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Pelosi Statement on Delegation's Meetings with Italian President Mattarella,Other Top Italian Leadership

August 1, 2016

Contact: Drew Hammill/Caroline Behringer, 202-226-7616

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Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Members of the Congressional delegation meet with the  President of Italy, President Sergio Mattarella.

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Members of the Congressional delegation meet with the President of Italy, President Sergio Mattarella.

Rome – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released this statement following meetings with President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella, Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni, President of the Chamber of Deputies Laura Boldrini, and Archbishop Tomasi of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace on a Congressional Delegation visit to Italy:

“In our meeting with President Mattarella, we thanked him for Italy’s security cooperation with the United States as our close friend in NATO and for hosting our men and women in uniform, as well as our military families. We acknowledged Italy’s support for international security initiatives, including NATO training missions in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“Foreign Minister Gentiloni and President of the Chamber of Deputies Boldrini briefed us on the impact of the United Kingdom’s Brexit vote, and presented an optimistic view of the EU’s future and Italy’s leadership role in it.

“In our meetings, the delegation focused on counterterrorism, cyber security and other critical national security topics. We also discussed migration and the importance of a coordinated regional approach to address the challenge effectively, including ways to advance economic growth and expand opportunities to address the root causes of migration.

“Earlier in the day, our delegation members greeted the Marine Corps Detachment at the U.S. Embassy in Rome, followed by a country team briefing led by U.S. Ambassador to Italy John R. Phillips, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture David J. Lane, and U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Kenneth Hackett.

“A highlight on our visit was a meeting with Archbishop Silvano Tomasi to discuss climate change, migration and displaced persons, food security, human rights, and the imperative of global poverty reduction.”

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