President Luis Abinader, on a work-vacation in Italy, met on Monday, 27 May 2024 with Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinal Palace in Rome.
The Dominican Presidency reported that President Luis Abinader asked for backing from the Italian President for both countries to work on increasing direct flights from different parts of Italy. At present there are only flights from Rome and Milan. President Abinader says this would strengthen tourism and trade between both countries.
Likewise, President Abinader asked for Italy’s support and favorable voice to efforts of the multinational stabilization force planned for deployment in Haiti with the backing of the United Nations and the United States.
The Presidency of the Dominican Republic also reported that President Abinader asked for backing for the signing of a professional mobility agreement to bring Dominicans to Italy to work in strategic sectors to be determined. The agreement would enable Dominicans traveling under the framework of the agreement to enter without the requirements of the Schengen visa.
President Abinader asked Mattarella to advance the agreement for the homologation of the driver’s license for Dominicans living and working in Italy.
In addition, the President asked Mattarella for backing to open a cooperation channel to acquire Italian military equipment to continue strengthening the Dominican Armed Forces.
President Abinader thanked President Mattarella for the warm reception in Italy and took the opportunity to invite him to visit the Dominican Republic on the occasion of the celebration of the 170th anniversary of bilateral relations.
This bilateral meeting took place within the framework of the visit made by the Dominican head of state to participate in a private audience with His Holiness, Pope Francis.
Attending the meeting with President Mattarella were Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Julio Gómez, and the Dominican ambassador to Italy, Tony Raful.
President Abinader now continues with his family to Lisbon, Portugal where he is scheduled to meet his counterpart, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa at the Belem Palace before flying back to the Dominican Republic on 2 June 2024.
Read more in Spanish:
Presidency
Z101 Digital
El Caribe
El Dia
28 May 2024