The Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Luigi Di Maio, met the Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See, H.E. Mons. Paul Richard Gallagher, at the Farnesina today, 2 March 2022. The meeting, which can be set in the long-standing framework of bilateral relations between Italy and the Holy See, was the opportunity for a broad-ranging exchange of views on key topics on the international agenda, starting with the situation in Ukraine.
The Minister began by reiterating Italy’s firm condemnation of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. He underscored our country’s commitment to continuing on the path of effective and incisive sanctions against the Government of the Russian Federation, in concert with the other Member States of the European Union and our main allies and international partners. He also expressed Italy’s profound solidarity with the government and people of Ukraine and its determination to help the country in humanitarian, economic, and defence terms.
Turning to Libya, Minister Di Maio confirmed Italy’s support for a Libyan-led political process facilitated by the United Nations that makes it possible to achieve the democratic aspirations of the Libyan people by ensuring that the prospects for elections are firmly maintained.
Other regional issues were discussed, including Iraq, Lebanon, and the hoped-for revitalisation of the Middle East peace process. Minister Di Maio confirmed Italy’s unceasing commitment to protecting and upholding freedom of religion or belief and the rights of people belonging to religious minorities. Italy pursues this objective both at the bilateral level and in multilateral fora, the United Nations first and foremost.
Minister Di Maio and Mons. Gallagher then turned to the continent of Africa, discussing the crisis in Ethiopia and developments in the security context in the Sahel.
