ITALY/AOSIS
PACNEWS JUL 31, 2000
APIA(Pacnews): The Italian Government says, it's willing to be an
interlocutor for the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS)
because it believes that together they can share experiences as
well as identify and develop cooperation initiatives.
The director general for Asian and Pacific Affairs of the Italian
Foreign Ministry based in New York, Ambassador Mario Sica says,
the natural and structural similarities of our territories lend
us a profound understanding of the economic and environmental
vulnerability of Small Islands as well as of their potential in
the new global knowledge-based economy.
"Like Small Island States, Italy has to cope with a sharp divide
between, on the one hand, limited material resources and acute
natural fragilities, and on the other, the spirit of initiative,
creativity and hard-work of its work force, " he said.
"In areas that are crucial to sustainable development of the
AOSIS countries-such as environmental protection, renewable
energies, tourism, cultural heritage and small-scale economic
activities-we can provide concrete and constructive
collaboration."
Ambassador Sica referred in particular to technical cooperation
at the bilateral and multilateral levels, joint-ventures between
Italian and local companies, and direct foreign investment from
Italian groups undergoing internationalisation and market
diversification.
He was speaking at the 2nd AOSIS workshop on Climate Change
Negotiations, Management and Strategy in the Samoan capital of
Apia today.
About 100 participants representing the 43 AOSIS member states,
non-government organisations as well as friends of AOSIS are
attending the workshop.
Ambassador Sica said at the recent Okinawa G-8 Summit, Italy was
asked to co-chair a Task Force to prepare recommendations
"regarding sound ways to better encourage the use of renewables
in developing countries."
These recommendations, he said, are being made in the
understanding that the "investment in the development and use of
sustainable energy, underpinned by enabling domestic
environments, will assist in mitigating the problems of climate
change and air pollution."
"In terms of economic collaboration and investment opportunities,
Italy is a country whose great strength lies in the tightly woven
fabric of its small and medium economic and social activities,
with deep territorial roots, where these enterprises boast a
solid reputation for their high degree of innovation, quality,
creativity and flexibility."
"The Italian approach to development cooperation focuses on
decentralisation and human development programmes at the local
level," said Ambassador Sica.
He adds that it also aims to mobilise substantial financial and
human resources from local and municipal administrations.
"These characteristics of our approach make them singularly
appropriate for addressing the development needs of decentralised
communities such as those of Small Island States."
Ambassador Sica also emphasised that Italy sees cultural heritage
as a dynamic source of new economic opportunities in order to
promote this, Italy has started two UNESCO trust funds.
One trust fund is for the preservation of intangible cultural
heritage and the other for technical assistance in registering
sites on the World Heritage list.
He also says that traditions and beauties of the small islands
should be safeguarded and promoted and Italy is ready to be an
experienced and qualified partner.
Ambassador Sica pointed out that Italy provides 12.5% of funds
for the European Development funds that sustain the partnership
between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific
States recently formed through the Cotonou Convention in Benin.
He says three aspects of this new agreement are particularly
relevant to the workshop.
They include six new members of Niue, Palau, Nauru, Micronesia,
Marshall Islands and the Cook Islands acceding to the Convention,
as well as article 32 of the Convention which expands the
definition of cooperation to include" environmental protection
and sustainable utilisation and management of resources."
Ambassador Sica said it explicitly mentions as an area of concern
the vulnerability of small island ACP countries, especially to
the threat posed by climate change.
The third aspect is that the new Convention has enhanced
political dimension, based on a "comprehensive, balanced and deep
political dialogue, leading to commitments on both sides."
Ambassador Sica said for many years, Italy has been in the
forefront of efforts to promote more democracy and participation
in the United Nations system and to safeguard the equality
dignity of all States, small and big.
"This strong, traditional commitment is one of the reasons why we
enjoy such a solid and spontaneous convergence of views with
AOSIS in New York.
"A strong and effective partnership between Italy and the Small
Island States is particularly important in view of our
candidature for a seat in the Security Council in the 2001-2002
term."
"Should our fervent wish for this position come true, AOSIS can
rest assured that its concerns will be heard and expressed at the
UN where it matters the most."
"`We are fully equipped to do the job, and are therefore counting
on the support of all those countries that share our vision,"
said Ambassador Sica.
SOURCE: Pacnews
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