Time.news – The Samp-T missile program, energy issues and immigration. The meeting that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, on the sidelines of the G20, focused on these issues. Meeting that the Turkish leader defined as “first, but very serious and resolute”.
Meloni gave Recep Tayyip Erdogan the willingness to resolve technical issues that have slowed down the programwhich the two countries have in progress with France for the development of the Samp-T missile defense system.
“I spoke to both the French president and the Italian premier about the Samp-T programme. Meloni told me that there were technical problems and he expressed his willingness to resolve the impasse as soon as possible. Our first meeting is been very serious and resolute, especially with regard to the defense sector”. “According to the Turkish leader, the outcome of the discussion on immigration was also positive and on relations with Libya.
© Mustafa Kamaci / Anadolu Agency / Afp
Recep Tayyip Erdogan
“We had a positive dialogue on energy, but in particular we discussed Libya and the dialogue we had on immigration was positive. I told her that we are waiting for them in Turkey to talk about it soon and that we want to continue the discussion on these issues together. She took note,” he said.
Relations to be revived, in the wake of the agreements with Draghi
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan later said he would rekindle relations between Turkey and Italy after a long period in which relations fell into the backgroundwhich coincided with the end of the mandates of former premier Silvio Berlusconi.
“We had a great level of cooperation with Berlusconi and his colleagues, including during the elections. He was determined to continue our cooperation in all areas, especially energy. In addition to energy, we also worked on immigration, a problem common to Turkey and Italy. We developed our relations in the defense sector with the Samp-T missile programme. Italy offered us support for entry into the European Union. Then for a long time our relations with the Italy have weakened. Now the time has come when we want to revive them. We signed agreements (in July with the Draghi government; ed) and we want to continue along this path with Italy”, said the Turkish president.