In addition to Foreign Secretary Alfredo Mantica, senior officials from the Italian Presidency and Foreign Ministry will accompany Napolitano on the visit, Gül’s office said in a written statement.On the occasion of the visit, Italy and Turkey will exchange views on Turkey’s European Union membership process and global affairs, while also seeking diversification and a strengthening of fields of cooperation, the statement said.
“The visit is expected to serve to further develop deeply rooted relations between our [two] friendly and [allied] countries, which have united around joint democratic values in Europe and the Mediterranean Basin, and to offer the opportunity to solidify strategic cooperation and dialogue between Turkey and Italy,” it said.
Following their talks in Ankara, Napolitano and the accompanying delegation will proceed to the Aegean city of İzmir and will meet with Italian citizens living in Turkey there.
The last presidential visit from Italy to Turkey was paid in November 2005 by then-Italian President Carlo Azeglio. Italy is among the firm supporters of Turkey’s EU accession.
