"Today the international scene is seriously conditioned and wounded by the aggressive war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine. This brings us back to the worst epoch of imperialism and nationalism and represents a profound tear in the dense web of rules and legal principles of multilateral systems based on international law and on equality between States. The threat posed by Russia to the peace and security of our continent requires a renewed zeal of unity and cohesion on the part of all democracies, especially those of Europe. " These were the words of the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, who yesterday met with the Federal Councillors on the occasion of the state visit to the Swiss Confederation. Mattarella expressed the conviction that "an effective defense of democratic values and of the rule of law is a responsibility that falls on all of us, the peoples of the continent"; he stresses that "autocracies challenge the model of peaceful international coexistence and democratic coexistence" and represent a "serious" issue not to be underestimated. As the head of state remarks, the aforementioned challenges cannot be facilitated by uncertainties and divisions among free peoples; he added: "Not only the development of ever closer relations between Bern and the European Union must not be abandoned but, in our opinion, should be cultivated with even greater conviction. The European Union and the Confederation are necessary, reliable, friendly, interdependent partners, united by a common destiny dictated by belonging to the common European civilization".
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