarity with the Country and its people. The daily attacks to their lives and to critical infrastructures, with devastating humanitarian costs, are unacceptable. They must stop.
The whole world is facing the consequences of this brutal conflict, in terms of food security, energy, nuclear security and safety and protection of the environment.
Technical agreements on specific issues, such as the establishment of a nuclear safe area around Zaporizhzhia and the renewal of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, are a necessary and urgent response to these threats, and important steps towards building mutual trust and laying the foundations of a wider dialogue.
Peace is the ultimate strategic goal we all aim at. There can be no peace without justice, and justice also means the full respect of Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders and its territorial waters.
A comprehensive, just and lasting peace, in line with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, is needed, as the resolution brought to the attention of this eleventh Emergency Special Session clearly states.
Now, more than ever, we need diplomacy, also to take into account the legitimate concerns and the expectations of the countries in the Global South which are bearing the consequences of this conflict. Italy is ready to do its part in this direction.
Now is the time to redouble our collective support for diplomatic efforts to achieve this goal.
Today, in this World Parliament where all the States are represented as equal, we have the opportunity, and the moral duty, to demonstrate that we can work together to achieve this goal, adopting a resolution for peace with a wide majority.
Today we are called upon to defend the rules-based international order. The United Nations, and in this moment the General Assembly, are at the forefront for peace and security and human rights.
For these reasons, Italy is a proud co-sponsor of this draft Resolution, and I call on all Member States to support a just peace by voting YES.