TEHRAN U.S. President Bill Clinton on Wednesday warned Italian Prime Minister Giuliano Amato against a hasty rapprochement with Iran and Libya, a White House official said.
This is another sign of U.S. interference in Iran's affairs, however U.S. policy to isolate Iran from international arena has not been supported by other countries and has been doomed to failure.
Amato joined the U.S. president at the White House early Wednesday to discuss the ongoing crisis in the Balkans and upcoming elections in Yugoslavia and Russia, said White House spokesman Joe Lockhart, AFP reported.
"There was an extensive conversation on the Balkans, particularly a discussion on the upcoming Yugoslavian elections," Lockhart said.
"They talked about the improving situation in Croatia and Albania, spent some time on Russia and also some time on both sides expressing their views on relations with Libya and Iran." Another senior White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the U.S. president was concerned with Italy's willingness to begin a rapprochement with Libya and Iran.
"He cautioned the prime minister against improving Italy's relations with Iran and Libya until these two countries show more progress," the official said.
The oil crisis figured prominently in the conversation between the two leaders, who made no statement to the press following their meeting.
"One of their primary focuses was on fuel and oil prices," said an assistant White House spokesman, David Stockwell. "They discussed the negative impact that oil prices are having in Europe and in Asia and discussed strategies for dealing with the issue." The two also discussed trade issues, particularly conflicts over bananas, Stockwell said.