(13 May 2004) SHOTLIST
1. Palazzo Chigi
2. Photographers
3. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero entering room
4. Handshake in front of flags
5. Cameraman
6. Berlusconi and Zapatero leaving
7. Various meeting
8. Berlusconi and Zapatero entering room and walking up to podium
9. SOUNDBITE (Italian) Silvio Berlusconi, Italian Prime Minister:
"In all these sectors we have found positions that led me to understand that there is a will for continuity in the Spanish political policy and this political policy is in synch with Italian political policy."
10. Government officials listening
11. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Spanish Prime Minister:
"I reiterate the will of my government to maintain good relations with the Italian government. Because this is what Italian and Spanish people want. I reiterate, our desire to move forward as quickly as possible with the European Constitution and to make the European Union as perfect as possible."
12. Berlusconi and Zapatero at podium
13. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Spanish Prime Minister:
"(I have) explained my position on Iraq. My position is well-known. I did not share the opinion of those who wanted military intervention. And I think that this position is quite strong today. But I have asked, every day, other governments to respect the decision of the Spanish government as a sovereign government, and autonomous government. If I demand respect for my government's position, I have to lead by example. And I will respect the position of other governments. And, of course, I will respect the position of the Italian government."
14. Berlusconi and Zapatero leaving briefing
STORYLINE
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero on Thursday held talks with Premier Silvio Berlusconi in his first visit to Italy since he was elected in March.
Zapatero reiterated Spain's commitment to reaching an agreement on the first-ever EU constitution by the end of June.
Talks on the new constitution collapsed in December when Poland and Spain, under former Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, opposed new voting rules.
Zapatero said his government was committed to breaking the deadlock on voting rights.
Thursday's talks were the first bilateral meeting between the two leaders.
Berlusconi, a close ally and personal friend of Zapatero's predecessor, said Spain and Italy were on the same wavelength and both leaders proposed stepping up cooperation in many sectors, including dialogue with south-Mediterranean countries.
During the briefing with journalists following their meeting, Zapatero and Berlusconi both emphasised the good relations between Italy and Spain and said, despite different views, they both"respect" the other's position on Iraq.
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20 июл 2015
