The Hindu : Front Page : India a real partner: Romano Prodi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 10, 2007
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Front Page

Front Page

India a real partner: Romano Prodi

Vaiju Naravane

``Many parallels with Manmohan, both dealing with difficult coalitions"

Romano Prodi

Rome : "I want to send a strong signal that India is not a potential but a real partner, politically, culturally and economically," Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi told The Hindu in an exclusive interview.

Describing India as one of the "great protagonists of world economy," Mr. Prodi said he was keen to revitalise the economic ties between the two countries. He blamed the stagnation of trade between India and Italy (despite a 35 per cent increase last year) on the provincial mindset of his countrymen.

Referring to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Mr. Prodi said his last conversation with her was in English. "I remember her as very reserved and discreet ... and I understood that she was no longer Italian in the sense that she had changed her life deeply."

Italy's doors were always open to Ms. Gandhi, he said, but pointed out that he would not want an invitation to be interpreted as interference in India's internal affairs.

There were many parallels between him and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Mr. Prodi said: "Both of us are economists and professors and we have to deal with difficult coalitions; mine is perhaps more difficult than his!"

The two first met as teachers "and neither of us could imagine that we would one day meet as prime ministers. Life is strange," Mr. Prodi said.

He, however, asserted both were working towards widening democratic participation by heading coalitions that were increasingly inclusive. One of the functions of democracy was to include extremes, the so-called lunatic fringe described by political scientists.

Dialogue with Iran

Mr. Prodi called for a real dialogue with Iran. "Having a dialogue does not signify weakness. Closing a dialogue results in exclusion and resentment. By keeping it open you retain the possibility of influencing events. That does not mean I am not strongly against nuclear proliferation," he clarified.