BRATISLAVA, April 15, (WEBNOVINY) – The level of cooperation between Slovakia and Italy is traditionally good, Presidents of both countries, Ivan Gasparovic and Giorgio Napolitano, agreed during their Friday’s talks. As President Gasparovic later said at a press conference, they both appreciated the traditionally good bilateral relations in the areas of business, science or culture. They also discussed problems of the European Union, topical international issues including the situation in North Africa and the Middle East, as well as refugees from Libya, who travel to Malta and Italy in great numbers.
According to Ivan Gasparovic, the conflict in Libya still is a problem, as the international community failed to predict what impacts its actions will have on the Libyan citizens. Gasparovic also said that Slovakia supports “everything that would help the Libyan citizens, what will help the Libyans to build up a democratic environment. …yet without its direct participation in military actions.”
Italian President Giorgio Napolitano defended Prime Minister Berlusconi’s decision to grant temporary residence permits to thousands of Tunisian migrants, which allows them to move freely within all Schengen countries. According to him, this decision is based on the applicable Italian law on immigration and no one “has the right to criticize Italy for applying the laws valid in its territory on its territory.” Gasparovic considers eventual implementation of the respective decree unfortunate. He thinks that there is a need to seek a common decision and re-evaluate democratic principles. “Democracy, too, must have certain boundaries,” said Gasparovic. Both presidents also discussed the future of Slovak energy industry and nuclear plants.
Napolitano also met Prime Minister Iveta Radicova and is slated to meet Parliament Speaker Richard Sulik later on Friday.
SITA