The present foreign minister, Lamberto Dini (a former prime minister and treasury minister) was, previously, the central bank's director-general.

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The collapse of their alliance toppled Mr Berlusconi from office and ushered in the governments of Lamberto Dini and Mr Prodi.

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Italy's foreign minister, Lamberto Dini, has been quick off the mark in congratulating Mr Qaddafi on returning to the fold, even suggesting that he takes part in a Euro-Med meeting next week.

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Bristol chief executive Lamberto Andreotti, 60, who took over last May, has built on the strategy put in place by drug-and-medical-device industry veteran James Cornelius, who ran the company for four years starting in 2006.

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"Anyone in Britain who claims the constitution will not change things is trying to sweeten the pill for those who don't want to see a bigger role for Europe, " Lamberto Dini told The Sunday Telegraph.

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He has kept the experienced Lamberto Dini as foreign minister and the solid Enzo Bianco as home minister, but felt obliged to sack the two ministers who at least had the guts to try to launch the boldest of the reforms attempted by the previous government: Rosy Bindi at the health ministry and Luigi Berlinguer at education.

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