Our Common Agenda: Italy, “now more that ever strong UN system is needed”

NEW YORK, MARCH 10 – “Now more than ever we need a strong and efficient United Nations system, capable of delivering peace and prosperity to all and of adapting to changing needs”, the Italian Permanent Representative Maurizio Massari said today to the General Assembly during a meeting convened to discuss Secretary General Antonio Guterres platform, Our Common Agenda.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine compels Member States of the United Nations to unite in “cooperation and solidarity” to support all those impacted “and to overcome this violation of international law” said Guterres on addressing the General Assembly in New York. Today was the fifth and final Assembly-led consultation, and Mr. Guterres thanked all Member States for their “constructive and active engagement” together with all other stakeholders who have contributed to the themed discussions.

The meeting aimed on enhancing international cooperation – part of the landmark blueprint for multilateralism and collective action going forward, launched last year. Peace is the most important global public good and the United Nations was created to deliver it”, Guterres said, noting that the meeting was taking place in the shadow of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “War brings death, human suffering and unimaginable destruction, at a time when we cannot afford to add to the major global challenges we face. This conflict also calls on us to come together in cooperation and solidarity to support everyone affected, and to overcome this violation of international law”, he added.

Mr. Guterres said if we are to bequeath “a world free from want and fear, and full of opportunities to fulfil their potential, we must urgently focus on building and strengthening the foundations of the multilateral system”. He added that his Common Agenda report is “a wake-up call about the risks we face and the dangerous fiction that the status quo is a viable option. But you don’t need to read my report to wake up. You just need to look around: The climate crisis has passed the point of no return – even though we had plenty of warning and could have acted earlier. Much of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic could have been prevented or mitigated. Instead, millions of people have died, hunger and poverty are rising, and the economic impact of the pandemic is still playing out”. (@OnuItalia)