SOCIETY 372 /2017

DIPLOMATIE
OSCE
Alessandro Azzoni in his office
Dialogue and Inclusion
In 2018, Italy will take over the Chairmanship of the OSCE
from Austria. SOCIETY spoke with Ambassador Alessandro
Azzoni about Italy‘s priorities for the following year.
The priorities during Austria‘s
Chairmanship had
been: easing international
conflicts, fighting radicalism
and building trust.
Which priorities is Italy
going to set for the coming term?
I would like to emphasize two central
points among the Italian priorities.
The first is the search for a solution to
the Ukrainian crisis and the protracted
conflicts in the OSCE area. We will do
this in continuity with the efforts of the
Chairmanships that have preceded us.
The second is the OSCE’s increased focus
on the challenges emanating from the
Mediterranean, bearing in mind that the
Mediterranean dimension of security is
complementary - and not alternative - to
the OSCE’s Euro-Asian dimension. The
Italian Chairmanship will focus on how
to better address the security challenges
posed by migratory flows coming from
the Mediterranean and beyond, but also
transnational threats, such as combating
illicit trafficking. In tackling these
issues, we will support the link between
the protection of fundamental rights and
the pursuit of security and prosperity.
The distinctive feature of our Chairmanship
will be dialogue and inclusion.
Some agendas have not been fulfilled
during Austria‘s term as head of the
OSCE, what are the most important issues
you are going to tackle?
We are honored to build upon the excellent
work conducted by the Austrian,
as well as other previous OSCE Chairmanships,
and I am confident that we will spare
no effort and work every day to revive the
most authentic “spirit of Helsinki“.
Austria enforced the involvement of
the OSCE in the Ukraine-Russia conflict,
what are the most important issues on
that subject in the future?
We believe that the unfolding of the
Ukrainian crisis has demonstrated to what
extent the world needs the OSCE. In that
sense, Italy will continue to support the
Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, a
unique example of the collective multilateral
effort for the peaceful resolution of the
Fotos: OSCE/Micky Kroel, OSCE/Jonathan Perfect, osce/lucia carmona
106 | SOCIETY 2_2017