President Ts.Elbegdorj left on Sunday for official visits to Italy and Croatia. The president was invited to Italy by Italian President Georgio Napolitano and to Croatia by Croatian President Ivo Josipovic.

The President is accompanied by the Foreign Affairs and Trade minister, the Food, Agriculture and Light Industry minister, several MPs, and about 30 business leaders.

Ts.Elbegdorj will hold talks with Italian President Napolitano and the president of Italy’s Chamber of Deputies, Gianfranko Fini. The President will also meet with the director general of UN Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome, Italy’s Economic Development minister, and other officials.

Ts.Elbegdorj will also take part in a Mongolian-Italian business forum being held in conjunction with the opening of the Mongolian embassy in Rome. Ts.Elbegdorj will also call on Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican.

The presidents of Mongolia and Italy will issue a joint note. Representatives of the two nations will also sign agreements on wool, cashmere, leather, food, and light industry.

After Italy, Ts.Elbegdorj will go to Croatia to meet with Croatian President Ivo Josipovic, as well as Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Luka Bebic, and Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor.