Discorso pronunciato dall’Ambasciatore Maurizio Massari, Rappresentante Permanente dell’Italia presso le Nazioni Unite, al Dibattito plenario informale dell’Assemblea Generale come follow-up del Rapporto ‘Our Common Agenda’ del Segretario Generale – 5th Thematic Cluster on the theme “Enhancing International Cooperation” —
Mr. Vice President,
Italy aligns itself with the statement delivered by the EU which we wish to echo also with regard to the condemnation of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. We continue to stand in full solidarity with Ukraine and Ukrainian people. I also would like to make some additional remarks in my national capacity.
Firstly, on the general theme of today’s cluster, Italy believes that the enhancement of international cooperation requires a revamped multilateral system, with the United Nations at its center.
Now more than ever, we need a strong and efficient UN system, capable of effectively responding and adapting to changing needs. For this reason, we support the proposal to accelerate the transformation towards a United Nations 2.0, by enhancing the capabilities of the Organization in the “quintet of change” mentioned in the OCA report.
This transformational process should also entail investing more resources in continuous and high-level training of the UN management and staff. In this respect, we see the potential for a more intensive and strategic use of the United Nations System Staff College in Turin.
The increased attention to innovative areas and methods should go in parallel with the consolidation of the important reforms that have been launched over the last years: sustaining peace, the repositioning of the UN Development System and the Budget and Management reforms.
At the same time, we see the need for further efforts in improving the works of the General Assembly and maximizing their synergy with those of the ECOSOC. A reform of the Security Council is also more and more necessary, as clearly demonstrated by the inability of the Council to deliberate on the ongoing war in Ukraine. We need a more democratic, more accountable, more representative and more transparent Council, consistent with the reality and the spirit of our times. A reform for all, not a reform for few.
Secondly, multilateralism must continue to benefit from partnership-oriented strategies. Therefore, we look forward to the “Summit for the Future”, to advance an open and effective multi-stakeholder approach within and beyond the United Nations and to promote forward-looking initiatives driven by international financial institutions, the private sector, local authorities, NGOs, scientific and technological communities and academia.
In the same vein, we welcome the proposal to re-establish the Secretary General’s Scientific Advisory Board, which can bring added value to the decision-making process and inform, through verified scientific evidence, the definition of multilateral strategies.
Furthermore, we support the creation of an Advisory Group on Local and Regional Authorities. We are convinced that local authorities play a fundamental role in localizing the SDGs and accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Italy is currently involving its own Local Authorities in the preparatory process of its second Voluntary National Review and will invite them to take an active part in the works of the next High Level Political Forum.
We also share the need to increasingly involve the private sector . In this vein, we support the action of the United Nations Global Compact in advancing UN values and responsible business practices throughout the global business community.
Finally, I would like to express our appreciation to the President of the General Assembly for convening this constructive series of debates. We look forward to an appropriate follow-up with a view to achieve concrete deliverables in the implementation of the Secretary General’s proposals.
I thank you.
