Berlusconi Agrees to Take Three from Guantanamo

WASHINGTON – “I’m here to cooperate with President Obama, as I cooperated with President Clinton and as I did with President Bush.” For Silvio Berlusconi it was the first time. Not at the White House, but with the new American President. Yesterday the meeting so longed for by the Cavaliere took place [Editor’s note: Cavaliere/knight is an Italian order of merit, referring here to the prime minister of the Italian Republic].

Obama received Berlusconi in the afternoon, for a meeting which lasted about a hour. No lunch, just coffee. In the Oval Office, the two discussed some of the current issues of international policy: the G8 in L’Aquila, the situation in Afghanistan, Iran and Guantanamo prisoners. When the American president asked Berlusconi to take three Guantanamo prisoners, the prime minister said yes; and Obama defined Italy as a crucial ally in Afghanistan.

The two have started to get to know each other. To release the tension, the Cavaliere brought some gifts, including a nice package of Marinella ties. After all, beside the official agenda, the Italian premier planned a confirmation of friendship with Washington as a priority. Since his arrival in Washington, he had shut himself in his room at the St. Regis hotel to study the dossiers. If six months ago the relationship with the American administration was almost natural, now it has to be verified and rebuilt. It’s no coincidence that, before walking up to the White House door, he repeated to his staff and those who accompanied him to the bilateral meeting, that Italy sees no difference between a Republican and a Democratic President. That’s one way to get rid of any misunderstandings. Berlusconi said that he was there to listen, and maybe to give advice since he has the most experience as a G8 leader.

Yes, the White House host and the prime minister have just started to get to know each other. On the American side, other attendees at the meeting were: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; the counselor for national security, James Jones; and the head of the Obama staff, Rahm Emanuel. On the Italian side: the ambassador Castellaneta; the general secretary of the Farnesina, Massolo; the counsel diplomat Archi; and the speaker Bonaiuti. Berlusconi focused his attention on the next G8. He said that it is essential that the summit is successful. A possible failure, in fact, would make a humiliating defeat for international reputations. Therefore, he explained his goals to the American president, but he also asked whether there were some specific requests by the Americans.

Berlusconi knows that in July it will be difficult to define the so called “global legal standards,” the international rules for financial markets. Giulio Tremonti said that there’s still a lot to do. Actually, the White House is more interested in the concrete aspects of the meeting. Obama tried to understand how Italy can help, beginning with Guantanamo prisoners. Rome said that they will accept some “transfers.” Italy will be in charge of three Tunisian prisoners.

Then we have the Afghanistan chapter. It’s been a while since Palazzo Chigi confirmed its intention of extending its contingent in Kabul. The number of Italian soldiers should go from a minimum of 300 to a maximum of 500, with a corresponding reduction of their presence in Kosovo. This is a major commitment that is supposed to go beyond the electoral operation due in December in the Asian country. Italy should also provide two more units of Tornado airplanes.

The two delegations then focused on the recent Iranian events. The U.S. is becoming more and more worried, as is Berlusconi . Despite several Italian investments in that area, Berlusconi has never hidden his opinion about Ahmadinejad. In Paris, last September, he compared him to Hitler. At any rate, the Prime Minister believes Italy can play a role in the Middle East. He reminded Obama that the next week he’ll meet up with the Israeli prime minister Netanyahu.