Italian Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Giorgio Silli had a meeting today with the Secretary General of the Central American Integration System (SICA), Werner Isaac Vargas Torres. SICA is the political, economic and cultural integration organisation of Central American states, the aim of which is the regional promotion of the rule of law, economic integration and the universal values of peace, democracy and human rights.
Over the course of the meeting, Undersecretary Silli and Secretary Vargas Torres addressed issues related to prospects for regional integration, Italy-SICA collaboration and development cooperation.
Secretary Vargas Torres illustrated the priorities of his mandate, including the promotion of shared policies on food security, renewables, the environment, migration and health, praising the central role of Italian development cooperation and operational collaboration with our country in particularly sensitive areas, such as institution-building, including the judiciary, the fight against organised crime and the fight against corruption. These are all pillars in respect of which Undersecretary Silli recalled the excellence of Italian expertise and the willingness to continue the synergies initiated, in particular through the ‘Falcone e Borsellino’ regional programme.
Lastly, the Undersecretary dwelt on the value of Rome’s candidacy to host Expo 2030, with regard to which Vargas emphasised that the SICA could be an effective driving force for enhancement among the countries of Central America.