EXPANDED TALKS HELD

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia /MONTSAME/ On Monday, the President of Mongolia Ts.Elbegdorj and the President of Italy Giorgio Napolitano held expanded talks on Monday. Beginning the talks, the Mongolian President believed that his meetings with the Italy's President and other high-level officials will contribute to widening the bilateral relations, reaching important agreements. “Mongolia and Italy have ancient relations and we are similar history in founding the strongest empires. There is a historical fact that Roman Catholics had ties with Mongolians during the seventh century. Our museums collect rare documents which are sent to Mongolia through Roman envoys. Today our countries are going to sign important documents within my official visit. I wish the cooperation between our countries develop in all sectors, especially, in the fields of agriculture, productions of leather wool and cashmere,” Ts.Elbegdorj said. Mongolia wants to supply cashmere, wool and leather products to the world market with help of Italian technologies, he added. The Mongolian President thanked the Italian side for implementing a project on the sector of meat production with the Trust Fund of Italian government through the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, and expressed a willingness to continue this project. Ts.Elbegdorj emphasized an importance of creating a permanent mechanism for connection of businessmen with an aim to develop the collaboration to exploit all opportunities in the two sides. Then he informed that a Mongolia-Italy business forum will take place within his visit. In turn, the Italian President Giorgio Napolitano wished success to the visit of the Mongolian President and pointed out that this visit made a new chapter for the bilateral ties. Mentioning that Italy has gained achievements in developing small and medium-sized production, Mr. Napolitano expressed a readiness to share specialists and to train Mongolian experts with the latest technologies. It is possible to exchange specialists on cashmere and wool productions, he said. During the talks, the Presidents discussed the bilateral cooperation in the educational sector. The Mongolian side requested Italy to render support for preparing specialists on the small and medium-sized productions and mining. The two Presidents underlined that opening of the Mongolian Embassy in Italy has become one of the most important events for the both countries. Mr. Napolitano congratulated Mongolia on chairing the Community of Democracies (CD) and wished success for the works during the presidency. The State Heads shared views on the bilateral relations and international and regional issues. Ts.Elbegdorj pointed out developing the relations and cooperation with Italy is one of the priorities of the foreign policy, and then said he is ready to collaborate with the Italian President in enhancing the bilateral friendly relations. Present at the talks were G.Zandanshatar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia; J.Enkhsaikhan, the Ambassador of Mongolia to Austria; S.Bayar, D.Zorigt MPs; T.Badamjunai, the Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry; L.Purevsurem, an advisor to the President on foreign policy; Franco Frattini, the Foreign Minister of Italy; Donato Marra, the Secretary-General of the Presidency of Italy; Carlo Guelfi, Head Councilor of the Presidential Secretariat; Stefano Stefanini, the advisor to the President; and other officials.

B.Khuder