Rome, 16 March (LaPresse) – ‘The Foreign Ministry was aware of the meeting, which took place several months ago. This is not an anomaly: it is standard practice for deputy ministers to meet with duly accredited ambassadors from countries with which relations are complex, not least to avoid putting the minister directly in the spotlight.’ This was confirmed to LaPresse by Deputy Foreign Minister Edmondo Cirielli, in response to reports in Corriere della Sera regarding a meeting he held with the Russian ambassador to Italy, of which the government was allegedly unaware and which is said to have irritated Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Cirielli himself describes these accounts as ‘completely without foundation’.
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