ITALY: ITALIAN AND U.S. OFFICIALS STAND SIDE BY SIDE AT WORLD WAR II MEMEORIAL DESPITE STRAINED RELATIONS OVER KILLING OF SECRET AGENT IN IRAQ

Record ID: 208484

  • Title: ITALY: ITALIAN AND U.S. OFFICIALS STAND SIDE BY SIDE AT WORLD WAR II MEMEORIAL DESPITE STRAINED RELATIONS OVER KILLING OF SECRET AGENT IN IRAQ
  • Date: 3rd May 2005
  • Summary: (W3) NETTUNO, ITALY (MAY 2, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. SLV AMERICAN MILITARY WAR CEMETERY; GRAVES AT WAR CEMETERY 0.09 2. SLV SOLDIERS FIRING TWENTY ONE GUN SALUTE; SLV MILITARY BAND PLAYING DURING WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL CEREMONY 0.12 3. SLV U.S AMBASSADOR TO ITALY MEL SEMBLER AND PRESIDENT OF THE LOWER CHAMBER OF PARLIAMENT, PIERFERDINANDO CASINI STANDING FOR LAST POST AND A MINUTE OF SILENCE 4. SLV U.S TROOPS CARRYING ITALIAN AND AMERICAN FLAGS 5. ITALIAN DEFENCE MINISTER ANTONIO MARTINO NEXT TO A U.S MILITARY OFFICER; CEREMONY IN PROGRESS; U.S AND ITALIAN OFFICIALS AT CEREMONY; SLV MEMORIAL SITE 6. U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ITALY MEL SEMBLER AND MARTINO SITTING SIDE BY SIDE AND TALKING 1.04 7. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) PRESIDENT OF LOWER CHAMBER OF ITALIAN PARLIAMENT, PIERFERDINANDO CASINI SPEAKING DURING MEMORIAL CEREMONY, SAYING: "With the same spirit we can face the issues that now divide us, like the question that in these hours has characterised the work of the joint commission on the case of Calipari, a hero of our times whom we shall not forget. The parliament is about to learn on the conclusions that the Italian government has reached in the name of truth, or clarity, and of mutual loyalty. And only this way will we rightfully honour the martyrs of freedom; including the many that are resting in this very field." 1.49 8. SCU U.S FLAG; SLV CEREMONY IN PROGRESS; MV SEMBLER AND CASINI LEAVING CEREMONY 2.15 9. SCU WREATHS; MV SEMBLER SPEAKING TO ITALIAN WAR VETERANS; SCU VETERAN WATCHING 2.38 10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SEMBLER, SAYING: "As you can see today, relations between the United States and Italy are strong and will remain strong. This is a 60-year relationship. There are bumps along the road. This is a terrible tragedy with Nicola Calipari. Nicola Calipari was a hero to the United States as well as to Italy. This was a friend of ours, and we have lost a good friend. So we all have to watch the investigation, read the investigation and make determinations. But this is a friend of all of us so this is not going to effect the long term relationship between Italy and the United States." 3.08 11. SLV MEMORIAL SITE; MAN CLEANING CROSSES AT CEMETERY; WIDE VIEW CEMETERY 3.31 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 18th May 2005 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NETTUNO, ITALY
  • Country: Italy
  • Reuters ID: LVAEOJOCQHL10URFC62ARPT8L0A3
  • Story Text: Italian and US officials stand side by side
    at WWII memorial, despite strained relations over
    kIlling of secret agent in Iraq.

    Italy and the United States sought to play down a row on Monday
    (May 2, 2005) over the shooting of an Italian agent in Iraq, while representatives
    of the two countries attended a WWII memorial ceremony. The ceremony was held
    just hours before Rome was due to publish a report on the killing that was
    likely to criticise Washington.

    Italy has refused to accept a U.S. report released at the weekend that
    cleared American troops of wrongdoing in the death of Nicola Calipari, who was
    gunned down at a checkpoint in Baghdad on March 4, as he was escorting an
    Italian hostage to freedom.

    Rome will publish its own version of events at 1600GMT on Monday and
    the government has already said that it will challenge key aspects of the U.S.

    conclusions.

    Some politicians have said Italy should pull its troops out of Iraq to
    protest at the incident, but Defence Minister Martino looked to ease tensions
    on Monday as he attended a World War II commemoration alongside the U.S.

    ambassador to Italy.

    Asked if the dispute would hurt ties between the two countries, Martino
    said it wouldn't.

    President of the Italian parliament's lower chamber, Pierferdinando
    Casini, addressed the memorial ceremony at a U.S. military cemetery near Rome
    to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, saying, "With
    the same spirit we can face the issues that now divide us, like the question
    that in these hours has characterised the work of the joint commission on the
    case of Calipari, a hero of our times whom we shall not forget. The parliament
    is about to learn on the conclusions that the Italian government has reached
    in the name of truth, or clarity, and of mutual loyalty. And only this way we
    will rightfully honour the martyrs of freedom; including the many that are
    resting in this very field."
    The U.S. ambassador Mel Sembler sought to minimise the row during the
    service.

    "As you can see today, relations between the United States and
    Italy are strong and will remain strong. This is a 60-year relationship. There
    are bumps along the road," Sembler said, calling the killing of Calipari
    "a tragic accident".

    "Nicola Calipari was a hero to the United States as well as to
    Italy. This was a friend of ours, and we have lost a good friend. So we all
    have to watch the investigation, read the investigation and make
    determinations. But this is a friend of all of us so this is not going to
    effect the long term relationship between Italy and the United States",
    Sembler added.

    The U.S. report said it would not discipline its soldiers involved in
    the killing although it called the roadblock set-up near Baghdad airport
    "less than optimal".

    Italian Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini said on Saturday
    "national dignity" had prevented Italy from endorsing the U.S.

    version of events, adding that there were several areas of dispute over the
    findings.

    Calipari was killed as he shielded Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena,
    whom he had just freed from her kidnappers, when their car came under fire at
    the improvised checkpoint.

    It was one of many such incidents in Iraq that have cost the lives of
    civilians caught unawares by U.S. military activity.

    Until last week Washington and Rome, which sent 3,000 troops to Iraq
    despite public opposition at home, had maintained a front of working to reach
    a joint report on the incident.

    But the U.S. exoneration of its soldiers has angered the government and
    prompted calls from both coalition and opposition ranks for the Italian troops
    to be withdrawn.


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