BRINDISI – At the end of the dinner, photo overlooking the port of Brindisi, where the Palinuro ship is moored, illuminated with the tricolour. Thus concluded the reception of the G7 leaders which took place yesterday evening (Thursday 12 June) at the Castello Svevo in Brindisi. The dinner was hosted by the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, accompanied by his daughter Laura. The Head of State landed around 7pm yesterday at the Salento Airport, where he was welcomed by the prefect Luigi Carnevale.
Then the presidential procession set off towards the castle, crossing a deserted Brindisi. All access roads to the Navy base were patrolled by police vans in anti-riot gear. Only residents had freedom of movement. But even the castle, for them, was off limits.
Flanked by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Mattarella welcomed, one by one, the presidents and prime ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, the United Kingdom, as well as the president of the European Commission and the president of the Council of the European Union. Joe Biden was absent, tired from the flight across the Atlantic and from the busy agenda of commitments that characterized the first day of the summit, which culminated with the signing of an agreement between the American president and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.
Some leaders were accompanied by their respective first ladies, for whom a sort of tourist tour was organized between the provinces of Brindisi and Bari, while their husbands were busy with the summit, in the Borgo Egnazia resort.
Local wines and bitters
The catering was handled by Pierangelo Argentieri, president of Federalberghi and director of Tenuta Moreno. The meals were accompanied by over 20 types of wines, including local ones. The Carduus amaro was served, created by the young people from Brindisi Francesco Lillo and Fabrizio Di Rienzo. Around midnight, the reception ended and the guests returned to Borgo Egnazia and the other resorts in the Savelletri area.
The Pope is awaited
Today will be characterized by the arrival of Pope Francis. Bergoglio will arrive at the summit venue by helicopter. Landing is scheduled for 1.30pm. In the afternoon he will participate in the session dedicated to artificial intelligence, energy, Africa-Mediterranean. It is the first time in history that a pontiff participates in the summit.
Meloni – Macron controversy on abortion
Yesterday was animated by a diatribe between Meloni and the French president Macron, on the topic of abortion. “It is regrettable – said Macron – that the word abortion is missing from the final declaration of the G7”. The Prime Minister’s reaction was immediate: “There is no reason to argue about issues that we have already agreed on for some time. I believe it is profoundly wrong to campaign using the G7.”
The US-Ukraine agreement
Of great importance is the security agreement which, as mentioned, was signed by Zelensky and Biden, which commits America to supporting Kiev for the next 10 years. “Today is truly historic,” Zelensky said in a joint press conference with the American president. “This agreement clearly states that US efforts to support Ukraine are aimed at victory,” the president added Ukrainian, underlining some aspects of the agreement, which in general “concerns the daily life of our citizens”.
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