ANKARA - Festa della Repubblica, the foundation anniversary of Italian republic was celebrated in Ankara with a reception hosted by the Italian Embassy in Ankara.
Turkish Deputy PM Nazim Ekren and other Senior Turkish officials attended the reception.
Speaking at the reception Ekren said both Italy and Turkey were inheritors of two great empires in history, and pointed out that high level visits between the two countries helped enhance the deep rooted relations.
Ekren expressed his belief that relations would enhance further during Italay`s newly elected PM Silvio Berlusconi`s term in office. He thanked Italy for its support to Turkey`s EU bid.
Italy`s Ambassador to Turkey Carlo Marsili delivered a speech in Turkish and said relations between the two countries were in a perfect level. He said, "we are one of the biggest supporters of Turkey`s EU membership bid. Italy which knows that an EU without Turkey is unthinkable, wants Turkey`s accession to the EU in the shortest possible time."
Marsili said Italy was Turkey`s 3rd largest trade partner. He said cultural relations with Turkey were also on a good level and pointed out that they reached an agreement with Turkey to found a Turkish-Italian University in Istanbul.
Festa della Repubblica is celebrated on the second day of June, and it commemorates the institutional referendum of 1946 when (by universal suffrage) the Italian population was called to decide what form of government (monarchy or republic) to give to the country after the second world war and the fall of Fascism.
After 85 years of monarchy, with 12,717,923 votes for and 10,719,284 votes against, Italy became a Republic, and the monarchs of the House of Savoy were deposed and exiled. This is one of the most important Italian public holidays celebrates the birth of the nation.
(OZG-AY)