Italy supports „with conviction” Romania’s full accession to the Schengen Area, Ambassador Alfredo Maria Durante Mangoni said on Monday, at the reception organized on the occasion of his country’s National Day, attended by the Romanian Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu.

„We received with great joy the lifting of controls at your air and maritime borders, and we strongly support Romania’s full accession to the Schengen Area,” the diplomat said.

He emphasized that Romania and Italy have a common vision regarding many files at the EU and NATO level. Alfredo Maria Durante Mangoni recalled the involvement of his country, as an allied state, in strengthening security on the Eastern Flank.

The ambassador also stated that a study will soon be published, the result of the collaboration of the diplomatic mission he leads with the Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, which explains how Italy contributed to the growth of the Romanian economy.

Alfredo Maria Durante Mangoni mentioned the links between the two countries through the communities – Romanian, in Italy, and Italian, in Romania. According to him, the Romanians in Italy represent „a well-integrated diaspora”.

„In difficult times, such as those we are experiencing now, deep friendships like ours are essential to successfully face so many common challenges,” said the Italian ambassador in Bucharest.

Minister Luminita Odobescu emphasized that Romania and Italy have a strategic partnership and recalled the joint meeting of the Governments of Bucharest and Rome this spring.

„In the 145 years of bilateral diplomatic relations, Italy has become a close friend of Romania and a strategic partner, with whom we share deep historical ties and cultural affinities. Over the years, we have built a relationship based on solid cooperation, trust and mutual understanding”, Odobescu pointed out.

And she highlighted the importance of the minorities in each country in the bilateral relationship.

Luminita Odobescu also mentioned the major security challenges.

„As EU member states and NATO allies, Romania and Italy share many common goals in the difficult context created by the illegal and unprovoked Russian aggression against Ukraine. Our countries have made joint efforts to uphold the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and the right of this country to choose its future”, said Odobescu.

AGERPRES