The Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, is on a mission to Egypt. In Cairo, he will meet Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al Sisi and his counterpart Sameh Shoukry. The talks will focus on the situation in Israel following the Hamas terrorist attacks.
“Egypt is a great country in the Arab world and can play a leading role in mediating between the parties and in fostering an immediate de-escalation on the ground”, commented the Deputy Prime Minister, “and Italy wants to work with its main partners in the region to bring an end to this barbaric violence as soon as possible. On the Italian side, the possible establishment of humanitarian corridors for the release of prisoners held in Gaza, particularly children, women and the elderly, will be raised”.
On the sidelines of the Arab League meeting, to be held today in Cairo, Minister Tajani will have a bilateral meeting with Secretary General Ahmed Abdoul Gheit, to acquire up-to-date information on the diplomatic initiatives that Arab countries intend to put in place and to reiterate Italy’s commitment to contribute to the relaunch of the Middle East Peace Process.
Among the objectives of the visit was also the confirmation of the bilateral relationship that Italian Prime Minister Meloni launched in Sharm el Sheik last autumn.
“We want to relaunch Italian-Egyptian cooperation on a whole series of priority dossiers”, said Tajani, according to whom “Egypt is of strategic importance both as a key player in regional balances and as a partner of primary importance for the fight against migrant smuggling and for our country’s energy security”.
“Even on this occasion, I intend to strongly raise the Regeni case, asking the Egyptian authorities for concrete signals”, the Italian Deputy Prime Minister specified. “After the recent Constitutional Court ruling, which will allow the trial to continue, we call for the participation of the defendants in the trial to be facilitated”, he concluded.
During the meeting between the two Ministers for Foreign Affairs, a “Joint Declaration” on migration issues will be adopted, which incorporates the principles of the “Rome Process”. This is an important step towards strengthening cooperation with Cairo, with the aim of fighting human trafficking and countering the arrival of irregular migrants in Italy. Indeed, Egypt plays a key role as the country of origin and transit of flows to Europe.
