YouSaid · the spoken record

Mario Draghi

lines on the record: 38
first: 2021-09-24
most recent: 2022-09-24
sittings or episodes: 2
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“In the coming years, Italy will continue to be a protagonist in the EU and stand close to its NATO allies, ready to listen, open to dialogue and determined to contribute to international peace and security. Those are the same principles and goals that inspire the United Nations and that we must defend urgently today.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“On that journey, the United Nations remains our main point of reference. I also want to thank United Nations institutions for the valuable humanitarian aid they provide for the management of migration in the Mediterranean. Italy is well aware that migration is a global phenomenon and must be addressed as such. We must take a responsible, humane and shared approach. The war in Ukraine and the resulting crises have strained the cohesion of the international community, but it is precisely in that context that we need to rediscover the spirit of cooperation that has, in the past, enabled us to face similar challenges together. Our common institutions must renew themselves. Italy strongly supports the need to reform the Security Council to make it more representative, efficient and transparent.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“I refer here, for example, to the tragic flooding in Pakistan, where a large part of the country is under water and millions of people have been forced to leave their homes. The environmental crisis affects us all and we must all come out of it together. Italy’s commitment to peace and international solidarity is unceasing. We are the largest contributor of Blue Helmets among European countries, and our military is deployed across five missions in the Mediterranean, Africa and Asia. We participate in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon with the second-largest contingent. We are very active in promoting dialogue with all countries in the wider Mediterranean. In Libya, we are committed to ensuring that the difficult process of national reconciliation receives strong support from the international community.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“For the first time, all G-20 member States pledged to try to keep global warming to within 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and accepted the scientific facts behind that goal. We also agreed on a set of short- and medium-term responses to achieve that goal. The commitments that we made at the twenty-sixth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Glasgow followed shortly thereafter. At the G-20 Summit, we set out new financial contributions to help low-income countries transition to a more sustainable economy. We must continue to support the most vulnerable States in order to help them defend themselves against the impacts of climate change and to pursue their own transition paths.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“In that regard, I recall Rome’s readiness to host World Expo 2030 in order to continue to offer shared solutions to global problems. At the most acute stage of the pandemic, we took action to overcome protectionism in medical supplies and ensure more vaccines for the world’s poorest regions. Through the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility mechanism, we distributed more than 1.4 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the countries that needed them the most. We enhanced financial assistance to vulnerable States to help them respond to the economic consequences of the pandemic and we promoted the extension of the Debt Service Suspension Initiative. Through a newfound spirit of cooperation, we intensified the fight against climate change.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“A world divided into blocs and characterized by rigid ideological demarcations and military confrontations cannot generate development or solve problems. We must maintain our individual identities while conducting international relations responsibly, legally and peacefully. That principle must apply to all the crises we face, from Ukraine to the recent clashes in the Caucasus; from the instability in Africa, the Middle East and Latin America to the tensions in the Indo-Pacific. Despite the divisions of recent months, we have a solid foundation on which to build. Italy’s presidency of the Group of 20 (G-20) last year coincided with a moment of great cooperation among countries. It is a legacy that we must not dissipate.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“We must respond to the war of aggression by reaffirming the principles underpinning the General Assembly, namely, respect for human rights, international cooperation and non-belligerence. In his address to the General Assembly in 1988, Mikhail Gorbachev noted how, in a globalized world, the use or threat of force could no longer and must no longer be an instrument of foreign policy (see A/43/ PV.72). Efforts to solve global problems, Gorbachev said, require a new scope and quality of interaction of States. Our reaction to the war in Ukraine serves to reaffirm the fact that gratuitous violence should have no place in the twenty-first century. Italy hopes that there can be a future in which Russia returns to the principles to which it chose to subscribe in 1945.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Allowing a team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency access to the plants was a step forward. Now, it is essential that we arrive at some form of demilitarization of the area. We cannot risk a nuclear catastrophe. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has produced consequences that go far beyond Europe’s borders. Rising energy prices have hit the poorest the hardest, exacerbating poverty and inequality. Rising food prices and the scarce availability of grain and other cereals have had the hardest impact on the poorest countries. Reduced gas supplies have forced some countries to reopen coal-fired power plants or postpone their closure, albeit for a period strictly related to the emergency. We must respond to such an attack on our peaceful coexistence with multilateralism, in a spirit of solidarity and responsibility.