(Finance) – Unity of intent on the war in Ukraine and for the stabilization of Libya. This is the message that emerged from the intergornative summit between Italy and Turkey held today in Ankara. At the end of the meeting with the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the premier Mario Draghi he spoke of a “common will to strengthen collaboration” which sees “Italy and Turkey as partners, friends and allies”.
Erdogan he acknowledged that Italy had “always guaranteed its support” to “increase the prospect of Turkey’s accession to the EU”.
During the summit which saw, together with Draghi, the ministers Luigi Di Maio, Giancarlo Giorgetti, Roberto Cingolani, Lorenzo Guerini And Luciana Lamorgesethe two countries have signed 9 agreements aimed at strengthening cooperation. The Turkish president has made it known that the goal for this year is to reach a ‘economic exchange of 25 billion dollars.
The war in Ukraine was at the center of the meeting. “Italy and Turkey – underlined Draghi – are united in the condemnation of the Russian invasion” and “in support for Kiev”, but at the same time they find themselves “at the forefront of seeking a negotiated solution that will stop hostilities and guarantee a stable peace. and lasting. A peace that Ukraine and President Zelensky deem acceptable “.
Among the dossiers discussed the release of still grain in the ports of the Black Sea is crucial which sees Turkey playing a leading role, under the aegis of the UN. “We must release these supplies and those of fertilizers as soon as possible – said Draghi – to avoid a humanitarian and social catastrophe in the poorest countries in the world. At the G7 summit held in Elmau, Antonio Guterres described the outlines of the plan on which the nations are working Unite, which envisages a central role for Turkey. I hope that Russia can give the green light to this initiative, also as a calming signal for future peace negotiations “.
The Libyan question is also on the table. “Peace and stabilization of Libya are priority objectives of Italy and Turkey. We have agreed to do everything possible to restore peace and stability to Libya. Our coordination will become closer in the future,” said the prime minister.
However, it remains to be managed migrant issue. “The management of immigration must be humane, fair and effective. We try to save lives. But we also need to understand that a country that welcomes can no longer take it – said Draghi -. It is a problem that Minister Lamorgese has raised. in Europe, he said it here and we will tell Greece when we meet it. Perhaps we are the least discriminating and open country, but we too have limits and now we have arrived “. For Erdogan “Greece has begun to be a threat to Italy too”. The shift leader also accused Athens of pushing back migrants to the Aegean.