Italy
H.E. Mr. Franco Frattini, Minister for Foreign Affairs
26 September 2008
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Statement Summary
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FRANCO FRATTINI, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Italy, said that a dramatic new vision of global governance for the twenty-first century required rules that all nations could embrace. A new vision based on three principles -- inclusiveness, effectiveness and shared responsibility -- was needed. Effective global governance meant a central role for the United Nations, starting with the most representative democratic body, the General Assembly.
In addition, it meant a strong connection between the United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations, either universal or regional, such as the European Union and African Union. It also meant a comprehensive and consensual reform of the United Nations system, including the Security Council. To achieve a reform of such magnitude, based on the foundations of strong political support, there was no alternative to general consensus, he declared.
Continuing, he stressed the need to immediately learn the lessons of the turmoil in the world financial markets. Promoting transparent and reliable rules was the only way to protect societies from falling prey to such events. It was also important to avoid squandering wealth and to ensure instead that wealth was distributed equitably.
That was the vision that Italy would promote during its presidency of the Group of Eight (G-8). Through a broader dialogue with emerging economies and least developed countries, the G-8 would contribute to the shaping of a new system of global governance, in which initiatives would be tailored to specific issues leading to a gradual assumption of shared responsibility.
Turning to Millennium Development Goals, he said those targets demanded an urgent response, the provision of greater human and financial resources, new ideas and a true partnership between donor and receiving countries that was fully inclusive of Governments, local organizations, the private sector and civil society. He went on to stress Italy’s commitment to the implementation of those Goals, and said the issue would be on the agenda of the Italian G-8 presidency. Africa would also be considered a priority.
Noting that climate change and energy security were closely linked, he said that, during its G-8 presidency, Italy would promote the ongoing energy dialogue, as well as global negotiations on climate change. Effective multilateral cooperation on the basis of shared responsibility was also needed to tackle such threats as terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. In the next few years, the international community should work together on a new global pact against terrorism to be enacted in 2011, on the tenth anniversary of tragic events of 11 September 2001.
[Source: GA/10756]
