ROME – Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, who is expected to arrive in Israel
on Monday evening for a three-day visit, has confirmed that his country has economic ties with Iran.
"Italy does have important economic relations with Iran, similar to its ties with other countries in the Middle East," he told the Yedioth Ahronoth daily in an exclusive interview.
Italian Support
Berlusconi accuses Iran of 'lunacy' on Israel / Reuters
Speaking at awards ceremony held by Parisian Jewish organization, Italian prime minister urges international community to 'pay the utmost attention' to threats made by Tehran's Ahmadinejad
"At the same time," he added, "Italy is aware of Israel's concerns in regards to Iran and shares the efforts being exerted as part of the UN Security Council resolutions, in order to limit the development options of the Iranian nuclear plan and prevent (Tehran) from shifting to military nuclear production."
This is an unusual statement by an Italian president, as his status prevents him from taking part in the country's policy making and his remarks are accepted incontestably by the Italian public and political system.
Napolitano will be joined on his trip to Israel by a delegation of senior figures in Italy's economy.
During the visit, the Italian Cultural Institute is expected to hold an Italian-Israeli authors' dialogue, which will be launched by Napolitano and President Shimon Peres.
"The cultural dialogue between Italy and Israel goes down deeply. Italians admire the new Israeli culture," the Italian president said.
Napolitano, the first Italian president who used to be a member of the Communist Party, was also the first person among his left-wing colleagues to rule that anti-Zionism is a type of anti-Semitism.
On the eve of his arrival in Israel, Napolitano stressed the efforts being made to commemorate the Holocaust.
"Author Primo Levi, who was lucky to return from Auschwitz alive, is considered rightfully one of the greatest Italian writers of the 20th century," he said.
According to Napolitano, 21 years after Levi's death, "his work is still present in the Italians' conscience."
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