the Republic of Italy
Participation of the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the Russian-Italian Forum on Civil Society and his meeting with the Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino
PRESS RELEASE
On the 25 November, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made a speech at the session of the Russian-Italian Forum on Civil Societyin Rome, which was organised by the Russian-Italian Forum for Dialogueon Civil Society. The session coincided with the work-related visit of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, to Italy on the 25-26 November. The main topics of discussion within the framework of this event were the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, the role of mass communication in the modern world, as well as the participation of youth in the public life of the two countries.
On the 26 November in Trieste, Sergey Lavrov conducted negotiations with the Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino, before the beginning of the 8th round of extended Russian-Italian interstate consultations at summit level, in which the heads of the foreign services of the two countries participate. The ministers devoted their main attention to topical international issues, including the situation in North Africa and the Middle East, Iran's Nuclear Programme, as well as the prospects of extension of bilateral cooperation in the antiterrorist sphere.
In particular, Sergey Lavrov and Emma Bonino spoke in favour of the creation of a bilateral work group on new challenges and threats, to act under their aegis in an interagency format, which would be subordinate to the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and the President of the Council of Ministers of Italy Enrico Letta.
Within the framework of the discussion of the situation in Syria, the topic of Russian-Italian interaction in chemical demilitarisation of the country was touched upon. During this conversation, several aspects of the bilateral agenda were also touched upon.
26 November 2013