Italy

Italy pushes for extraordinary G20 summit on Afghanistan

cde.news desk 19 August 2021, 12:40 · 1 min read

epa09099402 Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi during a press conference, in Rome, Italy, 26 March 2021. Draghi told a press conference that Italy's schools up to the first year of middle school are set to reopen. Around eight in 10 pupils in Italy are currently doing lessons via distance learning due to COVID-19 restrictions. EPA-EFE/ROBERTO MONALDO/LAPRESSE / POOL

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi is working to organise a summit of the Group of 20 major economies on the situation in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover at the weekend, newspapers La Repubblica and Il Messaggero said on Thursday.

Italy holds the rotating G20 presidency this year and a possible meeting is expected to be held before October’s scheduled summit in Rome, La Repubblica said.

Draghi is expected to discuss the matter with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, the two dailies added.

A spokesperson for the prime minister’s office was not immediately available for comment.

An online meeting of leaders of the G7 grouping has already been scheduled for next week to discuss a common strategy and approach on the situation in Afghanistan.

Photo: Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. EPA-EFE/ROBERTO MONALDO/LAPRESSE / POOL