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Voice of America, 02-01-06Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>SLUG: 2-284921 Italy/Euro (L) DATE: NOTE NUMBER:CONTENTS
[01] ITALY/EURO (L-ONLY) BY SABINA CASTELFRANCO (ROME)DATE=01/06/02TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-284921 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: Italy's foreign minister, Renato Ruggiero, has resigned following a disagreement with the prime minister over the government's unenthusiastic reception of the new euro currency. Mr. Ruggiero believes the Italian government has not shown a positive attitude toward the European Union. Sabina Castelfranco reports from Rome. TEXT: The Italian prime minister's office issued a statement late
Saturday night saying Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Foreign
Minister Ruggiero had agreed on "consensual" parting. The resignation
of Mr. Ruggiero follows criticism
he voiced in the press of Cabinet members who spoke skeptically about
the arrival of the euro currency.
Italy's defense minister said this week that the "euro experience
could end in failure." The reform minister said he "couldn't care
less" about the single currency, and others, including the economy
minister, cast doubts about further European integration.
Mr. Ruggiero warned that Italy's traditional commitment to the E-U was
at risk.
In an interview with an Italian daily newspaper, Mr. Ruggiero said,
quote: "I see this continuity put in danger by very serious
declarations. I cannot deny that I am extremely worried."
In response to these declarations, Prime Minister Berlusconi said he
alone was in charge of Italy's foreign policy and that Mr. Ruggiero
was merely a "technical" functionary carrying out his policies. That
was too much to take for the
foreign minister.
Mr. Ruggiero is a respected Italian diplomat, who has headed the World
Trade Organization. He had no ties to any party in Mr. Berlusconi's
center-right coalition government.
Mr. Ruggiero has always been committed to the European Union, and had
accepted the post of foreign minister at the urging of the Italian
president.
Angry opposition politicians have now demanded an emergency debate in
parliament over the foreign minister's resignation. They say Italy's
image at an international level will be greatly damaged by Mr.
Ruggiero's departure.
A replacement is to be appointed by the prime minister in the next few
days. (Signed)
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