At the Foreign Press Association today Minister Frattini illustrated the results of Italian foreign policy in 2009 and its upcoming goals, with a glance also at the main current international concerns.

Italian excellence and the results of Italian foreign policy in 2009

Illustrating the results of Italian foreign policy in 2009, Minister Frattini dedicated special attention to the theme of “Italian excellence”, presenting “Winning Italy”, an almanac that illustrates the best of Italy in all sectors.

EU: after reforms, it is time to act

Now that the chapter on institutional reforms has been closed, the time has come for Europe to act, and to talk about future policies. In order to discuss this, the minister plans to propose a conclave of foreign ministers. It is important for Europe to become a global player and to take into its own hands some long-lived challenges such as the Balkans, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, Africa and non-proliferation.

Climate: a politically binding accord needed at Copenhagen

A “solid, politically binding accord” needs to come out of the Copenhagen climate conference planned for mid-December. The minister recalled that a climate accord had been reached at the L’Aquila G8 summit that could provide a good foundation for the discussions to be held in the Danish capital.

Afghanistan: Italy will do its part but the victory must be political

In Afghanistan “Italy will do its part, responding positively to NATO’s requests”, but it is still early to talk about numbers, the minister underscored, pointing out that a reflection in under way with the allies on the reinforcements to be deployed on the ground. “I will speak about this with Mrs. Clinton” at the next meeting of the NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, he added, specifying nevertheless that the victory in Afghanistan “can only be political and that the “surge” is only a tool by which to achieve this result”.

Middle East: no to the unilateral proclamation of a Palestinian State

No to the unilateral proclamation of the Palestinian State and of East Jerusalem as its capital because that would “preclude negotiations”. The birth of a Palestinian State, the minister explained, “has to be the result of negotiations, which now need new impetus”.

Guantanamo: Italy willing to examine new lists

Italy’s has offered to take three detainees from Guantanamo but also to “examine new lists”. And on this latter point is “assessing” the situation, the minister reported, underscoring that Italy had “done what it could do”. As for the delay in closing the prison, “it was not for lack of political will the result of technical problems”. Nevertheless, “more support is needed from many allies”, beginning with the European countries that “have not yet decided to take detainees”, he asserted, specifying that Italy was “one of America’s few allies to immediately say yes to the request to take in three of those detainees”.

Nuclear issue: concern for Iran’s less than positive response

The signals coming from Iran on the nuclear issue “are neither reassuring nor positive”, the minister explained, expressing his “concern” for Teheran’s announcement of the construction of new nuclear sites. The international community, he explained, will continue to extend its hand to Iran “for a while longer”, but “the moment will come when conclusions will have to be drawn”: “We have to close 2009 knowing where we want to go with Iran”, he said. As for eventual “pressure measures” the minister stressed the need for the broad consensus “of all the players involved”.

Islam: counter-productive the prohibition of minarets

“I consider it counter-productive to prohibit minarets”, the minister asserted, stressing that he spoke as a “defender of
Christian rights and freedom of worship” in Europe. The result of the Swiss referendum was a “message that the Islamic world, right or wrong, has perceived as suspicion and prohibition of a symbol of that religion. “I am a Christian and I want Christians to be able to profess their religion. Impeding another could be dangerous”, he added, underscoring that “prohibiting minarets is not useful to inter-religious dialogue”.

Belarus: Berlusconi blazed a trail for other European leaders

Berlusconi’s visit to Minsk “was a visit by the head of a European government that blazed the trail for the others”, and that “follows a European Union decision to include Belarus in the strategic Eastern Partnership”. This has led “Lukashenko’s recent visit to Rome, returned by Berlusconi in Minsk”. The minister also said he was “proud” of Italy’s programme for hosting sick Belarus children following the Chernobyl accident: to date 35,000 Italian families have hosted, hundreds of thousands of Belarus children.