Italian President Giorgio Napolitano on Wednesday called the victory of United States President-elect Barack Obama ''a great day''.
''For us Italians who feel intimately linked on the historical and political, cultural and human level with the American people,'' Napolitano said in a message to Obama, ''this is a great day''.
''We draw from your victory, and from the spirit of unity which accompanies it, new reasons for hope and confidence for the cause of liberty, peace and a safer and fairer world order''.
Napolitano said he and the Italian people were ''profoundly impressed by the unparalleled proof of strength and vitality which American democracy has given us, thanks to an unprecedented participation in the electoral campaign and the vote and thanks to the very widespread support for a programme rich in ideals and commitments for renewal''.
