Statement by President Mattarella to mark the 70th anniversary of Italy’s ratification of the United Nations Charter

The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, released the following statement:

«Seventy years ago, on the 14th of December 1955, the Italian Republic was welcomed into the United Nations, the most important of modern international organizations, which was erected over the rubble of World War II with the express determination of “saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war”.

It was necessary to wait ten years from the end of the war to achieve this result, which was made possible thanks to the wisdom of the Founding Fathers who, in drafting Article 11 of our Fundamental Charter, conferred dignity on the constitutional value of multilateral cooperation, by agreeing “on conditions of equality with other States, to the limitations of sovereignty that may be necessary to a world order ensuring peace and justice among the Nations”.

Since then, Italy has responsibly performed its role as an active member of the international community, turning its participation in the United Nations into the cornerstone of its foreign Policy, on an equal footing as its membership in Europe or in the Atlantic Alliance.

Italy hosts important offices and facilities of UN agencies on its territory, participates in operations of the “Blue Helmets” peacekeeping corps and champions campaigns for fundamental universal principles of civilization, starting with the moratorium on the death penalty.

On the 70th anniversary of its membership, Italy salutes the United Nations as the indispensable fulcrum of an international order founded on the rule of law and authoritative multilateral institutions.

Today as in the past, its member States must shoulder the responsibility of making them effective and capable of achieving their goals, to the benefit of every human being. Our collective commitment will establish them as the common heritage of humankind. »