World Notes ITALY

When Foreign Minister Gianni De Michelis decided to promote Venice as the site for Expo 2000, much of Italy -- and Europe -- shuddered. Most of those opposed to the idea feared for the fragile health of a city already under attack by pollution and threatened by rising sea levels. Still, the 47-nation International Bureau of Exhibitions was expected last week to choose the jewel of the Adriatic over Toronto and Hannover as the Expo site.

Two days before the vote, however, Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti announced that owing to the very environmental concerns voiced by the critics, he was withdrawing the candidacy of the city of canals. With La Serenissima out of the running, Hannover was the committee's final choice.

It was another embarrassing needle stuck into De Michelis, who has become something of a political pincushion. The Socialist politician started out badly last year when he was the lone European Foreign Minister to attend a political fete thrown by Muammar Gaddafi -- and was then snubbed by the Libyan leader.

During the Venice controversy, De Michelis was unfairly criticized for everything from his size (a "bulging gut," as Britain's Independent put it) to his disco-dancing inclinations. On the bright side, however, all the publicity has not hurt sales of his annual guide to Italy's best discos.