Dear Excellences, Distinguished colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of the Carabinieri Commanding General, Lt. Gen. Teo Luzi, I would like to thank you for inviting the Italian Carabinieri to attend such a meaningful event that brings together police representatives, experts and leaders from over 190 Member States, all mutually engaged to providing security to our communities in a world heavily affected by geopolitical tensions, climate crisis and more broadly new security challenges.
Carabinieri are Italy’s Police Force with Military Status and with 210 years of service to the Italian citizens. By virtue of their mission and vocation, they are rooted on the territory and committed to social safety. Their action transcends borders and takes them to areas where they are engaged in capacity building projects.
Among the many challenges we need to address, I would like to mention the one, which I believe, is a priority of our International agenda: climate change. It is a trans-national threat that requires a cohesive approach and a coordinated solution. To this end, we stand ready to share the expertise of the Carabinieri Environmental and Agricultural Command, a highly qualified Unit specifically dedicated to the protection of the Environment and the safeguard of the territory.
The growing importance of the topic encouraged us to undertake active networking efforts, together with partner Institutions and International Organizations, to deliver capacity building training and strategic counseling. In this framework, I would like to mention the cooperation with the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization launched in 2017 and the establishment of the International Center of Excellence for the Environment Protection in 2021.
The Center, located in Sabaudia, near Rome, aims to serve as, as an educational and training hub, just like the Center of Excellence for Stability Police Units (CoESPU) in Vicenza. Conceived as a higher-education institute, the center indeed offers operational training programs in support of interested countries, with a specific focus on Africa, and operates in partnership with the relevant UN agencies.
Allow me to conclude my brief remarks by quoting our Secretary General Antonio Guterres: “Our world faces many grave challenges: We have the tools and wealth to overcome these challenges. All we need is the will”.
Providing security and prosperity to our communities is the core mission of our Institutions, an effort and a commitment we owe to our next generations.
I thank you very much for your attention
