Babacan - D'alema Joint Press Conference

BABACAN: TURKEY AND ITALY HAVE SIMILAR VIEWS ABOUT REGIONAL & GLOBAL MATTERS

ISTANBUL - Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said Thursday Turkey and Italy have similar views about regional and global matters.
Babacan and Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema held a joint press conference following the 4th Turkish-Italian Forum in Istanbul.
Before the press conference, Babacan and D'Alema signed a joint declaration on opening of Italian university in Istanbul.
Babacan told reporters that Turkish and Italian parliamentarians, businessmen, academicians, press members and representatives of non-governmental organizations convened for the forum. He added that participants exchanged views about political, cultural and economic issues during the forum.
They have discussed regional and international issues with D'Alema, Babacan said and added that they share the same views about further development of the comprehensive cooperation between Turkey and Italy in areas of economy, commerce, culture, tourism and defense.
Babacan said stance of Turkey and Italy towards problems in Middle East as well as Iraq, Lebanon, Israeli-Palestinian issues are similar.