‘Ukraine crisis needs efforts from global community’
NEW DELHI: The Ukraine conflict requires the global community to focus on the humanitarian crisis and steps that lead to an immediate ceasefire, Italian foreign minister Luigi Di Maio has said ahead of his talks with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar. In an interview with Rezaul H
Laskar, he said Italy will work with India to cope with the situation in Afghanistan, including the risk of a resurgence of terrorist threats. Edited excerpts:
What are the priorities during your engagements in India?
This is my first trip to India as Italian minister for foreign affairs and international cooperation. On Thursday in Bengaluru, we inaugurated a new consulate general. I had a very fruitful meeting with Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai. I visited the ISRO headquarters and witnessed the strong cooperation in place with the Italian Space Agency.
In Delhi, I will meet minister Jaishankar to move along our political agenda and take stock of progress made after the adoption of the Plan of Action in 2020. We are very satisfied with everything we have accomplished in the last two years: we are perfectly on track on the set targets. I will also meet commerce minister Piyush Goyal. We will chair a roundtable with CEOs of Italian and Indian companies to exchange experiences and promote new projects.
Will the Ukraine crisis come up in your talks in New Delhi? If so, what is the message you will convey?
Global affairs will be part of my conversations with foreign minister Jaishankar, including the current crisis in Ukraine, which requires efforts from all members of the international community on at least two fronts. On the one hand, it is important to tackle the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ukraine -- a crisis that is causing immense human and material losses. On the other hand, we urge an immediate ceasefire. The core principles underpinning peace and stability and an international order based on the UN Charter must be safeguarded.
The president of the European Commission was here last month. How do you see EU-India relations move forward in the future?
I am very glad to acknowledge that there is an intensive partnership between India and the EU, as shown by the achievements of the last few years and the very successful visit of the president of the European Commission last month. We firmly believe that global challenges such as the fight against the pandemic and climate change can only be tackled together, and we count on the EU Global Gateway initiative to enhance EU-India cooperation for investments in physical and digital connectivity. In this spirit, we look forward to restarting negotiations for a balanced and comprehensive free trade agreement, an agreement on protection of investments, and an agreement on protection of geographical indications.
Do you think recent developments have shifted attention
from Afghanistan? How can Italy and India work together on Afghanistan?
The seriousness of the situation in Afghanistan can hardly be overestimated. Last year, the Italian presidency of the G20 gave priority to the Afghan crisis. At the G20 extraordinary leaders’ meeting we convened in October, we recognised the leading role of the UN, notably in humanitarian assistance. We need to keep the international focus on the humanitarian emergency, on the condition of women and girls and respect of their fundamental rights, the economic crisis, and the risk of a resurgence of terrorist threats and illicit trafficking, with possible spillovers in the region. This is why Italy wants to continue to work for Afghanistan’s stability with all regional stakeholders, including India.
Could you tell us about progress in the strategic partnership for energy transition and the plan of action 2020-2024?
India made energy transition a priority and set remarkable targets, starting with the government’s plan to develop 500 GW in renewable energy by 2030. Last October, our prime ministers launched a full-fledged strategic partnership in energy transition. Many Italian companies are contributing to India’s great effort... With this in mind, Italy is planning with Indian counterparts an ItalyIndia TechSummit specifically on energy transition and green economy. We adopted the plan of action in 2020 with the aim of relaunching, across the board, the relations between our countries. After two years, many of the goals set out by the plan have been, or are being, achieved. I believe our ties have entered a new phase.
How can Italy and India cooperate in the Indo-Pacific, especially for transparent connectivity initiatives and post-Covid recovery?
Italy attaches great importance to the Indo-Pacific and its pivotal role for global economic development and stability. Italy is strongly committed to achieving the goals set in the EU’s Strategy for the Indo-Pacific. We believe that maritime cooperation will be an important pillar of the EU’s presence in the region... We look forward to strengthening our cooperation with India within this framework.