State secretary discusses EU topics, minority issues in Rome
Rome, 31 January - Foreign Ministry State Secretary Marko Štucin was on a working visit in Rome on Monday to discuss topical EU issues, bilateral relations and the problems of the Slovenian minority in Italy, the Foreign Ministry said in press release.
Ljubljana
Foreign Ministry State Secretary Marko Štucin.
Photo: Bor Slana/STA
Štucin and Italian Minister for European Affairs Raffaele Fitto exchanged views on topical EU issues and preparations for the next EU summit, which will focus on migration among other topics.
The pair also talked about the connections in energy and infrastructure, and about the Western Balkans. They stressed the importance of the international community's unity in providing aid to Ukraine.
Štucin also met Edmondo Cirielli, deputy minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, to reaffirm the close bilateral relations and regular dialogue between Slovenia and Italy.
The pair also called for cooperation in energy, infrastructure and managing migration flows, and expressed support to the EU enlargement to the Western Balkans.
Štucin and Cirielli stressed the importance of the Slovenian minority in Italy and the Italian minority in Slovenia, noting their potential to strengthen the relations between the countries.
The state secretary also discussed the issues of the Slovenian minority in Italy with Wanda Ferro, an Interior Ministry official. They agreed the institutional working body for the Slovenian minority should convene a session as soon as possible.