\u00abThe relationship with France is guaranteed by European rules and treaties, the Atlantic Alliance and sound trade relations, our geographical proximity and the friendship between two peoples. \u00bb<\/p>\n
But it is the most serious crisis between two Countries since World War II, Minister Moavero. Do we have to remedy the situation? <\/strong><\/p>\n \u00abIn this context, there can be different interests and points of view, but we must intensify institutional contacts and manage political debate in a way as to overcome a measure like recalling the ambassador. \u00bb<\/p>\n Do you see it as exaggerated? <\/strong><\/p>\n \u00abI don\u2019t want to judge a decision taken in full autonomy by the French government. Rather, I\u2019m surprised to see such confrontational dialectics in this campaign for European elections which, by definition, should represent a moment of democracy. It\u2019s part of politics; it has happened and now we have to come to terms with it. \u00bb<\/p>\n Let\u2019s not beat around the bush: what sparked it off was Di Maio\u2019s meeting with the Gilet Jaunes. A serious act, don\u2019t you think? <\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00abLuigi Di Maio said that he met them as a political leader. The fact that he is also a member of the Cabinet apparently created the short-circuit. But this is exactly the point in this phase. Allow me to explain. \u00bb<\/p>\n Go ahead. <\/strong><\/p>\n \u00abThe current European election phase, for the very first time, is creating direct confrontations between the two Countries\u2019 political leaders. We are accustomed to these harsh tones in our national political arena, but much less so with the politicians of other Countries. If all this remains within the context of a political debate, it is only a question of tones that can always be toned down. But if politicians also hold a position in government, this is when the short circuit occurs between governments. \u00bb<\/p>\n Minister, we\u2019re talking about street riots. <\/strong>Of a national wound. <\/strong>Di Maio went and met with a leader of the Yellow Vests who calls for a coup d\u2019\u00e9tat. <\/strong><\/p>\n \u00abFrom the statements they made, we understand that the Italian politicians saw the meetings as an electoral alliance. Instead, from the statement made by the French Minister of the Interior, we understand that for them the issue of the Yellow Vests is a national security issue. Therefore, it is more specific from their point of view and we must keep it in mind that they don\u2019t consider these to be meetings with other rival parties. We need to talk with mutual loyalty and respect. On a closer look, a clarification is already under way; it\u2019s enough to read the statements made in the past few hours. Understanding each other\u2019s points of view is the precondition for a dialogue that will enable us to re-establish a correct institutional modus vivendi<\/i>. \u00bb<\/p>\n So, do you think that a mediation is still possible? <\/strong><\/p>\n \u00abI am certain that we will normalise our institutional relations. Of course, the deep political confrontation will remain between the parties and, perhaps, also its harsh tones. By the way, do you remember when Togliatti used to ask for hobnailed boots to kick De Gasperi with? Despite it all, those parties confronted each other in Parliament for decades, building the history of our Republic. \u00bb \u00a0<\/p>\n The fact however remains that a member of the government should give priority to national interest over his political role, don\u2019t you think? <\/strong><\/p>\n \u00abI wouldn\u2019t speak of national interest but rather of the common interest of NATO and EU Countries and avoiding conflicts that are difficult to handle. We need to immediately clarify when we speak as party leaders and not as cabinet members. In this way, the fighting between parties does not pass on to the dialectic between States. \u00bb<\/p>\n What diplomatic moves do you imagine in order to mend things? <\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00abFirst, it is the time of diplomacy, with a capital D, based on informal talks and silent mediations. After that, I imagine that it will be necessary to hold talks at a higher level: between Giuseppe Conte and Emmanuel Macron. \u00bb \u00a0<\/p>\n President Mattarella too has taken a stand. And he was very hard on the government. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00abIt is in the interest of the Head of State and of this government to bring the intergovernmental relations with France back on track. We all said so: it is the common goal of the government, to which I, as Foreign Minister, am entirely committed. \u00bb \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n However, the deputy prime ministers continue to use harsh tones. On this occasion, there has been word of the prime minister\u2019s weakness. Shouldn\u2019t he intervene on his deputies? And shouldn\u2019t he be the one to have the last word?<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00abWhen and how to intervene is up to the prime minister to decide. One thing is sure: during the last few years, many of the government\u2019s important decisions have had the scope of foreign policy. This makes it all the more important to maintain a unitary line of action, and this is why there are summit meetings and cabinet meetings, in which it is the prime minister to have the last word. \u00bb \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Will this crisis jeopardise the already slim hopes of finding an agreement on Alitalia and the TAV? <\/strong><\/p>\n \u00abI don\u2019t think so. I think that in the relations between companies it is always corporate interests that guide decisions, not national interests. \u00bb \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Italy has not recognised Guaid\u00f2 as interim president of Venezuela, isolating itself from the rest of Europe. <\/strong>Why? <\/strong><\/p>\n \u00abThe government is in favour of a peaceful solution so as to immediately tackle the humanitarian emergency and call presidential elections as soon as possible. Our cautious approach to recognising Guaid\u00f2 aims at facilitating the reconciliation process and quickly come to a vote. \u00bb \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Government or majority leaders, I\u2019m thinking of Di Battista, ask Europe to disengage itself from the USA. They fluctuate between Chavism and Putinism. <\/strong>Has the government lost its old foreign policy coordinates?<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00abMy position as Foreign Minister sees that Italy has two essential strongpoints. The first is that we are part of NATO, one of whose principal allies is the United States. Also when our opinions within the Alliance differ, we are always transparent and totally loyal on fundamental issues. The second strongpoint is that we believe in the European integration process.<\/p>\n So, do you think that radical positions do not affect the Government\u2019s line of action? <\/strong><\/p>\n \u00abIn cabinet meetings nobody has ever questioned our basic choices. \u00bb<\/p>\n Tell me the truth: are you staying in this government to reduce the damage? Don\u2019t you feel uncomfortable to be part of it, torn between nationalistic drives and battles with historic allies? <\/strong><\/p>\n \u00abI feel a sense of duty for the office that I have been called upon to hold and it is a typical task of foreign policy to dampen the edges and mediate. \u00bb \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u200b<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u00abThe relationship with France is guaranteed by European rules and treaties, the Atlantic Alliance and sound trade relations, our geographical proximity and the friendship between two peoples. \u00bb But it is the most serious crisis between two Countries since World War II, Minister Moavero. Do we have to remedy the situation? \u00abIn this context, there […]","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[76],"class_list":["post-23190","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-interviste","tag-ministri-precedenti"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23190","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23190"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23190\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23190"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23190"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23190"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}