International
Keep off, Berlusconi tells E.U. partners
By Vaiju Naravane
Paris Jan. 15. The Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi gave his European partners a stern warning, saying Italy would not tolerate interference in its affairs, in a key policy speech before parliament in Rome. In the same breath, Mr. Berlusconi tried to reassure European leaders of Italy's continued commitment to Europe.
The speech was prompted by the stormy exit from the Government by Mr. Berlusconi's widely respected Foreign Minister and former WTO head, Renato Ruggiero, who resigned in protest over the Italian Government's "anti-Europe" policies. Mr. Berlusconi said he was taking over the Foreign Affairs portfolio himself and would use the next six months to revamp the Foreign Ministry and Italian foreign policy.
While describing himself as an ``euro-enthusiast", Mr. Berlusconi insisted he was also an "euro-realist". He said he would not allow anyone else to impose their vision of Europe on Italy. "No one, I repeat no one should treat us as though we had only limited sovereignty." He said he would not tolerate being placed "under surveillance by other European governments. Mr. Berlusconi's Government includes more than its fair share of Euro-sceptics in the form of Reform Minister, Umberto Bossi, leader of the anti-immigrant Northern League and the Vice-Prime Minister, Gianfranco Fini, who leads the reformed former Italian Fascist Party now known as the Allianza Nazionale.
Mr. Berlusconi lambasted one of his fiercest critics, the Belgian Foreign Minister, Louis Michel, calling him "a clown".
But the former French President, Valery Giscard d'Estaing, recently named head of Europe's new Convention said he was satisfied the Italian Premier would support efforts to chart Europe's future.
"I have carefully looked at all his declarations and they all confirm that he intends to contribute positively to the success of the convention," Mr. Giscard d'Estaing said. Mr. Berlusconi in his speech to Parliament said he would fight for a "less rigid, less weighed-down Europe that is capable of being more competitive and able to create work and wealth." At the end of his speech, the Italian Prime Minister was hugged by Mr. Bossi who has described Europe as "gallowsland".
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