PRIME MINISTER ROMANO PRODI'S GOVERNMENT AGREED ON FRIDAY TO KEEP ITALIAN TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN DESPITE OPPOSITION FROM PACIFISTS IN HIS COALITION THREATENING TO VOTE AGAINST THE MISSION IN PARLIAMENT, ACCORDING TO REUTERS. THE CABINET UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED A DECREE THAT EXTENDS FINANCING FOR ITALY'S OVERSEAS MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING FOR ITS SOME 1,300 TROOPS ON A NATO-LED MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN. DEFENCE MINISTER ARTURO PARISI, IN A NOD TO PACIFISTS, SAID ROME WOULD NOT SEND ANY ADDITIONAL TROOPS OR HIKE SPENDING. BUT HE ALSO DECLINED TO LAY OUT AN EXIT STRATEGY AND WARNED IT COULD TAKE 25 YEARS TO FULLY RESOLVE AFGHANISTAN'S CONFLICT. "THIS DOESN'T MEAN 25 YEARS OF MILITARY PRESENCE, BUT 25 YEARS OF 'I CARE', OF OUR NATION'S RESPONSIBILITY REGARDING THE AFGHAN MATTER," PARISI TOLD ANSA NEWS AGENCY AFTER THE CABINET MEETING. THE GOVERNMENT IS EXPECTED TO PUT THE AFGHANISTAN MISSION TO A VOTE IN PARLIAMENT IN MID-JULY. "THE MAJORITY'S POLITICAL CREDIBILITY IS AT STAKE IF IT CAN'T COUNT ON PARLIAMENTARY SUPPORT ON FOREIGN POLICY," FOREIGN MINISTER MASSIMO D'ALEMA SAID EARLIER IN THE WEEK. SENATE DEFENCE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN SERGIO DE GREGORIO SAID HE EXPECTED OPPOSITION BY SOME ON THE CENTRE LEFT MIGHT FORCE THE GOVERNMENT TO RELY ON CENTRE-RIGHT OPPOSITION VOTES. AFGHANISTAN HAS ALSO TESTED THE CENTRE RIGHT, LED BY FORMER PRIME MINISTER SILVIO BERLUSCONI, BY EXPOSING A SPLIT BETWEEN THE CENTRIST UDC PARTY, WHICH HAS SAID IT WILL VOTE WITH THE CENTRE LEFT, AND HARDLINERS WHO WILL NOT COOPERATE WITH PRODI.
