the Republic of San Marino confirms its active neutrality, strongly condemning military aggression
Beccari: “International law, the recognition of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, as well as the protection of human rights and democratic principles, are mandatory for us”.
An extraordinary press conference, which anticipates the usual weekly meeting of the State Congress to be able to deal in depth with the Russian military intervention in Ukraine and the relative positions that the Republic of San Marino will enforce on international tables.
A common vision, firm in condemning the military and solidarity aggression against Russian civilians who “are paying the highest price of the conflict”. Thus intervened, together with the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Luca Beccari, a representative of every political force that forms the current Government of the Republic of San Marino, to form unity and cohesion in the next steps to be taken to pledge the war at the gates of Europe.
Their statements are listed below.
Luca Beccari (Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs): “We have decided to anticipate the weekly press conference, in the light of recent events regarding the conflict in Ukraine. Today’s session of the Congress mainly dealt with this point and in recent days as the Republic of San Marino we have taken part in several sessions of international bodies, where the topic has been widely debated. We want to reaffirm our position, already expressed in the UN, OSCE and Council of Europe: a profound position for the events that are taking place in Ukraine. In this sense, we join the appeals of European countries and the international community recognizing this as a serious violation of international law and the territorial integrity of Ukraine. During these days we have expressed in international fora the need to reactivate dialogue and confrontation and an end to military hostilities. Our first thoughts go to the Ukrainian population and all the people who right now have to deal with the war and its consequences. For this reason we have operated as Secretariat for Foreign Territory Affairs to provide our support to citizens and residents who are in these days and to remember that the travel informed service is active 24 hours a day and 7 days a week from the Foreign Affairs Department. , which you are contacted to contact in case of repatriation problems. With regard to residents, I am referring in particular to the category of home assistants, the Covid measures that interrupted the obligation to return home after the maximum period of stay are still in place, so there are no needs for interruption. We will gradually evaluate the conditions to extend them, guaranteeing residents to be able to remain in the territory despite the terms of the law. Another topical issue that is being discussed is the already adoption of the economic sanctions and restrictive measures against the Russian Federation issued by the European Union and its member states. Given our condition as an enclave country, in the morning we have to accept them and adopt a decree that gives the possibility to the State Congress to apply international sanctions outside the anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism decision present in our legal system and sanctions will naturally also impact our economy and in various sectors, but the Republic of San Marino cannot at this moment fail to support what we consider a violation of the democratic system at the basis of modern states. Tomorrow we will insert a specific paragraph to be able to discuss these issues also in the Great and General Council, with the aim of arriving at a shared agenda. Another theme and decision taken in Congress is that of humanitarian assistance and aid that the Republic of San Marino will deploy to support the Ukrainian people. The interventions in particular will be due: a possibility of giving asylum to host temporary periods of joint families of Ukrainian residents living in San Marino or children, as the formula of humanitarian corridors will need to be in San Marino. We will then act as a Foreign Department to coordinate the various solidarity initiatives that voluntary associations active in the Sammarine territory are preparing, in order to create synergy and exploit many of the resources we have available, making support as concrete as possible for the Ukrainian people. A conflict in the European territory arouses the will of all. The Republic of San Marino is a neutral country, but ours remains an active neutrality, which defends fundamental for us, the same ones that have guaranteed the survival of our Republic over the years. In particular, international law, the recognition of the sovereignty and integrity of States, as well as the territorial protection of human rights and the principles of democratic expression, are mandatory for us. Our active neutrality can therefore in no case admit or tolerate expressions of war, which we strongly reject. Countries with the same characteristics as San Marino, such as Andorra, Switzerland or Monaco, have recently expressed opinions very similar to ours ”.
Elena Tonnini (Secretary of State for Internal Affairs): “I intend to reiterate the absolute unity of the State Congress with respect to all the interventions reasoned in today’s State Congress and in the one convened ad horas last year. The message that comes out of the State Congress is clear and does not lend itself to any kind of interpretation, it is a message of firm condemnation of the military aggression perpetrated against Ukraine. Ours is and remains a state that stands out for its active neutrality and welcoming capacity. The Foreign Affairs Department will be the point of reference for Ukrainian residents and residents or those directly connected with Ukraine and will coordinate voluntary associations for interventions in support of the Ukrainian population. At the same time, the Secretariat of State for the Territory has already communicated that it has alerted the Civil Protection. The Republic of San Marino is active and will do everything possible in this particular emergency situation. The Great and General Council will be regularly chosen on the choices of the State Congress, already scheduled to include a comma on the agenda tomorrow, which provides for the possibility of addressing all issues relating to the Ukrainian conflict ”.
Andrea Belluzzi (Secretary of State for Education, Culture, University): “The Republic of San Marino is already moving with its network of voluntary associations to implement initiatives to support the Ukrainian people. The will of the State Congress, as stated by the colleague with delegation to Foreign Affairs, is to coordinate these initiatives, in order to obtain a greater effectiveness of the same. In this way, a technical table will be set up and prepared in the coming days, in which representatives of the Council of Associations and the pole of health associations will be called to participate, together with the heads of civil protection “.
Fabio Righi (Secretary of State for Industry, Crafts and Commerce): “The hope is that conflicts can be moved to a discussion table, leaving it to diplomacy. Unarmed conflict is never the solution. As far as economic activities are concerned, I can say that we will pay particular attention to all that this emergency entails and to all the repercussions that there will certainly be for the economy. We are moving from all points of view but today the humanitarian emergency and the protection of life become predominant. I can confirm that the government is moving together towards an issue that does not allow any division, our citizens know that we are not indifferent. We are a country open to the outside world which may think it is outside the international context and which must therefore intervene and manage even these particularly complex situations “.
Press release
State Congress