Discorso pronunciato dall’Ambasciatore Sebastiano Cardi, Rappresentante Permanente dell’Italia presso le Nazioni Unite, al Meeting in Consiglio di Sicurezza sulla situazione in Gambia —
Thank you Mr. President. Gambians elected Adama Barrow as their new President in democratic and peaceful elections.
Italy voted with conviction in favor of today’s resolution, in the belief that this Council must make its voice heard in these crucial hours for the future of the Country and the stability of the region. We fully support the preventive diplomacy efforts which the International Community has been engaging in.
I thank you Mr. President for having enabled us to rapidly convene this meeting and I would also like to thank our Senegalese colleagues and all the other delegations for having worked on the text that we have just adopted. Once again this demonstrates the importance, stressed by the SG himself, of rapid and effective action and of the primacy of political solutions to crises.
We commend the mediation of ECOWAS, led by the Presidents of Nigeria, Liberia and former president of Ghana, as well as the strong support shown by the AU Peace and Security Council and the role played by the Special Representative of the Secretary General, Chambas. It is a testament to African ownership and leadership.
The turnabout of Former President Jammeh on the outcome of the presidential election which saw him defeated is deplorable. But the crisis has shown, once again, the resilience of the region. Today, West Africa and its sub-regional organizations are firmly walking along the path of democracy and the Rule of Law. This crisis is showing the world that there can be no longer any space for those who ignore the legitimate will of the people in West Africa.
At such a sensitive time, we reiterate the calls made by ECOWAS, UNOWAS, the AU PSC and the Security Council with the resolution we have just adopted so that the Gambian army respects the will of the people, support the peaceful and democratic transition of power to the new President, Mr. Adama Barrow, and place itself at the disposal of the democratic authorities of the country.
Today, Mr. Adama Barrow is the legitimate President of the Gambia. We congratulate him on the ceremony of swearing in which just took place.
Thank you, Mr. President.
