Posted on 05/20/2004 1:16:46 PM PDT by tricky_k_1972
Berlusconi vows to stay 'to the very end' with US in Iraq, bashes opposition
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi strongly defended Italy's military presence in Iraq, slamming the opposition for demanding a withdrawal from the US-led coalition and accusing them of serving the interests of the "enemies of democracy".
"Italy will remain in Iraq and remain faithful to its military objectives for peace as long as the armed gangs are not defeated", he told parliament.
"Italy considers that it is its duty and its honor to remain to the very end at the side of those who defend the United Nations Charter in Iraq", said Berlusconi, a day after talks with US President George W. Bush in Washington.
Center-left opposition lawmakers have led a virulent campaign, backed by the majority public opinion, for an immediate withdrawal of Italy's troops.
Berlusconi's ally and coalition partner, the far-right Northern League, on Tuesday also expressed reservations about extending the mandate of Italy's troops beyond June 30, when the coalition is to return sovereignty to Iraqis.
After hearing Berlusconi, both chambers of parliament were to vote on an opposition-sponsored motion to withdraw the troops but it stands little chance of passing, with right-wing coalition parties largely dominant in the legislature.
The premier, bolstered by his meeting on Wednesday with Bush, warned his political opponents that they were banding with the enemy in calling for a withdrawal from Iraq.
"I am not able to understand how forces who want to govern (our) country are not able to realize the meaning of the responsibility of their actions," he told the lower house of parliament, drawing boos from the opposition and applause from his Forza Italia party supporters.
"Those who proclaim peace but do nothing, do not serve peace but its enemies."
He dismissed the opposition's motion for troop withdrawal as "a sign of weakness and wavering".
"I wonder what the warlords in Iraq think when they hear about these motion," he said.
Some 3,000 Italian soldiers form the third-largest contingent serving in the US-led coalition, after troops from the United States and Britain.
Bush on Wednesday made his strongest statement yet for a real transfer of power on June 30 -- a pledge that was expected to help Berlusconi sell Italy's involvement in the conflict despite a mounting death toll and a torture scandal that has embroiled its US and British allies.
Only hours before Berlusconi's speech, an Italian soldier was buried in his native northern Venice region after dying Monday from injuries sustained in a clash with Iraq's radical Shiite militiamen a day earlier.
And a new poll published earlier in the week showed more than 60 percent of Italians would like to see the troops, officially sent for non-combat duty, return home as they face greater threats amid a growing insurgency against coalition troops.
Berlusconi, who also met with UN chief Kofi Annan in New York, said that a real power transfer was in the works for Iraq, and that a deadline had been set.
"Two weeks from yesterday (Wednesday), a new, credible government in Iraq will be named", he said, thus confirming dates put forth tentatively by Annan's Iraq envoy Lakhdar Brahimi.
He was expected to address the Italian senate, parliament's upper house, later on Thursday, before both chambers vote on the opposition motion to withdraw the soldiers.
Before his US trip, Berlusconi came under pressure from his allies and the influential Catholic church to lobby Bush for a radical change in Iraq policy.
The Northern League's national coordinator, Senate deputy speaker Roberto Calderoli, said: "The need to remain until June 30 is not at issue, but keeping the troops after this date will depend on the transfer of sovereignty to a transitional government recognized by the United Nations and on a request from this government."
The Italian leader also came under fire for attending a victory party for his AC Milan football team on Monday night after 23-year-old corporal Matteo Vanzan died from injuries sustained in fighting with Shiite Muslim militiamen in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah.
I just called the Italian Embassy in D.C. and spoke with a very nice gentleman. I thanked him for his country's support. 1-202-612-4400
One of the three great B's - Bush, Blair and Berlusconi.
How do you say "Let's Roll" in Italian?
To Berlusconi: Grazie, Paisan!
I love Berlusconi. Many times I have heard him talk about WWII and what the flag of the United States represents to him. It's really sad that so many Europeans memories are so short.
Thanks for the number...I called too.
</i>close tag
Italy has a real man at the helm, this is going to do more for the image of Italy then they realize. History will smile on them.
Many of the leftists in Italy would have Berlusconi in the dock if they could. They keep trying to bring him down. He is stalwart, as is Blair.
Thanks for calling. They need to know that Americans appreciate their sacrifice.
Let's keep this BTTT so others can call and say thank you.
Remarks by the President and Prime Minister Berlusconi
...PRIME MINISTER BERLUSCONI: Thank you. Well, first of all, I'm glad to be here with President Bush, with whom I have a very deep friendship. I'm here as the Prime Minister of a country which is a loyal and faithful ally of the United States of America.
The United States is a country to which my people bears a deep gratitude because it owes to the generosity of this great democracy its freedom and its prosperity. We'll never forget the fact that about a half a century ago, through the sacrifice of so many young Americans, Italy and Europe were saved from totalitarianism. I'm here as a sincere ally and I know that we, as an ally, we respect and we heard. So I'll be able to speak as a friend, speak truthfully, in order to find, as usual, common solutions and common positions.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.
PRIME MINISTER BERLUSCONI: I would like to add one more thing --
THE PRESIDENT: Sure.
PRIME MINISTER BERLUSCONI: I consider the flag of the United States is not only a flag of a country, but is a universal message of freedom and democracy.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, sir...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.