President Mohamed Nasheed has today met with Hon. Gianni Vernetti, MP from Italy and a former Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. The meeting was held Thursday afternoon at the President’s Office.

Discussions at the meeting were mainly focused on strengthening relations between the Maldives and Italy and on the issue of climate change.

Hon. Vernetti commended the President’s “leadership at the Copenhagen Summit”, especially his efforts to highlight the vulnerability of small island states.

President Nasheed stressed the importance for countries to work together to reach a legally binding agreement on climate change.

The meeting was also attended by Vice President Dr Mohamed Waheed, Special Envoy of the President Ibrahim Hussain Zaki and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Ahmed Shaheed.