ITALY: SPANISH PRIME MINISTER JOSE MARIA AZNAR SAY'S HE'S FIRMLY BEHIND ITALY'S EFFORTS TO JOIN THE EMU

Record ID: 190461

  • Title: ITALY: SPANISH PRIME MINISTER JOSE MARIA AZNAR SAY'S HE'S FIRMLY BEHIND ITALY'S EFFORTS TO JOIN THE EMU
  • Date: 11th September 1997
  • Summary: BOLOGNA, ITALY (SEPTEMBER 11, 1997) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF SUMMIT BUILDING (4 SHOTS) 0.14 2. VARIOUS ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER ROMANO PRODI AND SPANISH PRIME MINISTER JOSE MARIA AZNER AT FAMILY PHOTO (3 SHOTS) 0.27 3. VARIOUS ROUND TABLE AT SUMMIT (5 SHOTS) 0.43 4. WIDE OF PRESS CONFERENCE 0.46 5. LV/SV AZNER ANNOUNCES THE JOINT AMPHIBIOUS MILITARY FORCE TO BE PLACED UNDER THE COMMAND OF A SPANISH ADMIRAL BASED IN CARTAGENA, SPAIN AND THE ITALIAN PORT OF BRINDISI (SPANISH) 1.17 6. SLV CUTAWAY 1.23 7. ZOOM IN AZNER SAYING "SINCE THE START I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED THAT ITALY MUST BE PART OF THE SINGLE CURRENCY FROM THE VERY MOMENT THAT THE SINGLE CURRENCY IS LAUNCHED." (SPANISH) 1.35 8. SV CUTAWAY 1.37 9. WIDE OF PRESS CONFERENCE 1.40 Initials S3,P3 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 26th September 1997 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BOLOGNA, ITALY
  • City:
  • Country: Italy
  • Reuters ID: LVA6P2V2JK3CH9F1GK64ZPKVIWVO
  • Story Text: INTRO: Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar said on Thursday he was firmly behind Italy's efforts to join the first round of European economic and monetary union.

    Speaking at the end of a two-day summit meeting on Thursday (Sept 11) with Italian premier Romano Prodi, Aznar also said he did not believe the planned new currency, the Euro, would be weakened if a large number of countries joined it at the outset.

    "Since the start I have always maintained that Italy must be part of the single currency from the very moment that the single currency is launched," Aznar told a news conference.

    Both Aznar and Prodi went out of their way to present an impression of like-minded harmony in all their public appearances during the summit in the northern Italian city.

    Prodi publicly thanked Aznar for supporting Italy's leadership of a multinational force sent to Albania earlier this year after a breakdown of law and order in the Balkan country.

    The two countries also agreed on Thursday to establish a joint amphibious military force which will initially be placed under the command of a Spanish admiral.

    "We see this as very important," said Aznar. The joint force will be based in Cartagena, in Spain, and in the Italian port of Brindisi.

    The European Union is to decide early next year which countries are to be admitted to the monetary union, planned for launch in January 1999.

    Both Italy and Spain are confident that they can lower their public sector deficit to gross domestic product ratios to three percent this year, thereby meeting a key requirement for admission to the first wave of European economic and monetary union.


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