The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Luigi Di Maio, received today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs his counterpart of the Hellenic Republic, Nikos Dendias. During the meeting, Minister Di Maio reiterated the solidity of bilateral relations and the common interest in working together on the European agenda’s main issues and for the stability of the Mediterranean area.
Di Maio expressed great appreciation for the announcement of the resumption of the “exploratory talks” between Greece and Turkey. He hopes that Athens’ constructive approach would foster the reconstruction of trust and greater stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Di Maio stressed the urgency of appointing a new UN Special Envoy for Libya, the need for progress in the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum and a concrete and full implementation of the ceasefire agreement. Minister Di Maio confirmed Italy’s commitment, together with Greece, to the impartial implementation of EU operation IRINI.
Regarding EU issues, the Minister reiterated Italy’s reservations about the New Pact for Migration and Asylum proposed by the Commission. He reaffirmed the unity of the MED5 Group – of which Athens is also a member – in support of a “logic of the package” and concrete solidarity towards the countries of first arrival.
Given the forthcoming EU Foreign Affairs Council, Minister Di Maio then anticipated to his interlocutor, hoping for full Greek solidarity on the issue, his intention to ask for a more significant commitment of the European Union in putting pressure on the Egyptian authorities to provide full cooperation and bring to justice those responsible for the barbaric murder of Giulio Regeni.
Finally, Minister Di Maio expressed satisfaction with the significant progress of economic and trade relations and the interest in strengthening cooperation in the fields of energy, infrastructure, telecommunications, aerospace, and defence industry and “green economy” projects.
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