ITALY MUST OVERCOME 'SHORTSIGHTEDNESS', NAPOLITANO

ITALY MUST OVERCOME 'SHORTSIGHTEDNESS', NAPOLITANO

(ANSA) - Beirut, November 3 - Italy must overcome its ''shortsightedness'' in order to reach its potential as a major player on the world scene, President Giorgio Napolitano told soldiers Tuesday.

In Lebanon to visit peacekeeping forces ahead of Italian Armed Forces Day on Wednesday, Napolitano told troops stationed near the Israeli border that ''your mission here is and will remain a fundamental part of Italy's place on the world scene in the 21st century''.

Commenting on the changing role of the military, Napolitano said that the armed forces were increasingly ''instruments of peace keeping and law enforcement to intervene in times of crisis and instability'' and ''to combat terrorism and organized crime''.

Italy, which currently leads the UNIFIL mission, has some 2,500 men deployed in the UN mission, set up after Israel's 2006 offensive against the Hezbollah paramilitary organization.

Accompanying Napolitano was Defense Minister Ignazio La Russa, who last week denied reports that Italy was seeking a six-month extension for its command of the UNIFIL mission, which expires at the end of January.

La Russa said that Italy put up no opposition to Spain's bid for command of UN forces in Lebanon, but that it would consider bringing home 200 to 300 support troops, who would no longer be necessary if the Spanish took over.

However, Napolitano on Tuesday said that ''there is nothing automatic'' about reducing personnel once General Claudio Graziano, who commands the UN mission, returns to Italy.