U.S. President Barack Obama met with outgoing Italian President Giorgio Napolitano at the White House Friday. "He has been an extraordinary leader, not just in Italy but also in Europe," Obama said of Napolitano prior to the meeting. "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." "I want to thank the people of Italy for their enormous contributions to the NATO alliance. 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," President Obama said. Napolitano said he was "touched" by Obama's appreciation of their relationship and said that in the meeting he will "express common sense of confidence in the future of Italy and of U.S.-Italy relations." "I think that 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," Napolitano said.
