Italy, Israel agree on Iran sanctions, disagree on Syria

Rome - Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi on Wednesday backed Israeli demands for sanctions to be imposed on Iran, but said Italy and Israel remained divided over the need to engage in negotiations with Syria. Speaking at a joint press conference after a meeting with Israeli premier Ehud Olmert, Prodi said Italy would take 'an active role in the definition of sanctions' against Iran in a bid to prevent it from equipping itself with nuclear weapons. Italy, which will become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in January, had previously held a more conciliatory stance towards Iran. The two leaders also slammed the Iranian government for hosting a conference designed to minimize the Holocaust and played up bilateral relations. But Prodi and Olmert admitted that divisions remained over the need to engage Syria in negotiations designed to bring peace to the Middle East. 'There are still differences over the issue of dialogue with Syria,' said Prodi. While the Prodi government argues that such negotiations are necessary, the Olmert government sees Syria as an obstacle to peace because of its alleged support of terrorist groups operating in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. The Italian premier also urged Olmert to hold direct talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, saying the current status quo in the Middle East was 'unsustainable in the long run'. Olmert thanked the Italian government for its role in finding a solution to the Lebanon crisis and for contributing 2,500 troops as part of a UN peacekeeping force. Italy is scheduled to take over command of UNIFIL in February. Earlier Wednesday, Olmert held talks at the Vatican with Pope Benedict XVI and renewed an invitation for a papal visit to the Holy Land. The Israeli premier later told reports that although the pope had expressed a willingness to visit the country, no dates had yet been discussed. Israeli President Moshe Katsav had already invited Pope Benedict to Jerusalem in a meeting at the Vatican last year. In a brief statement, the Vatican said the talks between Olmert and the pope had centred on the situation in the Middle East and the condition facing Christian communities in Israel. It was unclear whether the pope and Olmert had also discussed a request by the Vatican to take over control of the Upper Room, the alleged site of The Last Supper, in Jerusalem. The Israeli government had promised to arrange for its ownership to be transferred to the Catholic Church during a 2000 visit to the Holy Land by the late Pope John Paul II. Olmert later held talks with the Vatican's Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, before meeting Prodi at a nearby Roman villa. Olmert, who was in Germany on Tuesday, was later scheduled to meet Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and opposition leader Silvio Berlusconi. © 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

And Also

Look Back at the Worst Celebrity Breakups

Look Back at the Worst Celebrity Breakups - PopEater
Office 2010 confirmed for June 2010 - The Tech Herald
Army Of Two: The 40th Day Custom Mask And Armor Creator Launches - Cinema Blend
Lisa Loeb Welcomes Baby Girl, Lyla Rose - PopEater
A&E series 'Hoarders' and 'Intervention' premiere Monday, Nov. 30th, preview

Your Talkback on this Story

Latest Headlines in Middle East

Older Talkback

page: 1

SpookedDec 14th, 2006 - 01:27:55

The head line should read; Israel, and Israel Agree on Iran, and disagree on Syria!!

Olmert was seen on Israel's Channel 10, coaching Prodi in what to say, and ensuring that Prodi remembered what he had been asked to say!! Which gives a new meaning to a sock-puppet leading Italy!! (as carried by Reuters)

Syria issue is on the table, due to the attempts in breaking up the defensive pact between Syria, and Iran, that has been worked on by the various stooges of Uncle Sam, that is proxy stooges, and or direct employees there!

Iran and sanctions against her, now this is a whole new ball game in International Law, to penalise a country that has not broken a single law, and observed all laws to the letter, and yet finds herself in the cross hairs, due to the precautionary measure that she may, one day, somehow, and remotely start diverting her civil nuclear programme into a possible military applications. Hence the brouhaha about the sanctions, and penalties.

Now If I buy a winning lottery ticket, and I win the big Euro jackpot of some $300 million dollars, I can buy a Ferrari, and come and buy all those reading this board a magnum of champagne, would any of you lend me the five dollars that I need to buy the ticket?

Well evidently olmert, Bu et al are setting sanction against Iran, when none of you even offered to lend me the money for the wining ticket there!

Evidently world leaders are really stupid,,,,,,, No silly they think we are all stupid!!!

Report this comment

page: 1

Middle East

Middle East News

Italy, Israel agree on Iran sanctions, disagree on Syria

And Also

Your Talkback on this Story

Similar articles

Latest Headlines in Middle East

Older Talkback

From Sites we Like

In Monsters and Critics

Corporate

The Fine Print