ROME (ITALPRESS) – “If the West divides, autocracies win.” Thus, in an interview with Il Messaggero, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani pointed out that “our values are common: freedom, peace, democracy. They are not erased by a diplomatic contrast.” He explains, “A division between Europe and the United States would mean the demise of the West, which would lead to the victory of autocracies, populisms, and radicalisms. This victory would be a very serious damage not only for the West but for the whole world.”
In light of the clash between Trump and Zelensky, he adds, “Italy calls for a summit between Europe and the United States. At this historical stage, it is not just a political issue at stake. What is at stake is the unity of the West and the role of the West in the world, to defend its founding values. Those principles of freedom, centrality of the person, defense of the rule of law, free market, protection of peace and democracy about which there cannot and must never be a rift between Europe and the United States, which are two sides of the same coin.” “I believe,” he notes, “that the West has all the right potential to matter and a history that is its strength and is declining to the future. But it is necessary to stand together. A division between Europe and the United States would mean the demise of the West, which would lead to the victory of autocracies, populisms and radicalisms. This victory would be a very serious harm not only to the West but to the whole world. The West won when its values won against Nazism and communism, which are precisely the negation of Western values.” “Let us remember that the Americans are the ones who allowed us to free ourselves from the totalitarianisms of the 20th century, at the cost of enormous sacrifices,” Tajani recalls. “We must not forget that, among the many fallen of the allied army, there were many Italian-Americans and many Europeans. It is unthinkable to question the transatlantic relationship because there is a government in Washington that not everyone likes. Europe is an identity that goes far beyond political issues. And so even contingent choices must be aimed at ensuring the unity of the West. The Atlantic Alliance is not just a military alliance, it is much more. It is a choice, at the same time, ideal and strategic.” “Even when there are discussions,” the foreign minister continued, “we must all work knowing that there is a cultural heritage and values that have been common since time immemorial, from Tocqueville onward. There is an ideal thread that connects the democracy of Athens to George Washington. After all, it was Christopher Columbus who was the bridge between the continents. We share with America language and religion. They too have a Judeo-Christian identity. Just like our Europe, which now more than ever is the place of modernity and freedom. I want to say, speaking of history, that the Euro-Atlantic spiritual bond cannot be eliminated by contrast in a diplomatic conversation or by confrontational statements. Diplomacy needs time to solve problems but I am sure that the West will be united also for the peace talks in Ukraine.”
Regarding today’s summit in London, “at this summit, Italy will make its voice heard to bring everyone to the peace table,” he declares. “And everyone means Europe, the United States, Ukraine and Russia. “We, in front of everyone, must not be afraid to be what we are,” he adds. “We must behave according to our compass and always keeping our box of values open. This is the best way to make ourselves respected in the world. Europe and the West in general mean openness, curiosity, progress. Think of great travelers like Marco Polo and Matteo Ricci, like Amerigo Vespucci and Vasco de Gama, like the sailors of the Maritime Republics, and one could go on and on with examples. They all had an open vision of their identity, they wanted to know and be known, to grow and to grow. I could also talk about the great Venetian merchants, inventors of modern insurance. Here, modernity is what distinguishes Europe and the West.” “We absolutely must not live in fear of our identity,” Tajani continued, “but exercise it in deeds. By defending our model, we also defend the interests of Italy, which is a commercial and open country by vocation. This is how the whole of Europe must be. Who is our example? He is Ulysses, a great traveler who then always returns to his home, where there is his wife, son and dog Argo. There is his family and his homeland. This is Europe, this is the West. You have to make it understood, because we too often don’t talk about the values that represent us.” Asked if the Americans are not giving up on Europe, he replied, “I think this can never happen. Also because our security and geopolitical stability depend on this indissoluble relationship between our two continents.” “Merz’s Germany,” he says, “is inspired by that European popularism of Adenauer, De Gasperi and Schuman that gave birth to Europe after World War II. And I want to mention that in the relations between Germany and Italy, the relations between the parties of the EPP have been fundamental. They will still be thanks to the ties between Forza Italia and Cdu-Csu.”
“Putin,” Tajani recalls, “had approached NATO and the West with the Pratica di Mare agreement, propitiated by Berlusconi. Then the Russian president chose to move away, driven by his own geo-political strategies. I don’t feel I can make any great reproaches to the West, as far as the relationship with Russia is concerned. Now let’s look forward, and let’s all work for a just peace that cannot mean the defeat of Ukraine. Look, I tell you one last thing: hope is part of the Western identity.” “Hope must give us the strength to make courageous choices and not lock ourselves into a syndrome of impotence that cannot belong to us in the least,” concludes Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
– photo Ipa agency –
(ITALPRESS).
Tajani “If the West is divided it is only autocracies that win”
