Frattini made his remarks in response to a question on what Italy would do if the United States decides to strike Iraq even without a mandate from the United Nations.

He noted that Italy will not send troops, adding that its support "will be logistical." He said, "We have agreements in the framework of NATO and other bilateral accords regarding the use of bases on our territory."

At present, Frattini said, Italy's role in the Iraqi crisis is one of "political persuasion" and this has been in regards to both Iraq and the United States.

Summing up Italy's position on Iraq, Frattini said that "everyone should contribute to getting Iraq to disarm, I hope peacefully. We may have differences on how this must be done but we all share the final goal of disarmament."

"If disarmament does not take place after twelve years of UN resolutions, what credibility could the Security Council have in the future? Thus we must convince our partners to share a common position," he added.

Turning his attention to the souring of trans-Atlantic relations, especially between the United States and Germany and France, Frattini said, "We should not confuse current differences of opinion over how to resolve the problem of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, by putting into question trans-Atlantic relations which for Italy, as well as France, is one of the cornerstones of our foreign policy."

Commenting on the recent mass anti-war demonstrations in Italy and around the world, Frattini said, "There appears to be a serious communications problem. We must make it clear that we are not dealing with any 'poor victims' but a dictator who has used toxic weapons against his own people and that the international community is not trying to get its hands on oil but to disarm this dictator."

In the Le Monde interview, Frattini also said there was no contradiction between European unity and obligations to the Atlantic Alliance.

(Xinhua News Agency February 27, 2003)