ROME - "Daesh are trying to gain more land in Libya with ferocity and cynicism, a country with which we have strong links”, said Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi at the opening of the Rome Conference for Mediterranean Dialogue.  He confirmed that the "destruction of Daesh (ISIS) is the absolute priority."

  Over 200 leaders, from fields including politics, diplomacy, business, media and culture, including Russian and British foreign ministers Sergei Lavrov and Philip Hammond, will take part in the conference, which will run until Dec. 12.

  Renzi called for international cooperation to be developed, highlighting that “the US and Europe have a shared goal with Russia: the need to combat Daesh but we need a solution of strategic breadth and one that is not last minute."

  "The Mediterranean is an extraordinary area that can help build a new order and a new concept of prosperity between nations. There is no alternative to cooperation amongst all the peoples of the Mediterranean and the Middle East and of all faiths and cultural backgrounds”, said Renzi.

  "Culture is not the only weapon, but it is dialogue, discussion, our societies’ immune system against the rise of fanaticism". 

  Renzi also touched upon the issue of immigration and the infringement proceedings initiated by the EU: "Never ask Italy to give up what it is. Even if it were to cost us to lose votes, we will never stop, we will continue to save lives in Mediterranean, also taking criticism and insults” from some “other partners” in Europe. "I hope that the Mediterranean is not the place where civilisation is lost, the thought of which occurs to me when I hear the reactions of some other political parties, in response to the arrival of our brothers and sisters fleeing war," said Renzi.

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