Deputy President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani to attend the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA)

Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani will be in New York from 21 to 24 September to attend the High-Level Week of the 79^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), together with the Italian President of the Council of Ministers. This year's theme for the general debate - "Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations" - will provide an opportunity for world leaders to explore shared responses to today's interconnected global challenges, so as to promote peace, security and sustainable development. In this regard, the mission will enable Minister Tajani to reaffirm Italy's commitment towards a smooth management of migration, in the framework of the Rome Process launched in 2023, and its all-round action for the development and stability of the African continent.

In New York, particular attention will be devoted to the main international crises and to coordination with partners under the Italian G7 Presidency. On the morning of Monday, 23 September, Tajani will chair, together with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, a ministerial meeting of the "G7+ Energy" group addressing the modalities for supporting Ukraine's energy networks. In the evening of the same day, the Minister will chair a G7 Foreign Ministers' informal meeting, where the situation in the Middle East, Ukraine and other regional crisis scenarios will be discussed.

"The mission will be an opportunity to strengthen our commitment as G7 Presidency towards addressing the different crises that continue to threaten global stability and security. Starting with Ukraine, we will discuss with our Partners the most effective ways to provide support to the authorities in Kyiv, starting with securing the country's energy facilities, also in view of the imminent arrival of winter. We will then address the situation in the Middle East to support the efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza and to limit the risk of a regionalisation of the conflict," said Minister Tajani.

Also on Monday 23 September, the Deputy Prime Minister will preside over the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia) together with the Group of "Friends of the Western Balkans" (Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Slovakia and Slovenia), an initiative fully in line with Italy's commitment to strengthen cooperation with its Balkan partners and foster their European prospects.

Tajani will also participate in the traditional meeting of EU Foreign Ministers and will hold a series of bilateral meetings with Foreign Ministers from various non-European countries to discuss the strengthening of bilateral relations and regional cooperation.

On Sunday 22 September, the Deputy Prime Minister will open the event "Sport made in Italy: uno strumento per la crescita" (Sport made in Italy: a tool for growth) at the Consulate General, organised as part of the Italian Sports Day in the World. The initiative, promoted in collaboration with Lega Serie A, the National Basketball Players Association and the Italian Baseball Softball Federation, will be attended by the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, and by many personalities from the world of sport and business. This event is part of the sports diplomacy activities promoted by the Minister since the beginning of his term of office. The visit to New York has been organised in response to the strong popularity of Italian sport among the American public and business community.

On the same day Tajani will meet with the main Jewish associations and will attend the Holy Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral which, for the first time ever, will be celebrated in Italian. This unprecedented initiative is part of the broader context of activities to promote the Italian language and culture in the USA and around the world, also in view of the announced "Vertice sull'italofonia" (summit on the Italian speaking world) to be held in 2025.