Signor Presidente, la sobrietà delle risposte del presidente in carica del Consiglio mi ricorda quella degli antichi spartani, i quali non brillavano certo per cultura o dialettica. ###>Mr President, brevity such as that of the President-in-Office's answers was characteristic of the Spartans in my country in ancient times. The Spartans were not regarded as models for civilization, nor for dialogue and debate.