2009-01-29
Rome 27 January 2009
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Franco Frattini, had a telephone conversation this evening with the British Minister for Development, Douglas Alexander.
The two ministers discussed the relationship between the G8 and the G20, and expressed their hope for increasingly effective coordination between the two.
Reiterating the G8’s continuing central role in addressing the major global governance issues, Frattini emphasised the importance of strengthening dialogue with partner countries and recipients of G8 initiatives in crucial sectors such as the effort to achieve growth in Africa, development aid policies and the protection of the environment.
Minister Frattini noted that the Global Partnership for Agriculture and Food Security is a priority issue for the Italian G8 Presidency.
The two ministers also touched on the G20’s role in working towards the necessary reform of the international financial institutions, in light of the mandate received from the meeting in Washington last November.
Their phone conversation also gave Minister Frattini and Minister Alexander an opportunity to exchange views on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, especially as regards the steps taken by Italy as G8 President to coordinate the humanitarian aid effort. They also exchanged views on the prospects for peace and stability in the area.