Economic relations between Italy and Turkey and between businesses in the two countries, relations with the European Union and the situation in the Mediterranean. These were the topics discussed in consultations between the Secretary General of the Italian Foreign Ministry, Michele Valensise, and the Secretary General of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Feridun Sinirlioglu. The talks took place today, 29 May 2013, in Ankara.
The delegations reviewed the excellent state of bilateral relations, confirmed by the presence of over 1000 Italian businesses in Turkey, and the outlook for further development in this sphere. Italian-Turkish trade reached 15.8 billion euros in 2012.
Valensise and Sinirlioglu also underscored their two countries’ interest in and commitment to the inter-government Summit scheduled to take place in Turkey in the near future.
Ambassador Valensise reiterated Italy’s close interest in following Turkey’s European Union accession negotiations and our hope that they will make rapid progress. More specifically, Italy supports Turkey’s hopes to see the abolition of the visa requirement for Turkish citizens visiting European countries in the Schengen area.
Italy and Turkey also intend to strengthen political and economic relations with the countries of the Mediterranean.
“This was a fruitful and broad-ranging consultation with a country of great importance to Italy”, declared Secretary General Valensise. He was speaking at the close of the talks in Ankara, which also included the diplomatic advisers to the President of the Republic and Prime Minister. “We now have a firm plan of common initiatives, as identified by our two governments, that will boost and revitalise our relations with Turkey with almost immediate effect”.
