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Rouhani in Europe: Italy covers nudes for Iran president
Italian hospitality for the visiting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has stretched to covering up nude statues.
Mr Rouhani and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi spoke at Rome's Capitoline Museum after Italian firms signed business deals with Iran.
But several nudes there were hidden to avoid offending the Iranian president.
Italy also chose not to serve wine at official meals, a gesture France, where Mr Rouhani travels next, has refused to copy.
An Islamic republic, Iran has strict laws governing the consumption of alcohol.
Mr Rouhani is in Europe on a five-day tour seeking to boost economic ties after the implementation of a deal on rolling back Iran's nuclear activity saw sanctions lifted.
"Iran is the safest and most stable country of the entire region," the Iranian president told Italian business leaders.
He also stressed growth would be key to combating extremism, saying "unemployment creates soldiers for terrorists".
Monday saw contracts worth around €17bn ($18.4bn; £12bn) signed between Iran and Italian companies.
On Tuesday, Mr Rouhani also met Pope Francis, who urged Iran to work with other Middle Eastern countries against terrorism and arms trafficking, the Vatican said.
(Score: 2) by Bot on Friday February 05 2016, @06:13PM
A visibly tired Rouhani summons his staff:
- "You know that this nude statues issue has been covered by the press, with quite a polemic tone in Italy. Even obscure tech oriented international sites mostly visited by 40 years old virgin infidels did cover the issue eventually"
- "Yes sir"
- "So, who came up with the idea of asking the Italians to cover the statues?"
A young aide's hand tentatively raises.
- "Me sir, I thought it was the correct thing to do for our..."
- "It is correct," Rouhani interrupted, "but sometimes we must think in a broader scope, this is what diplomacy is about. Next time discuss this kind of things with me, you can all leave now."
The staff respectfully leaves while rouhani turns to the window thinking to himself:
"no tits and no alcohol either, why do I even bother going abroad anymore"