Berlusconi comes to US for pre-election boost

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's visit to the United States this week is likely aimed more at boosting his own re-election chances at home than improving bilateral ties.

A close ally of President George W. Bush, Berlusconi will have breakfast with the U.S. president on Tuesday along with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, just hours before Bush leaves for Asia.

A White House official said the main goal of the breakfast meeting was to reinforce close cooperation between the two countries in fighting terrorism and "advancing freedom" generally across the Middle East and elsewhere.

With just six weeks until Italy's election on April 9, analysts said Berlusconi's trip would provide him "wall-to-wall" media coverage back home and raise his credibility among voters.

"Berlusconi is in the midst of a massive effort to attract attention to his candidacy. He is on television every night and there is no better way to focus media attention on him than a visit to the United States," said Charles Kupchan, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Kupchan said Bush was rewarding the Italian leader for his loyalty and for sending troops to Afghanistan and Iraq, where domestic criticism was particularly strong after an Italian intelligence officer was killed by U.S. forces last year.

IRAQ

The intelligence officer, Nicola Calipari, was shot and killed on the night on March 4, 2005, as he was escorting an Italian hostage, journalist Guiliana Sgrena, to freedom on a notoriously dangerous road to Baghdad airport.

A U.S. investigation, in which Italy was also involved, did not produce an agreed upon joint report on the incident and strained ties between the two countries.

"We feel the case is closed. We made the report. It was a tragic, unfortunate incident," said a senior State Department official. "That's the end of the story at this point."

That dispute prompted calls in Italy for Berlusconi to withdraw Italian troops deployed in Iraq, a demand the Italian prime minister did not bow to.

Berlusconi is set to give a speech to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday, an honor rarely bestowed on foreign leaders and likely to raise his profile in Italy.

"What Congress is recognizing is what Italy has done as a nation whether it is contributions in Iraq, the Balkans or elsewhere. This is an honor they have felt appropriate," said the State Department official, who asked not to be named because the White House was handling Berlusconi's visit.

One issue likely to come up during Berlusconi's talks with Bush will be Iran, which the United States and Europe suspect of building a nuclear bomb under the guise of a peaceful energy program. Iran strongly denies these claims.

Italy is Iran's biggest trading partner but despite this, U.S. officials said they were happy with Italy's public concern over Tehran's nuclear plans.

During his visit, Berlusconi will also be given an Intrepid Freedom Award, which in past years has gone to former U.S. presidents Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan.