Balkans, Israel, Africa there is agreement between the ministers

ROME – Crisis in the Middle East, disarmament, global challenges for peace and security in the world. These are the main issues discussed by the G8 foreign ministers in the two days of talks that preceded the Genoa summit. Yesterday, during a press conference at the Farnesina, representatives of world diplomacy illustrated the final document of their Roman meeting.

MIDDLE EAST – The sending of independent observers to the Middle East could make a decisive contribution to the implementation of the Mitchell plan and to the cooling of the crisis in the Middle East. The ministers stressed that the Mitchell plan is “the only way to stop the escalation of violence, and to revive the political process”. In this regard, they said they were agreeing with US Secretary of State Colin Powell, and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov.

GLOBALIZATION – «Globalization offers a solution precisely to the problems of the poor countries of the various parts of the world. It is misleading to say that it penalizes them, “said Colin Powell. “Naturally I am speaking of the countries that apply economic democracy: some states, like Cuba and Iraq, refuse to enjoy the benefits of the development that derives from globalization”.

MACEDONIA – As for Macedonia, the foreign ministers reaffirmed their defense of national sovereignty and multi-ethnicity. “The truce is important – commented Ruggiero – but the negotiation continues between the difficulties and it is necessary to soon find a solution to the problem of the Albanian language. Political contacts must be continued to help dialogue “.

DISARMMENT – Foreign Ministers underlined the commitment to promote respect for fundamental disarmament treaties. “We are not only referring to the ABM Treaty, but to the whole regime of the agreements governing the matter,” said Powell. “There is a relationship of mutual understanding on the need to preserve the most important treaties on strategic disarmament,” Ivanov reiterated.

AFRICA – As far as Africa is concerned, there was talk of fighting poverty, debt, opening up markets and the fund for AIDS. “We need to implement a conflict prevention policy,” Ruggiero added, “without waiting to intervene when they have already broken out.”

July 20 2001