This morning, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, had a long and pleasant telephone conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu. The dialogue between the two ministers – the fifth in four months – follows the one in the early hours of 6 February, when the earthquake that has so far killed more than 40,000 people in Türkiye and Syria, displaced 200,000, and affected a total of some 13.5 million people struck.
While once again expressing the strongest sympathy to the Turkish authorities and population for the human losses suffered on behalf of the Italian Government and the entire country, Deputy Prime Minister Tajani confirmed Italy’s unwavering support to Türkiye in its rescue efforts. This support was provided right from the very first hours following the earthquake and received the sincere gratitude of Minister Çavuşoğlu, who particularly appreciated the dispatch of a field hospital and volunteers made available by the Piedmont region.
“The Italian people are deeply affected by the news and the shocking images of the devastation caused by the earthquake,” remarked Deputy Prime Minister Tajani. “Italians are unfortunately very familiar with the devastation brought by earthquakes. In this case too, and in the name of our friendship, we will support the Turkish government in its rescue efforts, for as long as it takes”. Lastly, Deputy Prime Minister Tajani wished to thank Minister Çavuşoğlu for the efforts made so far by the Turkish authorities in the search for Italian compatriots, expressing full support for the work of the Turkish rescue teams in Kahramanmaras, where an Italian rescue team is also deployed.
