ROME (dpa-AFX) - Lufthansa and the Italian Finance Ministry have signed a letter of intent for the German group's entry into the airline Ita Airways. This brings Lufthansa closer to its planned takeover of Alitalia's successor. The declaration initiates exclusive negotiations between the state, as the current sole owner of Ita, and the Frankfurt-based company, the ministry said Friday. Further details will not be disclosed, it also said. Lufthansa initially wants to take a minority stake in the airline with the aim of later bringing all of Ita under its ownership./msw/DP/ngu