50 years of Italy at the United Nations
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Silvio Berlusconi, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Statement in 57th GA session, 4th plenary meeting
September 13, 2002
Mr. President,
Ladies and Gentlemen
One year
has gone by since the terrorist attack on the United States, which
inflicted such deep wounds on the city that welcomes us today. By
striking this city, this nation, this democracy, the terrorists
intended to strike at the heart the whole community of nations and
peoples that embraces the United Nations and the values for which it
stands.
But they failed in their purpose. Instead their
barbarous acts roused in all of us a common will to respond. Rather
than divide us, they united us. And united we intend to respond to
every new threat to world security.
The fight against terrorism is the crucial challenge we
must face today in order to defend human rights and the values of
freedom, peace, justice and development which we all share.
The United Nations is in the forefront of this
struggle. We know that it will be a long and hard battle, therefore we
must maintain the cohesion and determination that
we have shown so far.
But we are firmly convinced that this battle can be
won.
Yesterday President Bush recalled the responsibilities
that we all share in this fight to defend freedom which is the
greatest good, from which all others flow. Terrorism finds a breeding
ground wherever there is no freedom, wherever there is no democracy,
but where there is hunger, misery and despair.
In order to defeat terrorism we must
globalize freedom and democracy. In order to eradicate terrorism we
must promote an economic development without borders: a lasting
development for all.
In this struggle my country has played its role from
the start and will continue to do so to the end, enhancing the
military, financial, judicial, police and intelligence cooperation
that has already achieved important results.
But we are also working to eradicate poverty and
disease.
We are committed to pledge 0.39 percent of our GDP to
less developed countries. And we intend to reach the level of 0.70
percent.
The African continent is crucial to our effort, a
challenge to our conscience and a test of our ability to help its
countries to participate in a true development without borders.
The G-8’s action plan for Africa, launched in Genoa
under Italy’s presidency and approved in Canada, responds to the need
for a new form of solidarity between the most industrialized countries
and those which intend to become the owners of their future.
But an increase in financial aid is no longer
enough.
At the Kananaskis Summit we presented an action plan
aimed at achieving common standards of “good governance”, starting
with our “e-government” initiative, a completely computerized and
digitalized universal model of public accounting, public
administration and its primary functions.
The adoption of this universal model, which respects
the identities, the traditions and the cultures of each country, can
produce several positive effects: clear and transparent public
accounts, clear laws and regulations befitting the rule-of-law; more
efficient services for citizens and businesses, greater efficiency in
public administration; and above all, greater democracy.
This will spark a virtuous mechanism, and donor
countries will finally have the certainty that their assistance is
truly delivered to needy populations.
In this respect at the G-8 three phases were outlined:
In the first trial stage, the necessary assistance will
be provided to the countries that wish to adopt this system.
At the end of this phase, which might last three or
four years, we can move on to a second phase in which the adoption of
the universal system becomes a requirement for all countries that
apply for development assistance.
Finally, there could be a third phase in which we could
ask the most industrialized countries to forge a special partnership
with specific countries, taking it upon themselves to implement
specific projects.
We are likewise convinced that public
assistance should be supplemented by private assistance.
At Kananaskis, we submitted an innovative proposal
called “de-tax” whereby private citizens will be able to allocate
between 1 and 2 percent of the price of their luxury purchases to the
implementation of specific projects, such as schools, hospitals or
water supply facilities in poor countries.
At Genoa we also launched the “Education for All” Plan
and the “Global Fund against Hiv-Aids, Malaria and Tuberculosis”, to
which Italy has pledged a substantial contribution.
But the poorer countries also need to be
relieved of the burden of their debt so as to free the resources they
need for their growth. This is why Italy has already cancelled one
billion dollars of debt, and will soon cancel another four billion
dollars, until the complete write-off of all its credits.
Our commitment to the United Nations is clear
on all fronts. Italy is the sixth contributor to the Organization’s
regular budget and one of the largest troops’ contributor. Around ten
thousand Italian soldiers are deployed throughout the world from the
Balkans to Afghanistan to preserve and maintain peace and security. We
will continue along this road, in our firm belief there is no problem
we cannot solve if we are united in our determination.
As we speak today, the main challenge to the
United Nations and our system of values is posed by the regime that
governs Iraq and that has systematically ignored all the resolutions
of the United Nations. A response is both necessary and indispensable
to safeguard the international community from the danger posed by a
massive build up of unconventional weapons of mass destruction.
As President Bush so clearly stated what we must
address today is precisely this repeated defiance of the United
Nations and of the will of the international community.
We must make use of all diplomatic and political means
available to redress this situation but if things do not change
substantially it will be necessary to act within the framework of the
United Nations to safeguard global security from a real threat.
The lesson we must draw from September 11 is that haste
can lead to carelessness, but delay in taking the necessary action can
have terrible consequences.
When terrorist attacks or threats to peace are carried
out by networks or regimes that aim at destroying our way of life and
our liberal democracies, then democracies not only have the right but
also the duty to defend themselves.
And let me now turn our attention to the
Middle East. Italy supports the Road Map drawn up by the European
Union as well as the action of the “Quartet” and the rapid convening
of an International Conference to assure peaceful coexistence between
two independent States within safe and secure borders.
First of all the spiral of violence must come to an end
through a cessation of terrorist attacks. The holding of free and
fair elections will advance the process of democratic reform of the
Palestinian National Authority. But a lasting peace cannot be
envisaged unless we narrow the economic gap between the Israelis and
the Palestinians, giving the Palestinians a realistic hope for jobs
and development.
With this goal in mind, Italy has presented a Plan to
rebuild and support the Palestinian economy.
Italy has already offered to host the negotiations and
the peace conference.
Mr President,
We are men and women of peace.
We are convinced that this new century cannot be left
at the mercy of criminal folly and fanaticism.
We are committed to the fight against terrorism and we
will do everything in our power to eradicate this evil and to defend
our security and our future.
We will lend our efforts to the building of a true
and just peace,
the only kind of peace for the just and the free. |