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The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Renato Ruggiero, met with the US Secretary of State Colin Powell this morning at the Farnesina. Mr. Powell is in Rome for today's G8 Ministerial Meeting in Villa Madama, the main topics of which were at the centre of their talks, along with the reaffirmation of the excellent state of bilateral relations between the two countries.

Foreign Minister Ruggiero and Secretary of State Powell expressed the belief that in order to successfully meet the major challenges of the 21st century, of which the fight against poverty and underdevelopment are a top priority, increasingly close co-operation is necessary among the eight countries, the international organisations active in the field, and the other members of the international community directly concerned. On this subject, the importance was also stressed of undertaking appropriate initiatives to extend and deepen the dialogue with civil society.

The hope was highlighted that the Summit of Heads of State and Government in Genoa may lead to a reinforcement of the common commitment shared by G8 countries to find a solution to the most serious regional crises, and towards the affirmation of the principles of democracy, peace, co-operation and development promotion.

With regard to international current affairs, on which today's ministerial meeting will be focused, the two Foreign Ministers spoke at length about the situation in Macedonia and in the Middle East, about cooperation between the United States and the European Union in the Balkans, and about the development of transatlantic relations in the field of security, in relation also to the Atlantic Alliance.

As far as the Balkans are concerned, both sides stressed the importance of continuing the positive cooperation underway between the United States and the European Union, with regard both to the action of support for the former Yugoslavia and to the joint activities of their respective envoys in Macedonia, in order to preserve its sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and to foster a political solution to the crisis underway. The importance was underlined of a renewed Russian commitment along the same lines as Europe and the United States. The Secretary of State underlined the full appreciation of the US of the role that Italy plays in the Balkans on the political level, as well as its military commitment aimed at peace keeping and stability.

With regard to the European security and defence dimension, the two Foreign Ministers placed emphasis on the convergence of views between Italy and the United States, pointing out that this is an element of reinforcement of transatlantic relations.

On the subject of the Middle East – with regard to which both sides expressed their concern about the situation and pointed out the urgent need to foster the right conditions for the peace process to get back on track on the basis of the Mitchell plan – stock was taken of the negotiation process and a review was made of the possible initiatives to stop the spiral of violence which – it was stressed – if not rapidly interrupted risks making the possibility of a resumption of the dialogue between the sides increasingly uncertain.