Minister for Foreign Affairs Giulio Terzi met this morning at the foreign ministry in Rome with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Karel Schwarzenberg, for an exchange of views on various themes of common bilateral, European and international interest.
Underscoring Italy’s consideration of the Czech Republic as a major partner in the European framework, with regard to European economic prospects Terzi illustrated the reforms undertaken by the Italian government, lingering in particular on the economic measures adopted in terms of liberalisation, with the aim of uniting financial rigour with the necessary stimuli for growth and employment.
The two ministers agreed on the need to promote greater cohesion among Union Member States in drafting common policies, so as to trigger long-term sustainable growth.
“One of the decisive challenges facing Europe”, Terzi underscored, “is to see to it that the Union plays a role in keeping with its legitimate international ambitions and that responds to the expectations of other global actors. This is the context”, he added, “of the active U.S. expectation that Europe make a strong commitment to the liberalisation of the transatlantic market, which was expressed to us during Prime Minister Monti’s important visit last week”.
The two ministers also spoke of what are already excellent bilateral relations and which are also experiencing an especially dynamic period. Indeed, economically speaking, in the first 11 months of 2011 Italy placed 7th among buyers and 6th among suppliers, for trade total of €7.5 billion. Terzi and Schwarzenberg shared the intention to promote the further reinforcement of trade at all levels, with special regard for the promising prospects for collaboration in research and development and science and technology as a result of the strategic importance of those sectors to the creation of new skilled jobs.
They also concurred on major international policy questions, beginning with the need to offer convinced support for the Western Balkans EU integration.
Terzi and Schwarzenberg also reviewed the main international concerns, especially as regards the situation in Syria and the Arab Spring.
Terzi expressed his deep concern over the dramatic consequences – not least humanitarian – of the Syrian regime’s unacceptable repression of its people, and reiterated the need for the international community’s concerted mobilisation on behalf of a peaceful and democratic solution to the Syrian crisis, to be pursued by means of the active role of regional actors, particularly the Arab League, with which Italy maintains continuous contact, and support for the Syrian opposition, while at the same time encouraging unity.
Regarding developments in the Mediterranean and the Middle East, both cited the need both for effective international actions aimed at defending human rights and freedom of worship, and for stronger Euro-Arab dialogue.
