Italy Will Remain Silent In Showdown With Russia

Italy Will Remain Silent In Showdown With Russia

As the EU finds itself in a showdown with Moscow over Georgia, one key EU state is rarely heard in the debate: Italy. The reason is not only that Italy is a major trading partner with Russia, but Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, more than any other current European leader, has made partnership with Moscow a priority. RFE/RL speaks with Giovanni Gasparini, senior fellow for security and defense at the Rome-based Istituto Affari Internazionali, to learn more.