SPEECH BY PAOLO FULCI
IPS International Award
25 January 2000

When I woke up this morning and saw the snowstorm in progress, I could not help but remember another storm, Hurricane Floyd, that back in September, had already forced one postponement of this ceremony. I thought: " My goodness, it' s like one force of nature against the other, " the other of course being Emma Bonino, who the Italian press is fond of calling a " Powerhouse" and " Emma of the Miracles." However, despite my initial trepidation, I had little doubt who would win the epic battle: this ceremony would be held today, even if we were snowed in the gardens of the United Nations.

I cannot think of a more worthily recipient of the IPS Special Humanitarian Award than the Honorable Emma Bonino. The award is given to her (and I quote) " for her valiant effort and decisive actions in the defense of human rights and humanitarian causes worldwide" (end of quote).

In Italy, as my distinguished successor Ambassador Sergio Vento can testify, Ms. Bonino is well known for her innate political talent, deep sense of personal commitment, strong determination in pursuing hers goals, and extraordinary vision. Back in the 80s she successfully led the Italian Radical Party's campaign to fight hunger in the world. As a result of her efforts, in those years Italy increased its ODA--official development assistance--several fold, becoming the fifth largest donor country in the world.

I first met Emma Bonino in 1994, one year after assuming my functions as the Italian Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Emma had been appointed by the Prime Minister to be the Italian delegate to the Sixth Committee of the General Assembly. Then and there she lent her irresistible support to the idea of convening in Rome a diplomatic conference to negotiate the Statute of an International Criminal Court. Skepticism, both at the UN and elsewhere, was widespread over the feasibility of establishing such a revolutionary new organ of international criminal justice. But her message, " No Peace without Justice," gave this movement an impetus that helped make the impossible possible, when the Statute was finally adopted at the Rome Conference of July 1998 by more than 150 countries.

I also still vividly recall one of her visits to the United Nations to participate in a high-level meeting on development. The British representative, Sir David Hannay asked her some though questions that would have made ordinary mortals blanche. Not Emma. Without hesitation, she launched into a solid and eloquent description of the issue she champions.

Again and again Emma Bonino has proved that the ideas can be stronger than realpolitik. International public opinion' s demand for peace with justice has become too insistent and deeply rooted to be denied. She has taught us that when idealism is consonant with the sentiments of international civil society, it is transformed into realism with foresight.

This same creative blending of idealism, realism and activism has characterized the Honorable Bonino' s tenure as the European Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs. What a staunch advocate of human rights she has proven to be worldwide! What an effective and most un-bureaucratic provider of humanitarian assistance! Her extraordinary energy always brings her to where the action is. She is never, ever afraid of putting herself in the line of fire, and not only metaphorically speaking!

Emma is a born crusader, a crusader for freedom, peace, human rights and sustainable development. IPS President Roberto Savio had to be here with us to present her with the Award. But since he is still struggling to find a plane out of Miami to reach the snowbound North, I have been asked to take his place. It is thus my honor and privilege to present the Honorable Emma Bonino with the IPS Special Humanitarian Award.