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Italy Renews Commitment to Humanitarian Mine Action in Latin America through the OAS

  June 19, 2006

The government of Italy pledged a contribution of more than 282,000 euros (some $355,000) to the Organization of American States (OAS) to support landmine clearance operations and the destruction of explosive remnants of war in Latin America.

“This donation reaffirms Italy’s commitment to the humanitarian cause of eliminating antipersonnel landmines, which have caused great suffering in post-conflict situations,” said William McDonough, Director of the OAS Office of Humanitarian Mine Action.

During the recent OAS General Assembly session, which took place in early June in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Italy’s Permanent Observer to the OAS, Ambassador Gerolamo Schiavoni, underscored his country’s commitment to “concrete collaboration” with the Organization of American States, particularly in strengthening democracy, protecting human rights and supporting humanitarian demining.

This new contribution brings Italy’s total donations to OAS Mine Action Programs to more than $1.4 million. The current contribution will benefit humanitarian demining projects in Central America, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

Italy has been an OAS observer country since 1972.

Reference: E- 134/06