(ANSA) - ROME, 30 DIC - "Italy has not pulled back and has made, thanks to its national military capabilities in the medical field, its contribution to support the Kosovar authorities in the fight against Covid-19. We are asking the European Commission to accelerate the acquisition of vaccines for the benefit of Italian citizens. Still, I believe it's important and urgent that the Commission also takes a specific initiative to purchase directly and as soon as possible further vaccine doses for the populations of the Western Balkans, severely hit by the pandemic." That is what Italian Foreign Minister, Luigi Di Maio, said during his visit to the Italian contingent deployed in Kosovo.

"As I explained to Commissioner Varhelyi, this initiative - Di Maio explained - would make it possible to ensure adequate and timely vaccination coverage also in the countries of the Western Balkans, in the interest of Europe and especially Italy, even in the light of intense relations among the communities of our countries.

Furthermore, it could give our partners in the Balkans an important signal of closeness and concrete solidarity, in line with our support for those countries' European path. Finally, it would allow us to avoid a vacuum of a European initiative to be filled by other competitors." (ANSA).