Overseas Perspectives                           
by Sandra Giovanna Giacomazzi 

Berlusconi's pivotal role in the NATO/Russia accord   (June 2002)

Last week the attention of the world was concentrated on the military base in southern Italy, Pratica di Mare, where the heads of state of the members of NATO gathered for an annual meeting of historic significance:  One of the seats at the round table was occupied by Russia, the former enemy whose expansion NATO was created to contain!

Both the American and the non-Italian European press were unanimous in their positive appraisal of the event.  However, neither explained the backstage details of how it all came to be and the pivotal role played by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.  They described him as the epitome of the excellent host who pays little heed to expense and spends every effort to make his guests feel at ease, but nothing was said of his dazzling diplomacy.

The bigger picture presents a triple entente between Blair, Berlusconi and Bush, but suffice it here to reveal the behind the scene mediations of the master of this ceremony, which began in July 2001 at the G8 meeting held in Genoa.

At that time and on that occasion in a tête à tête with Berlusconi, Putin expressed the presence of strong tensions in his country concerning Russia’s foreign policy.  What worried the Russians in particular was the enlargement of NATO to include the Baltic countries Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, which is scheduled to take place in Prague on November 15th of this year.  They were also uncomfortable with a possible unilateral pronouncement by the United States about the ABM treaty.  These two concerns made it difficult for Putin to thwart the growing hostility toward the West both in parliament and in public opinion, and to prevent the nation from searching for solutions by looking East instead of West.

Putin also expressed some perplexities regarding the G7 itself.  He was uncomfortable with the division that continued to subsist between the G7 and the G8.  He found it offensive that the G7 would consult among themselves only to then impose their decisions on the G8, on Putin, on the Russian Federation.  What was on the table specifically at that time was the question of the construction of new atomic energy plants in Russia and the ways in which the West would control the security measures involved in their construction and function.

Berlusconi suggested that Putin take the tiger by the tail, i.e. simply take the floor and reveal his difficulties to the other members in all transparency.  That Putin did, and his sincerity changed many attitudes toward the Russian leader from diffidence to confidence.  On the basis of the success of this sound advice, a personal rapport was established between Berlusconi and Putin.  When Berlusconi visited Putin in Moscow two months ago, the mutual understanding, respect, and feeling born in Genoa between the two statesmen helped lay the groundwork for the accord signed in Pratica di Mare celebrating the rapprochement of NATO and Russia before that of the Baltic nations.

The backstage working of this historic event comes straight from the horse’s mouth.  It may sound like boasting to some cynical ears, but it is rare for the public to get such a crystal clear view of diplomatic machinations.  However, this episode can hardly be defined as a machination.  There is no mystery or intrigue in the story he tells.  It was simply a question of:  You’ve got a problem?  Let’s solve it.  In true entrepreneurial style reminiscent of the Nike slogan, Berlusconi’s attitude is action.  Let’s not just talk about.  Let’s “just do it.”  No sooner said: Done.

We are only learning now of what happened at the G8 meeting last year.  The content of the summit was buried under the press coverage of the controversy surrounding the violence of protesters responsible for putting the city of Genoa under a state of siege.  Ever since the WTO meeting in Seattle in 1999, international summits have been hot spot destinations for agitators bent on the use of violence to communicate their causes.

At Pratica di Mare, not a one of them.  It would have taken a bona fide fool to challenge the security apparatus put on full alert at the military base.  As the French would say, “Chapeau, Berlusconi!”  For making it all happen, and for restoring decor and dignity to international summits.  Maybe all future international meetings should take place in the vicinity of a military base, sparing our cities of the destruction of dissenters.

June 2002

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