The Middle East is at “serious” risk, because the entire region is “on a knife’s edge”. This was stated by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, in a hearing in Rome before the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. The “risk” to which the Middle Eastern region “is exposed – he states – is serious. The priority issues of the ceasefire in Gaza, the liberation of hostages have become crucial to stabilizing the entire area. We need political paths capable of leading the entire quadrant towards stabilization and reconciliation, to ensure, in short, that war does not become inevitable“.
The Italian government “continues to work tirelessly, together with our international and regional partners, to defuse tensions and achieve lasting and sustainable peace. The situation has now become incandescent. We are doing everything to put out the fire and we are trying to do so with an active and industrious diplomacy at 360 degrees”.
These days “we are living a very difficult moment on the Middle Eastern chessboard“. “The Italian government, also in its capacity as president of the G7, is working at every level to avert the possibility of a large-scale conflict in the Middle East.”
“We believe it is essential to continue to call on Iran to exercise restraint and refrain from new destabilizing initiatives in relation to the killing” of Ismail Haniyeh. “We call on Iran to engage strategically and far-sightedly in its confrontation with key regional actors.”
“We are committed now more than ever in every activity, political and diplomatic, to stop the spiral of violence” in the region. The goal “continues to be dialogue and de-escalation. Given the gravity of the situation, on Sunday afternoon I wanted to convene and chair a videoconference meeting of the G7 Foreign Ministers. We have demonstrated the political unity of advanced democracies. With the joint declaration we have launched a strong appeal to the parties to reduce tensions and interrupt the destructive cycle of attacks and reprisals” in the Middle East.
In the Middle East “the central issue remains the necessary achievement of the ceasefire in Gaza“. “I am absolutely convinced that, if that objective is not achieved, it will be very difficult to achieve a reduction in tension. It is an essential step”. To Israel “we continue to recognize the right to self-defense, which is indisputable, but we point out to Israel that it must not fall into the trap of disproportionate reactions to Hamas’ provocations”.
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