VOA News
03 Jul 2003, 19:11 UTC
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has expressed regret to German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder for comparing a German lawmaker to a Nazi prison guard.
Mr. Schroeder declared the matter closed following a telephone conversation with the Italian leader Thursday evening.
In a statement issued in Rome, Mr. Berlusconi said his comment had been intended to be ironic. It said the two men had agreed that Italy's six months in the rotating European Union presidency, which began Tuesday, must be marked by success.
Mr. Berlusconi addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France Wednesday. German lawmaker Martin Schulz subsequently criticized what he called a conflict of interest between Mr. Berlusconi's roles as prime minister and owner of most of Italy's private television stations.
Mr. Berlusconi quickly replied he knew of an Italian film being made about Nazi concentration camps, and that Mr. Schulz would be perfect for the role of a guard. The comments prompted widespread criticism of the Italian leader among members of the European Parliament and politicians from European Union countries.
Prior to the controversy a number of top EU officials had questioned Mr. Berlusconi's fitness to lead the 15-member body due to his legal problems in Italy.
Mr. Berlusconi is facing corruption charges in his country. On Monday, Italian judges asked the Supreme Court to review the legality of a new law granting him immunity from prosecution while in office.
Lawmakers passed the measure last month, forcing a suspension of Mr. Berlusconi's trial on charges of bribing judges in the 1980s.
Some information for this report provided by AFP and AP.
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