Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi's recent statement calling President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan a "dictator" is literally shocking. It resounded like a roar in the night, an out of the blue comment that no one really could have expected.

A sharp declaration that is wrong in form, timing and substance. Hence it is difficult to grasp the reasons behind it.

All of this happened at the end of a press conference where Draghi was supposed to explain the state of the pandemic situation and the vaccination campaign in Italy.

To a question posed by a journalist on the much-debated "Sofa Gate" issue, Draghi's answer was very harsh towards Turkey and its leader. Draghi’s words have since produced a shattering effect.

Indeed, the relations between Italy and Turkey are in excellent health as political dialogue has never been interrupted and diplomatic contact has always been assiduous and continuous even in the most difficult periods of the pandemic.

The Italian prime minister himself in his first speech in parliament had explicitly expressed his intention to engage in "a virtuous dialogue with Turkey" as an important partner also in NATO.

On the importance of bilateral ties, there is no doubt. After all, as it has been said several times in these columns, on a bilateral level there are many important areas of cooperation, with the economic and industrial sectors being primary among them.

Goes without saying

Italy is a key investor in Turkey, where it boasts the presence of 1,550 companies, which are more than satisfied with the Turkish economic environment.

Moreover, there are important political-strategic synergies linked to defense, the war on terror, human trafficking, migration and energy, which are also engraved in regional dossiers in which Ankara and Rome share the same positions.

That is not all. Between the Italians and Turks, there is an instinctive sympathy and a sort of mutual understanding acting as a corollary to the countries' deep and important relationship.

In these days of crisis, there have been many comments from Turks on social media who say they are offended by Draghi's statements, yet they are still capable of recognizing and defending the respect that has always been nurtured by and for the Italians.

Certainly, communication skills are an important part of politics and diplomacy and such a thrust plays at the expense of the solid bonds built over time and on mutual interests.

However, more than that, the mistake is also based on a misperception of Turkey, its people and its dynamics.

Although there is criticism and concern around the state of Turkish democracy in some European and Western circles, there are many elements contradicting the "dictatorial" thesis, such as free and fair elections, the presence of several parties in Parliament and the management of the country's major cities by opposition parties.

Furthermore, Turkey proves negotiation skills and liberal approaches in many dossiers: