The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Paolo Gentiloni today received the Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Omar Abdirashid Ali Shamarke at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, accompanied by his government’s principal ministers. The meeting was preceded by a Country Presentation on Somalia, organised with the cooperation of Confindustria Assafrica e Mediterraneo.
Gentiloni confirmed “Italy’s renewed interest in the African continent”, as shown by the many official visits and by the organization of the first Italy-Africa Ministerial Conference to be held in Rome on 18 May.
“2016 is a crucial year for the political process in Somalia. Italy will continue to give its political support to the stabilisation process”, said the Minister, stressing the importance of respecting the deadlines set for parliamentary and presidential elections and for the review of the provisional constitution.
Minister Gentiloni announced that Italian development cooperation funding for Somalia, which is regarded as a priority country, will increase to around 21 million euros in 2016, up from 14 million euros the year before. A priority in the support for Somalia is the training provided by the Carabinieri in the framework of European missions.
