- Title: ITALY: Barroso and Berlusconi express 'deep sympathy' for Japan
- Date: 15th March 2011
- Summary: ROME, ITALY (MARCH 14, 2011) (REUTERS) ( ** BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **) ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER SILVIO BERLUSCONI ENTERS CONFERENCE ROOM EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT JOSE BARROSO AND ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER SILVIO BERLUSCONI POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS AND SHAKING HANDS MEDIA BARROSO AND BERLUSCONI SMILING AND LEAVING ROOM MEDIA GATHERED FOR NEWS CONFERENCE BARROSO AND BERLUSCONI WALK BACK INTO CONFERENCE ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, JOSE BARROSO, SAYING: "I would like to express my deep sympathy to the people of Japan during these very, very challenging circumstances. We are following the situation with great concern. The European Union has already sent a mission of support to Japan to see in which way we can help. We have, of course, a great confidence in the capacities of the Japanese authorities but we believe we can also help. But once again on the part of the European commission and myself let me express my deep sympathy to the people of Japan and our solidarity in this moment that must be extremely difficult for them and that we in Europe are following also with great concern." MORE OF MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER, SILVIO BERLUSCONI, SAYING: "The news that is arriving from Japan is very worrying and we would like to take this occasion to express once again our solidarity to the Japanese people. We are available for any kind of assistance or help required by the government in Tokyo." NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 30th March 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Italy, Italy
- Country: Italy
- Topics: International Relations,Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
- Reuters ID: LVA7JWT602LB2N3YUQRP0PX3PNH2
- Story Text: European Commission President Jose Barroso expressed his deep sympathy to the people of Japan on Monday (March 14) following Friday's (March 11) earthquake and tsunami, which is estimated to have killed 10,000 people.
Speaking at a news conference, with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Barroso said that the European Union had dispatched a mission of support to assist Japan in search and rescue efforts.
"I would like to express my deep sympathy to the people of Japan during these very, very challenging circumstances," Barroso said.
"The European Union has already sent a mission of support to Japan to see in which way we can help. We have, of course, a great confidence in the capacities of the Japanese authorities but we believe we can also help," he added.
The Japanese government has so far asked for assistance from Australia, China, South Korea, United Kingdom and the United States.
"The news that is arriving from Japan is very worrying and we would like to take this occasion to express once again our solidarity to the Japanese people. We are available for any kind of assistance or help required by the government in Tokyo," Berlusconi said.
Japan is scrambling to find survivors buried under wreckage following the 8.9 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami. Authorities on Monday were also struggling to avert a meltdown at a stricken nuclear plant after a hydrogen explosion at one reactor and exposure of fuel rods at another. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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