Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal met with Italian main opposition leader Piero Fassino, who is currently in Ankara for an official visit on Tuesday. During their meeting, Baykal and Fassino discussed Turkey’s European Union bid and terrorism. Fassino said that terrorists want to create a clash of civilizations, adding, “But our mission is to bring civilizations together and have them co-exist.”

Fassino also met with Mehmet Dulger and Mehmet Elkatmis, the respective heads of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Human Rights Commissions. Speaking at a press conference following his meetings, Fassino said that terrorism had existed before the Iraq war and that the war had not created terrorism. Touching on Turkey’s EU bid, Fassino reiterated support for Ankara’s bid, adding that the EU had an interest in Turkey’s membership.