Tight security in Rome for Erdogan state visit

ROME, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- The capital city was under tight security on Monday during a state visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose country is seeking admission to the European Union (EU).

Some 3,500 police and security forces were deployed in the Italian capital, according to Italian news agency ANSA.

Authorities banned demonstrations throughout the central part of the city where Erdogan stayed overnight and where he met with the Italian president and the prime minister, before departing Monday evening.

The Turkish leader's 50-minute meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican Monday morning was followed by "respectful and frank" talks with President Sergio Mattarella, according to ANSA. "Bilateral relations are positive and Italy remains committed to continuing dialogue with Ankara."

Erdogan then moved on to a meeting with Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, at which the foreign, defense and industry ministers were present.

In comments to reporters before leaving for Rome on Sunday, Erdogan said Italy and Turkey had "excellent" relations. "We share a common vision with respect to regional problems," ANSA news agency quoted Erdogan as saying. "Last year we had trade volume of 20 billion U.S. dollars, but the potential is double that amount."

Two people were detained and one person was injured in Rome on Monday after anti-Erdogan demonstrators clashed with police, according to local media reports.

Turkey, a member of the NATO alliance whose country shares a border with Europe on its western side, and with Syria to the south, has been trying to revive stalled talks for EU admission.

In 2016, the EU struck a deal with Turkey that essentially halted the flow of refugees to Greece and Italy from Syria, where a civil war has been raging since 2011. Enditem