Rome Mideast meeting boosts "facilitator" Prodi

ROME, July 23 (Reuters) While there are doubts over what a select group of foreign ministers can do to help the war-torn West Asia, the decision for them to meet in Rome next Wednesday has already benefited Italy's new government.

''However this meeting goes -- and it is difficult at present to foresee spectacular results -- it is an undoubted success for the Italian government that it is being held in our country,'' Italy's leading daily Corriere della Sera said in an editorial.

Four months after beating the staunchly pro-Washington Silvio Berlusconi at the polls, Prime Minister Romano Prodi is touting the conference as evidence he has credibility, not just in Europe, but also in the West Asia and, crucially, the United States.

''Italy is back playing a front-line role recognised by all our international partners,'' said Prodi's foreign minister, Massimo D'Alema, who will co-chair the meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

It was at the Group of Eight summit last weekend that Prodi first staked his claim to be a ''facilitator'' in the Lebanon crisis -- a go-between who could stay in regular contact with key parties like Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Iran.

Political analysts said Italy's move away from the cosy relationship with Washington -- due to Prodi's decision to pull troops out of Iraq -- gave Rome more credibility with countries in Europe and the West Asia.

While opposition politicians mocked Prodi's bid to raise Italy's diplomatic credibility, he said Rome's hosting of the emergency conference was evidence his stance had paid off.

''The decision to meet in Italy represents a recognition of our government's efforts to create a path to peace in the West Asia,'' Prodi said.

But while ministers from countries including Britain, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Egypt meet at Rome's Foreign Ministry, across town, in parliament, a raging debate over Italy's military presence in Afghanistan will show Prodi still has significant problems in foreign policy.

Pacifists in his government are threatening to vote against continuing Italy's missions abroad and Prodi may have to use a confidence vote to galvanise support for the bill in the upper house where he has a mere two-seat majority.

While centre-right support for the military means the bill should pass, it will be a political blow if Prodi has to rely on votes from Berlusconi's coalition to pass a measure which he considers a cornerstone of his foreign policy.

''We're pulling out of Iraq because it's the right thing to do.

We're staying in Afghanistan because it's the right thing to do,'' Prodi was quoted as saying by La Repubblica daily.

''If Italy is creating an international role as a country that is instrumental in the search for peaceful solutions, we have to understand that this requires obligations and for us to take responsibilities.'' Reuters MQA DB2220