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ITALY PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR ACTION AGAINST ANTIPERSONNEL MINES AND
THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

  June 17, 2008

Italy’s commitment as Permanent Observer to the Organization of American States (OAS) became clear once again with a donation of 282,000 Euros to support demining activities in the Hemisphere, announced Ambassador Gerolamo Schiavoni, Permanent Observer Representative of Italy. The moneys will be used to support the Action against Antipersonnel Mines Program (AICMA), including humanitarian demining, education and technical equipment in the Cordillera del Condor (between Peru and Ecuador), Colombia, and Nicaragua.

Schiavoni also announced a donation of over 75,000 Euros to strengthen justice in the Americas through the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). “I am pleased to restate here our commitment to effective collaboration with the Organization in support of projects in the priority sectors of democracy strengthening, protection of human rights, socio-economic growth, and security,” he said.

Italy’s Representative highlighted the importance of the historical, economic, political, and cultural ties between Italy and OAS Member States, including the success of the III Italy-Latin America and Caribbean Conference, held in Rome in October 2007. He said the Conference was “an important moment of engagement and intense dialogue, with the broad and authoritative participation of the hemisphere’s highest political representatives”, among them, OAS Secretary General Insulza. Schiavoni noted reciprocal visits made in the last few months by the authorities and the presidents of Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Mexico as further proof of the strong bond between Italy and OAS Member States.

Italy became a Permanent Observer to the Organization of American States on May 17, 1972. These contributions bring the total support of Italy in 2008 to close to 500,000 Euros.

Reference: E-239/08