ITALY 2017-2018
CANDIDATE TO THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL
In 2009, Italy presented its candidature for a non-permanent seat in the Security Council of the United Nations for the biennium 2017-2018. Elections will be held in the General Assembly in June 2016.
Since joining UN in 1955, Italy has assured full support to the Organization, contributing to the strengthening of multilateralism in international relations, which is one of the cornerstones of foreign policy of our country. Over the years, Italy has shared a collective responsibility that derives from participation in the UN, as part of the Security Council as a non-permanent member for six times, and sitting for eight terms in the Economic and Social Committee of the General Assembly.
The Italian candidature for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council is part of the overall contribution that Italy provides in the maintenance of peace and security and the achievement of other objectives of the Organization. As the sole candidate for the Mediterranean Sea, Italy intends to contribute with an added value, giving voice to the priorities of environment and developing countries.
The importance of the United Nations lies in the universal vocation of the Organization, headquarter of political confrontation between the States and common ground to find solutions to global issues that affect international security and stability, promoting human rights, development and environmental protection.
There are numerous structures of the United Nations system in Italy: Rome (center for agriculture and food security), Turin (pole of training), Trieste (pole of scientific research), Brindisi (logistical and humanitarian support center). There are furthermore regional offices and other bodies of the United Nations in Florence, Venice and Perugia.
Italy is the seventh financial contributor to the United Nations, with a share of the UN budget that amounts to 4.448%.
The Italian participation in UN missions contributes significantly to the external projection of our country and for the need to safeguard national security against threats that transcend state boundaries. Our commitment to UN peace missions is consistent, moreover, with the traditional multilateralism of our foreign policy and with the conviction that the United Nations, thanks to their universal vocation, can play an irreplaceable role in supporting the stabilization of many areas of crisis, particularly in the Middle East and Africa.
Italy is the first provider in terms of military and highly qualified police personnel, among Western countries and the European Union, for peacekeeping operations of the United Nations. There are currently around 1,100 Italian soldiers in all the different field operations.
The Italian participation in UN missions is appreciated as a model, mainly thanks to the ability of our contingent to dialogue with local populations and demonstrated complementarity between civil and military dimensions in stabilization and peacekeeping missions.
In line with its foreign policy priorities, Italy plays a particularly important role in the UNIFIL II mission in Southern Lebanon, as well as an important presence in the Middle East. Italy participates also in UN missions in Asia, Africa and Europe.
Italy is very active in the training of police personnel from many member countries intended to peacekeeping missions (in 2013, about 1,200 units have been formed by the Centre of Excellence for the Stability Police Units - CoESPU in Vicenza), and hosts in Brindisi the UN Logistics Base that - as a "Global Service Center" - provides logistical support to all UN peacekeeping operations in the world.
The specific section of peacekeeping operations’ website of the United Nations provides the latest statistics about UN peacekeeping missions and the participation of Member States:
http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/resources/statistics/