Italian frigate in Iran for joint exercises
BANDAR ABBAS, Iran, April 8 (AFP) - An Italian frigate that arrived
Thursday in this Iranian Gulf port will hold exercises with the Iranian
navy, the ship's commander said.
The visit is the first by a Western warship since the 1979 Iranian
revolution.
Joint maneuvers will begin eight to 10 hours after the end of the ship's
four-day port call, the commander, Gianmaria Gambacorta, said.
He did not provide further details about the exercises.
The "Euro," which is equipped with sea-to-sea and sea-to-land
missiles, cannon and torpedo tubes, left its base at Taranto, Italy, February
22 with a crew of 228.
During the port call at the Iranian naval base at Bandar Abbas, naval
officers will exchange visits aboard Italian and Iranian ships and some
crew members will tour historic sites at Isfahan and Shiraz.
Gambacorta said he has "never received such a warm welcome during
an official visit" and that the Euro had been welcomed from international
waters by Iranian ships, helicopters and a speedboat.
An Iranian ship would be "welcome in Italy for a friendly visit,"
he said.
The Euro's visit was the latest sign of the growth of ties between
Italy and Iran since the 1997 election of moderate President Mohammad Khatami.
Khatami visited Rome March 8-11 in the first visit by an Iranian president
to Europe since Iran's revolution.
Former Italian prime minister Romano Prodi paid a visit to Tehran last
July.
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