THE Italian Foreign Minister, Mr Lamberto Dini, yesterday expressed the hope that by the end of its EU Presidency on June 30th, Italy would find a resolution to the BSE crisis provoked by the European Commission ban on the British beef exports.
Mr Dini made his comments in Rome after talks between the Russian Foreign Minister, Mr Evgheni Primakov, and the EU Troika of himself, the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, and the Spanish Foreign Minister, Mr Abel Matutes.
"The mad cow disease problem is not just Britain's problem, it is a problem for the whole European Union ... I would be very happy if we managed to resolve this problem during our term of Presidency. We're certainly doing everything we can to move things in the direction of a solution to the mad cow crisis, Mr Dini said.
One of Italy's last acts as EU President is the holding of the bi-annual European Council summit, scheduled for June 21st-22nd in Florence. Before then, Mr Dini is expected to meet the British Foreign Secretary, Mr Malcolm Rifkind, and Agriculture Secretary, Mr Douglas Hogg, in an attempt to resolve the crisis that has seen Britain block EU business in Brussels.
Earlier, Mr Dini had expressed the EU's "firm wish" that Russia might become more fully integrated into international organisations and structures. He also hoped next month's presidential elections in Russia would pass off "serenely".
. Mr Spring has expressed optimism that all party talks in Northern Ireland will get under way next month. Speaking in Rome yesterday, he said the key issues were the role of Senator George Mitchell and the resolution of the decommissioning question.
"I am hopeful at this stage that we can overcome the difficulties we had in recent times on those issues and that can be done in the next few days."
His optimism was based on the co operation between the two governments and the determination to have successful and inclusive all party talks.