Organization of American States

www.oas.org

Press Release                                                                                                                     E-228-01

November 19,  2001

ITALY TO GIVE EQUIPMENT TO OAS' ANTI-TERRORISM COMMITTEE

The Italian government announced today that it was donating technical equipment worth some US$ 24,000 to the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE), an Organization of American States (OAS) body.

            Italy's Permanent Observer to the OAS, Ambassador Ferdinando Salleo, wrote OAS Assistant Secretary General Luigi Einaudi confirming the donation.  He noted that the move was to reaffirm both that government's particular interest in supporting OAS activities and its commitment to strengthening the international coalition in the fight against terrorism as a threat to peace in the Western Hemisphere and in the world at large.

            Ambassador Einaudi thanked the Italian government for its donation, noting how Italy's commitment to peace and security in this Hemisphere has allowed the OAS do much important work.  "Your contribution of GPS equipment to the OAS Verification Mission in Honduras and Nicaragua was instrumental in the success of the mission. A new contribution by Italy to CICTE will help us fight terrorism in this Hemisphere and, by extension, in the rest of the world," the Assistant Secretary General stated.

            Italy became a Permanent Observer to the OAS in May 1972.

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