Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (R) welcomes Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad in Villa Madama, an official residence in Rome, 20 February 2002. Bashar al-Assad headed into talks with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi expected to press for greater European Union involvement in the Middle East amidst a massive upsurge in violence. President Bashar Al-Assad is on the second day of his 3-day official visit in Italy. AFP PHOTO GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
