In anticipation of the Group of Eight (G8) summit, to be held in the quake-hit region of Abruzzo from July 8 to 10, Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi made an official trip to Washington to brief United States president Barack Obama.
Berlusconi told Obama that the G8 agenda will focus on ways to boost the world economy, ensure global food security and cut greenhouse gasses. Representatives will also explore the possibility of introducing new rules to regulate global financial markets. While in Washington, the two leaders discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the aftermath of the recent presidential elections in Iran.
During their meeting, the two leaders’ spoke of Italy’s willingness to take some of the prisoners being held in the American military base in Guantanamo, Cuba, scheduled for closure. Berlusconi agreed to accept three Guantanamo inmates, believed to be from Tunisia, who are among the 10 that the European Union has thus far agreed to take.
Following his visit to the White House, Berlusconi went to the US Congress, where he met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
