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Italy recalls envoy in Brazil asylum row

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-01-28 14:14

RIO DE JANEIRO -- The Italian government announced Tuesday it has recalled the country's ambassador in Brazil, Michele Valensise, after the Brazilian government maintained its decision to grant refugee status to Italian writer Cesare Battisti.

According to the Italian Foreign Relations Ministry, Valensise has been recalled to Rome temporarily for consultations.

Battisti, a former member of a radical Italian leftist group, was sentenced to life in prison on four accounts of murder committed in the 1970s.

After living for many years in France, Battisti left for Brazil. He was arrested in 2007 in Rio, and requested political asylum in the country.

On Jan. 13, Brazil's Justice Minister Tarso Genro granted political refugee status to Battisti, against the advice of Brazil's National Committee for Refugees. The decision caused an uproar in Italy, where Battisti is considered a terrorist.

The asylum was granted on the grounds of fear of persecution, due to Battisti's political views. Genro also considered that due to Italy's political situation at the time, the writer was not given a fair trial.

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano asked Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to revoke Genro's decision, but Lula decided to maintain it.

According to Lula, Brazil's decision is sovereign and should be accepted, though Italy may not agree with it.

Brazilian General Prosecutor Antonio Fernando de Souza recommended to the Supreme Federal Court Monday that Battisti's extradition request by Italy be closed. Battisti is expected to be released soon.

Despite the minor rift, the Brazilian government said Tuesday it is confident of keeping good ties with Italy.

"The historical ties between Brazil and Italy will continue inspiring our efforts to deepen even more the solid bilateral ties," the Brazilian Foreign Ministry said in a communique.

"The Brazilian government considers that all procedures about this issue were taken according to the legislation," the ministry said, reaffirming what Lula had said in a letter to his Italian counterpart Napolitano.