Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni raised several global issues during her speech at the UN General Assembly.
Meloni has called on Israel to respect international law and protect civilians and expressed the desire for new Palestinian leadership. She also renewed Italy’s support for Ukraine, and urged the international community to “raise its voice” on Venezuela.
“We affirm Israel’s right to defend itself against external attacks, like the horrible one of last October 7, but at the same time we ask Israel to respect international law, safeguarding the civilian population that is also in large part a victim of Hamas and its destructive choices,” Meloni said during her address to the 79th session of the UN General Assembly.
Meloni also voiced support for the Palestinian people and their right to a state, while pointing out that, in order for this to happen soon, “it is necessary for Palestinians to entrust it to a leadership inspired by dialogue, the stabilisation of the Middle East, and autonomy”. She referenced the 2020 Abraham Accords as an example of “advantageous cohabitation and cooperation based on mutual recognition”.
Calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages, she stated, “We cannot watch tragedies like the ones of the past few days in the South and East of Lebanon, with the involvement of powerless civilians including numerous children.”
Ukraine and Venezuela
Before addressing these issues, Meloni also spoke about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, warning that “we cannot look the other way in front of Ukraine’s right to defend its borders, its sovereignty, its freedom.” She remarked this “wound” has damaged “the international system” and is “having destabilising effects well beyond the borders” of a war that is triggering other conflicts.
The premier also highlighted the situation in Venezuela. “The international community can’t sit and watch while in Venezuela, nearly two months since the election, the electoral result has not been recognised yet. But in the meantime, a brutal repression has taken place,” with the deaths of “dozens of demonstrators, the arbitrary arrest of thousands of political opponents, the indictment and exile of the presidential candidate of the democratic opposition.”
Human trafficking
Meloni also emphasised the global fight against human traffickers. Se said, “I am happy that this appeal hasn’t been ignored and that, first of all, at a G7 level, an agreement has been found to create international coordination to dismantle these criminal networks.” She stressed the need for further action. “The United Nations must do more, because these criminal organisations are creating again, under other forms, a slavery that this Assembly, in another time, had a fundamental role in eradicating for good.”
She also touched on other key topics, including the need for reform of the UN Security Council, underscoring that it must be based on “principles of equality, democracy and representativity.” Meloni called for a new form of cooperation represented by her government’s Mattei Plan for Africa. She also spoke on the global governance of artificial intelligence (AI).
“Fate is challenging us. In the storm, we can show that we are up to the task given to us by history. Italy, as always, is ready to play its part,” she concluded, quoting Italian patriot Carlo Pisacane.
