Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose position on the reception of shipwrecked migrants at the beginning of November had caused tensions with Paris, assured Tuesday November 29 that she had "
no problems with France
" and dialogue with Emmanuel Macron.
“
I never had any problems with France, and I still don't have any today.
Among other things, I had an exchange of messages with Emmanuel Macron a few days ago
, ”she said in this interview with the daily
Il Corriere della Sera
published on Tuesday.
Franco-Italian relations "not deteriorated"
According to Elysian sources, the French president exchanged messages on Saturday with Giorgia Meloni and notably "
expressed his support and solidarity after the dramatic events on the island of Ischia
", in the Bay of Naples (south), hit by a deadly landslide.
The same morning, Emmanuel Macron had celebrated the first anniversary of the Franco-Italian friendship treaty of the Quirinal with two tweets, one in each language, with a small video montage.
Two tweets to which Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani immediately responded, also on Twitter, stressing that these messages "
show that relations between our countries have not deteriorated
".
Read alsoOcean Viking: Giorgia Meloni shows her firmness on immigration
These demonstrations of friendship contrast with the tensions caused by the stranding of hundreds of migrants in early November off the coast of Italy on humanitarian ships.
The French government then denounced the “
unacceptable behavior
” of the Italian authorities, judging it “
contrary to the law of the sea and the spirit of European solidarity
”.
Critics kicked in touch Tuesday by the sovereignist leader: "
Beyond the statements of some members of the French government on migrants (...) our bilateral relations continue
".
The French president was the first foreign leader to meet Giorgia Meloni, the very day he took office on the sidelines of a trip to the Italian capital.
“It is normal for Italy and France to talk to each other”
Asked by the
Corriere
about the possibility of a new meeting with the French president, she replied that “
it is not yet on the calendar
”.
And to add: “
But we will certainly have to meet again
”.
“
We are people with government responsibilities working to find solutions.
It is normal for Italy and France to talk to each other
,” she concludes.
