Subject: Berlusconi jibe plunges EU into a grave diplomatic crisis?????

I am disturbed that both the European Press is vilifying Berlusconi for what has been NOT YET proved to me to be an important "gaffe", but that the Italian Left is attempting to "make hay" at the expense of Italy's world stature.

Yes, BE the "loyal opposition" at HOME, But on the world stage, DO NOT climb in bed with Italy's Detractors!!!!!!

Keep in mind that:

(A) European Leaders have LONG had a "superior", "patronizing" and "critical" attitude toward Italy.

(B) Germany, France, and Russia are Angry with Berlusconi for being such a strong continuos supporter of George Bush in the US war against Iraq, and having visited Sharon in JERUSALEM, and refusing to meet with Arafat.

(C) Europe often likens Berlusconi to a "finely tailored Mafia don".

     In a protest like those that have become common wherever Berlusconi travels,
     about 10 members of the European Parliament held up signs Wednesday in
     Strasbourg stating: "No Godfathers."

Europe thinks NOTHING of constantly associating Berlusconi with the Mafia,
YET gets IRATE, when Berlusconi responds to an inappropriate "heckling",
with a rather appropriate, and rather tepid "response".

I am neither a knee jerk opponent or supporter of Berlusconi. I find him to be too direct spoken on occasion, and I am skeptical that he will use his Power for the benefit of Italy, as opposed to himself and friends, as politicians are expected to do.

With that said, at the first Meeting of the European Parliament under Italian Presidency, Martin Schulz, a Social Democrat and German member of the European Parliament, (on Berlusconi's INAUGURAL SPEECH), instead of focusing on the "Matters" of EU, instead launches a "personal" attack on Berlusconi in which Schulz:

(1) ...chided Italy's wealthiest man over PERCEIVED conflicts of interest between Berlusconi's political power and his media empire... [What other European or US leaders have NO Perceived conflict of Interest???!!!]

(2) INTIMATED Berlusconi used a new Italian immunity law to avoid a bribery trial in a Milan court. [The US, has long had similar legislation that gives a sitting president  immunity from criminal proceedings (while in office, as Clinton was)]

(3) also criticized the prime minister for not distancing himself from right-wing members of the Italian government whose beliefs are contrary to the spirit of the EU. [What kind of ridiculous demand is that???]

In Response, Berlusconi snapped at Schulz, "In Italy, a producer is making a movie on the Nazi concentration camps. I shall put you forward for the role of Kapo (guard chosen from among the prisoners) - you'd be perfect."...

Berlusconi is NOT calling Schulz a Hitler, nor even a Concentration camp Commander, or even acting like a concentration camp Guard, BUT merely proposes a job as an ACTOR to PLAY a guard in a movie!!!!!!

A rather benign response in my opinion, especially in the face of ridiculous intemperate, and untimely outburst, that ordinarily deserved such a retort.

However, perhaps as President of EU, he might have to rise above those petty remarks, and recognize that while EU politics might be less "passionate" than those of  Italy, more "white bread".

Schulz countered: "It's certainly very difficult for the president of the government of a state with Italy's history - with Mussolini in the past - to make ironic remarks about the victims of the concentration camps".."My respect for the victims of fascism will not permit me to answer."

Another OUTRAGEOUS Negative Reference, having Anti-Italian Connotations!!!!

NOTE: France and Spain have tried to minimize the outrage, stressing their willingness to work with Italy during such an important six months.

I Foglia: Headlining its main editorial "Premeditated Aggression: A Just Reply."

The Associated Press reported that Green party member Monica Frassoni had likened Berlusconi to Attila the Hun.

In a leading German newspaper [a few days before Berlusconi uttered his unfortunate statement] the headline read: "The Godfather" with a prominent picture of the Italian leader????

Berlusconi believes himself the victim of a "sustained and vicious "Vast Left Wing" conspiracy in Italy between leftist politicians, prosecutors, judges, and media, determined to finish him off as punishment for his massive success and popularity, and they are implacable. [Independent.co.uk]

Germany declared its diplomatic dispute with Italy over Thursday, saying Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi had expressed "regret" for likening a German lawmaker to a Nazi prison guard. Berlusconi concurred, but said he regretted merely that his comments had been misunderstood.
========================================================
An article from BBC News and The Los Angeles Times follows:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Berlusconi jibe sparks EU storm

The European Union has been plunged into a grave diplomatic crisis following Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's "Nazi guard" remarks to a German member of the European Parliament.

MEP leaders have threatened to break off relations with the EU's top decision-making body, the European Council now headed by Mr. Berlusconi, unless they receive a formal apology by 1230 GMT on Thursday.

Mr Berlusconi triggered uproar in the European Parliament when he suggested that Martin Schulz, a heckling German MEP who had criticized him, would be perfectly cast as a Nazi concentration camp guard in a forthcoming film.

Germany lodged an official protest, denouncing the remarks as "unacceptable". Within hours it had summoned the Italian ambassador into Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's office for an explanation.

[[[ I know that in Italy, there is a man producing a film on Nazi concentration camps - I shall put you forward for the part of guard ]]]]
Silvio Berlusconi

A diplomatic row of this kind between two of the European Union's biggest countries is extraordinary, the BBC's Chris Morris reports from Berlin.

It comes as Italy takes over the presidency of the EU for the next six months.

The fact that the Italian ambassador was summoned to the Chancellery and not the foreign ministry, as is usual in such cases, shows the complaint came from the very top, he says.

