JEDDAH, 28 April 2004 — There are about 1,000 Italians in Saudi Arabia. It is a small number. But despite fears of terrorism ever since the first Riyadh bombings on May 13 last year, they are not going to be intimidated into leaving. After meeting with Italians living across the Kingdom, Italian Ambassador Armando Sanguini is certain of it.
Indeed, according to Sanguini, the Italian community is convinced of the necessity of staying on. Speaking to Arab News just hours before last Thursday’s terrorist outrage in Riyadh, he said Italians, like everyone else, had been surprised and shocked by the attacks; the Kingdom was considered one of the safest places on earth. They are convinced, he said, of the Saudi government’s determination to root out terrorism. He said that a warden network to keep Italians informed about what to do if there were problems had been put in place; it was particularly valuable in the Eastern Province, where there is no Italian consulate.
It is “business as usual” despite the security situation, Sanguini said. Business missions are still coming, he said. As to rumors that numbers of individual Italian businessmen had dropped because of the situation, the drop was “less than expected,” he said. Even so, “there’s a willingness to strengthen bilateral relations at all possible levels,” he added.
There has been a marked improvement in the two-way trade between the Kingdom and Italy, he said. Bilateral trade last year totaled four billion euros. Italian imports amounted to 2.1 billion euros while Saudi exports to Italy were around 1.9 billion euros, the ambassador said. In particular, he pointed out, Italians are involved in several joint ventures in the Kingdom, notably in the gas sector in the Eastern Province and in steel production. Just last month Eni, the Italian state-owned oil company, and Spain’s Repsol were awarded a huge gas exploration contract.
Sanguini, who arrived in Riyadh 10 months ago having previously served as Italian ambassador in Tunis, also dealt at length on the issue of Iraq, where Italian troops are serving in the coalition forces and some Italians have been seized as hostages by insurgents; one has already been murdered. Replying to a question on whether Italy should quit Iraq, the ambassador repeated Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s insistent “We stay”. Nonetheless, Italy is deeply concerned about the situation. “We need another UN resolution that calls for a larger involvement of international forces there.” However, the real question that needed to be asked, he said, was: “Should we abandon Iraq?” Iraq needs international help — “under UN auspices,” he said.
“We are confident that, this time, there won’t be a division in the Security Council on this.” The situation needs a stronger involvement of the international community under the umbrella of the international body. But Italy will face up to its responsibilities. “We cannot leave the Iraqi people alone.” Nor would Italians be frightened by international terrorism or hostage taking into changing the present policy.
“We’ve had the experience of terrorism and a long history of suffering,” he said. Italians were united across the political divide against negotiating with terrorists or making any concessions to them.
On Italy’s domestic situation and the growing number of foreign migrants, including a significant number of Muslims, Sanguini said that there were some politicians who try to sow racism and hatred. But there is no racism, no xenophobia in Italy, he insisted. “Yes, there are some areas where people are more sensitive about the presence of foreigners whether Muslim or not.”
On the whole, however, the immigrant population are “abiding by the rules and living in harmony” with their neighbors, he said.
