Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D' Alema said Tuesday that Italian military mission in Iraq can be considered over but it will remain there to help in that country's reconstruction.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Romanian counterpart Mihai Razvan Ungureanu, D'Alema said that the Italian military mission in Iraq to be over. However, their commitment to that country will continue on the level of foreign aid and civilian cooperation.

D'Alema, who is also deputy premier and chairman of the Democratic Left party, also stressed that Italy "will remain strongly involved in peace missions around the world".

In regards to relations between Washington and Rome after Italy's decision to pull its troops out of Iraq, D'Alema observed that "the American government knows well that Italy is a democratic country where those who win an election must maintain commitments made with voters. And among our commitments was the withdrawal of our armed forces from Iraq".

D'Alema added that "our friendship and alliance with the United States remain the pillars of Italy's foreign policy."

Source: Xinhua