Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the Deputy Minister commented “Italy is going through a sharp economic crisis. But, for our country, Mozambique is always Mozambique. It is a country in the hearts of Italians dating back many years. We will do everything we can, not only to increase financial aid, but also to assist Mozambicans so that they can make the best use of their country’s immense resources”.
The daily Mozambican newspaper “Noticias” pointed out that this continued support comes at a time when various international partners are cutting their contributions to Mozambique because of the financial crisis hitting Europe.
The trip to Italy is Prime Minister Vaquina’s first official visit to a European country since he took office in 2012.
On Thursday he was received by Pope Francis at the Vatican, where he also met with Vatican diplomats Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone and Archbishop Dominique Mamberti.
The Prime Minster also delivered a talk at a high level international forum held in Turin under the theme “Future Africa, between Democracy and Development”.
On Wednesday in Rome the Prime Minister dined with members the Sant’Egidio community, who played a central role in mediating peace talks between the Mozambican government and the rebel movement Renamo that led to the Rome General Peace Accords in 1992.
The head of the Sant’Egidio community, Matteo Zuppi, said on Thursday that he was confident that Mozambicans are capable of solving their problems.
He was responding to a question from “Noticias” about developments last week in Mozambique in which armed Renamo fighters attacked a police post in Muxungue in the central province of Sofala and murdered four members of the riot police. Two days later armed men, believed to be from Renamo, attacked four vehicles on the country’s main north-south highway, just 20 kilometres from Muxungue, killing three civilians.
Zuppi stated “I think that what is needed is for Mozambicans to rescue the spirit and not the letter of the General Peace Accord signed between the government and Renamo in 1992 here in Rome. That spirit demonstrated the ability of Mozambicans to resolve their problems, to resolve the country’s problems. I am convinced that with this same spirit Mozambicans can find the way to solve the current problems”.
Post published in: Africa News