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“So far, Russia has not shown that it wants an end to the conflict. The referendums for independence in the Donbas constitute a further violation of international law that we firmly condemn. Nonetheless, Italy wishes to be at the forefront of efforts to try and reach an agreement as soon as that becomes possible. We have managed to do so in the past, when we highlighted how the blockade of Black Sea ports posed a threat to global food security. The agreement on Ukrainian grain exports marked an important moment of cooperation between the parties, for which I want to thank the United Nations, Secretary- General Guterres and Tiirkiye. It is our hope that we will be able to find other ways of cooperating, starting with the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“We now need to do more, especially at the European level. As Italy has long argued, the European Union must impose a price cap on gas imports, which will also help us further reduce our payments to Russia. The EU must support its member States while they support Kyiv and use the strength of its institutions to shield its neighbours from Russian claims. In many countries, the war of aggression in Ukraine has awakened or strengthened the desire for a united Europe. The Italian Government has long championed Ukraine’s bid for EU membership and strongly supports the integration of the Western Balkans, Moldova and Georgia into the European Union. We can emerge from crises only by looking to the future with courage and ambition. Our goal is peace, and that peace must be deemed acceptable to Ukraine if it is to be lasting and sustainable.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“We want to develop green technologies together in order to place Africa squarely at the centre of the green transition. The war in Ukraine has redrawn energy geography and, with it, geopolitics. The European Union is set to look increasingly to the South and Italy can be a bridge to the southern shore of the Mediterranean and to the entire African continent. Social cohesion is essential to maintaining a united, resolute position consistent with our values. The rising cost of energy is undermining economic recovery, limiting the purchasing power of households and damaging the productive capacity of businesses, and it could sap our country’s commitment to Ukraine. In Italy, we have spent approximately 3.5 per cent of our gross domestic product to help businesses and citizens cope with rising inflation.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“The impact of those measures is likely to grow over time, partly because some will take effect only in the coming months. With a weaker economy, it will be more difficult for Russia to respond effectively to the defeats that are piling up on the battlefield. The unity of the European Union and its allies has been instrumental in providing Ukraine with the support it needs and in imposing harsh costs on Russia. Moscow immediately tried to divide our countries by using gas as a means of blackmail. Italy reacted promptly, diversifying its gas suppliers and accelerating the production of renewable energy. To date, we have halved our dependence on Russian gas and expect to become completely independent in 2024. On that path, we benefited from agreements made with many African countries, from Algeria to Angola to the Republic of the Congo.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“In the past few weeks, a heroic counteroffensive has allowed Ukraine to recover thousands of square kilometres of territory, starting with Kharkiv, and forced the Russian army to retreat. The outcome of the conflict remains unpredictable, but Kyiv appears to have gained an important strategic advantage. The sanctions we imposed on Moscow have had a disruptive effect on Russia’s war machine and on its economy. Russia is struggling to make the armaments it needs on its own, as it is finding it difficult to buy the materials required to produce them. The International Monetary Fund expects the Russian economy to contract both this year and the next by approximately 10 per cent in total, compared to the 5 per cent growth estimated before the war.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Together, we have responded to President Zelenskyy’s request for aid because a military invasion planned months in advance and carried out on multiple fronts cannot be stopped with words alone. We have imposed unprecedented sanctions on Russia to weaken its military apparatus and to convince President Putin to take a seat at the negotiating table. We have welcomed thousands of refugees and assisted those who remain in Ukraine. We also stand ready to fund the country’s reconstruction. The horrors of war are best answered with the warmth of solidarity. Moscow’s plan was to conquer Kyiv in a few weeks. Ukrainian soldiers thwarted that attempt and forced Russia into a longer and more difficult conflict, thanks also, in part, to our military assistance.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“We have seen terrible attacks and violence against civilians, even children. We have witnessed an attempt to subjugate a free and sovereign democracy, which has fought back with pride and courage to defend its independence and its dignity. Helping Ukraine to protect itself was not only the right choice to make; it was the only choice consistent with the ideals of justice and fraternity that underpin the Charter of the United Nations and the resolutions adopted by the Assembly since the beginning of the conflict. Italy acted without delay alongside the other States members of the European Union (EU), its NATO and Group of Seven allies and all partners that, like us, believe in a rules-based international system and multilateralism.