Spiegazione di voto pronunciata dall’Ambasciatore Sebastiano Cardi, Rappresentante Permanente dell’Italia presso le Nazioni Unite, in occasione della Risoluzioni su G5 Sahel —
Mr. President,
We welcome the unanimous adoption of Resolution 2391
At the outset, I wish to thank the French delegation for its tireless efforts in achieving this result.
Mr. President
During this year, Italy has stressed several times that the Sahel is a region facing serious challenges to its development and security, such as terrorism, illegal trafficking of human beings, other forms of trafficking and transnational organized crime.
A complex situation which the Council was able to clearly observe during its recent visit in October and was highlighted in the open debate of October 30.
During our Presidency of this Council, last November, we evoked the strong connection between the challenges in the Sahel and the instability in the Mediterranean region and we are glad to have contributed to the debate on the Sahel region.
A debate which this resolution is enriching today with another important step.
Mr. President
Four are the issues which we have always identified as priorities to ensure, through the G5 Force, peace and stability in the Sahel:
– First, the need of coordination and cooperation between the Force and the initiatives already underway in the region, as in the case of MINUSMA and the missions of the European Union.
– Second, a clear political strategy, such as the UN Integrated Strategy for the Sahel, to address the multifaceted problems of the region,
-Third, the necessity that all operations conducted by the G5 Force or in its support, must take place within a coherent and effective framework of respect for human rights.
– Finally, the United Nations support for the G5, as an African peace operation, at the political and financial levels.
Four elements that we recognize in this text and that this Council has the moral obligation to keep developing without hesitation in the coming months.
Mr. President
With this resolution we recognize once again the efforts of the G5 countries and we encourage the international community to support their commitment.
Italy will continue to do so both bilaterally and internationally as part of our work here at the United Nations, in coordination with the African Union and within the European Union.
In this last respect, we recognize the role that the resolution assigns to the European Union, and we are ready to do our part in order that the discussions we will have in Brussels on the ways to implement this role will take fully into account the aspirations of the G5 countries.
