easyand
02-07-2007, 05:10 AM
ROME (ANSA) - Italy voiced "surprise and disapproval" on Tuesday over an open letter in which six foreign ambassadors recently urged Rome not to withdraw its peacekeeping contingent from Afghanistan. Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema sent a stern letter to the ambassadors - from the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands and Romania - who signed the letter published in an Italian daily on Saturday.
"The public intervention by the six ambassadors lends itself to being interpreted as inopportune interference," D'Alema said.
He added that decisions on the future of Italy's 2,000- strong contingent in Afghanistan were the "exclusive concern of the government and parliament".
Italy has committed "significant resources" to United Nations and NATO operations aimed at stabilising and rebuilding the central Asian country, the minister reminded the ambassadors in his letter. He said however that he considered the case now "closed".
"The public intervention by the six ambassadors lends itself to being interpreted as inopportune interference," D'Alema said.
He added that decisions on the future of Italy's 2,000- strong contingent in Afghanistan were the "exclusive concern of the government and parliament".
Italy has committed "significant resources" to United Nations and NATO operations aimed at stabilising and rebuilding the central Asian country, the minister reminded the ambassadors in his letter. He said however that he considered the case now "closed".