ITALY: NAPOLITANO, TURKEY ADDED VALUE FOR EUROPE

(ANSAmed) - ANKARA, NOVEMBER 17 - ''Turkey
represents an added value for Europe'', said Italy's President
Giorgio Napolitano after talks with his Turkish counterpart
Abdullah Gul.
It is necessary to continue, he added, negotiations for entry
''without obstructionism'' or second thoughts regarding the
''thoughtful, not superficial and still valid'' decision of the
European Council in 2004.
''In a world profoundly changed as the one we live in'',
said Napolitano, ''the European Union could play a decisive role
only if it is more united, more integrated with more consistent
and various presences. In the sense that Turkey is an added
value for Europe''.
Napolitano repeated Rome's support of Rome entry process of
Turkey to the European Union, ''Italy remains faithful to the
commitment signed in the 2004 Council of Europe together with
other countries in the European Union. Any opinion on Turkey
joining can be expressed but the 2004 decision remains a firm
point''.
Abdullah Gul thanked Napolitano for these considerations and
for supporting the adhesion process. ''Europe which tore down
the Berlin Wall twenty years ago perhaps wants to build another
one somewhere else to exclude Turkey? If this is so, it is a
lack of vision of the interests of Europe itself'', said the
Turkish president, underlining that there are common visions
between Italy and Turkey on this point and numerous points of
the international agenda.
Napolitano also pointed out the full identity of opinion with
the UN reform and the common participation in Nato and EU
missions in Afghanistan, the Balkans and other regions.
The meeting showed the excellent level of bilateral
relations, called by Napolitano ''exceptionally positive with
ulterior possible of development''. On the economic plan, he
said this prospective will be discussed in December during the
Italy-Turkey summit. Napolitano also referred to the talks
scheduled today in Rome between Turkish prime minister Erdogan
and Italian premier, Silvio Berlusconi during the FAO
summit.(ANSAmed).