JAMAICA, Kingston (19 April 2018) – – His Excellency Mr. Sebastiano Cardi, today presented his credentials to Secretary-General, Michael Lodge, as the new Permanent Representative of Italy to the International Seabed Authority.
Ambassador Cardi is also Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations in New York and was formerly one of the Vice-Presidents of the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly and Chairman of the Second Committee at the 69th Session of the General Assembly.
A career diplomat with over thirty years of experience both at home and abroad, he arrived in New York after serving as Deputy Secretary-General of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Rome (September 2010 to September 2013).
Prior to this, his post was at the Italian Embassy in Washington as Deputy Chief of Mission (May 2007 – September 2010). In August 2006 he was appointed Special Envoy of the Foreign Minister for the Reform of the United Nations Security Council.
Ambassador Cardi stressed the importance of the work of the Authority to Italy and took the opportunity to present Italy’s comments on the draft Strategic Plan. He also mentioned that the Italian government was making efforts to re-engage the interest of the private sector in seabed mining.
Secretary General Lodge expressed his appreciation for the important contributions Italy has made over the years and the involvement of Italian experts in the Legal and Technical Commission and the Finance Committee, and in particular, the work of the late Professor Domenico D’Empoli who also served as Chair of the Council.
He also acknowledged the active engagement of the Italian delegation during the past annual sessions on the commercial and industrial aspects of deep sea mining.
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ISBA/PR/2018/010