Guterres hails Draghi as 'champion of multilateralism'

(ANSA) - ROME, SEP 22 - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hailed Italian Premier Mario Draghi 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".
    Draghi, meanwhile, stressed the importance of the UN in the current situation of multiple crises.
    "This is a time in which the only possible response is to join forces at the United Nations," he said.
    "A thing that struck me during the General Assembly was that many speeches cited the United Nations Charter.
    "Signing it was one of the best things humanity has ever done.
    "This institution should always have a lead role". (ANSA).