Bush, Berlusconi reaffirm strong ties

President George W. Bush and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi reaffirmed strong ties between their two countries yesterday after the Italian leader created a stir by saying he had warned the United States against invading Iraq.

"Relations between Italy and the United States are strong. And the relationship between our countries is important. It's important for our economies. And I'm pleased to know that trade between our countries is vibrant," Mr Bush told reporters in the Oval Office with Mr Berlusconi. "I want to thank Silvio's strong commitment to the freedom of people in Afghanistan and Iraq. I appreciate his strong vision of peace in the Balkans," Mr Bush said.

Mr Berlusconi, in an interview with the La7 television network broadcast yesterday, said he repeatedly tried to persuade Mr Bush against invading Iraq. "I tried many times to convince the American president not to go to war," he said.

Mr Berlusconi is one of Washington's strongest allies. Although he did not send troops to join the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, he did send forces after the fall of Baghdad.

Italy pulled about 300 soldiers from Iraq earlier this year as part of a phased withdrawal, leaving about 2,900 troops there.

"Italy will always be grateful to the United States for what this country has been doing to free us from totalitarianism in the past century," Mr Berlusconi said at the White House.

"And it is for us a reason of pride to be side by side with our American ally in broadening the borders of democracy and freedom in the world and in order to pursue peace, which is something we all aspire to," he said through a translator.