On the sidelines of the High-Level Week of the 79th United Nations General Assembly, the Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Antonio Tajani, chaired an informal meeting of the G7 Foreign Ministers to take stock of the main international dossiers.
“Today’s meeting offered us a new opportunity to further define the political unity of the 7 liberal democracies and industrial economies in addressing today’s major challenges and crises,” Tajani said.
During the meeting the Ministers discussed, in particular, the situation in the Middle East, support for Ukraine and the most topical regional issues. Today’s meeting in New York is the fourth in the presence of the G7 Foreign Ministers since the beginning of the Italian presidency, after the ministerial meeting in Capri and the informal meetings in Munich and Washington.
“I wanted to reiterate the Italian Government’s concern about the worsening spiral of violence in the Middle East. We work tirelessly, together with our partners, to find a diplomatic way out that will reduce tensions in the region. We strongly reiterate our request for a ceasefire, for the release of all hostages and for humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip” declared Tajani, adding that “the critical situation on the border between Israel and Lebanon is also of great concern: we urge all parties to de-escalation”.
“We are also carefully following the situation in the Red Sea, where in recent days the protection offered by Aspides, with the Italian tactical command, to the towing operations of the Sounion ship made it possible to avoid an environmental disaster. Italy has placed freedom of navigation and the protection of maritime trade to the center of G7 priorities,” according to Tajani.
Furthermore, the G7 Foreign Ministers reiterated their full and constant support for Kyiv. “We work to achieve a just peace under the full ownership of the Ukrainian people and, for this purpose, we continue to dialogue with all global partners” declared the Vice President of the Council, who also highlighted how Italy follows “with the utmost attention the needs of the Ukrainian people in view of the winter, the situation of the energy infrastructure and the prospects for the country’s recovery. In this sense, I confirm that in 2025 Italy will host the Conference for the Reconstruction of Ukraine”.
Finally, regarding the main regional issues, Minister Tajani raised the topic of the political and humanitarian situation in Venezuela. “We call for respect for human rights, the release of political prisoners and we underline the importance of a democratic process of dialogue in the interest of the Venezuelan people.” He then highlighted the importance of strengthening the partnership with Africa: “The implementation of the Mattei Plan through concrete projects is tangible proof of Italy’s renewed commitment to the continent. The security, stability and prosperity of Africa are at the center of the agenda of the Italian presidency of the G7”.
The Foreign Ministers also discussed the latest developments in the Indo-Pacific region. “We look at this region with great interest, both to pursue strategic stabilization and to pragmatically protect growing commercial interests and global supply chains” added Vice President Tajani.
