President Tarja Halonen says that her discussions with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in Rome on Wednesday proceeded very well.
During her three-day visit to Italy, Halonen characterised the reception that she received from Berlusconi as she arrived at the meeting as “super-friendly”. Their discussions took somewhat longer than had been expected.
“It was drawn out in the positive sense. Berlusconi showed real interest, and considered the possibility of coming to Finland", Halonen said.
Discussions touched upon economic matters, as well as Russia, and immigration questions. In addition Halonen said that she had mentioned the fact that Finland has a new Prime Minister.
“Berlusconi was ready for a meeting, so that we might get Kiviniemi off to a quick start.”
President Halonen said that there was no mention during the meeting of previous criticism levelled at Finland by Berlusconi, concerning matters such as the palatability of the local cuisine (used as a weapon in the fight to get the plum of the European Food Safety Authority for Parma) and the aesthetics of Finnish wooden churches (except this one was allegedly in Iceland).
“He mentioned a few matters that had been out in public concerning other countries, and noted that sometimes a person is misunderstood.”
Relations between Halonen and Berlusconi attracted some international attention a few years ago when the Italian leader said in his somewhat flamboyant manner that he had used his playboy charms on Halonen, to which Halonen said that Berlusconi had perhaps overestimated his powers of persuasion.
