Extinguish fires of war in Europe says Mattarella

(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 19 - We must extinguish the fires of war in Europe, President Sergio Mattarella told the foreign press in Rome as he helped inaugurated their new HQ in Silvio Berlusconi's old residence in Rome Tuesday.
    "Until two years ago, Europe was living not in a belle epoque but in an epoque de paix.
    "Which we seek and hope to succeed in defending, preserving and fully restoring by eliminating, removing, extinguishing winds and fires of war that within Europe and beside Europe have been manifesting themselves for some time", said the president at the new offices in Palazzo Grazioli.
    "Today's world is increasingly integrated and interconnected: hence the need for collaborative and non-conflictual relations, and the role of the press is fundamental in this field too", he went on.
    Mattarella also told the world's journalists present that "the role of the free press is decisive: it is a guardian of people's freedom".
    He also joked that he had forgotten his honorary membership card for the club and hoped they would let him in anyway.
    Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who inherited the leadership of Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia (FI) party from the billionaire who died last June, said "Italy's role must be as a bringer of peace" as he helped unveil the new press club offices.
    Palazzo Grazioli, near the central Piazza Venezia, was the residence of late three-time premier and media mogul Berlusconi from 1995 to 2021. (ANSA).