ROMA (ITALPRESS) – “In that area and in all African countries there is a great demand for Italy. The governments of the region ask us to be more present. They appreciated the Mattei Plan and the fact that Italy does not act as a neo-colonial power”. Thus, in an interview with Il Messaggero, the deputypremier and foreign minister, Antonio Tajani. Today his first mission as Foreign Minister in Sub-Saharan Africa Mauritania, Senegal and Niger begins.
“Our strength – he explains – lies in a posture of true collaboration, without attitudes of superiority or the claim to take and not give. Ours is a reversed paradigm. Do not take away raw materials but help those countries transform those materials even with the work of our enterprises. The opposite of a colonialist approach. We have the duty, from Italians and Europeans, to be the first interlocutors of Africa and not to leave this function to China and Russia”.
Along with Tajani there will also be Piantedosi. “We decided to make this journey together – explains the vicepremier – because together we will also talk about fighting terrorism, the fight against illegal immigration and how to foster regular immigration. In short, the aspects to be dealt with are many. For example we have in Senegal many companies and in these days an important business forum in Dakar – where I will gather our ambassadors in Africa – and we have in Niger our military contingent”.
“We are still in Niger – remember -. Also because through the region of Agadez pass the trafficking of human beings and weapons. Its destination is often Libya, where there is strong influence of Russia. Italy wants to be the protagonist in such a crucial area of the Sahel which is the Niger. That besides is equipped with raw materials like uranium. Africa is a rich continent, inhabited in many of its parts by poor people. And we, with our knowledge, can promote the economic and social growth of these peoples. In the coming months we would like to hold a meeting of Sahel countries including Chad, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali to strengthen not only political relations but also economic relations and cooperation”.
“That Europe should count more is obvious – says Tajani –. There are those who want to make it count more and those less. I’m for the first option. Without Europe no country, and this also applies to Hungary, is able to compete in the world. As far as Italy is concerned, we have the opportunity to become, in Europe, the ambassador of Africa. With our companies and thanks to the Mattei Plan, we are doing so much: development cooperation, transformation of land not cultivated in agricultural lands, extractive activities and so on.”.
Eni “is the most requested player – adds -. Excellence. And we have more. In the budgetary law, there are funds to promote the internationalization of our excellent enterprises, including those working in Africa.”
Then, on the maneuver, he says: “This is a good financial institution. It helps the middle class with the reduction of Irpef, supports the poorest salaries, invests in health. On the banks, the Fi line passed. There are no taxes on extra profits but only a contribution, the result of an agreement definitively concluded at Mef by Giorgetti, vice-minister Leo and me with the representatives of the Abi”.
Concerning Salvini protesting, he defines “legitimate his position, but pacta sunt servanda”. And on the amendments in Parliament: “No additional tax on holiday homes, Article 18 to be settled (the one on dividends that penalizes enterprises with a double taxation) and you have to intervene on Metro C of Rome, metro of Milan and line Afragola-Napoli. Another priority for us is the solution of problems related to armed forces and police.”
Thursday the yes to the reform of Justice “will be a historical date”, says Tajani. And on the referendum, “we will win it, because citizens know that it is a right reform. I have already asked MPs Costa and Zanettin to start creating committees for Yes.”.
The left parties “if they want to give a shoulder, they do not give it to the government but to the Italian people. Meanwhile we at Fi, on 21 November, will organize events throughout Italy. And the day on which, in 1994, the announcement of the warranty notice to Berlusconi was published before it was notified. The beginning of a very long calvary. Now we are in another phase. And you will see that, as the Nordio reform aims to exalt the third judge, many voters also on the left will not follow the logic of the shoulder and vote according to conscience”.
– photo Ipa agency –
(ITALPRESS).
