| Author (Person) | Dinmore, Guy |
|---|---|
| Series Title | Financial Times |
| Series Details | 20.5.09 |
| Publication Date | 20/05/2009 |
| Content Type | News |
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Article suggest that Franco Frattini, Italy’s Foreign Minister, would break with European Union policy of shunning high-level contact with Iran by flying to Tehran on the 20 May 2009 for talks on the Islamic republic’s strategic role in the region and possible openings for direct engagement with the US. Italy’s declared purpose in sending Mr Frattini was to prepare the ground for a regional conference on Afghanistan and Pakistan, which Italy planed to host in Trieste on the 25-27 June 2009 as the 2009 head of the Group of Eight industrialised nations. On the 20 May 2009 Italy cancelled at the last minute the visit, following strong objections from European capitals and Washington and a bid by Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad, Iran’s hardline president, to make election propaganda out of the visit. |
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| Countries / Regions | Europe, Italy, Middle East |
