International

U.N. reform to figure during Prodi's visit

Vaiju Naravane

Rome: Romano Prodi (68), who begins a five-day state visit to India on Friday, took over as Italy's centre-left Prime Minister in April 2006 after beating his long-time rival Silvio Berlusconi with a wafer thin lead of 24,000 votes. The media tycoon, who is also Italy's wealthiest citizen, now heads the Conservative Opposition.

The Berlusconi era was marked by financial profligacy, a certain disdain for the European Union and an unusual closeness to U.S. President George Bush and his policies in Iraq.

One of Mr. Prodi's first moves as Prime Minister was to bring home Italian troops deployed in Iraq. He has also attempted to mend fences with the European Union (he was E.U. Commission President from 1999 to 2004).

Mr. Prodi now leads a fractious coalition of nine parties that range from Catholic centrists to hardcore Communists. His nine months in office so far have not been easy, with the Communists and Greens insisting on withdrawing Italian troops from Afghanistan and resisting Mr. Prodi's market friendly reforms. Several categories of workers including taxi drivers, airline personnel and petrol pump owners are to strike work during Mr. Prodi's visit to India.

Relations with the U.S., so assiduously cultivated by Mr. Berlusconi, have been strained. Last week Ambassadors from six nations, led by U.S. envoy to Rome Ronald Spogli published an open letter calling on Italy to remain engaged in Afghanistan. In an interview with The Hindu Mr. Prodi said: "I don't see any precedent in diplomatic tradition. Generally, with countries who are your friends you have a conversation, a healthy exchange of views, not an open letter to put the problem in front of public opinion. The true role of Ambassadors is to resolve problems, not to create political difficulties." Washington on Tuesday rejected the complaint. "Of course we're not trying to interfere in the decision-making processes in the Italian political system," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack. "We should be able to have these discussions openly among friends and allies, and that is all that Ambassador Spogli was doing," he said. Mr. Prodi has since confirmed Italian troops will remain in Afghanistan.

Foreign Minister Massimo d'Alema met the U.S. Ambassador in Rome on Thursday and the matter has now been officially closed. But other questions linger. Rome would like to try Mario Lozano, a U.S. soldier indicted by an Italian judge for the murder of an Italian secret officer in Iraq.

Extraordinary rendition

Magistrates have also called for the extradition of 26 Americans, alleged CIA operatives involved in the "extraordinary rendition" of a cleric in Milan (he was kidnapped, sent to Egypt, tortured and released without charge). Mr. Prodi, citing legislation on state secrets, said he would not release documents to the magistrates. The Government faced a humiliating defeat recently when the Opposition stepped in to pass a bill on extending the U.S. base in Vicenza. Mr. Prodi's coalition partners, the Communists and the Greens, stayed away from the vote which was pushed through by the Opposition.

Parliament also has 60 days in which to pass financing for Italian missions abroad opposed by the leftist parties. This has given rise to doubts about the stability of the Prodi Government.

The only matter of real difference between India and Italy is over U.N. reform. Mr. Prodi will wrap up his visit with a meeting in New Delhi with Manmohan Singh when the two are expected to discuss reforming the U.N. Security Council. "One of the few problems between Italy and India is the big difference [on the issue] which has never been hidden and which does not prevent us from having good relations," said Mr. Prodi. India has sought permanent membership on the Council while Italy supports a proposal to add non-permanent members that would be elected for two-year terms, with the possibility of immediate re-election.

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