Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti's message to Japanese investors could not have been clearer: the crisis is over, come back.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER MARIO MONTI SAYING:<br/> <br />"I know that Japanese investors, and particularly institutional investors, recently had practically brought down to zero their investments in Italian government securities, which were quite considerable in the past."<br/> <br />Speaking at a Tokyo conference, Monti says Japanese institutional investors had good reasons to dump Italian government bonds, but Rome has come a long way since then.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER MARIO MONTI SAYING:<br/> <br />"The euro zone has gone through a crisis, a huge crisis. I believe that this crisis is now almost over, but there has been a defining, delicate moment last Autumn when Italy was becoming a component of this crisis."<br/> <br />With the biggest danger now passed, Monti says his government is putting in place policies and changes to bring growth and jobs back to Italy.<br/> <br />Monti sees labour reform as critical to the process.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER MARIO MONTI SAYING:<br/> <br />"And this is a reform that of course is implying some resentment, some discussions, some bitter discussions in the country now, but I have the impression that a majority of Italians perceive this as a necessary step."<br/> <br />After taking office in November, Monti rapidly pushed through austerity measures,<br/> <br />But with the euro zone crisis off the boil, his recent drive to force through reforms has run into opposition.<br/> <br />Arnold Gay, Reuters
