Rome, 9 March (AKI) - Italy would let its military bases be used by allied warplanes if the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution authorizing a no-fly zone over Libya, said Italian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maurizio Massari.

"If we have a resolution from the UN we could certainly be active in providing bases," Massari told Al-Jazzera on Wednesday in an interview.

The UN Security Council Tuesday discussed the possibility of imposing a no-fly zone which could limit the ability of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's airforce to bomb opposition groups, whose main power bases are in the eastern part of the north African country.

Massari said his country has denounced its colonial past and could be involved in bringing stability back to the country.

Over the last few years Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has been very public about forming ties with Gaddafi, even inviting him as a special guest to the G-8 meeting in Italy in 2009.

Italy is Libya's biggest trading partner, importing around 25 percent of its oil and 12 percent of its natural gas from the country.

But amid the international outcry over Gaddafi's violent crackdown on opponents, Italy suspended a so-called friendship agreement between the two nations that provides 5 billion dollars - much of with is earmarked to construct a coastal highway - over 20 years as compensation for its colonial rule and to fund the building of a motorway along the Libyan coast.

Even though Italy's occupation Libya from 1911 to 1943 was extremely violent, Massari said his country has made peace with the people of its former colony.

"Italy has a very positive reputation within Libya, within the region," he said in the interview. Italy "is not concerned that somehow its colonial past would somehow have a bad impact on its future role."