Mattarella in Vienna: "The United Nations is an irreplaceable instrument of peace and stability. It would be irresponsible to weaken it."

Il President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella participated a Vienna al 25th anniversary of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, signed at Palermo in December 2000 and today ratified by 190 Countries.

At the ceremony, hosted at the United Nations Center and organized byUnited Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), was also present Federal President of the Republic of Austria, Alexander Van der Bellen.

During his speech, Mattarella made a strong appeal to the international community: "The United Nations is an extraordinary and irreplaceable instrument of peace and stability, which it would be irresponsible to weaken."

The Head of State stressed the need for a active support for the UN At a time of great global tensions, "the geopolitical landscape we face – from Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, to the crisis in the Middle East, to the instability in various parts of Africa – clearly requires active support from the UN, certainly not its dismantling."

Mattarella strongly reiterated that there are no alternatives to multilateralism, underlining how every step backwards in international cooperation represents a risk to global stability: “there are no alternatives to multilateralism, unless one believes one is embarking on the path of permanent conflicts, with a return to a primitive vision of relations between peoples, the outcomes of which are historically and dramatically well known.”

The United Nations is making significant progress

In his speech, Mattarella recalled the eighty years of UN history, underlining the decisive role played over the decades: "in a journey lasting eighty years, the United Nations has been the protagonist of decisive progress: from decolonization to the support and social and economic development of billions of people; from peacekeeping interventions to the defense of human rights and fundamental freedoms." The President then highlighted how today the UN continues to represent "the fundamental framework of reference for addressing challenges that transcend national borders", citing the protection of the planet, challenges posed by artificial intelligence , global health.

The common challenge against organized crime

Mattarella then emphasized the shared moral responsibility In the fight against transnational crime: “organized crime falls into this category of challenges that require a constant and coordinated international response and can be defeated provided that institutions and the various branches of society recognize the shared duties of civic responsibility.

The President wanted to remember Giovanni Falcone, citing his pioneering vision of international cooperation: "Falcone had understood the importance of international cooperation as a tool for combating organized crime. In this very building, in 1992, he led the Italian delegation to the first session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, just weeks before his assassination. From that vision was born the process that led to the Palermo Convention."

Mattarella concluded by recalling that "today, here in Vienna, we solemnly renew our commitment to fighting organized crime. This is a shared moral responsibility that belongs to the international community as a whole."

The tribute to Falcone and Borsellino and the meeting with Van der Bellen

Upon his arrival at the United Nations Center, Mattarella visited the photographic exhibition “The Legacy of Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino”, which retraces the lives of the two magistrates through private and archival shots.
The exhibition, organized in collaboration with the Falcone and Borsellino families and the ANSA news agency, represents a tribute to the memory and commitment of those who dedicated their lives to justice.

At the end of the ceremony, the Head of State went to the Hofburg Palace for meet President Van der Bellen, an opportunity to discuss bilateral cooperation, international security and the fight against organised crime.

A renewed commitment to peace and justice

Mattarella finally recalled the anniversaries of 2025: "Eighty years since the founding of the United Nations, 70 years since Italy's entry into the UN, and 25 years since the signing of the Palermo Convention. Three anniversaries that testify to the value of multilateral diplomacy and the construction of international institutions called to promote the progress of humanity."

With these words, the President reaffirmed Italy's role as pillar of multilateralism and defender of the international law, calling on the global community to renew its common commitment to peace and justice.