Dec. 09, 2018, DJIBOUTI (Djibouti): The Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy, H.E. Prof Emanuella De Re, today was on a courtesy visit at the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) where she was received by the Executive Secretary of the regional organisation, H.E. Amb (Eng) Mahboub Maalim.
The Vice Minister was accompanied by a large delegation made up of the Ambassador of Italy to Ethiopia and accredited to IGAD, Ministry’s officials and senior Embassy staff for this first time visit ever.
The Executive Secretary thanked the Vice Minister for the leadership role Italy has so far had as Chair of the IGAD Partners Forum and for the support provided to the IGAD Secretariat as well as to its Specialised Institutions across the region. He furthermore expressed his willingness to have IGAD build working relations with the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.
Amb Maalim also highlighted the partnership IGAD has established with the Carabinieri based at the Italian military base in Djibouti within the frameworks of the IGAD Centre of Excellence for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (CEPCVE).
After which the Italian delegation was taken on a tour to the premises of the IGAD CEPCVE where they were given a brief presentation by Director Dr Simon Nyambura.
The Vice Minister appreciated the achievements registered by the Centre in such a short period of time since its establishment. She specifically lauded the projects and activities IGAD CEPCVE has built with civil society and religious leaders, and called on stepping up engagements with the private sector
Overall, H.E. Prof De Re said that her visit to the IGAD Secretariat two months after she received Amb Maalim in Roma, was a sign of willingness from her ministry to step up the already strong relations. At this stage, she recommended IGAD to directly approach the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.
Earlier during the day, the Executive Secretary received the Director of African Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany, Mr. Robert Dölger. The two parties noted the substantive portfolio of programmes and projects funded by the government of Germany and committed to further deepening relations through, for instance, the potential accreditation of the Ambassador of Germany to Djibouti to also be accredited to the regional organisation.
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