Livni to meet Berlusconi, Vatican official in Rome

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni had a busy day of talks scheduled Wednesday with Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi and other Italian officials during a visit to Rome, as elections loom in both countries. Middle East peace prospects in view of changing politics in the region, including the Hamas victory in Palestinian elections earlier this year, are expected to be on the agenda when Livni and Berlusconi meet at the premier's office in the early afternoon as well as during a meeting she will have later in the afternoon with her Italian counterpart Gianfranco Fini at the Foreign Ministry. Another meeting, scheduled for early evening at the Vatican with Livni's counterpart from the Holy See, Monsignor Lajolo, would review Vatican-Israeli relations. Livni was also expected to see Italian opposition leaders in the early evening.