The crisis in the Mediterranean, the fight against Isis, the stabilization of Libya.
On this folder Rome 'from Thursday' will be the crossroads of world diplomacy in three separate appointments in quick succession.
(1st) "the Conference 'Rome Med Dialogues' which opens Thursday right after (2nd) "Italy's role as a natural crossroads of diplomatic initiatives on the Mediterranean’’ will further be confirmed (3rd) by summit on Libya which, based on Italy-USA joint proposal, will take place in Rome on December 13 with that of the small group of anti-Coalition Daesh expected again in Rome following week.
Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni intervention stresses that diplomacy can succeed where military operations alone are not enough.
Italian foreign minister said that "after the dramatic attacks in Paris (November 13 with 130 deaths), the discussion of the 'Rome Med Dialogues' start 'from the challenges more' urgent that we face: Daesh defeat which starts by political transition in Syria and creation of a government of national concord in Libya.
But - beyond the crisis - conferences and projects aim to launch a discussion on how to rebuild the foundations of a regional order.
As difficult as it may seem, in fact we must start right now to imagine - suggests Gentiloni - a 'Peace of Westphalia' (Treaty which in 1648 inaugurated a new international order, based on the recognition of States as such beyond various sovereigns with different faiths) for entire Mediterranean.
For a region whose geopolitical concept is widened, including new shipping lanes to Gulf of Aden and lands in Africa where institutional fragility promotes human trafficking, for Gentiloni, in Italian vision, this embryo of new regional order should be based on three pillars:
1st pillar the need 'not to repeat past mistakes’. West already cultivated the blitzkrieg illusion to suffer its consequences for years and years. Today against Daesh the military option is certainly necessary but not sufficient to defeat it permanently.
Recent years experience suggests that '’ regional powers task is to contribute for a sustainable peace in M.E..
US, European countries or Russia and tomorrow China cannot draw new boundaries and even to guarantee the region security.
2nd pillar - says the head of Italian diplomacy - the reactivation of regional dialogue. Without chasing utopias, the agreement reached on Iran's nuclear, oil prices and common challenge against Daesh, could open gradual path of confidence-building measures among the countries of the region. Significant progress in the work on Syria already started in Vienna.
3rd and last pillar of a new regional order must be built on the courage to go against the trend, developing a positive agenda for Mediterranean overall, without pessimism.
Besides the divisions, beyond the conflicts, there are opportunities.
For examples the effects of Iranian nuclear issue agreement on Tehran economy which, without penalties, could grow by 5 to 6% p.a. and Suez Canal doubling which allows great increase of Mediterranean cargo traffic with positive reflections for African development expected at 5.5% in 2017-2020 and 'New Silk Road' impact to/from China which ends in the Mediterranean".
Gentilomi attaches particular importance to the energy market outlook in the area through - for example - ENI gas discoveries in Egypt referring to offshore Zhor giant gas field, one of largest in the world, with reserves estimated at 850 billion c.m. of gas.
"The history of the Mediterranean - Gentiloni concludes - is an encounter among cultures and religions. And also the history of pluralism. Rome meetings can contribute to the challenge with new ideas to become an important annual eventfor r eflecting on the region.
What is at stake is not only an emergency, but the future of Northern Africa, Europe and Middle East. This is why the Mediterranean cannot be the site of West reluctance"
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