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Accountability for the conflict is clear and one-sided. It is our collective responsibility to find answers to those problems with urgency, determination and effectiveness. We cannot let ourselves be divided into North and South. We must act together and rediscover the value of multilateralism that is celebrated here in this Hall. The invasion of Ukraine violates the values and rules on which international security and civil coexistence among countries have rested for decades. We thought that we would no longer have to witness wars of aggression in Europe. Imperial ambitions, militarism and systematic violations of civil and human rights seemed to belong to the past century. Since February, however, we have witnessed the bombing of theatres, schools and hospitals.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“It is a great honour for me to be here today. The General Assembly is the place where the world opens up to dialogue and discussion, which are essential elements for peaceful coexistence among countries. As stated in the second preambular paragraph of the 1945 Charter of the United Nations, the objective of the United Nations is “to maintain international peace and security [and] promote the economic and social progress of all peoples”. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the ensuing food, energy and economic crises are putting our collective ideals at risk in a way that has rarely happened since the end of the Cold War. Those crises stand alongside the other great challenges of our time — climate change, the coronavirus disease pandemic and inequality — and amplify their costs, especially for the most vulnerable.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Italy wants to continue to contribute with ideas and resources, for the benefit of the entire international community.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“The principles that inspired the United Nations Charter, and that we recalled in our Solemn Political Declaration, adopted on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Organisation, are still a point of reference today. Within the UN, the Security Council must be able to continue to fulfil its role in safeguarding international peace and security. We support the need for a consensual reform of the Security Council, to strengthen regional representation and ensure a fairer geographical distribution of seats through an increase in the number of elected members. Our goal is to make the Council more representative, democratic, efficient, transparent and accountable. The answer to the challenges we face — the pandemic, climate change and international crises — lies in effective multilateralism, based on inclusive and open dialogue.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“These principles inspire the cooperation between the European Union and its African partners, of which Italy has been an early promoter and that we intend to strengthen. I would like to express the Italian Government’s sincere appreciation for the important work carried out by United Nations organisations in Libya and, more generally, in many areas of crisis. In particular, I am referring to the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Italy is committed to continuing to work to promote the universal values of peace and development, and the protection and promotion of human rights. These are not only at the core of the UN’s action, but they are also the basis of the Italian Constitution, the European Union and the transatlantic bond.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Despite this critical juncture, we must ensure that elections scheduled for the 24th of December can take place and the ceasefire is fully implemented. Another aspect of the Libyan crisis is migration. Its correct management requires a joint response from the international community. We must fight effectively against human trafficking, ensure regular international mobility and protect people’s lives. It is essential to have multilateral action, based on the principle of a fair sharing of duties and responsibilities. The European Union and its Member States must strengthen the dialogue on migration issues with the countries of origin and transit of migrants, in order to achieve joint responsibility in the management of flows.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“We are convinced that the European Union needs to strengthen its role in this field, in line with the ambitions of the European project and in full complementarity with the Transatlantic Alliance. The focus on Afghanistan and Central Asia should not distract us from the instability that continues to affect the wider Mediterranean. In particular, we support, multilaterally, bilaterally and within the European Union, the transition process in Libya for a sustainable and inclusive solution to the crisis. Its aim is to renew the country’s national institutional framework in a unified manner, without external interference and under the aegis of the UN — as mapped out by the Libyans themselves. The international community must work together with the Libyan institutions and the Libyan people to overcome the current stalemate.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“In particular, we must ask ourselves what are their objectives and what is the best way to pursue them. However, international interventions remain an essential tool in supporting peace and security. Italy reaffirms with conviction its commitment within the United Nations. We are the largest contributor to the Blue Helmets among Western countries and the seventh largest contributor to the budget of UN peacekeeping operations. Italian soldiers are deployed in five UN missions in Mali, Western Sahara, Cyprus, at the border between India and Pakistan, and above all in Lebanon, where we are in charge of the UNIFIL mission and deploy one of the largest contingents.