Bush Hosts Berlusconi at His Texas Ranch

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, July 21, 2003

Bush Hosts Berlusconi at His Texas Ranch

US President Bush showed billionaire Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi what Texas ranch life is all about on Sunday as the two close allies on Iraq got together for two days of talks.

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US President Bush showed billionaire Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi what Texas ranch life is all about on Sunday as the two close allies on Iraq got together for two days of talks.

Bush, behind the wheel of his white pickup truck, picked up Berlusconi on arrival at a helicopter landing pad and they drove off to the ranch house, Bush wearing khakis and cowboy boots and Berlusconi a blue shirt with sleeves rolled up and top buttons undone against the blistering Texas heat.

The two leaders were to have dinner on Sunday night, spend the night at the ranch and answer a few questions from reporters on Monday morning to conclude the visit.

Berlusconi, one of Europe's most controversial leaders, has been a steadfast ally of Bush during the war against Iraq, and may be asked for more help now.

Bush's Iraq war victory has been clouded by allegations that the pre-war case against Saddam Hussein may have been at least partly based on faulty intelligence. Americans are increasingly concerned about deaths of U.S. soldiers attempting to keep the peace.

Bush, feeling the heat of his critics, has let it be known that the United States is open to giving the United Nations a bigger role in Iraq, especially if other governments respond by offering more help with peacekeeping and reconstruction.

With Berlusconi holding the EU presidency, Bush hopes to pick up support within Europe for reconstructing Iraq and for U.S. policies to isolate Hamas and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.

He also would at least like to get a sympathetic hearing of U.S. grievances about Europe's ban on the import of genetically modified foods, which he says is contributing to famine in Africa. Europeans are reluctant to lift the ban out of concern that the biotech foods are unsafe.

Berlusconi was among a select group of world leaders to win a coveted invitation to the Prairie Chapel ranch, where Bush and his wife Laura take on a more informal style.

The White House has essentially ignored the flap Berlusconi caused when he compared a German lawmaker to a Nazi concentration camp guard.

Berlusconi made the jibe during a formal speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on day two of Italy's six-month stint as European Union president. He later expressed regret.

Source: Agencies

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