New York, October 31, 2018. The Italian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Mariangela Zappia, hosted today in New York a meeting with representatives of Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, member countries of the IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority) on Development) - whose IGAD Partners Forum is co-chaired by Italy - and with some members of the Security Council. The meeting made it possible to take stock of the process of normalization of relations in the Horn of Africa, to which the historic peace agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea gave an embrace, and to promote the coordinated support of the international community, the United Nations and regional and sub-regional organizations, such as the African Union and IGAD, to the processes of political cooperation and regional economic integration.

At the meeting, Ambassador Zappia greeted the rapprochement between Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia, the recent signing of the Revitalized Peace Agreement for South Sudan and the election of the first woman president of Ethiopia and unique Head of State woman in Africa, Sahle-Work Zewde. The Italian Permanent Representative highlighted Italy's interest in strengthening the partnership with the countries of the region on the basis of an integrated approach that includes intensification of economic relations and investment opportunities, development cooperation and humanitarian assistance, with the aim to contribute to the efforts of these countries to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda and African Union Agenda 2063.