Italian foreign minister sees Turkey as model for regional countries

ISTANBUL (A.A) - Italian foreign minister said on Friday that his country saw Turkey as model of democracy-Islam harmony for regional countries. Giulia Terzi di Sant'Agata said that Turkey's economic and political development had indicated that the religion and democracy were associated. Italian governments were supporting Turkey's accession to the European Union (EU), Terzi said during the Eight Turkish-Italian Forum in Istanbul. Terzi defined Turkey as a strong and big country for Europe, and said Turkey had a significant economic progress and had a word to say in international arena. Italy had always been cooperating with Turkey against terrorism, international trafficking, and would also cooperate in developments regarding Iran and the Middle East, he said. Terzi said Turkey and Italy had worked to protect rights of civilians in Libya, and his country wanted a democratic Libya. Italy was also concerned about Syria, where violence had to be ended, he said. Terzi said Italy would object to violence staged by Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, and defined Turkey's stance on Syria as significant. The Italian foreign minister said Italy would extend necessary support to normalize the south Mediterranean, and their aim was not only to access to oil and gas reserves but to prepare a better future for young people.  Moreover, Terzi said Italy wanted to see Turkey in the EU, and the new Italian government would continue to support Turkey's EU membership bid.  Terzi also said Italy would do everything in its power for Turkey's EU accession, and the EU could not reach the point it wanted to reach without Turkey.