Italian FM holds talks with US Secretary of State

(27 Feb 2009) SHOTLIST
1. Wide of Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini and United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton walking into room
2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hillary Rodham Clinton, US Secretary of State:
"I am pleased to welcome the Italian foreign minister. It's always good to see our friends from Italy, reliable partners and leaders on so many important issues. We have a very broad agenda to discuss and I am delighted that we can have this opportunity."
3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Franco Frattini, Italian Foreign Minister:
"Thank you very much, I am very grateful to Madame Secretary Hillary Clinton, to have the opportunity to discuss very important points. I am here first of all to confer the full commitment of Italy, of the Italian government toward cooperating very closely with the United States on international issues that are of common interest, ranging from Afghanistan and Pakistan to Middle East, non proliferation and of course strengthening Euro Atlantic ties."
4. Clinton and Frattini shaking hands, leaving room
STORYLINE:
United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton welcomed Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini to the State Department on Friday, where the two are expected to discuss a wide range of topics.
In a brief statement to reporters before the meeting, Frattini said the Italian government looked forward to, "cooperating very closely with the United States on international issues that are of common interest, ranging from Afghanistan and Pakistan and Middle East."
Frattini, who was on Thursday invited to Iran for talks expected to focus on Afghanistan and regional security issues, will also raise the matter during his visit to Washington, the Italian foreign ministry said.
Obama has said his administration is looking for opportunities to open direct talks with its longtime adversary and has pledged to rethink Washington's relationship with Iran.
In addition to his meeting with Clinton, the Italian Foreign Minister is also scheduled to meet with the American envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke; President Barack Obama's national security adviser, retired General James Jones; and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

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