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| THE ROMANIAN PRESIDENT'S VISIT TO ITALY 08/09 |
| (2008-09-08) |
| Last updated: 2008-09-09 14:32 EET |
Two months ago, the head of state had made another short visit to Rome, where he met Premier Silvio Berlusconi, but not his counterpart Giorgio Napolitano. This time around, the presidents of Romania and Italy had a meeting, during which they discussed the situation in the Caucasus and the relations between the European Union and the Russian Federation.
Quite predictably, the two officials also looked at the problems created by some of the Romanians in Italy, and the conclusion was reached that such problems should be addressed through close cooperation between relevant institutions in the two states. In this context, Basescu and Napolitano emphasised the need to integrate the gypsy community in the society and to design a European strategy regarding the Roma.
The status of the about three million Romanians who live in Italy and other European states was also discussed during the audience given to Traian Basescu on Saturday by Pope Benedict the 16th, and during Basescu's talks with cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, secretary of state with the Holy See. Traian Basescu noted that the Vatican had a fair attitude as regards the Romanians in Italy, and that the Catholic Church gave substantial support to the Orthodox Romanians who live in Catholic states in the European Union. He mentioned that tens of churches hosted Romania's Orthodox religious services. The president of Romania also highlighted:
“Whether we talked about the situation in Kosovo or in Georgia, or about current affairs in Europe, our views were remarkably convergent, and this is because both Vatican and Romania promote a Europe of values.”
Traian Basescu renewed an invitation made in 2006 to Pope Benedict the 16th to visit Romania. The Romanian president also met Prince Fra Matthew Festing, the grand master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, as well as members of the Romanian Greek-Catholic and Roman-Catholic community in Italy, and, of course, of the Orthodox Romanian community in this country. This latter meeting was occasioned by a special event: the opening of the Romanian Orthodox Bishopric in Italy. The head of state noted the importance of the Church to the Romanians who live abroad, and invited them to return. Traian Basescu:
“Today, without doubt, you earn higher wages here. But I can assure you that in 3-4 years' time, salaries back home will be comparable to those in Italy, and living far from your home will no longer be worth it. This is why I urge you to look ahead, and think things in the perspective of the next 3 to 4 years. Romania will need you home, just as today it needs your money in Romanian banks.”
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2025-04-04
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