Comments of Information and Press Department of MFA of Russia on Forthcoming Second "Two Plus Two" Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence of Russia and Italy in Moscow
20 April Moscow will host the second "two plus two" meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence of Russia and Italy. The Russian side is represented by S.V. Lavrov and A.E. Serdukov, the Italian one – by G. Terzi and G. di Paola respectively.
It was the sixth round of the top-level intergovernmental consultations under the chairmanship of the President of the Russian Federation and the Chairman of the Ministers of Italy on the 3rd of December 2009 in Rome when it was agreed to establish a new format of the two-way dialogue - the "two plus two" meetings of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence of Russia and Italy.
The first new-format meeting took place on the 20th of May 2010 in Rome. It demonstrated how useful it is to have wider consultations between the two countries on the international policy and security that allow efficiently "make sure we' are on the same page" in current mutually interesting issues, find appropriate responses to challenges and threatens of modern times.
The forthcoming Russian-Italian "two plus two" meeting is the first high-level bilateral political negotiation on a large number of the international and bilateral issues with the Italian partners since the new Cabinet of Italy has been formed. They aim to establish continuity in the bilateral political dialogue, contribute to strengthening comprehensive Russian-Italian strategic partnership, further gradual and dynamic development of political, military and military technology relations.
We have no doubts that like any Russian-Italian political dialogue these consultations will be held in frank, constructive and trustful atmosphere with deep mutual understanding.
The forthcoming "two plus two" meetings will see a wide exchange of opinions on key issues of the international agenda, as well as basic guidelines of interactions between Russia and Italy in foreign policy and military area.
The new architecture of European security is to be in the spotlight. The parties will analyze prospects of interactions within the Russia-NATO Council as well as within Russia-European Union relations including military and political components. Positions on anti-missile defence in Europe are meant to be checked.
The situation in the north of Africa, Syria, Afghanistan, and the Middle East settlement is to be in the limelight.
Independent meetings of S.V. Lavrov and G. Terzi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy, as well as A.E. Serdukov and G. di Paola, the Ministry of Defence of Italy are scheduled within consultations in Moscow.
The Ministers of Foreign Affairs will review the Russian-Italian relations, check schedule of the forthcoming bilateral high-level and top-level contacts. Among international issues scheduled for the meeting of S.V. Lavrov and G. Terzi are Iranian nuclear programme, reforms of the UN Security Council, interactions within the "Eight" and "Twenty".
The Ministers of Defence will discuss bilateral military and military technical cooperation.
18 April 2012
