July 12, 2003	Saturday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 11, 1424

ROME, July 11: The Italian goverment has suffered from a German backlash in the two countries’ recent diplomatic row but wants to turn the page quickly, Foreign Minister Franco Frattini told journalists here Friday.

“The Italian government has suffered because of the German reaction, and not only in the area of business,” said Frattini.

He was referring to the recent anti-German gaffes by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and a junior tourism minister which caused German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder to cancel an Italian holiday.

“I have suffered personally,” Frattini said, but he added “the historic friendship between Italy and Germany will not be affected by this problem.”

“We must turn the page to the future,” the minister told Brussels-based European correspondents on a familiarisation visit to Italy. —AFP