No to Palestine as symbolism - Gentiloni

(ANSA) - Rome, October 26 - The formal recognition of Palestine must be reserved for a time when it will be useful for the peace process, not simply as a symbolic act, Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said on Wednesday.
    During a question-and-answer session in the Lower House, Gentiloni said Italy's position is "clear and consistent" in calling for the establishment of two states, Israel and Palestine.
    "We continue to cooperate in this with the Palestinian authorities and we make our voice heard, as it will be next Saturday with President Mattarella's mission," he said.
    Mattarella will arrive in Jerusalem on October 29 and remain until November 2 for institutional meetings in Israel as well as talks with the Palestinian National Authority.
    "Negotiations are stalled, which produces elements of great difficulty such as the proliferation of settlements and violence, which we condemn without ifs, ands or buts," Gentiloni said, adding that recognition of a formal Palestinian state "must be a step within this process".