Tajani in New York pto take stock of the international situation with G7 Foreign Ministers.

On the sidelines of the High Level Week of the 79th United Nations General Assembly, the Vice President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Antonio Tajani, chaired a meeting informal of the G7 Foreign Ministers to take stock of key international issues.

“Today's meeting has provided us with a new opportunity to further qualify the political unity of the 7 liberal democracies and industrial economies in addressing today's major challenges and crises,” Tajani said.

During the meeting the Ministers discussed confronted, in particular, on the situation in the Middle East, on support for Ukraine and on the most topical regional issues. Today's meeting in New York is the fourth in-person meeting of G7 Foreign Ministers since the beginning of the Italian Presidency, following the ministerial meeting in Capri and the informal meetings in Munich and Washington.

“I wanted to reiterate the Italian Government's concern about the worsening spiral of violence in the Middle East. We work tirelessly, together with partners, to find a diplomatic way out that will reduce tensions in the region. We strongly reiterate our request for a ceasefire, the release of all hostages and humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip,” Tajani said, adding that “the critical situation on the border between Israel and Lebanon is also of great concern: we call on all parties to de-escalate.”

“We are also following closely the situation in the Red Sea, where in recent days the protection offered by Aspides, with the Italian tactical command, to the towing operations of the ship Sounion has allowed an environmental disaster to be averted. Italy has brought freedom of navigation and the protection of maritime trade to the center of the G7 priorities", according to Tajani.

The G7 Foreign Ministers also reiterated full and constant support for Kyiv. “We are working to achieve a just peace under the full ownership of the Ukrainian people and, to this end, we continue to engage in dialogue with all global partners,” declared the Deputy Prime Minister, who also highlighted how Italy is following “with the utmost attention the needs of the Ukrainian people in view of the winter, the situation of the energy infrastructure and the prospects for the country's recovery. In this sense, I confirm that in 2025 Italy will host the Conference for the Reconstruction of Ukraine”.

Finally, regarding the main regional issues, Minister Tajani raised the issue of political and humanitarian situation in Venezuela. “We demand respect for human rights, the release of political prisoners and we underline the importance of a democratic process of dialogue in the interest of the Venezuelan people.” He then highlighted the importance of strengthening the partnership with Africa: “the implementation of the Mattei Plan with concrete projects is tangible proof of the renewed Italian commitment to the Continent. The security, stability and prosperity of Africa are at the heart of the agenda of the Italian presidency of the G7”.

The Foreign Ministers also discussed the latest developments in the Indo-Pacific region. “We look at this region with great interest, both in pursuit of a strategic stabilization both to pragmatically protect growing commercial interests and global supply chains,” added Vice President Tajani.