Italy covers up nude sculptures for Iran president visit

[Hans Mann]

Rome (AFP) - Italy's desire to court visiting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani extended to covering up classical nude sculptures in the museum where he met Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, it emerged on Tuesday.

The two men made speeches in Rome's Capitoline Museum after a signing ceremony on Monday which saw Italian companies tie up 17 billion euros ($18 billion) worth of deals with the Islamic Republic.

A huge statue of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius on a horse featured prominently in many of the photographs of the event.

But nude statues, including a Venus dating from the second century BC, had all been covered up in temporary wooden cartons, removing the risk of them creeping into any of the shots -- or catching Rouhani's eye.

"You can not hide your culture, your religion or history itself. It was the wrong decision," Giuliano Volpe, head of the Superior Council for Cultural Heritage at the Italian culture ministry, told public broadcaster Rai3.

"We must enhance rather respect and differences," he said.

The museum cover-up was not the only step Italy took to ensure the Iranian visit passed off smoothly.

As Rouhani refuses to attend official meals at which any alcohol is available, wine was strictly off the menu at both lunch with President Sergio Mattarella and dinner with Renzi.

According to media reports, France has baulked at making a similar placatory gesture, leaving diplomats preparing for Rouhani's visit to Paris from Wednesday with a major protocol headache.

Italy covers up nude sculptures for Iran president

[kmart]

Bunch of arse-kissing cultural cowards. Perhaps they might smash the statues when they're courting a real hard-liner?

[Neverna]

Not arse licking really, just business. 17 billion euros worth of it. Not bad for the small 'sacrifice' of covering a few statues for a few hours. Of course, another option would be to have had the meeting/photo shoot somewhere else. I don't know why they chose the museum.

[taxexile]

it is called showing respect to a guest.

shame our islamic friends are unable to show respect to the culture and beliefs of their western guests.

[Davis Knowlton]

Bunch of arse-kissing cultural cowards. Perhaps they might smash the statues when they're courting a real hard-liner?

Certainly wouldn't be the first dick that cocksucker's seen.....more than likely, they covered them up to keep him from fondling them - nobody likes smelly heathens fondling their heritage.

[Seekingasylum]

The utter hypocrisy of this mullah fuckwit in making any demands is really quite repellent. Everyone knows full well an Iranian man goes crazy for white meat and once off the leash they're mongering and getting pissed at every opportunity.

[harrybarracuda]

They had to cover up those little boys' genitalia or his obvious stiffy would have shown through his frock.

[BobR]

We've done more damage to Iran than they have ever done to us. The 1953 Iran coup is not conspiracy theory or conjecture any more, it's history.

Good they show some respect to a diplomatic visitor.

"The 1953 Iranian coup d'état, known in Iran as the 28 Mordad coup, was the overthrow of the Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh in favour of strengthening the monarchical rule of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi on 19 August 1953, orchestrated by the United Kingdom (under the name "Operation Boot") and the United States (under the name TPAJAX Project).[3][4][5][6]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1953_I..._d%27%C3%A9tat

[Hans Mann]

Iran's Rouhani denies asking for Venus cover-up

Rome (AFP) - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday he had not asked his Italian hosts to cover up classical nude statues in a Rome museum he visited with Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

A smiling Rouhani told reporters he had "no contact on the subject" with Italian authorities.

"I know that the Italians are very hospitable, a people who seek to make their guests' visits as pleasant as possible and I thank them for that," he added.

Rouhani and Renzi made speeches in Rome's Capitoline Museum on Tuesday, with a huge statue of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius on a horse featuring prominently in many of the photographs of the event.

But nude statues, including a Venus dating from the second century BC, had all been covered up in temporary wooden cartons, removing the risk of them creeping into any of the shots -- or catching Rouhani's eye.

Italian Culture Minister Dario Franceschini, who accompanied Rouhani on the museum trip, called the classical cover-up "incomprehensible".

He insisted that neither Renzi nor himself had been made aware of the decision in advance.

The Italian media on Wednesday railed against an "excess of zeal" and placed the blame on the office in charge of protocol during visits by foreign dignitaries.

Sources in Rome's city hall, which manages the museum, assured the press that the municipality had played no role in the decision.

The museum cover-up was not the only step taken in Italy to ensure the Iranian visit passed off smoothly.

As Rouhani refuses to attend official meals at which any alcohol is available, wine was strictly off the menu at both lunch with President Sergio Mattarella and dinner with Renzi.

According to media reports, France has baulked at making a similar placatory gesture, leaving diplomats preparing for Rouhani's visit to Paris from Wednesday with a major protocol headache.

Italy's anti-immigration Northern League denounced what it called "submission to a culture which we don't share".

Iran's Rouhani denies asking for Venus cover-up