Premier Paolo Gentiloni said at an
Ottawa press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau Friday that Italy and Canada shared "a common vision on
free trade". He said that rights, the open society,
international dialogue and free trade were interconnected.
Gentiloni said that terrorists like the man who killed a
French policeman Thursday wanted to "have an impact on Sunday's
presidential election there".
He said terrorists aimed to "change our ways of living and
voting".
But one should never "confuse" immigration and terrorism,
Gentiloni warned.
As for claims that NGOs were somehow helping migrant
traffickers, Gentiloni said this was up the judiciary to
establish, and in the meantime no "shadows should be thrown" on
them.
Gentiloni said he had spoken to French President Francois
Hollande and had "reiterated to him our solidarity" over
Thursday night's Paris terror attack that killed a policeman.
Gentiloni said that he hoped the results of Sunday's French
presidential election "strengthen EU prospects".
He said this was up to the French people "and not the Italian
government".
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