New York, 13 August 2018. The new Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Mariangela Zappia, presented her letter of credentials today to Secretary-General António Guterres. During her meeting with Guterres, Ambassador Zappia underlined the priority that Italy gives to effective multilateralism, and to the role of the United Nations in international peace and security and as a pillar of a rules-based international system centered on the respect of human rights.
“With this conviction, Italy makes a 360-degree contribution to the action of the United Nations and will continue to do so, with a focus on our priority issues: peace and security, human rights, sustainable development, and migration,” Ambassador Zappia stated, recalling that Italy is the eighth contributor to the UN budget, the top troop contributor among Western Countries to UN peacekeeping missions, and the host Country for many UN Agencies and offices, including the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Rome, the UN Global Service Centre in Brindisi and the United Nations System Staff College in Turin.
“At the current complex moment in international relations, diplomacy plays an even more crucial role.” This is how Ambassador Zappia underlined the importance of the “surge in diplomacy” promoted by Guterres. The Permanent Representative reiterated Italy’s strong support for the reform of the United Nations and, in this framework, the emphasis of the Secretary-General on conflict prevention, peaceful settlement of conflicts, and sustaining peace.
“The link between security, human rights and development is key in assuring peace and stability and addressing the challenges and threats affecting the main areas of instability today – from the Mediterranean, to the Middle East and the Sahel. Italy is committed to an approach the integrates these elements and in which the international community acts in unity, under the leadership of the United Nations, according to the principles of solidarity and shared responsibility.”
Ambassador Zappia also highlighted the goals of inclusion and full recognition of the role of women in peace and development processes and expressed support for the action of Secretary-General in favor of gender equality in every field of action and every sector of the UN system.
