EU with Italy on Del Grande (2)

(ANSA) - Rome, April 19 - The EU said Thursday that it was backing Italy in its bid to get Gabriele Del Grande, a reporter and documentary maker arrested in Turkey, released as soon as possible. "The EU acted to support the action of the Italian ambassador in Ankara, to support the action of the foreign ministry and the Italian government towards the Turkish authorities," Foreign Affairs High Representative Federica Mogherini said, saying "we co-ordinated with Italy from the start". Meanwhile Del Grande's partner Alexandra D'Onofrio told la Repubblica newspaper that he had been arrested "just because he speaks with refugees". She said "he goes with a backpack on his back and chats, he spends hours speaking with people in their language, he doesn't go looking for scoops but for things that will make us think." Italy was also offered help by the German foreign ministry, which has a reporter of its own held in Turkey since February, Deniz Yucel.