MAURIZIO MASSARI

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(Wikipedia page here)

An ambassador with over 40 years of diplomatic experience, Maurizio Massari has been Italy’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York until January 2026. During his mandate at the UN he also served as Chair of the First Committee (Disarmament) of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, with a one-year term from September 2025 to September 2026; as Vice President of the 79th General Assembly of the United Nations, as Vice President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council – ECOSOC (July 2022-July 2023) and as Vice President of the Board of Directors of UN as Women, the main UN agency for women’s rights (2023). 

He served as Italy’s Permanent Representative to the European Union (June 2016-May 2021). Previously he was Italy ‘s Ambassador to Egypt ( 2013- April 2016) and Special  Envoy of the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Mediterranean and the Middle East (2012-2013). 

He also served as OSCE Ambassador to Serbia and  Montenegro from January 2003 to January 2006. 

In 2024, the President of the Italian Republic appointed him Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.

In 2025, he received the Medal of the Foreign Policy Association (FPA), the diploma of recognition by the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) and the official recognition from the International Association of Permanent Representatives (IAPR). 

He is Senior Non- Resident Fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute (2026) 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

•    Service in the Italian Diplomatic Corps since 1985;

•    Promoted to the rank of Ambassador on January 20, 2015.

Abroad:

  • Brussels (June 2016 – May 2021) Permanent Representative of Italy to the European Union;
  • Cairo (February 2013) Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Italy to Egypt;
  • Belgrade (January 2003) Ambassador, Head of Mission of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) in Serbia and Montenegro;
  • Washington (July 1998 – June 2001) First Political Counselor at the Italian Embassy, responsible in particular for US policies towards Russia and the former Soviet Union, Central and Western Europe, and the Western Balkans. Responsible for the Embassy’s relations with American think tanks and universities;
  • London (July 1990 – June 1994) Deputy Head of the Economic and Commercial Section at the Italian Embassy, responsible for bilateral and multilateral economic affairs and EU policies;
  • Moscow (November 1986 – July 1990) Head of the Press and Soviet Domestic Policy Section at the Italian Embassy responsible for Russian and Western press relations and reporting on Russian and Soviet political developments to the Italian government. 

Positions held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation:

• (January 2012 – February 2013) Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Mediterranean and the Middle East;

• (2009 – January 2012) Head of the Press Office and Spokesperson for the Minister;

• (2007 – 2008) Head of the Analysis and Planning Unit, and co-chair of the Strategic Reflection Group with Marta Dassù, with whom he co-authored “Rapporto Italia 2020. Le scelte di politica estera”;

• (June 2001 – December 2002) Head of the Western Balkans Office, responsible for Italian foreign policy towards the countries of the former Yugoslavia and Albania;

• (June 1996 – August 1997) Deputy Coordinator for EU Affairs in the Directorate-General for Economic Affairs. Member of the Italian special delegation to the Intergovernmental Conference for the Treaty of Amsterdam;

• (June 1994 – June 1996) Chief of Staff to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs;

• (February 1985 – November 1986) Deputy Head of Section, Directorate General for Economic Affairs, responsible for bilateral economic relations with Western Europe, Canada, and the United States.

EDUCATION

•  Master’s degree in International Public Policy (2001) from Johns Hopkins University, Washington, D.C. An excerpt from his thesis was published in the International Spectator under the title “US Foreign Policy Decision-Making during the Clinton Administration”;

•  Fellowship’s Certificate (1998) at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA;

•  Degree in Political Science from L’Orientale University in Naples (1982), specializing in Eastern European Affairs.

PUBLICATIONS

• Author of books in Italian on political reforms under Gorbachev (La Grande Svolta: Le Riforme Politiche in Unione Sovietica,1986-1990. Guida editore), on post-communist Russia (Russia: Democrazia europea o potenza globale, 2009. Guerini Editore) and on the crisis of multilateralism (‘ i Dieci Anni che hanno sconvolto il mondo’, 2026, ed. Feltrinelli).

• Essays and articles, in Italian and English, on Russian foreign policy and domestic political developments; on EU and US foreign policy, the Western Balkans and the Middle East;

• He has been invited to participate in numerous seminars, lectures, and debate events at international conferences and by research institutes and universities in Italy, Europe, and the US. 

LANGUAGES

•  Fluent in Italian, English, and French; has a good knowledge of Russian and a basic knowledge of German.