Time.news – Thanks to “our soldiers, diplomats, all the cooperators” in Afghanistan. And “a message of sincere affection” to the families of the 54 fallen and 700 injured Italians who for 20 years “defended fundamental freedoms, women’s rights and carried out operations to prevent terrorism”, leaving a “deep trace in society. Afghan “. “For us they are heroes, their sacrifice was not in vain”. Thus the Prime Minister, Mario Draghi, intervenes in an interview with Tg1 on the Afghan question two days after the Taliban took power in Kabul.
Now security and hospitality are the objectives to be achieved, continues the premier, and Europe “will be up to” the challenge, he assures. Draghi also confirms that the “repatriation of Italian diplomats, military” and Afghan collaborators continues, after the arrival on August 16 in Rome of most of the Italian diplomatic representation.
A few days after the fall of Kabul and the return of the Taliban to power, Draghi states that it is necessary to “reflect on the experience that has taken place: let us remember that the war in Afghanistan is the first response of the United States to the attack on the Twin Towers. we draw is not only a balance sheet on the war in Afghanistan, it is the balance of the last twenty years and the role that the West has played in the whole Arab world “.
But it is to the future that we must look now, adds Draghi. “And the future for Italy is made up of defending fundamental rights, defending women’s rights, protecting all those who have exposed themselves in recent years in defending these rights in Afghanistan. This must be pursued in all possible contexts “.
The premier mentions the new players on the Afghan scene, from China to Russia, from Saudi Arabia to Turkey. All these states are members of the G20, he recalls, so “the G20 naturally offers a place where this collaborative work can be initiated”. Italy is the rotating president of the assembly of the Great 20, continues Draghi, and this year as the presidency of the G20 “we are fully committed to preparing, in building, an appropriate venue for this collaboration”.
The role of Europe will be decisive. The European Union “will rise to the challenge”, assures the premier. “We talked this morning with Chancellor Merkel. We mainly talked about the evacuation operations of Kabul Airport, but we have begun to outline what will be the fundamental lines of cooperation at European level. We are all aware that cooperation is absolutely necessary to deal with two objectives: hospitality and safety. Welcoming all those who have helped us in Afghanistan in recent years and their families, those who are called ‘collaborators’. But also the welcoming of all those who have been exposed in recent years for the defense of fundamental freedoms, civil rights, women’s rights. This is a complex plan, it requires close cooperation between all countries but above all, above all, between European ones. The second aspect concerns security, where we will have to prevent terrorist infiltrations “, concludes Draghi.
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