PM Ponta: Italy an example of living together as Europeans, respecting each other

Prime Minister Victor Ponta says that Italy is a positive example of how the peoples of Europe can live together and respect each other.

'I thank the Italian people and Government for the life found by more than one million Romanians in Italy, and I think Italy is an example to other countries — I don't want to mention the United Kingdom; just other countries — I mean Italy is a positive example for all of us being Europeans, being able to live together, being able to respect each other,' Ponta said on Monday evening at a reception hosted by the Italian Embassy on the occasion of Italy's National Day.

The PM also voiced his confidence that the Italian presidency of the European Union over the second half of 2014 will see Romania join the Schengen Area.

For his part, Chamber of Deputies Chairman Valeriu Zgonea saluted the Italian citizens on the occasion of their country's National Day, and evoked the common Latin origin of Romanians and Italians.

Ambassadors in Bucharest of countries like Germany and Greece, US Charge d'affaires ad interim Duane Butcher, Constitutional Court President Augustin Zegrean, Minister of Education Remus Pricopie, Senator Georgica Severin, and Deputy Petre Roman also attended the event.AGERPRES