Thursday,
April 23, 2009
Belusconi Seeks to Move G-8 Summit
From UpScale Sardinia Resort to L'Aquila - Quake-Hit City
THE ANNOTICO REPORT
In a Brilliant Move Berlusconi has
Recommended moving this summer's Group of Eight summit from La Maddalena,
Sardinia to earthquake-stricken L'Aquila, that would save money, give the
devastated central region an economic boost, and keep it in the public
attention.
Fortunately L'Aquila is only one
hour drive from Rome, which will not only have sufficient housing, but
Distractions that might not have the cache of La Maddalena, but makes up
for in Historic and Sophisticated Attractions.
Italy Seeks to Move G-8 Summit to
Quake-Hit City
Associated Press
By Areil David
April 23, 2009
ROME (AP) - Italy's government wants
to move this summer's Group of Eight summit from Sardinia to earthquake-stricken
L'Aquila — both to save money and to give the devastated central region
an economic boost.
Premier Silvio Berlusconi told a
news conference Thursday after a Cabinet meeting in L'Aquila that the cost
of holding the July 8-10 summit on the Sardinian island of La Maddalena
would be euro220 million ($285 million).
Berlusconi said that money would
be better spent on reconstruction efforts in Italy's Abruzzo region. He
gave no figure for how much it would cost to host the summit in L'Aquila,
but maintained the move would save money.
The April 6 quake killed 295 people,
drove some 50,000 from their homes and toppled or heavily damaged thousands
of buildings around the mountain city of L'Aquila.
But with L'Aquila just a one-hour
drive from Rome, Berlusconi insisted there were enough hotels and conference
venues for delegates and journalists. And he said demonstrators might think
twice before marching on the quake-devastated region, as opposed to a deluxe
seaside resort in Sardinia.
Italian media had previously reported
that the government was having trouble organizing the summit on La Maddalena
and finding ships that were to host the delegations and journalists. But
Italian organizers denied there were any such problems.
The island, selected by Berlusconi's
predecessor Romano Prodi, had a U.S. Navy support base that was closed
last year and was undergoing extensive construction to prepare for the
summit.
Berlusconi said the summit could
be hosted in the same venue as Thursday's Cabinet meeting, a military school
that has been turned into the headquarters for the rescue and recovery
operation. The sprawling complex, complete with barracks and a heliport,
recently held a mass funeral for some 200 victims of the quake on its broad
parade grounds.
The change of venue depends on the
approval of other participating countries.
"The G-8 doesn't only concern Italy,"
said Infrastructure Minister Altero Matteoli. "The premier will have to
consult all the heads of state."
The office of British Prime Minister
Gordon Brown, expressing "deep sympathy" for the Italian people after the
quake, issued a statement saying the decision on the venue "rests with
the Italian government. We look forward to engaging in a range of issues
at the summit."
Berlusconi said he hoped other countries
would "adopt" some of the dozens of churches, castles and other centuries-old
treasures damaged in the quake, adding that G-8 leaders would be taken
to tour the sites they offer to restore.
Moving the G-8 venue is "a symbolic
gesture that would help keep attention focused on Abruzzo," said center-left
opposition leader Dario Franceschini. "But I hope the government will keep
in mind that this decision must not hinder the reconstruction."
During the Cabinet meeting, the government
approved euro8 billion ($10.36 billion) in funding over three years to
rebuild the area hit by the quake, Berlusconi said.
The premier said the plan would be
funded without levying new taxes. He said an initial euro700 million ($914
million) was earmarked for temporary housing to be built before winter
for the thousands left homeless.
Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti
said the homeless would receive direct government contributions to repair
or rebuild their homes, financed by pre-existing Italian and EU funds as
well as lotteries and betting games.
Rome had also asked EU authorities
to allow the creation of a tax-exempt zone in the quake area, Tremonti
said.
An initial government estimate had
placed the reconstruction bill at euro12 billion ($15.5 billion), but Tremonti
cautioned Thursday that the total costs had not been calculated yet.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jkcWIUobzfe0DCXm1fJn_Xfj_QpgD97OBI900
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