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Beneath the structure Italy can not be part of the board as a result of energy could be wielded by one chief standing above different members, minister says.

Italy says it’s unable to affix US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” owing to a “constitutional restrict” marking the newest setback confronted by the self-styled “worldwide peace constructing physique”.

International Minister Antonio Tajani informed the ANSA information company on Saturday that conflicts between Italy’s structure and the constitution of the Board of Peace have been “insurmountable from a authorized standpoint”, however his nation would all the time be “obtainable to debate peace initiatives”.

Italy joins quite a few European international locations – together with France, Germany, and the UK – that haven’t joined the controversial board, which was greenlit by the United Nations final yr as a transitional governing physique for post-war Gaza earlier than increasing its remit in a sweeping constitution that made no point out of the war-torn Palestinian enclave.

Italy’s resolution comes regardless of the shut relationship between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Board of Peace chairman Trump amid rising concern that the worldwide battle mediator – launched in Davos, Switzerland final month because the US president made an aggressive play for Greenland – is designed to eclipse the United Nations.

Tajani pointed to Article 11 of the Italian structure, which precludes the nation from becoming a member of organisations except there are “circumstances of equality with different states”, which might not be the case beneath a constitution that names Trump as veto-wielding chairman serving as the ultimate authority on its interpretation.

Nonetheless, talking after a “very optimistic” assembly with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Vice President JD Vance on the margins of the Winter Olympics in Milan on Friday, the overseas minister stated Italy could be “able to do our half in Gaza by coaching the police”.

Tajani’s feedback got here because the board, which has reportedly demanded members pay $1bn for a everlasting seat, resulting in criticism it will primarily be a “pay to play” model of the UN, tentatively prepares for its first assembly in Washington, DC, on February 19.

The gathering would come in the future after a scheduled assembly between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

On Saturday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a key Trump ally, stated he would go to Washington for the primary assembly of the board “in two weeks”.

Final month, Trump invited some 60 international locations to affix the board. On the time of reporting, its official web site listed 26 international locations which have joined, together with Gaza mediators Qatar and Egypt.

UN Secretary-Common Antonio Guterres slammed Trump’s plans final month, saying “The essential accountability for worldwide peace and safety lies with UN, lies with the Safety Council.”