Thursday,
August 31,
"New Italy"
Stakes a Claim to Equal Seat at Europe Table with Britain,
France and Germany
Italy has long been considered something of a junior partner
among Europe's
elite
nations.
But NOW,
Italy
is carving out a hefty role in world affairs:
(1) is contributing the
largest contingent to the U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon,
(2)has claimed a role in negotiations with Iran and
(3) is rallying European
governments around the idea that Italy can form a counterweight to
American might.
Prodi who was considered a bland
politician (particularly as compared to Berlusconi) with little chance to make
an impact, especially after winning a razor-thin margin in April elections
has been showing the world a "New Italy".
Italy has built on three
advantages (1) no colonial history in the region (2) enjoys close
relations with both Israel and the Arab world, making it a natural leader in
peace discussions (3) Prodi's
former role as president of the European Union administrative body that gives
him credibility, contacts, and clout among European governments.
Rome's diplomacy has won international
praise, since it is completely contrary to George Bush's
"You are Either For Us or Against Us
Mentality". Italy's deeply rooted and traditional
political concept is:” We are not blinded by the friend-or-foe logic, we try to find a common ground.''
Modern Italy Stakes a Claim to Top League
TheNewYorkTimes
By Roger Cohen
August 30, 2006
Italy has always struggled to find a seat at the same table as Britain, France
and Germany, but nothing
appears to be second-tier about its role in forming a peacekeeping force for
southern Lebanon.
Link
Italy Coming Out of Washington's Shadow
London
Guardian &!
nbsp;
By Alessandria
Rizzo !
; Associated Press
Writer !
Thursday August 31, 2006
ROME (AP) - Long considered something of
a junior partner among Europe's
elite nations, Italy
is carving out a hefty role in world affairs. Rome
is contributing the largest contingent to the U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon, has claimed a role in negotiations with
Iran and is rallying
European governments around the idea that Italy can form a counterweight to
American might.
After five years under a
center-right government that allied with Washington,
Italy under new
center-left Premier Romano Prodi is making its voice
heard around the globe.
``We have contributed to
opening a new phase in the world,'' Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema said in remarks this week to the
Italian press. ``We have gone back to multilateralism. The United Nations is a
leading actor, Europe is central, Italy is back on the scene.''
It's
a world view that contrasts with Prodi's
predecessor, Silvio Berlusconi, who linked his nation's destiny to the United
States and staunchly supported the war in Iraq.
The Lebanon crisis provided Prodi
- whose government was given little chance of making a big impact after winning
a razor-thin margin in April elections - an ideal platform for showing the
world the new Italy.
Italy has no colonial history in the region and enjoys close
relations with both Israel
and the Arab world, making it a natural leader in peace discussions. Prodi's former
role as president of the European Union administrative body also gives him
clout among European governments.
The new government's first major diplomatic foray was inviting foreign
ministers in July to discuss the fighting in Lebanon. The meeting ended without
an agreement for a cease-fire, but raised Italy's
profile and established D'Alema
as a powerful advocate for solutions to the crisis.
Then Italy pressed a reluctant Europe to commit
troops to Lebanon
by pledging a contingent of 2,500 soldiers and offering to lead the
international force. After an embarrassing hesitation, European nations
assembled a force of 6,900 - about half the U.N. troops to be sent overall. Italy will take
over command of the force in 2007.
Rome's diplomacy has won international
praise.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana thanked Italy
for its ``initiative and commitment,'' in remarks published Thursday in the Rome newspaper La Repubblica.
Avi Pazner, a
former Israeli ambassador to Italy
and currently a government spokesman, said Rome's
commitment persuaded other European nations to offer troops to the
international force.
Emboldened by his
government's diplomatic success, D'Alema claimed
a role for his country in negotiations with Iran, noting Italy's vast economic interests in that country, and he
said Rome would use its seat on the U.N. Security Council starting in January
``to make the United Nations hear the voice of the European Union better and
with more force.''
Italy's close ties with Iran, a main backer of Hezbollah, may also give
it leverage in negotiations on Lebanon.
Italy is Tehran's leading EU trading partner, with an annual
exchange worth $6 billion, according to Italy's
institute for foreign trade.
``Traditionally we are not
blinded by the friend-or-foe logic, we try to find a common ground,'' said
Italian analyst Alessandro Politi. ``This is a concept
deeply rooted in Italy's politics.''
D'Alema, a former communist, has been particularly active in
proposing initiatives to help solve some of the world's
most intractable problems. He suggested recently that international troops
should be considered for Gaza and urged Europe
to pay more attention to the southern Mediterranean countries - a key region
for Italy.
``This mission has the
stated political aim of relaunching Europe
on its most difficult issue, that of security and defense,'' said Politi.
``The mission is certainly
a high-risk one, and things can undoubtedly go wrong,'' he added. ``But Italy
has decided to run these risks because it knew it was necessary: for its
national interests, for Europe's general interest, as well as for its traditional
efforts in finding solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian problem.''
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