Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi (2L) meets with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano (2R) in Rome on June 10, 2009. Gaddafi arrives in Rome for his first three-day state visit to Italy. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    ROME, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi arrived in Rome on Wednesday morning for his first three-day state visit to Italy. He had a meeting with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano on Wednesday at the Quirinale.

    After the 35-minute meeting with Napolitano, Gaddafi said that although the friendship treaty did not have "equivalent value to what colonial Italy did to the Libyan people, (it) is a sign that Italy condemns colonialism and apologizes for what it did and that is what has allowed me to come here today."

    "Today's Italy is no longer that of yesterday and we both condemn Fascism, wars and aggression against others," Gaddafi said.

Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddaifi(R) meets with Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi (L) in Rome during his visit to Italy on June 10, 2009. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    A friendship and cooperation treaty, aimed at strengthening relations between Italy and Libya and helping resolve issues dating back to Italy's colonial occupation of the North Africa country, was signed by Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi and Gaddafi last March in Libya.

    Napolitano said that Gaddafi's visit to Rome "paves the way for a new phase of relations between Italy and Libya."

    He said the two leaders talked about the situation in Africa and the Middle East.

    The President said he and Gaddafi agreed on a "joint effort" between the two countries to deal with issues in Africa, including in Somalia, where the government's stability has been threatened seriously by the increase in piracy.

    The two leaders also shared the aim to "make the Mediterranean an area of peace, stability and well-being" through peace in the Middle East, Napolitano said.

    In the visit Gaddafi also planned to meet with Berlusconi, the Senate Speaker Renato Schifani, the Deputy Speaker Gianfranco Fini, Rome Mayor Gianni Alemanno and president of Confindustria Emma Marcegaglia.

Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddaifi(L) attends press conference with Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi (R) in Rome during his visit to Italy on June 10, 2009.(Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>