In the intervention by the new Italian Permanent Representative, Ambassador Gianfranco Incarnato, Italy’s priority and determination to relaunch the role of the Geneva forum
January 23, 2018
In the presence of the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, the 2018 session of the Geneva Disarmament Conference (CD) was inaugurated today. Ambassador Gianfranco Incarnato, recently appointed Permanent Representative to the Conference, took the floor on behalf of Italy.
In his first speech to the CD, Ambassador Incarnato reaffirmed the constant commitment of the Italian government in favor of multilateralism and international cooperation as essential elements for achieving concrete and lasting results, also in the fields of disarmament and non-proliferation. In this context, he underlined how the long stalemate in the activities of the CD – which still remains the fundamental tool available to the international community for multilateral negotiations on disarmament – is a source of serious concern for our country. Hence, the Italian determination to revitalize the Conference and to preserve its role.
As Ambassador Incarnato explained, Italy will continue to engage in pursuing its traditional priorities in the framework of the CD, firstly nuclear disarmament, including the immediate beginning of negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT). At the same time, the Italian government is ready to explore the possible role of the Conference regarding the new challenges arising in the current international security situation, starting from the impact of new technologies on disarmament and arms control.
Ambassador Incarnato finally stated that the work of the CD, and in particular the debate on “new and emerging issues”, will only benefit from greater interaction with civil society, including representatives from the academia , the private sector and the industry, for whose involvement he expressed Italy’s full support.