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“The extraordinary G20 Summit must give its utmost support to these objectives. There has to be full, safe, unhindered and unconditional access for international organisations and humanitarian aid workers. Italy is at the forefront in the response to the humanitarian crisis, for the benefit of the most fragile groups in Afghanistan and of those Afghans who have left — or will leave — the country. We are also ready to intervene in support of neighbouring countries affected by refugee outflows. We have decided to use resources previously earmarked for training Afghan security and defence forces for humanitarian purposes. The crisis in Afghanistan, and in particular its rapid deterioration following the withdrawal of “Resolute Support”, demands a reflection on the future of international missions.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“We have promoted a meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, in preparation for the extraordinary summit, which will focus on issues of humanitarian aid, security and human rights. The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is certainly the most pressing and shared concern, not least because of the approaching winter season. According to the World Food Programme, one in three people in the country is exposed to food insecurity. Italy has confidence in the ability of the United Nations to coordinate the international humanitarian response, mobilise resources and ensure a rapid and coherent intervention. I would like to thank the Secretary-General for organising the “pledging conference” in Geneva on the 13th September, where countries pledged some $1,2 billion in humanitarian aid for Afghanistan.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“The composition of the new Afghan government does not meet the expectations of the international community for a government that is inclusive and representative of the country’s diverse ethnic, social and religious components. The new rulers must prove with their actions, and not only in words, that they are committed to respecting individual freedoms. We must also address the impact of the Afghan crisis on regional stability and security. To address such a complex matter, we need a strategy that is as widely shared as possible. Italy has taken action immediately to encourage the strongest possible coordination among the main global and regional players. As G20 Presidency, we have made available the G20 platform, which is broad and inclusive by nature.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“In Afghanistan, we are witnessing the dismantling of the progresses made over the last 20 years in the protection of fundamental freedoms, especially for women. All those who have signed the United Nations Charter and who adhere to the founding values of this Organization must commit to the resolution of this crisis. The international community must stand united in demanding that all Afghan citizens can live in dignity, peace and security; that the protection of vulnerable groups is ensured; that women preserve their fundamental rights, first of all the right to education. Italy has always been committed to promoting the respect of human rights in the world, in particular in the last three years with an active presence in the Human Rights Council.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“In the past year, important issues affecting peace and security have resurfaced. The main one is Afghanistan, where we face the risk of a social and civil catastrophe. We must prevent the country from becoming once again a threat for international security. I refer in particular to the presence of groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and Daesh on Afghan territory. The international community must cooperate effectively, starting with sharing intelligence. Italy has long been involved at the international level in the fight against terrorism. We must combine our security objectives with prevention, protection of human rights and respect for the rule of law. And we must tackle both the economic and the social causes that lead to radicalisation and violent extremism.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“According to a recent report by the International Renewable Energy Agency, the renewables sector could employ more than 40 million people by 2050. In Italy and in the European Union at large we have embarked on a path of reforms and investment — “Next Generation EU” — to make the most of these opportunities. We hope that the “Roundtable on Climate” promoted last Monday by Secretary-General Guterres and Prime Minister Johnson will give further impetus to the negotiations that will take us to the G20 Summit in Rome and to the COP26 in Glasgow. Next week, 400 young people from all over the world will meet in Milan to present their proposals for the fight against climate change. In recent years, young people have often been agents of change and have pushed us to do more. They will inherit the planet and it is our duty to listen to them.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“The fight against climate change requires multilateral engagement and pragmatic cooperation among all major global players — both rich and emerging economies. We must act in an effective, coordinated and simultaneous manner, whilst always respecting national specificities. We intend to reach a global agreement to stop the use of coal as soon as possible, and, consistently with this objective, block the financing of new projects of this kind. We want to eliminate subsidies for fossil fuels and promote the use of renewable sources. The environmental transition has significant costs and it is essential that governments stand ready to help citizens and businesses. But it can also be an engine of economic growth.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“As Presidency of the G20 and COP26 co-chair together with the United Kingdom, Italy intends to reach ambitious goals on the three pillars of the Paris agreement: mitigation, adaptation and finance. Over the next decade, we must reduce as much as possible CO2 emissions produced by fossil fuels and other greenhouse gases, including methane. And we must work to adapt our infrastructure to climate shocks, that have become increasingly frequent and violent. Italy strongly supports the leading role of the European Union in the ecological transition, and in particular its commitment to a 55 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030 and to net zero emissions by 2050. However, the EU currently accounts for only 8 per cent of global emissions, while G20 countries are responsible for 75 per cent.