The Italian foreign ministry later responded by summoning the German ambassador and condemned the comments made by Mr. Schulz.

The Italian leader himself has offered a partial apology through an aide, after refusing to do so when asked by the president of the European Parliament.

But his deputy, Gianfranco Fini, said it would have been better if Mr Berlusconi had apologised. "No accusation, however annoying, can justify the epithet of Nazi guard for a political adversary," Mr. Fini said.

EU critics

Mr. Berlusconi's outburst on the first day of his six-month presidency of the EU has given ammunition to those who believe he is unfit to represent Europe in the world, the BBC's world affairs correspondent William Horsley says.

Commenting on the row, Mr. Schulz told the BBC: "It's certainly very difficult for the president of the government of a state with Italy's history - with Mussolini in the past - to make ironic remarks about the victims of the concentration camps".

"Yes, I am angry," he added.

Mr. Berlusconi made the remarks as he was setting out his programme for Italy's presidency of the EU.

He rounded on Mr. Schulz after the German Socialist MEP had criticised his business and political conduct.

Mr. Schulz had referred to an alleged conflict of interest between the political role of Italy's richest man and his extensive media empire, and deplored outspoken comments on immigration by Italian Reforms Minister Umberto Bossi.

"I know there is a man producing a film on the Nazi concentration camps," Mr. Berlusconi exclaimed. "I shall put you forward for the role of Kapo (guard chosen from among the prisoners) - you'd be perfect."

The remark provoked instant uproar, but Mr. Berlusconi refused to withdraw it.

Later on Wednesday, after Germany delivered a formal protest, the Italian leader expressed surprise that the remark had caused offence. "I'm sorry," he said. "I am saddened that there's been a misinterpretation."

BBC NEWS | Europe | Berlusconi jibe sparks EU storm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3039912.stm
========================================================
THE WORLD
Italian Premier's Nazi 'Joke' Outrages European Union

Los Angeles Times
By Jeffrey Fleishman and Christian Retzlaff
Times Staff Writers
July 3, 2003

BERLIN — It wasn't the best way to start a new job.

Already considered a charlatan by his critics, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi drew thunderous rebuke Wednesday when he addressed the European Parliament and promptly insulted a German lawmaker by suggesting he play a guard in a movie about a Nazi concentration camp.

The remark was another bit of messy political soap opera in Berlusconi's troubled quest to gain respect in a Europe that often likens him to a finely tailored Mafia don who bankrolled his way into power. Berlusconi's unfortunate choice of words — he said it was meant as a joke — came in Strasbourg, France, as Italy assumed the rotating leadership of the European Union.

There was decorum in the air.

Berlusconi gave a speech.

And then, Martin Schulz, a Social Democrat and German member of the European Parliament, chided Italy's wealthiest man over perceived conflicts of interest between Berlusconi's political power and his media empire. Schulz intimated Berlusconi used a new Italian immunity law to avoid a bribery trial in a Milan court. He also criticized the prime minister for not distancing himself from right-wing members of the Italian government whose beliefs are contrary to the spirit of the EU.

"In Italy," Berlusconi snapped at Schulz, "a producer is making a movie on the Nazi concentration camps. I will propose you for the role of inmate trusty."

Schulz countered: "My respect for the victims of fascism will not permit me to answer."

The uproar began. Schulz demanded an apology. Berlusconi refused. Pat Cox, president of the European Parliament, suspended the session, saying, "I regret the offense caused to a respected member, my colleague Mr. Schulz. It would be appropriate to correct the record in this regard. The debate is now closed." Another member of parliament, Graham Watson, said Berlusconi's words "debase the presidency" of the EU and offend Europe.

"My joke wasn't meant to be offensive," Berlusconi said at a news conference after the session, adding that Schulz's tone and gestures prompted him to make the quip. "It was an ironic joke. Perhaps the translation wasn't done in an ironic sense."

Outrage rippled across the continent.

In Berlin, the German government condemned Berlusconi's remarks as "unacceptable" and summoned the Italian ambassador to the chancellery. The secretary-general of the country's Social Democrats, Olaf Scholz, said: "The countless number of victims of the Nazi government should forbid any irony."

Berlusconi's right-wing "radical emotions against the Germans well, that is wicked. Very wicked for the president of the EU," said Daniel Cohn-Bendit, a Franco-German Jew and head of the European Parliament's Greens party.

EU Commissioner Romano Prodi, an Italian and a political opponent of Berlusconi's, attempted to defuse the matter, telling the German media: "This debate has shown how big the task and difficulties really are that we are facing in the coming half year."

Berlusconi's ascension to such a prominent world stage has angered politicians and newspaper columnists throughout Europe. His appearance before the European Parliament on Wednesday came two days after a Milan court halted a trial into charges that Berlusconi — whose business holdings and position as prime minister put about 90% of Italy's television media under his control — allegedly bribed Italian judges in the 1980s to win influence for one of his corporations. The case was suspended after the Italian Parliament last month passed a law granting immunity to top government officials while in office.

In a protest like those that have become common wherever Berlusconi travels, about 10 members of the European Parliament held up signs Wednesday in Strasbourg stating: "The Law Is Equal for All" and "No Godfathers."
*
Fleishman reported from Prague, Czech Republic, and Retzlaff from Berlin. Maria De Cristofaro in The Times' Rome Bureau contributed to this report.

Italian Premier's Nazi 'Joke' Outrages European Union
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/
la-fg-nazi3jul03,1,1634096.story?coll=la-headlines-world