February 3, 2006	Friday	Muharram 4, 1427

MADRID, Feb 2: Mittal Steel’s chief executive on Thursday took his European charm offensive to Madrid where he insisted his takeover of Arcelor would protect and not destroy jobs, but Spain’s government remained unconvinced.

“There will be no job cuts arising out of this merger in Europe — this is in the interest of jobs in Europe,” Lakshmi Mittal told reporters.

He praised Spain for taking what he called a “neutral” stance amid fierce hostility to the plan from France and Luxembourg.

—AFP