The Group of Seven (G8) most
industrialised countries should weigh whether it could soon be
the right time to allow Russia back into the fold, recreating
the G8, Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said Tuesday.
Briefing a joint session of the House and Senate foreign
affairs committees on the foreign ministry's policy programme,
Alfano said that "if we are talking to Russia in all the most
delicate international crises" then "we will have to assess the
conditions to return" to a G8 from the G7, although this may not
be possible as early as the G7 meeting at Taormina in Sicily 0n
May 26-27.
Alfano said that "Russia is a reliable partner in energy
provision and very useful in the fight against international
terrorism".
Alfano also said that Rome would protect its interests
vis-a-vis the UK, and its citizens there, after Brexit.
Alfano said that he told British Prime Minister Theresa May
last month that the government "defends the national interest,
defending the presence of Italians in Great Britain" over
Brexit.
He said "the United Kingdom is set to leave the Union
but not Europe. There are European forums that must make us stay
united on security matters."
On the incoming Trump administration, Alfano said "I am
convinced that transatlantic values will emerge consolidated" by
relations with Donald Trump's administration because "we have
the right and duty to respect the decisions of that great
democracy" with "trust" and not "hostility".
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