"It is in Turkey's interest that Syria remains a united country without fragmentation and that a government is formed that is inclusive of all the country's diversities". Italian Ambassador to Ankara Giorgio Marrapodi told ANSA on the sidelines of the Ambassadors' Conference at the Farnesina. On the subject of this dossier, Marrapodi recalled that Turkey "is playing the role of a global player, has recently been successful in mediation in the Horn of Africa, and is now playing an all-round game". And given that Syria is 'a neighbouring country and is important for the stability of the Middle East and the Mediterranean', it is in Turkey's interest to closely follow the evolution of the situation, the ambassador added.
Turning then to Italy-Turkey relations, Marrapodi noted that 2024 was a "positive" year, which began in January with a "fruitful visit by President Meloni to Istanbul, with a meeting with Erdogan, in which many initiatives were set in motion". The Italian Prime Minister's visit, moreover, 'was her first visit abroad as president of the G7, and this was much appreciated' by the Turkish authorities.
From the trade point of view, Marrapodi then reported, 'we are closing a year with record trade figures compared to the previous record of 2023, we will be very close to USD 30 billion. And we are working to start 2025 in a very positive way as well, having the fourth intergovernmental summit in the pipeline'.
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