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Italy Upbraids Iran on Israel Stance |
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Sunday, 06 November 2005 |
 Associated Press, November 6 - Italy said Sunday that Iran was
isolating itself with its call for the destruction of Israel — the
latest retort reflecting increasing diplomatic tensions between the two
countries.
"No one wants to isolate Iran," Italy's Foreign Ministry said. "On the
contrary we all hope that Tehran, adopting responsible conduct, wants
to play a role of stabilization in its region, but it is Iran which
inevitably isolates itself the moment it denies the right to exist to
another state and other people."
The statement came in response to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman
Hamid Reza Asefi's criticism of Italian Foreign Minister Gianfranco
Fini.
Asefi criticized Fini for calling on the international community to
help guarantee Israel's security and condemning Iranian President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's assertion last month that the Jewish state should
be "wiped off the map."
Fini's comments are "not compatible with the role of foreign minister
and with the glory and honor of the Italian nation," Asefi said during
his weekly news conference Sunday.
The Italian ministry shot back, saying, "Minister Fini certainly cannot
accept lessons on conduct coming from a foreign (ministry) spokesman."
Italy had good relations with Iran's previous leadership and in the
past has pledged to help bring Tehran closer to the European Union. The
election of the ultraconservative Ahmadinejad, however, has strained
ties between the two countries.
On Thursday, Fini skipped a pro-Israel rally outside Iran's embassy in
Rome, saying he feared Tehran might retaliate against Italian
interests, but he encouraged others to participate.
In an interview published in Saturday's editions of Corriere della Sera
daily, Fini said Ahmadinejad's Oct. 26 remark reflected what many
others think "but have not always dared speak with such brutality."
"Not recognizing Israel's right to exist is an incentive for terrorism
because the moment you don't recognize a state's right to exist, you
don't recognize a people's right to exist," Fini said.
Fini also urged Iran to be transparent about its nuclear aspirations,
saying it was not in the interest of the international community to
isolate Iran.
"No one is thinking about an armed conflict with Iran," he said.
During a visit to Israel earlier in the week, Fini said Italy wants
Iran to be referred to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions
for its suspect nuclear program.
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