Rome, 18/06/2003 (Agence Europe) - "A missed opportunity to keep silent": such is the reply from Silvio Berlusconi to the remarks by French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin who, on Monday in Luxembourg when speaking to the press, had reproached him for having distanced himself from the European position when, during his recent visit to the Middle East, he had met Ariel Sharon but refused to meet Chairman Arafat (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.4). Answering questions put by reporters after his meeting with Costas Simitis (on the occasion of his capital tour before the European Council of Thessaloniki), the Italian Prime Minister, who is soon to be the President of the European Council, affirmed: "I went to the Middle East as President of the Italian Council (…). France cannot therefore criticise me about something that is part of the duties of the President of the Council". Mr Berlusconi (whom Palestinians did not allow to hold a meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Abu Mazen, since he had not wished to see President Arafat) added that he had fixed a meeting with Abu Mazen at a later date, in Italy.