RSS
President Klaus Iohannis had talks with his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella at the Cotroceni Palace
President Klaus Iohannis stressed on Tuesday, during talks with his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella, the need to continue joint efforts of support of the Romanian community in Italy and to increase the Romanians' participation in the social and political live of the Peninsula.
"I had today, with my counterpart, consistent talks, in the spirit of the Consolidated Strategic Partnership between Romania and Italy and of the very special relationship our countries share. We talk about a relationship based on the presence of a very important Romanian community in Italy and of a significant Italian community in Romania, most of it a business community in Romania, which adds to the Italian historical minority in our country. I thank President Mattarella, for he is a counterpart open to the problems of the Romanian community in Italy and one of the influential voices that encourage permanently the its integration process, by maintaining the Romanian identity. From this perspective, we have stressed during talks the need to continue the joint efforts to support the Romanian community in Italy and increase their participation in the social and political life of the Peninsula," said Iohannis in the joint statement with his Italian counterpart.
He emphasized that efforts should also be made to preserve the linguistic and cultural identity of the Romanian community and to capitalize its very important economic potential in the bilateral relations.
Iohannis mentioned that he and Mattarella agreed to bring the economic cooperation to a higher level, showing that the commercial exchanges have already reached a record value of over 13 billion euro at end-2015, with Italy the second commercial partner of Romania.
In his turn, the Italian head of state said that the Romanians in Italy are an increasingly more integrated community.
"The friendship between Romania and Italy is really profound. We share a large historical and cultural heritage, strong, solid roots from ancient times that explain why there is such a strong Romanian community in Italy, and on the other hand, we have in Romania a large number of Italians who participate in the country's economic and cultural life. In Italy, the large Romanian community is highly appreciated and ever better integrated. The Italian community in Romania is in its turn dynamic and active, and there are two manifestations of the friendship that exists not only between the institutions of Italy and Romania, but in particular between the two peoples, and this condition was strengthened by the shared membership of the EU and NATO," said Mattarella.
He added that the cooperation level between the two countries is truly exemplary, also within the EU.
President Iohannis bestowed on his Italian counterpart the Order of the Star of Romania in rank of Collar, and received from him Italy's Order of the Star in rank of Collar.