18/10/2004 (Agence Europe) - Pietro Calamia, former Permanent Representative for Italy with the EU, suggests in the "Lettera diplomatica" of 12 October that emphasis should be placed on a European presence at the UN Security Council, in the current phase of the request to obtain a full seat rather than the seat of permanent observer. He comments that, at this stage, the European Union is not yet able, as such, to express its views on foreign and security policy. At the same time, Ambassador Calamia, although considering that a Member State (Germany, but also Italy) could legitimately put forward its candidature to an enlarged Security Council, says he understands the position of those who, in Italy - like President Ciampi, Minister Frattini or, in the opposition, Rutelli and Amato - would like to give priority to the idea of a European seat.