Under-Secretary Mario Giro will be in Caracas today, 3 April 2014, to prepare the meeting of the Italy-Venezuela bi-national committee. He will meet members of the Italian community to gain more information on the security situation. The Under-Secretary will also have talks with Venezuela’s authorities and political forces to support the dialogue being taken forward in the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) framework.
“We’re concerned about the unrest and violence”, declared Giro. “in this situation, protecting our community is a priority objective for Italy, which will do everything in its power to foster dialogue between the Venezuelan government and the opposition. Indeed, dialogue was the course of action that President Napolitano recommended to President Maduro in June 2013 and is in line with the position of EU high Representative Catherine Ashton. We have noted with interest the international mediation proposal backed by the Vatican Secretary of State, Parolin”.
