Today the Foreign Ministry hosted the third annual meeting of the Joint Committee for Development Cooperation, chaired by Vice Minister Emanuela Del Re. The Joint Committee approved a package of initiatives worth more than 25 million euros, aimed at cooperation initiatives in African, Asian and Latin American countries.
In her introductory speech, the Vice Minister thanked Minister Di Maio, who had chaired the previous meetings, for the support he has always given and continues to give to the cooperation system.
“More than two years after taking office at the Foreign Ministry, I am further convinced of the role and responsibility that Italy is called to assume in the governance of increasingly complex and interconnected global phenomena”. – VM Del Re stated – “One of the fundamental levers of this function is development cooperation. All the more so at the time of Covid-19 pandemic, which aggravated the economic, humanitarian and security situation in areas of vital importance to us, such as the Horn of Africa and the Sahel”.
“With regard to the Sahel, I would like to express my great happiness for the release of Father Pierluigi Macalli and Nicola Chiacchio, as well as the other hostages kidnapped by jihadist groups, thanking in particular the Crisis Unit of the MAECI and the Italian intelligence for the extraordinary and constant work of liaison with the various government agencies” – she continued.
“Still on the subject of Sahel, just tomorrow I’m going to Niger to accompany the sending of first aid material for the local populations affected by severe flooding, and for meetings with the Foreign Minister and the Niger authorities in charge of receiving and managing aid” – the Vice Minister concluded.
