Italy seeks to move G-8 summit to quake-hit L’Aquila

Italy asks to move G-8 summit to quake-hit city

ROME — Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi says he wants to move this summer’s Group of Eight summit to earthquake-stricken L’Aquila from Sardinia to both save money and provide the region with an economic boost.

Berlusconi told a news conference after a Cabinet meeting in L’Aquila that the security costs of holding the July 8-10 summit in the Sardinian island of La Maddalena would have cost euro220 million ($285 million) alone — money better spent on reconstruction efforts in Italy’s central Abruzzo region.

He said there were already sufficient hotels for delegations, conference venues and areas for journalists in the region.

News agencies said the change of venue was conditional on approval by the other participating countries.