The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Angelino Alfano, met his British counterpart, Boris Johnson, in Luxembourg on Monday. The first item on the agenda was the sad case of Alfie Evans, a very sensitive human tragedy that has drawn in all those close to him and others and presents difficult legal and ethical issues.
Minister Alfano said: “Alfie is a citizen of the United Kingdom, and Italy honours decisions made within the framework of the British jurisdiction.” He went on: “The British national health system and medical standards are among the highest in the world.” But he hoped that Alfie’s parents’ wish to transfer him to the Bambino Gesù hospital in Rome would be granted. He said: “This highly advanced hospital is well equipped to deal with the case and would accept Alfie if agreement could be reached.”
He told Minister Johnson he did not believe that “an action taken for purely humanitarian reasons could be harmful”. He hoped that Alfie Evans would be allowed to come to Italy. This would be in the best interests of the child and his family, he said.
