Posted on 04/19/2004 10:47:47 PM PDT by kattracks
ROME (AFP) - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi pledged his country's troops would continue in Iraq (news - web sites) guaranteeing security until a power transfer to the new Iraqi government.
He also expressed cautious optimism about the chances of freeing three Italian hostages.
Berlusconi suggested the departure of Spanish troops meant Italy was now Washington's closest ally in continental Europe.
"Italian forces will remain in Iraq to guarantee the security until the power transfer to the new Iraqi government," he said in a statement.
"Italian troops and humanitarian organisations continue their commitment to humanitarian operations supporting the population and providing health and medical assistance," the prime minister continued.
"Italian soldiers have always maintained proper relations with the public and have always avoided resort to force, confining themselves to responding only when attacked."
Speaking to special UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, Berlusconi also urged a growing UN role for Iraq's stabilisation and pacification.
Italians are deployed in the southern area of Nasiriyah. Seventeen Italian military personnel and two civilians were killed and 20 wounded in November in an attack for which the Al-Qaeda network claimed responsibility.
Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini held talks Monday with his Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharazi and Brahimi on a day overshadowed by Italy's hostage crisis.
But there appeared to be signs of growing optimism that three surviving Italian hostages could be released.
Berlusconi told reporters he was cautiously optimistic: "We are doing everything we can for their release".
Frattini indicated progress in negotiations to free the security guards, abducted by insurgents on April 12 who immediately demanded Italy pull its troops out of Iraq.
One of the four initially seized was later murdered, becoming the first western hostage in Iraq to be killed.
Spain's decision to withdraw its 1,400-strong contingent over the next seven weeks -- the first major defection from the US-led coalition occupying the country -- put the role of Italy's 3,000-man contingent into sharper focus.
Of the Spanish pullout Berlusconi said: "From a certain point of view, we can take advantage of the fact that we can now be considered as the United States' closest ally in continental Europe."
Speaking to journalists, Brahimi rejected the notion that the Spanish decision was an implicit criticism of the UN for acting too slowly.
"Certainly from my point of view, and that of the secretary general (Kofi Annan (news - web sites)) the UN cannot be accused of anything in this matter," the UN envoy said.
The meeting with Iran's foreign minister came as Italy counted on Iranian influence to help secure the hostages' release.
After the talks, Frattini's office released a joint statement in which both officials appealed for a "rapid and effective transfer of power" in Iraq.
It noted that the two governments had intensified their close links in recent weeks, "as a consequence of the deteriorating situation in Iraq".
In his statement on Italy's commitment in Iraq, Berlusconi said the troops would stay because they were there on a peace mission for the benefit of the Iraqi people:
"The Italian and Iraqi peoples share the secular and religious moral values which aim at peaceful coexistence between peoples and impose sacred respect for human life.
"Whoever violates these sacred principle puts himself beyond the pale of civil and religious society."
A dozen Italian military personnel were wounded two weeks ago in clashes with Shiite militia.
NEVER FORGET
A few months ago I was hearing the same about Spain!
Trust in God...question all others!
Although Italy's support is appealing and is very welcomed and appreciated, that could change as we have seen in the past with others.
I hope this is not the case with Italy, however who knows what tomorrow could bring?
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