Italy's prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, is not a man accustomed to tough interviews. So it must have been a shock to submit to a grilling from Sir Bob Geldof over his failed aid promises, published at the weekend in an edition of La Stampa guest-edited by the veteran Africa campaigner. One observer likened their meeting to "a boxing match", and said that both parties came close to storming out. Forget Paxman: as these extracts reveal, there are few inquisitors more terrifying that Saint Bob in time-honoured "give us your fecking money" mode.
- Geldof (waving a copy of the aid commitment Berlusconi had signed at the Gleneagles G8 summit in 2005, then patently ignored)Here is the signature of a country and the honour of a man.
- Berlusconi: I am sorry, we made a mistake.
- Geldof: If Africans [had the money to] buy products, there would be more jobs created in Italy.
- Berlusconi: You're right, when you make a promise you need to keep it. We are late and we must catch up. I am sorry not to have kept promises, we have had to deal with all the things that have happened. The crisis, the earthquake. We also have a battle with the opposition and judges who attack us.
- Geldof: But this, prime minister, is not a discussion about the media or the judicial system. We are talking about poor people who cannot defend themselves.
- Berlusconi: We will try not to let you down.
- Geldof (pointing out that Italy has delivered on just 3% of its Gleneagles commitments): It is a question of credibility. Political credibility. You risk becoming "Mr Three Per Cent", the man who keeps just 3% of his promises. (Cue Berlusconi looking even more shamefaced than he has in recent weeks.)
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