GENEVA, APRIL 5 – “Cities: From Theaters of War to Actors for Peace” was the theme of a side event of the second Forum of Mayors organized by UNECE – the UN Economic Commission for Europe – and co-sponsored by the Italian and US Missions to the International Organizations in Geneva, the Municipality of Bari, the City Diplomacy Lab of the Columbia Global Center of Paris and the International Association of the French speaking Mayors (which includes Aosta).
Today’s event was joined by the Permanent Representative of Italy, Gian Lorenzo Cornado, the US Permanent Representative, Bathsheba Nell Crocker, the Mayor of Kiev, Vitali Klitschko, the Vice-Mayor of Bari, Eugenio Di Sciascio, the Vice-Mayor of Madrid, Begona Villacis, and Susanne Klink of UNHCR.
“Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine is creating an extraordinary humanitarian crisis and the utter destruction of urban areas. Revelations over the weekend of shocking brutalities against Ukrainian citizens, civilians in Bucha and elsewhere in Ukraine are deeply disturbing and need to be investigated thoroughly”, the US Ambassador said. “The massacre of civilians is a war crime and Italy firmly condemns it, while expressing its solidarity to the Ukrainian people” said Ambassador Cornado introducing the event and mentioning the actions put in place by the international Community and Italy to end the conflict. “We have to work together, all together, to restore peace in Ukraine” he also added.
While the dramatic daily news show how cities can be theatre of hostilities, Ambassador Cornado recalled the considerations of UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, stating that cities may also be drivers of peace, equity and sustainability.
The Forum of Mayors, opened by architect Norman Foster and focusing this year on “Recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic while advancing the implementation of the SDGs”, is a platform for on-going exchange and mutual learning where Mayors will present their efforts to tackle challenges in their cities. Cities will learn from each other’s best practices in the areas of housing and climate-neutral buildings, green cities and nature-based solutions, sustainable urban transport and safer roads, and smart urban development solutions.
Read the speech of Ambassador Cornado (link). (@OnuItalia)
