mlon

The Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni discussed with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul issues of security and development in the Mediterranean, with a special focus on Libya, as well as the future of the African continent, with a spotlight on the upcoming Italian-African summit in Rome, according to sources cited by the Italian Nova Agency.

The Italian sources explained that the meeting held on Saturday represented an opportunity to exchange ideas about relations between the European Union and Turkey in the political, economic and commercial fields as well in light of recent joint communications from the Commission and the High Representative of the European Union.

The sources indicated that cooperation on the issue of immigration flows, the war in Gaza, the war in Ukraine, as well as Mediterranean security and the Italian presidency of the G7 were among the main topics that had been discussed in Istanbul at the Italian-Turkish summit in a meeting that lasted more than two hours.

"The main topic of the bilateral meeting is to strengthen cooperation in the immigration file between Italy and Turkey also with regard to Libya, as the two countries' foreign ministries intend to sign an agreement soon to limit the flow of illegal immigrants along the Italian-Turkish route." The sources said.