“Shortly after 4 a.m. I welcomed Greta and Vanessa at Ciampino airport in the name of the Italian government and Italy as a whole”. Minister Paolo Gentiloni made this statement while reporting to the Lower House on the release of the two Italian volunteers abducted last July in Syria,
Teamwork
The minister thanked the intelligence services, the Farnesina Crisis Unit and “all the authorities that worked as a team to achieve this very important result”. Gentiloni cited rumours of a presumed ransom payment as “solely conjecture”, underscoring that “in cases of kidnapping, Italy’s comportment was in line with other members of the international community, and in keeping with the previous governments: this is Italy’s policy”.
Italy in the forefront in the fight against terrorism
“Italy does not take lessons from anyone in fighting back against terrorism: we are in the forefront, and have been for many years, since the September 11th attacks, and we will reiterate that at the international conference of the main anti-ISIS coalition countries”, Gentiloni stated.
Thoughts for Dall’Oglio and Lo Porto, and working on their behalf
The minister offered some “special thoughts” to the families of Father Dall’Oglio and Lo Porto, two situations that he underscored “are in need of Italy” and “on which we are working with the maximum commitment and discretion”.
