Italy's foreign minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi made a one-day visit to Greece on Thursday aimed at boosting bilateral cooperation to stabilise the Mediterranean region and "better regulating" the migrant influx, the foreign ministry said in statement on Thursday.
During talks with Greece's president Prokopīos Pavlopoulos and with foreign minister Nikos Dendias, Moavero will "propose possible joint initiatives aimed, on the one hand, at fostering the overall stabilisation of the area with the cessation of many of the ongoing conflicts," said the statement.
"On the other hand, (Moavero will put forward proposals aimed at) better regulating the large migration flows through a full and solidarity-based engagement of the European Union Member Countries and Institutions," the statement continued.
Italy and Greece "share the same geographical position" in Mediterranean and consequently the same challenges and opportunities, the statement noted.
During his visit Moavero will also discuss with Dendias the EU accession process of Western Balkan countries and the positions Italy and Greece will adopt at upcoming EU leaders summits, said the statement.
Moavero's visit is also aimed at setting up regular consultations between Italy and Greece to "effectively coordinate their respective positions" at "multilateral forums" including the United Nations, NATO and the EU, the statement added.
Moavero will be the first EU foreign minister to hold talks in Athens with members of the new Greek government which took office after the centre-right New Democracy won a landslide victory in snap elections in July, the statement pointed out.
"Greeks and Italians are bound by age-hold close relations and a multi-millennial civilization. On this special and sound basis rests the present relationship of close and affectionate friendship as well as the natural and ample convergence of their respective political interests and economic priorities," the statement said.
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