PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: Well, I want to extend the warmest greetings to my good friend President Napolitano on a return visit to the White House. I think it's entirely appropriate the day after Valentine's Day, since we know that St. Valentine was -- was associated with Italy, that we had a chance to express our love for the Italian people and my high regard for President Napolitano.
You know, he has been an extraordinary leader, not just in Italy but also in Europe. We've had occasion to meet many times in which we have expressed again and again the importance of the trans-Atlantic relationship and the deep and abiding friendship and connection and bonds between the Italian people and the American people.
And obviously, you know, we constantly talk about the extraordinary connection that derives from the tradition of Italian- Americans making enormous contributions to the United States. President Napolitano's been so gracious in talking about his memories of the role that America played in liberating Europe and instituting the kinds of democratic practices and traditions that have served both sides of the Atlantic so well for so many years.
I want to thank the people of Italy for their enormous contributions to the NATO alliance. Italy is one of our biggest contributors in Afghanistan and makes enormous sacrifices. They welcome and host our troops on Italian soil. The economic bonds between our two countries are very significant. And in all this, President Napolitano has shown himself to be a visionary leader who has helped to guide and steer Europe towards greater unification, but always with a strong trans-Atlantic relationship in mind.
The last point I would make is that President Napolitano's also just been a good personal friend, a tremendous host to my family when they visited Italy. You should know, Mr. President, that one of the few things that my daughters asked me after I was re-elected was, does this mean we can go back to Italy again? So I confirmed to them that any excuse we can find to visit Italy, we shall return, hopefully.
And this will give us an opportunity to not only visit, but also to talk about some important issues, including the world economy.
I announced at the State of the Union this week my interest and intention in pursuing a U.S.-European Union free trade agreement, which I know is -- is something of great interest to the president. I'll be interested in hearing from him how he anticipates the elections and government formation in Italy and what implications that has for the larger European project. And I'm sure we'll have a chance to talk about some national security issues as well.
But my main message is to say thank you for your extraordinary service, and I'm so glad that we had an opportunity to visit once again before you move on to even better things, I -- I assume, or -- or at least having more fun than politics.
PRESIDENT GIORGIO NAPOLITANO: Thank you very much. I don't need to say how deeply touched I am by the generous appreciation we just heard of my long public service in the interest of Italy, of our alliance, of our common cause. And I am grateful to President Obama for inviting me to pay a farewell visit to the White House and for giving me the opportunity of an exchange of ideas before I conclude my presidential mandate.
I am sure that we'll be able today to express a common sense of confidence in the future of Italy and of U.S.-Italy relations, more generally speaking, in the future of our joint commitment for -- to advance global peace, democracy and human rights.
Italy has made remarkable progress in the past 14 months.
The Italian government, with the parliamentary support of different and even opposite political forces, and with the comprehension of different social groups and of all citizens - well, this progress must and will continue and be developed, because Italy needs it, Europe needs it, and I think the world as a whole needs it, the announcement which has been made -- just made in Brussels and in Washington significantly, because I was impressed by the world's - "We, with the leaders of European Union and of the United States". It was a beautiful incipit. Yes, well, I think that the trade -- the trans-Atlantic trade and investment partnership which will be realized, now we are at the opening talks, but I am sure about also the conclusion can represent a relevant contribution for promoting a new wave of development, of technological advancement, of social justice on both shores of the Atlantic.
And I think it can represent even something more; that is to say, a new, historic stage in relations between Europe and the United States, not only economically but also from a political and moral point of view. My conviction is that the fact that a shift has been taking place in the center of gravity of the world development, and of international relations, doesn't cancel at all the crucial importance of trans-Atlantic alliance, of trans-Atlantic relations.
On the contrary, it represents a new stimulus for us to make such a framework of relation more active, more competitive. It is absolutely necessary for a better world to have our common heritage of values and experiences be a decisive factor also in the course of globalization in the next future.
This is the spirit in which I appear to testify once more my personal friendship and my admiration for President Obama, only deploring that the visit of president and his family in Rome was so short and expecting a new visit also in my new capacity. I'll be in another palace, but I'll be there to welcome you.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you. Thank you, everybody.
Q: Is it true that you're angry about the Hagel -- (inaudible) --
(Cross talk.)
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you, everybody. Good to see you again. Haven't seen you in a while. Good.
Q: Anything on the -- on the Hagel -- (inaudible) --
(Cross talk.)
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you, guys. Thank you, guys. Wonderful to see you.
Dichiarazioni del Presidente della Repubblica, Giorgio Napolitano, all'inizio dell'incontro con il Presidente degli Stati Uniti, Barack Obama
Non ho bisogno di dire quanto sia stato toccato dal generoso apprezzamento ascoltato per il mio lungo servizio pubblico nell'interesse dell'Italia, della nostra alleanza e della nostra causa comune. Sono grato al Presidente Obama per avermi invitato alla Casa Bianca per una visita di commiato e per offrirmi l' opportunità di uno scambio di vedute prima della conclusione del mio mandato.
Sono certo che oggi potremo esprimere un comune sentimento di fiducia nel futuro dell'Italia e delle relazioni tra Italia e Stati Uniti e, più in generale, nel futuro del nostro impegno congiunto per l'avanzamento della pace globale, della democrazia e dei diritti umani.
L'Italia ha fatto notevoli progressi negli ultimi 14 mesi. Il governo italiano li ha realizzati con il sostegno parlamentare di diverse, e persino opposte, forze politiche, e con la comprensione dei diversi gruppi sociali e di tutti i cittadini. Questo progresso deve continuare e continuerà perché l'Italia ne ha bisogno, l'Europa ne ha bisogno e, io ritengo, il mondo intero ne ha bisogno.
L'annuncio da poco fatto a Bruxelles e a Washington è stato significativo: sono rimasto colpito dalle parole "We the leaders of the European Union and the United States", un "incipit" bello. Ritengo che questa partnership transatlantica per il commercio e gli investimenti verrà realizzata. Per il momento siamo ai colloqui iniziali, ma sono sicuro che la sua conclusione potrà rappresentare un contributo rilevante per la promozione di nuovo sviluppo , di avanzamento tecnologico e giustizia sociale su entrambe le sponde dell'Atlantico. Bene, penso che tale partnership possa rappresentare anche qualcosa di più, e cioè un nuovo stadio storico nei rapporti tra l'Europa e gli Stati Uniti, non solo economicamente ma anche da un punto di vista politico e morale.
E' mia convinzione che lo spostamento del centro di gravità nello sviluppo mondiale e nelle relazioni internazionali non cancelli l'importanza cruciale dell'alleanza atlantica, delle relazioni transatlantiche. Al contrario, esso rappresenta un nuovo stimolo per noi a rendere tale quadro di relazioni più attivo e competitivo. E' assolutamente necessario per un mondo migliore fare in modo che la nostra comune eredità di valori ed esperienze sia un fattore decisivo anche nel corso del processo di globalizzazione nel prossimo futuro. Questo è lo spirito con il quale voglio rendere testimonianza ancora una volta della mia amicizia personale e ammirazione per il Presidente Obama. Deploro solo che l'ultima visita a Roma del Presidente e della sua famiglia sia stata così breve: mi aspetto perciò una nuova visita anche se avrò un ruolo diverso. Sarò in un altro palazzo, ma sarò sempre lì per accogliervi.