NEGOTATIATIONS SOUGHT AS BOMBS CONTINUE TO RAIN DOWN
Foreign Office speaks after Milosevich's cease-fire proposals are rejected
The unilateral cease-fire announced by Slobodan Milosevich, which was supposed to take effect during the Orthodox Easter this Sunday was not enough to convince Italian Premier Massimo D'Alema, who did not ask for air strikes to be halted.
Italy is still aligned with the position taken by her NATO allies. But it should be pointed out that D'Alema used diplomatic language to imply that the choice was taken due to the condition of the Kosovo refugees, and not in an attempt to remove Milosevich.
It was not enough, however, to save him from criticism by the two coalition parties opposed to military intervention in Yugoslavia. The Greens and the Italian Communists criticized him for not taking advantage of this "tiny opportunity" of mediating.
Opposition parties too are in favor of continuing with military operations. Casini of the Christian Democrat Center even said that ground troops should be sent in. The opposition Northern League is still opposed to any action.
Last week, the Government risked the resignation of two Communist ministers. But this was avoided when Italy supported the mission (which later failed) proposed by Russian Prime Minister Sergei Primakov. The two ministers decided to remain in the Government and to try to affect it from within.
Yesterday (8th April) though, the Foreign Secretary felt the need to repeat that the Italian Government's aim was to reach a "negotiated solution."
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