By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconion Wednesday called for continued dialogue with Muslims and asked for their cooperation in fighting terrorism, saying the world had to prevent a new "Iron Curtain" from dividing the West and the Islamic world.
Berlusconi, who angered many Muslims in 2001 after saying Western civilization was superior to Islam, invited Muslim ambassadors to dinner Wednesday evening to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
He stressed the "essential" ties between the Muslim and Christian worlds, saying both reject violence, and said Italy was committed to dialogue with the Muslim community here.
"They are a resource," he told the ambassadors. "We hope they will cooperate strongly with us to pull up the roots of violence and live with us in harmony with our values."