Italy plays a key strategic role in the Union for the Mediterranean

• UfM Secretary General Fathallah Sijilmassi held talks with the Italian ‎Minister of Foreign Affairs. ‎

• UfM Secretary General Fathallah Sijilmassi held talks with the Italian ‎Minister of Foreign Affairs. ‎• A delegation from the UfM Secretariat exchanged views with Italian officials ‎and stakeholders on UfM activities and initiatives

Rome, 26 February 2015. A high-level delegation from the UfM Secretariat, led by its Secretary General Fathallah Sijilmassi, held talks  today at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome with the Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Paolo Gentiloni, and the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs , Mr. Benedetto Della Vedova.

During his meeting with the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Secretary General Sijilmassi stated:  “Italy plays a key strategic role in the Union for the Mediterranean. Italy’s presidency of the EU in 2014 enabled successfully to put Mediterranean issues at the heart of the international agenda. The UFM Secretariat is committed to work closely with Italy with the aim of fostering regional dialogue and strengthening cooperation between the two shores of the Mediterranean.”

The UfM delegation, which also included the Special Representative, Amb. George Saliba; and the Political Advisor to the Secretary General, Amb. Ihab Fahmy, held a meeting with a group of Italian officials and stakeholders, during which the Secretary General Sijilmassi reviewed the activities and efforts of the UfM Secretariat in boosting regional integration and fostering sustainable socio-economic development in the Euro-Mediterranean region.