The Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Paolo Gentiloni, met the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway, Børge Brende, at the Farnesina today, 21 April 2015.
The meeting was an opportunity to exchange views on regional crises and other key international topics. The two ministers discussed Libya, migration and combating terrorism; the Middle East Peace Process; the Russia-Ukraine crisis; and the challenges in the Horn of Africa, in Nigeria and in Sahel. On all topics discussed, they were in broad agreement.
Gentiloni expressed his appreciation for yesterday’s decision by the Norwegian government to take part in the Triton operation with a non-military vessel. He underscored that “the latest very grave tragedy at sea shows the need for a committed, coordinated and rapid response”. Gentiloni defined the Norwegian government’s initiative as “a concrete gesture by a friendly nation”. “Yesterday in Brussels, with the foreign and home affairs ministers, we confirmed our commitment to work to stem migration and combat people trafficking”, stated the Minister. He added that “cooperation with the countries of origin and transit is vital, cooperation that lies at the centre of the Rabat and Khartoum processes, in which Norway too is taking part”.
Brende and Gentiloni concluded by noting the excellent state of relations between the two countries, most notably in the energy and financial sectors.