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“The other emergency that we have placed at the core of our G20 Presidency agenda is climate change. The latest UN IPCC report shows that, without immediate, rapid and large- scale reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, we will fail to limit global warming to below 1,5 degrees above preindustrial levels. The number of climate-related natural disasters has increased fivefold since the 1960s. Extreme weather events are expected to intensify over the next few decades. Estimates from the World Health Organization show that climate change already causes 150,000 deaths per year, which could become 250,000 between 2030 and 2050. We must act now to protect the planet, our economy and future generations.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“The Italian Presidency intends to facilitate comprehensive and sustainable debt restructuring in countries with excessive debt levels. Italy has also taken specific action on food security. Together with the FAO, we have created the “Food Coalition” to combat malnutrition caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and we have hosted in Rome the Pre-Summit on Food Systems. Nevertheless, we must be ready for even more ambitious action to support poorer countries, particularly in Africa. Italy intends to continue to ensure its support for the African continent, which is increasingly central for security and economic growth globally. We must increase investment, to enable Africa’s youth to participate fully in its social, economic and political development.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Extreme weather conditions and supply chain disruptions have contributed to the increase in food prices. In August the food price index rose by 32 per cent compared to a year earlier. According to the FAO, last year more than 2,3 billion people did not have access to adequate food on a regular basis. Under the Italian Presidency, the G20 has adopted a package of economic measures to help the world’s most fragile countries overcome the effects of the pandemic and assist them in their development. We supported the decision by the International Monetary Fund to issue new Special Drawing Rights for a total of $650 billion. Of these resources, $33 billion are destined to African countries, and we are working to further increase this share. We have accelerated the refinancing of ‘IDA-20’, the World Bank’s fund for the poorest countries.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“The pandemic has had a negative social and economic effect on everyone, but the consequences for lower-income countries have been particularly severe. Even before the health crisis, these countries had significant economic vulnerabilities, starting with their debt levels. Many of their citizens lived below or just above the poverty line. Advanced economies have been able to use monetary and fiscal policies more robustly to contain the economic shock. They spent 28 per cent of their 2020 gross domestic product to stimulate growth — compared with just 7 per cent and 2 per cent in emerging and low-income economies. Economic divergence risks erasing years of progress in the fight against poverty, making it even more difficult to achieve sustainable development goals. Concerns about food systems have become even more urgent.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“These disparities are morally unacceptable: fewer vaccinations mean more deaths. And as long as the virus continues to circulate freely, it can mutate in dangerous ways and put even the most effective vaccination campaigns at risk. We need to increase the availability of vaccines for poor countries and overcome logistical hurdles to distribute them where they are most needed. Furthermore, we must preserve at the global level the free circulation of vaccines and of the raw materials needed to produce them. Italy gives its full political and financial support to the COVAX Facility. We intend to triple our donations from 15 to 45 million doses by the end of2021. The huge differences in vaccination campaigns risk worsening inequalities between countries.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“We need to relaunch multilateralism, and make it effective to meet the challenges of our times. More than a year and a half after the beginning of the global health crisis, we can finally look at the future with greater optimism. The vaccination campaign gives us confidence in our ability to return to a new normal. In Italy and in Europe we have reopened most economic activities. Students have returned to schools and universities. After months of loneliness, our social life has finally resumed. However, the pandemic is not over and even when it will be, we will have to deal with its consequences for a long time. Globally, we face dramatic differences in the distribution of vaccines. In high-income countries, more than 65 per cent of the population has received at least one dose. In the poorest ones, only 2 per cent.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Mr. President of the General Assembly, Mr. Secretary-General, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and gentlemen, In recent years we have witnessed a progressive weakening of multilateralism, which has guaranteed peace, security and prosperity since the post-war period. However, we are now facing problems that we cannot solve on our own. I am referring to the pandemic, and to the risk of new and dangerous variants of the virus. Climate change and the protection of biodiversity. The economic recovery and the fight against inequalities and food insecurity. Conflict resolution and the fight against terrorism. These issues are at the heart of today’s General Assembly and of our Government’s agenda. They are also at the core of the Italian Presidency of the G20, whose motto is “People, Planet and Prosperity”.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)