ITALY’S NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE UNITED NATIONS IN NEW YORK
The celebration of Italy’s National Day was held today for the first time at the United Nations Headquarters in the presence of 350 guests including UN leaders, such as Deputy-Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and UN General Assembly President Dennis Francis, and Ambassadors from the 193 UN member countries. Also present were Italian officials and Junior Professional Officers at the UN, UN-accredited journalists and civil society representatives, as well as Valentina Vezzali and Paralympic athlete Antonio Fantin representing the athletic team of Italy’ Financial Police – the Golden Flames.
“Seventy-eight years ago, after World War II, Italy decided to turn the page from the past and become a parliamentary democracy. We successfully developed our democratic institutions and our national economy. We integrated into Euro-Atlantic institutions, were one of the founding countries of the European Union (then EEC), and became one of the seven most developed Western economies in the world and a member of the G7. All of these major achievements were accomplished in less than 30 years. We have reasons to be a proud nation,” this was the opening of the speech by Italy’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Amb. Maurizio Massari. “Italy has also shown that it is a genuinely multilateralist country, without secret agendas. We believe in the United Nations, and we are honored to celebrate the 70th anniversary of our membership next year,” the Ambassador continued, stressing how our country is among the Organization’s largest contributors and is active in all its areas of activity, from sustainable development to food security, from rule of law to human rights, from women’s empowerment to participation in peacekeeping operations (as the top troop contributor among Western countries).
“But Italy’s multilateral spirit is not only about financial contributions and/or deployment of soldiers. Many of you have heard the powerful message of our President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, before the UN General Assembly on May 7th: We believe that multilateralism is above all an attitude, a method of conducting diplomacy and international relations. This method is based on dialogue and cooperation on an equal footing with all peace-loving countries, regardless of our cultural, historical, political and economic differences. Italy is the far south of Europe and as such we see our role as a bridge between the Global North and the Global South. Our goal is to further strengthen this bridge and transform it more and more into a European bridge. We need more Europe in New York, but also more United Nations in Europe to strengthen cooperation and multilateralism.”
Referring to the reform of the UN Security Council, Massari then pointed out, “The UN is our common home. The only one we have. A house that certainly needs to be restructured and made more democratic, where many underrepresented regions and continents, starting with Africa, aspire and should have more space. Italy supports these aspirations.”
In his speech, President Dennis Francis pointed out that “I was Ambassador of my country (Trinidad and Tobago) to Italy and I have a beautiful memory of it.” “Italy is an example of a country genuinely committed to international collaboration, and is a solid and loyal ally of the UN and a crucial partner now more than ever.”
President Francis then quoted Carlo Levi’s “the future has an ancient heart”, as an expression that well describes Italy with its ancient roots but projected into the future.
The event featured a photo exhibition “Dancer Inside” by Simone Ghera, on the role of dance and architecture as universal languages that can unite all peoples, and a ballet performance by dancers from the American Ballet Theatre. The national anthem was sung by Simona Daniele accompanied by violinist Daisy Jopling. The evening was made possible thanks to the collaboration of several sponsors including Urbani, De Cecco, Ferrero, Illy, Rovagnati, Eataly, Stellina, Keste’, Settepani, and Osteria Brooklyn.
