Crikey has secured an advance transcript of tomorrow’s meeting in Rome between Prime Ministers Berlusconi and Rudd, also attended by Australia’s Ambassador to Italy, the Hon. Amanda Vanstone:
Rudd: Signor Primo Ministro, le vorrei presentare l’ambasciatrice Vanstone. Prime Minister, I would like to introduce you to Ambassador Vanstone.
Vanstone: Il mio cuore batte per lei, eccellenza. My heart beats for you, Excellency. Sono la sua ammiratrice numero 1. I am your #1 admirer.
Berlusconi: Lei mi incanta, Ambasciatrice. I am entranced, Ambassador. Mi farebbe il piacere di venire alla prossima festa alla mia villa? Would you accept an invitation to my next villa party ?
Vanstone: Mama mia. Mama mia!
Rudd: Signor Primo Ministro, e’ un vero onore venire in Italia. Prime Minister, we are honoured to visit your country. Le vorrei porre una domanda dell’infrastruttura: I treni, arrivano in orario adesso? I have an infrastructure question: do the trains run on time yet?
Berlusconi: Lavoro in corso. Work-in-progress. Piu’ espresso? More espresso?
Vanstone: Il mio cuore batte per lei… My heart beats for you…
Rudd: Arriverderci, Prime Minister. Goodbye, Prime Minister.
Berlusconi: Arriverderci, Prime Minister. Goodbye, Prime Minister.
Vanstone: Il mio cuore batte per lei. My heart beats for you …
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