Italy's prime minister-elect Silvio Berlusconi said Thursday he would discuss the future of failing national flagship airline Alitalia with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the ANSA news agency reported. “I will be happy to discuss ... a return to the initial plan of an Alitalia with Italian management on an equal footing with the two other companies” with Sarkozy, Berlusconi said two weeks after Air France-KLM withdrew a takeover offer for the company. On Wednesday, Berlusconi mooted a return to the table with Air France-KLM but only if a deal could be reached that would accord “equal status among the three airlines.” He said he would be willing to discuss the fate of the airline with Sarkozy after he takes office early next month. Sarkozy, congratulating Berlusconi on Tuesday, said his election provided an opportunity to “deepen the traditional bond of friendship and cooperation that unites our two countries.” Berlusconi, speaking to reporters as he headed to Sardinia for a private meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, also said he planned to meet next week with the outgoing government of Romano Prodi. __
