The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Angelino Alfano, had a cordial telephone conversation with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland.
Jagland started off by thanking the Italian minister and Government for the invitation to participate in the G7 Culture Ministers Meeting held in Florence on Thursday 30 and Friday 31 of March.
Mr Jagland and Mr Alfano agreed that the first attendance to a G7 meeting by a Secretary General of the Council of Europe significantly enhances the role of the Strasburg-based Organisation, especially in the protection of cultural heritage.
The minister also took the opportunity to underscore Italy’s great interest in finalising the new Council of Europe Convention to combat the illegal trafficking of cultural property.
The final text is scheduled to be approved at the next Committee of Ministers Meeting to be held in Nicosia in mid-May.
