19 January 2016•Update: 21 January 2016
ANKARA
Italy’s ambassador to Ankara on Tuesday said his country, which has been blamed for blocking EU funds to help refugees in Turkey, does not have an issue with Turkey.
Last month the EU pledged a 3 billion-euro ($3.27 billion) aid package for Turkey to provide for the near 2.5 million refugees currently in the country. The finance is to come from both the EU budget and member states and Italy reportedly wants the EU to pay a greater share. Speaking at an event in Ankara, Luigi Mattiolo said: "I would like to highlight that we have do not have any stance against Turkey. Italy is the very country that insists on behalf of Turkey at the EU." He added: "There are just problems stemming from EU’s internal structure and its member countries. So the debates are on the methods. But there will definitely be a solution. This money will not be blocked." Italy was the first nation to commend Turkey’s "unprecedented generosity" in hosting refugees, who mostly come from Syria, Mattiolo said. The ambassador stressed that Mattiolo Rome did view Turkey as a buffer zone between Europe and countries such as Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. "Turkey means Europe for me," he said. "I have no doubt about Turkey's position." Under the deal agreed at an EU summit in December, the EU suggested Turkish nationals would be granted visa-free travel and there are signs that Turkey’s EU accession process has been reinvigorated.
