I congratulate Paolo Gentiloni most sincerely on his appointment as the new Prime Minister of Italy.

As his country’s Foreign Minister, he has been a wonderful colleague. Our cooperation has been close, friendly and trusting.

The German-Italian friendship has always been very important to both of us. Together we recently opened an exhibition here in Berlin on the fate of Italian military internees during the Second World War.

I wish Paolo every success and a sure hand at the head of the Italian Government.