Percorso:ANSA > Nuova Europa > Analysis > 'Conference of Ambassadors strengthens Diplomacy'
'Conference of Ambassadors strengthens Diplomacy'
To favor enlargement to the Western Balkans
18 December, 18:25
(by Cristoforo Spinella)
(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 18 - "This Conference of Ambassadors will
be an opportunity to share ideas and exchange experiences and
identify best practices tested in all the offices. It will also
be an opportunity to listen to what the country expects from us,
through the political voices."
On the eve of the meeting that, after a 2-year stop due to the
Covid, will reunite Monday and Tuesday at the Farnesina about a
hundred heads of Italian diplomatic missions around the world,
Ambassador Ettore Sequi, Secretary-General of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, takes stock, in a forum for ANSA, of the role
of Italian diplomacy in the crises affecting the world and in
the promotion of the country's system abroad.
Sequi emphasized that the event will also allow us to focus on the contribution of new generations of diplomats, such as Consul Tommaso Claudi, a leading figure in Kabul during the days of the evacuation of Westerners after the Taliban seized power. "With his sense of nationhood, and his intellectual freshness - said the Ambassador - he exactly portrays our youth, which is educated, idealistic, never afraid to get involved, and has a strong spirit of serving others." "Ambassadors are somehow like journalists. The information that both categories provide is an antidote to disinformation. The Foreign Ministry wants to be in the forefront, Sequi continued, explaining that the Farnesina is "about to launch a new directorate-general that will deal with public diplomacy and culture." Answering some questions from ANSA editor-in-chief Luigi Contu, the Ambassador then underlined the efforts of the Farnesina to strengthen the 'Italy brand' abroad. Considering the increase in our exports from 2020 to 2021, we have already reached 20%. In the first nine months of 2021, we achieved a record of 377 bn in exports, thanks to our outposts: embassies, consulates, ITA offices, SACE. The new approach of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was wanted by Minister Di Maio, and has constantly grown since 2019, is based on outstanding attention to trade along with the promotion of culture." Of course, there is Europe among the critical horizons of the Farnesina's activity, Sequi underlined. "From Italy's point of view, I deem crucial to favor the EU's enlargement to the Western Balkans. The aspiration of young people in those countries to join the European Union is increasingly strong. I am convinced - he added - that an injection of European enthusiasm and impetus in the veins of Europe would be vital.
Otherwise, these generations would be open to other influences.
The challenge is crucial in a delicate phase for international balances. We are witnessing a polarization that indicates an ongoing conflict between democratic and autocratic systems. We must remember - the Ambassador said - that our 'anchoring' is not only geopolitical but relies on values. The vocation of our foreign policy is a wide and open dialogue, always keeping in mind these anchors. We have recently seen this in the G20, and multilateralism embodies this idea." (ANSA).
© Copyright ANSA - All rights reserved
Sequi emphasized that the event will also allow us to focus on the contribution of new generations of diplomats, such as Consul Tommaso Claudi, a leading figure in Kabul during the days of the evacuation of Westerners after the Taliban seized power. "With his sense of nationhood, and his intellectual freshness - said the Ambassador - he exactly portrays our youth, which is educated, idealistic, never afraid to get involved, and has a strong spirit of serving others." "Ambassadors are somehow like journalists. The information that both categories provide is an antidote to disinformation. The Foreign Ministry wants to be in the forefront, Sequi continued, explaining that the Farnesina is "about to launch a new directorate-general that will deal with public diplomacy and culture." Answering some questions from ANSA editor-in-chief Luigi Contu, the Ambassador then underlined the efforts of the Farnesina to strengthen the 'Italy brand' abroad. Considering the increase in our exports from 2020 to 2021, we have already reached 20%. In the first nine months of 2021, we achieved a record of 377 bn in exports, thanks to our outposts: embassies, consulates, ITA offices, SACE. The new approach of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was wanted by Minister Di Maio, and has constantly grown since 2019, is based on outstanding attention to trade along with the promotion of culture." Of course, there is Europe among the critical horizons of the Farnesina's activity, Sequi underlined. "From Italy's point of view, I deem crucial to favor the EU's enlargement to the Western Balkans. The aspiration of young people in those countries to join the European Union is increasingly strong. I am convinced - he added - that an injection of European enthusiasm and impetus in the veins of Europe would be vital.
Otherwise, these generations would be open to other influences.
The challenge is crucial in a delicate phase for international balances. We are witnessing a polarization that indicates an ongoing conflict between democratic and autocratic systems. We must remember - the Ambassador said - that our 'anchoring' is not only geopolitical but relies on values. The vocation of our foreign policy is a wide and open dialogue, always keeping in mind these anchors. We have recently seen this in the G20, and multilateralism embodies this idea." (ANSA).
