The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Antonio Tajani, had a telephone conversation today with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Sameh Hassan Shoukry.
The telephone conversation focused on the situation in the Red Sea and the maritime traffic problems, the conflict in Gaza and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Minister Tajani said: “With Minister Shoukry, we share great concern about the latest developments in the Red Sea, which put traffic through the Suez Canal at risk.” He added: “Italy is committed to launching a European mission in the Red Sea, to which we intend to contribute with a leading role”. Minister Tajani thanked his Egyptian colleague, who will be in Brussels on Monday, along with other Ministers of the region, to meet with EU colleagues and also discuss the issue of the Gaza crisis, in an attempt to finally initiate a political and diplomatic phase that can stop the sequence of violence started by Hamas on 7 October.
Italy put emphasis on the need to avoid a widening of the conflict and to promote an urgent de-escalation of tensions throughout the Middle East. Minister Tajani also reaffirmed the need to restore a political horizon towards a two-State solution for Israelis and Palestinians, which is the most effective response to the barbaric violence of Hamas.
With specific reference to the humanitarian situation, the Deputy Prime Minister said: “I thanked the Minister for the leading role Egypt continues to play in ensuring the operability of humanitarian assistance initiatives in favour of the Palestinian wounded, including the activity of the ship Vulcan of our Navy at the port of Al Arish”.
On behalf of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Hon. Tajani also renewed the invitation to the Egyptian government to participate in and share the discussion and objectives of the forthcoming Italy-Africa Summit scheduled in Rome for late January.
