UN General Assembly
2010

by providing training and logistic support. We are the sixth largest contributor to the United Nations regular and peacekeeping operations budgets and, since 2006, the top troop contributor to the United Nations among the members of the European Union (EU) and Group of Western European and Other States. Approximately 8,000 Italian troops are assigned to operations under the aegis or the mandate of the United Nations. Our presence is spread across 22 missions throughout the world: from Lebanon to Haiti, the Balkans to Afghanistan. Through its experiences in these difficult areas, Italy has learned important lessons. In particular, our comprehensive approach provides valuable insight into how to integrate the military aspects of a mission with the commitment to economic, institutional and civil reconstruction. We are convinced that to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century, the United Nations system must be strengthened, starting with its capacity to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security. The United Nations must be empowered to fulfil its role as a “producer” of security and stability, a role designed to foster reconciliation,