ITALY: Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa says the country will not order its aircraft in Libya to open fire

Record ID: 340519

  • Title: ITALY: Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa says the country will not order its aircraft in Libya to open fire
  • Date: 16th April 2011
  • Summary: TRAPANI, SICILY, ITALY (FILE - APRIL 12, 2011) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ITALIAN AIR FORCE PERSONNEL WORKING ON TORNADO FIGHTER JETS ON TARMAC ITALIAN TORNADO JET ROLLING ON TARMAC
  • Embargoed: 1st May 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Italy, Italy
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: War / Fighting,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA18NKAXFM29LKCL8GYPE08N549
  • Story Text: Italy will not order its aircraft taking part in military operations over Libya to open fire, despite pressure from Britain and France, Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa said on Friday (April 15).
    Rome has made several air bases available for NATO forces and has contributed eight aircraft to the Libya mission but only for reconnaissance and monitoring operations.
    "Our line has not changed so far and I think we will keep be following in this direction, obviously in full respect of the opinions of all the others. The council of ministers has discussed a proposed use of the aircraft in a different manner, but as I have said, this was a mere proposition which we will not pursue. Therefore, not only will we not have different weapons on the planes that we have committed to providing but in addition, we will not put these aircraft to a different use (than the one so far)," La Russa told reporters after a cabinet meeting in Rome.
    Britain and France, the driving powers behind the western-led operation, have called for NATO allies to step up their contributions to the air operations against forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
    Italy, the former colonial power in Libya, was one of Gaddafi's best friends in Europe until his violent suppression of an uprising prompted the United Nations Security Council to pass a resolution authorising force to protect civilian lives.
    An official, who declined to be named, said Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi remained opposed to opening fire, saying Italy was contributing enough and its colonial past in Libya meant it should not change its position.
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