“Italy is ready to support any effort to de-escalate tension in the Gulf region,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Angelino Alfano, in a telephone conversation that he had today with the foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Abdallah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
He continued: “Italy is paying close attention to the developments in the Gulf crisis and fully supports Kuwait’s mediation efforts.”
In line with the statements recently made by the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar, Mr Alfano underscored “the Italian government’s staunch intention to contribute to any initiative aimed at re-establishing trust and loosening tensions between all the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, with which Rome has very profound and friendly relations.”
Minister Alfano also confirmed that, in this phase, Italy expects that no further measure be passed against Doha. He said: “This is a time for a constructive dialogue and an open debate in order to reach a shared solution, and not a time for a further escalation of tension.”
At the end of the cordial telephone conversation, Minister Alfano expressed his satisfaction for the next session of strategic talks scheduled between the foreign ministers of Italy and of the United Arab Emirates.
