19/09/2006 (Agence Europe) - On the 60th Anniversary of Winston Churchill's Zurich speech, made on 19 September 1946, Riccardo Illy, president of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region and of the Assembly of European Regions, called for a “Confederation of States” in Europe. Mr Illy, who, in his statement, stressed the role that the regions can play in the European process, said, too, that “the younger generations must be reminded that European institutions have been the bulwark first of all of peace”. He considered that we must have the “courage” to welcome Turkey into the Union”, because, through its geographical location and cultural sensitivity, it could “build a bridge towards moderate Islam”.