Meeting between Tajani and Paul Richard Gallagher

In the meeting you will address some of the main issues of international current affairs

Di Marianna Ubaldini il 4 Jul, 2023

Meeting between Tajani and Paul Richard Gallagher

The Vice President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Antonio Tajani, met yesterday, 3 July 2023, at the Farnesina with the Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See, Mons. Paul Richard Gallagher, for periodic bilateral consultations between Italy and the Holy See.

During the meeting, some of the main current international issues were addressed, with particular reference to the war in Ukraine, peace and security in the Middle East and the situation in the Western Balkans.

The Deputy Prime Minister reiterated the intention of the Italian Government to continue to provide Ukraine with its political, military, humanitarian, financial and economic support for as long as necessary. He expressed great appreciation for the efforts of the Holy See aimed at encouraging the start of a dialogue between the parties, praising the action of the Papal Envoy, the Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi.

As for the Middle East and the Mediterranean, Tajani emphasized the great commitment of the Italian Government to the stabilization of Tunisia, recalling the visit of the Prime Minister to Tunis with the Dutch Prime Minister and the President of the European Commission. During the consultations, there was also a discussion on the peace process in the Middle East and the situation in Libya, Lebanon and Syria.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Mgr. Gallagher also discussed the tensions between Serbia and Kosovo. In this regard, Italy firmly supports a de-escalation and invites the parties to fully implement the agreement reached in Ohrid on 18 March. Tajani recalled the importance that our country attributes to the European integration path of the Western Balkans.
The bilateral consultations finally made it possible to discuss the preparations for the 2025 Jubilee, on the occasion of which the Italian Government will provide the Holy See with all the necessary assistance, including with regard to the issuing of visas to religious people and pilgrims.