Silvio Berlusconi show off his proficiency in English

Saturday, 14 September 2002. Silvio Berlusconi is in Camp David, officially visiting the USA. The Italian politician makes a speech in English and US President George W Bush gets quite impressed by his knowledge of foreign languages.

After a year from the 9/11 terrible attacks upon New York City and the Pentagon, Italy's prime minister Silvio Berlusconi travelled to the United States of America in order to meet up with president George W Bush.

Who's the guy on the left? Tony Soprano or Silvio Berlusconi?

The two fellow politicians are notably good friends.

The main reason of the visit was to thoroughly discuss steps to be taken regarding the war on terrorism, the (apparently) related situation in Iraq and how to handle the whole thing at the United Nations.

Berlusconi's suggestions to camping peeps

Wednesday, 1 April 2009. L'Aquila, Italy. The Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi advise the earthquake victims to take it easy and be happy.

In the aftermath of one of the most devastating earthquakes in many years, leaving 17,000 homeless and killing 260 people (including 16 children*), president Silvio Berlusconi toured some of the tent sites around central Italy Abruzzo's capital L'Aquila, as well as the severely damaged historical downtown.

Berlusconi's Fire Brigade

Wearing a fireman's helmet (Silvio's headgear can be quite varied), he surveyed, met local people, bestowed wise advices.

When interviewed, the Italian prime minister admitted that the lodgings where "a bit" temporary, but suggested that the tent sites' inhabitants should "see it as a weekend of camping", since they did not "lack anything".

"They have medicaments, food and shelter for the night" declared an optimistic Silvio to the media (he was being interviewed by a German television channel), unable to understand why people seemed to be so gloom.

Actually earthquake-stroke people tend to see the dark side of things and perhaps they should heed good advices form Italian Silvio and try and look on the bright side of things.

Or - as someone suggested - the Italian prime minister and the media billionaire was not completely serious and he just meant to play an April Fool's trick, in order to alleviate a bit of strain? Or he just wanted to add a new witty remark to the long list of infamous Berlusconi's quotes? You can never know, with such a flamboyant and funny prime minister...

*Unfortunately the final number of casualties will rise, up to 309 people.

Video from our YouTube Channel: Berluschannel

Berlusconi call puts Angela Merkel (and a Nato summit) on hold.

Saturday, 4 April 2009. Baden-Baden (Germany), along the Rhine river. The Italian politician-entrepreneur Berlusconi keeps hanging the Nato summit host Angela Merkel whilst talking on the phone.

President Berlusconi this time holds up the start of a NATO summit and keeps hanging the Chancellor of Germany, who's receiving the guests of the meeting. He gets off his car, Angela Merkel's looking forward to greet him and shake hands with him, but Silvio just can't hang the phone (as he explains, with clear gestures to the host of the meeting. Once again, funny stuff from Berlusconi).

Video from our YouTube Channel: Berluschannel

Nato leaders then cross the pedestrian bridge over the Rhine - with Merkel and Obama in front line - in order to meet France's President Sarkozy.

Believe it or not, Silvio is on the phone, whilst strolling around. And the puzzled Mrs Merkel has to start the event's opening ceremony without Italy's Berlusconi.

Over the telephone

In his defence, the Italian Prime Minister was talking to Mr Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (Turkey's Prime Minister) and the call was pertinent to the summit, but we can assume he could have found a way to manage it in a snappier way.

Couldn't he?