Berlusconi slaps down France over Israel trip [tell's France to "shut up" about his ME policy]

6/17/2003 | Reuters

[yonif]

ROME, June 17 — Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi told France on Tuesday it should ''shut up'' about his Middle East policy, further straining relations with Paris just as Italy is preparing to take over the European Union presidency.

''They missed a good opportunity to shut up,'' Berlusconi told reporters in response to French criticism of his decision not to meet Palestinian leaders during a recent trip to Israel.

French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said this week that Berlusconi had ''not satisfied the European position'' by holding talks only with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon during his June 9 visit to Jerusalem.

''I went (to Israel) as the prime minister of Italy. There's no way France can issue criticism over something that was the sole right and responsibility of the Italian prime minister,'' Berlusconi said, clearly bristling with irritation.

His choice of words in telling France to keep quiet precisely echoed comments made by French President Jacques Chirac earlier this year when he criticised east European leaders for their staunch backing of the U.S. position on Iraq.

A foreign policy gulf has opened up between France and Italy in recent months, with Berlusconi supporting the U.S.-led war on Iraq and Chirac adamantly opposed to it.

However, mutual irritation between the two countries has been evident ever since Berlusconi's centre-right government took power in 2001, with Rome officials accusing Paris of arrogance in its dealings with Italy.

Diplomats fear the growing rancour could come to the fore when Italy assumes the six-month, rotating EU presidency in July and represents the 15-nation bloc on the international stage.

Berlusconi went on a three day tour of the Middle East last week, saying the hastily-arranged visit was aimed at bolstering U.S. President George W. Bush's peace plan for the region.

Speaking just hours after defending himself from corruption charges in a Milan court, Berlusconi said on Tuesday Sharon had invited him to go to Israel and added that he planned to meet the Palestinian prime minster shortly.

''Any prime minister can choose to accept or not accept an invitation and no one, absolutely no one, I say no one, has the right to take issue with that,'' Berlusconi told a joint news conference with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

Some European diplomats have expressed concern in private over Berlusconi's close friendship with Bush, fearing that he has accentuated Italy's transatlantic ties at the expense of its usually rock-solid EU relations.

Italy hopes to use its good rapport with Washington during the forthcoming presidency to help heal U.S.-EU relations, which were severely strained by the Iraq conflict.

[yonif]

Italy is one of Israel's better friends in Europe.

[areafiftyone]

Whoooo Hooooo!!! Berlusconi just Bi@#ch slapped France!!!

[Courier]

Italians and Jews are natural allies. Lots of similarities.

I don't think in the United States there are two different groups with more naturally occurring ties.

As a rule, everywhere the groups are in proximity, there are friendships, business partnerships, stable neighborhoods, good things.

[ClearCase_guy]

Eventually, there will be war between France and Belgium. Each country is convinced that they have conquered the world and can tell everyone what they can and cannot do.

When the war comes, I predict Belgium will win.

[DoughtyOne]

I've come to the conclusion that the French don't care if they are right or wrong. This is simply a publicity stunt to raise their visibility.

This caloused policy has resulted in France appearing less relevent than ever before IMO.

[areafiftyone]

HMMMM the battle between Waffles and Crepes and may the better batter win!!

[DoughtyOne]

And I predict we won't rescue France this time.

[MattinNJ]

Berlusconi rocks BTTT.

[Asclepius]

Italy hopes to use its good rapport with Washington during the forthcoming presidency to help heal U.S.-EU relations, which were severely strained by the Iraq conflict.

Bitch slapping France is a good start.

[thoughtomator]

''They missed a good opportunity to shut up,'' Berlusconi told reporters in response to French criticism of his decision not to meet Palestinian leaders during a recent trip to Israel.

Hahahahahahahahahahhahahahahhahhahahahhahahahhahaha!!!!!

[Catspaw]

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi told France on Tuesday it should ''shut up'' about his Middle East policy

OOOOOOoooo, I like that in a man.

[Bon mots]

Bravo Silvio!

[headsonpikes]

"They missed a good opportunity to shut up..."

LOL!!

[jriemer]

Eventually, there will be war between France and Belgium. Each country is convinced that they have conquered the world and can tell everyone what they can and cannot do.

When the war comes, I predict Belgium will win.

Now there's a Celebrity Deathmatch I would pay to see...

[Cathryn Crawford]

I love this guy, and it's not (just) because he's Italian...

[MEG33]

Seems Chiraq's words to the countries in Europe who supported us are coming back to haunt him!

[Mr. Mojo]

French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said this week that Berlusconi had "not satisfied the European position"

Damn, when are these yahoos going to wake up to the fact that there's no unified "European position?"

[wimpycat]

''They missed a good opportunity to shut up,'' Berlusconi told reporters in response to French criticism of his decision not to meet Palestinian leaders during a recent trip to Israel.

Ooooh! Burrrrnnnnnnnn!

[FairOpinion]

I always liked Berlusconi.