On the occasion of the second Forum of Mayors organized by UNECE a side-event co-sponsored by the Italian and US Missions in Geneva, the Municipality of Bari, the City Diplomacy Lab of the Columbia Global Center of Paris and the International Association of the French speaking Mayors (which includes Aosta) took place on 5th April.
The event was joined by the Permanent Representative of Italy, Gian Lorenzo Cornado, the US Permanent Representative, Bathsheba Nell Crocker, the Mayor of Kiev, Vitali Klitschko (remotely),the Mayor of Grenoble, Eric Piolle, the Vice-Mayor of Bari, Eugenio Di Sciascio, the Vice-Mayor of Madrid, Begona Villacis, and Susanne Klink of UNHCR.
“The massacre of civilians is a war crime and Italy firmly condemns it, while expressing its solidarity to the Ukrainian people” said Ambassador Cornado introducing the event and mentioning the actions put in place by the international Community and Italy to end the conflict. “We have to work together, all together, to restore peace in Ukraine” he also added.
While the dramatic daily news show how cities can be theatre of hostilities, Ambassador Cornado recalled the considerations of UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, stating that cities may also be drivers of peace, equity and sustainability.
Read the speech of Ambassador Cornado (link).
Speech of the Mayor of Bari here
