Italy Rejects Paying Ransoms to Free Hostages, FM Di Sant’Agata

Italy firmly rejects paying ransoms to terror groups to free kidnapped people, Foreign Minister, Giulio Terzi Di Sant’Agata, said Tuesday in Algiers.

In a joint press conference with his Algerian counterpart, Mourad Medelci, Mr Di Sant’Agata said “Italy rejects firmly paying ransoms, because it enables terror groups and organized crime gangs to acquire direct and indirect financial source.” Mr Di Sant’Agata stated that “an international cooperation in terms of managing issues related to terro groups’ kidnapping, is a must,” adding that “Algeria has a key role to play to lift such a challenge (counterterrorism),” as he hailed the North African’s efforts in terms of countering the threats of al-Qaeda in the Maghreb and the Sahel regions. The issue of the Italian nationals who are held as hostages by AQIM has been raised. In this regard, Mr Medelci said he hopes that the two Italian nationals to be released and return back to their dears, just like it was the case with 14 Algerian sailors who were released by Somali pirates in Januarry after one year abduction and suffering. Algeria cannot work alone in terms of countering terrorism in the region, the Algerian top diplomat said, calling for the adoption of a regional strategy in the matter. Mr Di Sant’Agata is paying an official visit to the North African nation at the invitation of his counterpart, Mourad Medelci.