Italian senate president lauds Russia’s role in fight against terrorism

Russia makes a most important contribution to efforts to fight against terrorism and maintain global stability, Italian Senate President Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati said, addressing the Russian Federation Council (the upper house of parliament) on Wednesday.

"One of the reasons why be believe that close cooperation between Russia and Italy, Russia and Europe, Russia and the West is crucial, is because we understand the most important role your country plays in maintaining the fragile balance on the international stage," she said, adding that it was a role "that may prove crucial in the face of the serious threat to global peace." "Russia performs the most important task of stabilizing the situation in conflict zones and fighting against terrorism in its many manifestations," Alberti Casellati stressed.

"I think it is very important for great powers such as the United States and Russia, together with other big foreign policy players to find a way to closely and constructively cooperate for the sake of stability and global security," the Italian senate president said.

She also pointed out that the European Union, NATO and Russia needed to create conditions to overcome sanctions, which were harmful to all, and build dialogue based on common features instead of emphasizing differences. "Without a doubt, there is more than a link but a set of features shared by Russia and Europe. There can be no talk about the European civilization without Russia," Alberti Casellati noted.