UNGA77: Guterres hails Draghi as a “real champion of multilateralism”

NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 20 – The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hailed Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi as a “real champion of multilateralism” during a bilateral meeting at the UN in New York late on Wednesday after the outgoing head of government took part in the General Assembly.

“We are extremely grateful for your leadership at the international level, for the capacity you have shown together with Italy to take forward and achieve breakthroughs with highly important dossiers,” Guterres told Draghi, sources said. “You have made an exceptional contribution. You are a real champion of multilateralism”.

During his last day at the United Nations Prime Minister Draghi attended the UNGA General Debate, with addresses by US President Biden and, via video link, President Zelensky of Ukraine.

On Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Draghi had delivered his speech at the General Assembly. Earlier in the day, he had met with the President of the United Nations General Assembly, Csaba Kőrösi, and also had meetings with the President of the Presidential Council of the State of Libya, Mohammed Yunis Ahmed Al-Menfi, the President of the Swiss Confederation, Ignazio Cassis, and the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal.

PM Draghi also addressed the opening session of ‘Youth4Climate: Powering Action’ yesterday, an event co-organised by Italy’s Ministry of Ecological Transition and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). (@OnuItalia)