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Giorgia Meloni’s diplomatic mission between Asia and the United Arab Emirates ends. From Abu Dhabi, where she flew after a stop in New Delhi, the prime minister says she is “very satisfied” with the trip. “Both bilaterals”, the one with Indian Prime Minister Modi and the one with Emirate President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan , they “went very well, sincerely even beyond my expectations”. From the conversation with the head of state of the Emirates, for example, emerged “wide willingness to lend a hand in the full willingness to recover a relationship of friendship for Italy’s national interests”. The press meeting with journalists in Abu Dhabi It was also an opportunity to talk about the massacre of migrants that took place on the Calabrian coast. The premier underlined that there was no report of a dangerous situation at sea from Frontex: for this reason, rescue operations did not start. moreover, “it is not covered by non-governmental organizations”. Meloni then said she was “struck by the reconstructions of these days. But really, in good conscience, does anyone believe that the government deliberately killed 60 people? I ask you if someone thinks that if 60 people could have been saved, we wouldn’t have done it “. The next Council of Ministers on immigration, added Meloni, will be celebrated symbolically in Cutro, the place of the shipwreck. You once again wanted to reiterate that for the management of migratory phenomena “Italy cannot resolve the issue on its own”. To prevent “more people from dying”, according to the prime minister, it is necessary to “stop illegal departures”. On the request for the resignation of Interior Minister Piantedosi you put forward by the opposition: “It’s no longer news, every day they ask for someone’s resignation.”
The agreements between Italy and the Emirates
Two declarations of intent have been adopted in the UAE. The first defines the lines of action for the ‘strategic partnership’ between Rome and Abu Dhabi and was signed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, and his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Abdallah bin Zayed Al Nahyan Abdallah . The second is instead a declaration on enhanced cooperation in the context of COP28, also signed by Tajani and Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technologies of the United Arab Emirates, as well as director general and CEO of Adnoc, and president designated by COP28. On the sidelines of the meeting, an agreement was also signed between Eni and Adnoc itself, the national oil company of the Emirates, which covers various areas of the energy transition.
The relaxation of relations between Italy and the Emirates
Meloni’s trip to Abu Dhabi follows that of Defense Minister Guido Crosetto last February. It had been the first step towards the relaunch of bilateral relations between the two states, after the tensions of recent years: the problems linked to the Etihad-Alitalia affair and the stop on the export of bombs and missiles to Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, decided during the second Conte government. Now, Meloni said, there is “a strong relationship with the Gulf State after years of difficulty”. Tajani also underlines how, after “the Italian presence in this area was somewhat lost”, the relationship now “is very good, since the new government has come on, the attitude has changed” and the climate “is positive”.
The war in Ukraine
Both in India and in the Emirates, the war in Ukraine was also on the table. For Meloni, New Delhi – as leader of the G20 – “can play a very important role in diplomacy in the ongoing international crises”, just as Abu Dhabi can “help facilitate this path to peace which must be based on a just peace for the Ukrainians” Then a reflection on China’s position: “I believe that Beijing’s attempt to insert itself diplomatically can be seen with interest”. Tajani instead recalled that Italy continues to push for “dialogue” between Moscow and Kiev: ” Blinken and Lavrov spoke in New Delhi, albeit briefly, and there are meetings in Switzerland”, he said. The head of the foreign ministry underlines how “the door to diplomacy must always be left open”, even if “it is not easy with a war in progress”. Rome is therefore working “to push Russia to stay calmer”, as “we also told the Indians”, highlights Tajani, who concludes: “Now let’s see how the Emiratis intend to move”.
Source-tg24.sky.it