Italy, 2002

One year has gone by

since the terrorist attack on the United States, which

inflicted such deep wounds on the city that welcomes

us today. By striking this city, this nation, this

democracy, the terrorists intended to strike at the heart

of the whole community of nations and peoples that

embraces the United Nations and the values for which

it stands.

But they failed in their purpose. Instead, their

barbarous acts roused in all of us a common will to

respond. Rather than divide us, they united us. And

united we intend to respond to every new threat to

world security.

The fight against terrorism is the crucial

challenge we must face today in order to defend human

values the values of freedom, peace, justice and

development which we all share.

The United Nations is at the forefront of this

struggle. We know that it will be a long and hard battle,

and we must therefore maintain the cohesion and

determination that we have shown so far.

But we are firmly convinced that this battle can

be won. Yesterday President Bush recalled the

responsibilities that we all share in this fight to defend

freedom, which is the greatest good and that from

which all other goods flow. Terrorism finds a breeding

ground wherever there is no freedom, wherever there is

no democracy, but where there is hunger, misery and

despair.

In order to defeat terrorism, we must globalize

freedom and democracy. In order to eradicate

terrorism, we must promote an economic development

without borders a lasting development for all.

My country has played a role in this struggle

from the start and will continue to do so to the end,

enhancing the military, financial, judicial, police and

intelligence cooperation that has already achieved

important results. But we are also working to eradicate

poverty and disease. We are committed to pledging

0.39 per cent of our gross domestic product to less

developed countries, and we intend to reach the level

of 0.7 per cent.

The African continent is crucial to our effort. It is

a challenge to our conscience and represents a test of

our ability to help its countries to participate in a true

development without borders.

The Group of Eight's action plan for Africa,

launched in Genoa under Italy's presidency and

approved in Canada, responds to the need for a new

form of solidarity between the most industrialized

countries and those which intend to become the owners

of their future.

But an increase in financial aid is no longer

enough. At the Kananaskis summit, we presented an

action plan aimed at achieving common standards of

good governance, starting with our e-government'

initiative, a completely computerized and digitalized

universal model of public accounting and of public

administration and its primary functions.

The adoption of this universal model, which

respects the identity, traditions and culture of each

country, could produce several positive effects: clear

and transparent public accounting; clear laws and

regulations befitting the rule of law; more efficient

services for citizens and businesses; greater efficiency

in public administration; and, above all, greater

democracy. This will spark a virtuous circle, and donor

countries will finally have the certainty that their

assistance is truly delivered to needy populations.

In this respect, three phases were outlined at the

Group of Eight meeting. In the first trial stage, the

necessary assistance will be provided to the countries

that wish to adopt this system. At the end of this phase,

which might last three or four years, we can move on

to a second phase in which the adoption of the

universal system becomes a requirement for all

countries that apply for development assistance.

Finally, there could be a third phase in which we

could ask the most industrialized countries to forge a

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special partnership with specific countries, taking it

upon themselves to implement specific projects.

We are likewise convinced that public assistance

should be supplemented by private assistance. At

Kananaskis, we submitted an innovative proposal

called de-tax', whereby private citizens would be able

to allocate between 1 and 2 per cent of the price of

what they buy to the implementation of specific

projects, such as schools, hospitals or water-supply

facilities in poor countries.

At Genoa we also launched the Education for

All' plan and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS,

Tuberculosis and Malaria, to which Italy has pledged a

substantial contribution.

But the poorer countries also need to be relieved

of the burden of their debt so as to free up the

resources they need for their growth. That is why Italy

has already cancelled $1 billion of debt and will soon

cancel another $4 billion, until the complete write-off

of all its credits.

Our commitment to the United Nations is clear on

all fronts. Italy is the sixth-largest contributor to the

Organization's regular budget and one of the largest

troop contributors. About 10,000 Italian soldiers are

deployed throughout the world, from the Balkans to

Afghanistan, to preserve and maintain peace and

security. We will continue along that road, in our firm

belief that there is no problem that we cannot solve if

we are united in our determination.

As we speak today, the main challenge to the

United Nations and our system of values is posed by

the regime that governs Iraq, which has systematically

ignored all the resolutions of the United Nations. A

response is indispensable to safeguard the international

community from the danger posed by a massive build-

up of weapons of mass destruction.

As President Bush so clearly stated, what we

must address today is precisely this repeated defiance

of the United Nations and of the will of the

international community. We must make use of all the

diplomatic and political means available to address this

situation. But if things do not change substantially, it

will be necessary to act within the framework of the

United Nations in order to safeguard global security

from a real threat.

The lesson we must draw from the events of 11

September is that haste can lead to carelessness, but

delay in taking the necessary action can have terrible

consequences. When terrorist attacks or threats to

peace are carried out by networks or regimes that aim

at destroying our way of life and our liberal

democracies, then democracies have not only the right

but also the duty to defend themselves.

Let me now turn our attention to the Middle East.

Italy supports the road map drawn up by the European

Union, as well as the action of the quartet' and the

rapid convening of an international conference to

ensure the peaceful coexistence of two independent

States within safe and secure borders.

First of all, the spiral of violence must come to an

end through the cessation of terrorist attacks. The

holding of free and fair elections will advance the

process of democratic reform of the Palestinian

National Authority. But a lasting peace cannot be

envisaged unless we narrow the economic gap between

the Israelis and the Palestinians, giving the Palestinians

realistic hope for jobs and development. With this goal

in mind, Italy has presented a plan to rebuild and

support the Palestinian economy. Italy has already

offered to host the negotiations and the peace

conference.

We are men and women of peace. We are

convinced that this new century cannot be left at the

mercy of criminal folly and fanaticism. We are

committed to the fight against terrorism, and we will

do everything in our power to eradicate that evil and to

defend our security and our future. We will lend our

efforts to the building of a true and just peace, the only

kind of peace for the just and the free.