Judicial collaboration with Egypt on
the case of Giulio Regeni, an Italian student tortured to death
in Cairo in January-February 2016, should proceed, Foreign
Minister Antonio Tajani said after meeting President Abdel
Fattah el-Sisi and Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty in the
Egyptian capital on Thursday.
So far there has been very little collaboration from Cairo on
Regeni, for whose murder four Egyptian security officers are on
trial in absentia in Rome.
"I said that we hope that judicial collaboration can proceed and
that the problem can be resolved to the satisfaction of both
countries, because it is right that there is a conclusion to an
ongoing judicial proceeding", said Tajani, who is also deputy
premier, after his talks with Sisi.
Tajani said he had registered Egyptian support on the issue of
immigration in his "very positive" talks and that Rome was
"totally" behind Cairo's mediation efforts on Gaza.
"President Sisi told me that he will do everything possible to
combat irregular immigration", also regarding the flows from
Bangladesh to Pakistan passing through Egypt to Libya and then
to Italy, Tajani told journalists at the end of the meeting with
the Egyptian president.
"I thanked him, the number of irregular migrants coming from
Egypt has greatly reduced, it is almost zero, while we are ready
to welcome regular migrants through the flows decree to increase
the number of Egyptian workers in Italian companies", he added.
Tajani spoke of a "very positive" meeting with Sisi, in which
many international and bilateral issues were addressed.
The Gaza crisis topped the agenda and the deputy prime minister
"reiterated Italy's total support for Egypt's efforts to mediate
between Hamas and Israel that will lead to a ceasefire, a
fundamental step for greater stability in the entire Middle
East".
During the face-to-face meeting, "support for the reconstruction
plan for Palestine" was also reiterated. Then there was a
"community of intent to try to guarantee freedom of navigation
through Suez".
Because the "Houthi attacks have caused enormous damage to
Egypt, seven billion dollars, and to us for exporting
companies".
Tajani with Sisi then confirmed "the intention to strengthen our
economic presence. Today we will present a volume of the Embassy
with all the opportunities for Italian companies in Egypt".
Tajani added that Sisi had voiced condolences for Pope Francis's
death.
President al Sisi expressed his condolences to Italy for the
loss of Pope Francis, he expressed very positive words towards
the pontiff and this pleased me. I will convey the message to
the Vatican".
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