Our concept of security has been radically transformed in recent years. Categories of thought that were valid for decades have become obsolete. Asymmetrical and unconventional threats from non-state actors have taken on a transnational character. Terrorism, organized crime, environmental degradation add a new layer of complexity to traditional conflict and crisis situations. They can lead to the deterioration and outright collapse of weaker States and provoke destabilization at the global level. And they find safe harbor in failed states and areas without governance.
Today we can no longer look at these as individual phenomena. Rather they are components of a single category in which the security of persons and States is directly influenced by events both at home and far away. Conflict resolution, promotion of human rights and dialogue between cultures belong to the single, multi-faceted response that we must give to these threats.
A few weeks ago, an English magazine explored a crucial problem for the governance of our cities and the security of our urban centers. It raised the question of what prospects there are for peaceful coexistence between the various ethnic, cultural and religious groups that live in the same urban setting. What social and educational policies can facilitate coexistence. How can we prevent urban neighborhoods from turning into hostile mono-ethnic enclaves? Is it an urgent national and international priority to take measures that foster a tolerant, liberal multiculturalism? And how can we lay the grounds for better dialogue between the various urban communities at a time when more than half the world’s population is living in cities? The theme of our first session, “dialogue and innovation,” could thus not be more timely or pertinent.
 The Security Council’s recent decisions on Somalia and Afghanistan show that a comprehensive approach to security is really starting to take shape. The debate on piracy off the Somali coast pivoted on the connection between piracy and the internal situation of Somalia. If we take a holistic perspective, the result has ramifications on illegal trafficking and all the crises in the Horn of Africa, and thus demands effective and sustainable long-term measures. In Afghanistan, countering the insurgency and drug trafficking are integral parts of a political stabilization process to strengthen democracy and defend human rights. A similar approach is being taken to security in other regions. At the multilateral level, decisions are now being made in a more global perspective, based on the close connection between the domestic and international dimensions of threats. This is being done in the awareness that globalization and the new technologies are not only increasing the transnational nature of these phenomena; they are also increasing the opportunities for the convergence of unconventional threats.
 Yet another example of this trend is the UN’s action against international terrorism. After September 11th, it developed in unprecedented ways (there are 16 UN Conventions on terrorism). The Security Council’s Chapter 7 resolutions have had multiple effects: they have defined new counterterrorism policies (1373); built an ad hoc sanctions system applicable to individuals and non-state entities (1267); and created mechanisms to prevent the risk of convergences between terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (1540). The implementation of these resolutions was secured through the establishment of three distinct subsidiary bodies of the Security Council. The General Assembly, for its part, helped complete the picture by adopting the four-pillar Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, through the establishment of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force. Thus today we have an almost complete UN Counter-Terrorism system designed to handle multiple policies and actions. The consistent and full implementation of this system is now one of the crucial challenges to future global security. All of these cases are emblematic of the complexities of integration and dialogue policies, the ties between threats in specific regional crises, and the need for common comprehensive policies to counter international terrorism. They also prove – as my country firmly believes – the absolute need for the United Nations to play the central role in the global governance of security.
The convergence of new threats makes UN action indispensable. We need a strategic vision, based on innovative instruments that go beyond existing conventions – which are focused mainly on law enforcement – and provide a framework for joint and multi-faceted security policies. As the UN membership grows increasingly aware of this issue, this goal will have to be pursued. The Peacebuilding Commission, for example, enables us to build on the UN missions, strengthen police, justice and prison systems, and engage in institution building in countries emerging from conflict. Why not integrate other United Nations agencies and structures into this effort, and develop strategic partnerships with other subjects at the multilateral level? There are many that can make a high-level operative and expert contribution, such as Interpol, regional organizations, associations, and the private sector. In this framework, UNICRI has an important role to play, with 40 years of expertise and organizational ability and methodology enhanced by the Secretary-General’s guidelines. The Security Governance Laboratory is particularly promising instrument.
 Italy has always been a whole-hearted supporter of UNICRI, encouraging its strategy to promote decentralized organization on the ground, and partnership with local government. On January 15, Director Calvani and the President of the Province of Lucca, Stefano Baccelli, signed a memorandum of understanding exactly for this purpose
 Along the same lines, my Government is supporting the International Observatory on major events for UNICRI, and in view of Milan Expo 2015, this collaboration can undoubtedly be strengthened.
 As a leader in promoting peace and security through the rule of law, development programs, peacekeeping operations, my Country has concrete interest in the activity of the UNICRI laboratory, focused on governance . And as a Chair of the G8 for 2009, Italy intends to further promote this partnership.