Asuncion, July 6th. Italian President Sergio Mattarella arrived in Paraguay on Thursday, where he will make an official visit through Saturday that will include a meeting with Paraguayan ruler Mario Abdo Benítez and a tour of the Itaipu hydroelectric power station, which that country shares with Brazil.
Paraguayan Foreign Minister Julio César Arriola received the Italian leader along with his daughter and First Lady Laura Mattarella at Silvio Pettirossi Airport, which serves Asunción.
The visiting delegation also includes Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Edmondo Cirielli.
In a statement, the Foreign Ministry stressed that this was the first time an Italian President had paid an official visit to Paraguay.
The ruler’s official agenda, which begins this Friday, includes an interview with Abdo Benítez, whose term of office ends on August 15.
The host and First Lady of Paraguay, Silvana López Moreira, will offer a luncheon at the Presidential Residence Mburuvicha Róga (or the House of the Leader in Guaraní) in honor of Mattarella.
Both dignitaries met last January on the occasion of Abdo Benítez’s visit to Rome, where the Paraguayan ruler was received with honors at the Quirinal Palace, seat of the Republic.
Mattarella will hold a private meeting with Paraguay’s President-elect Santiago Peña, who will receive him at his residence.
On Saturday, the President, who will also meet with the Italian community in Paraguay, plans to visit the facilities of Itaipu Binacional.
Mattarella arrived in Paraguay after visiting Chile.