Roma, 13 maggio 2007


To the Kind and Urgent Attention of:
Prime Minister of Italy, Hon. Romano Prodi
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Massimo D'Alema

CC:
Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban ki-Moon
President of the European Parliament, Hon. Hans-Gert Poettering
President of the European Commission, Hon. José Manuel Barroso


Hon. Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Member States of the European Union
President of the Italian Senate, Hon. Franco Marini
President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Hon. Fausto Bertinotti


Subject: Campaign for the adoption of a resolution on a moratorium on the death penalty by the UN General Assembly


Dear :

Whereas in 1994, a Resolution on a universal moratorium on the death penalty introduced by the Italian Government was not adopted by the UN General Assembly for eight votes, and that 21 countries of today's European Union abstained.

Whereas in 1999, as recently stated by H.E. Francesco Paolo Fulci former Italian Ambassador to the United Nations, on the eve of the introduction of a draft, the EU suddenly decided to withdraw the text that had been proposed by Italy, when it was certain that a vote would have been won.

Whereas in 2003, the then Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and rotating President of the EU Franco Frattini saw the EU blocking the proposal to introduce the resolution before the UNGA, despite the fact that neither the Italian nor the European Parliament had subordinated such a presentation to a European consensus.

Considering that, confronted with the international success and the increasing support for the Italian initiative for the Moratorium, and keeping in mind what happened in 1994, in 1999 or in 2003, an eventual and nth postponement to a - or the - next GA would expose oneself to a serious responsibility, also for the possible occurrence of events such as terrorist attacks, to re-launch the initiative in a changed climate in support and commitment in favor of the Moratorium, as the one triggered by the confirmation in appeal of the death sentence, and the subsequent execution, of Saddam Hussein.

All this considered, we believe that it would be a serious mistake, after these documented precedents, to entrust the European Union as such, of this initiative. In fact, not only it is extremely rare to find political consensus within the EU on matters pertaining to international affairs, but also because we know that such a decision could preclude the creation of a world coalition comprising other regional leaders such as South Africa, the Philippines, Brazil, Mexico and others. As it is known, the strategy to enlarge the proposing group has been ours from the beginning of the year, and we salute with satisfaction the fact that other organizations, such as Amnesty International, have clearly stated their support for such an approach.

We believe that the above mentioned initiative should remain Italian, and, if circumstances allows it, of the German Presidency of the EU. For this reasons, tomorrow's GAERC could give the mandate to Italy to present at the next meeting of the Council in June a list of co-sponsors on a text of a resolution that should largely correspond in letter and spirit to the text of the Declaration against the death penalty that has been already endorsed by 91 countries.

In addition to finding co-sponsors for a resolution, it is our opinion that, as a parallel action, a note verbale should be sent to all interested countries with which it should be communicated that, given the extraordinary character of the initiative that aims at introducing the resolution at the 61st UNGA, it would be considered a co-sponsor of the text a country that within 10 days upon receipt of the document has not expressed comments or objections (silent approval) to the text. Furthermore, the above mentioned note verbale should also clearly indicate that co-sponsorship of the resolution implies the commitment to oppose any amendments on the text as a measure to ensure the swift process of the introduction of the document and its vote.

To this end, we also believe that it would be urgent that the necessary and opportune contacts be established both with the President of the GA and the General Committee to evaluate all the technical and political aspects to obtain the scheduling of the issue and a vote on the resolution on a moratorium

Lastly, we are pleased to note that our initiatives, both at the political level of parliamentary actions and nonviolent struggle until the objective is reached, have continued to lend our support to the Italian Government, the German Presidency of the EU and the European Commission to finally obtain that the UN express itself on the Universal Moratorium - an objective of historic importance that since 1994 awaits a decision in conformity with the certain majority of abolitionist countries in the world or that in practice are implementing a de facto moratorium.

We shall look forward to the adoption of these decisions; in the meantime our political, nonviolent and parliamentary initiatives will continue. We hope that the outcome of the GAERC will allow us to end, or, at least, suspend them.



For the Transnational Radical Party and Hands Off Cain.


Emma Bonino, Minister for International Commerce and European Affairs

Marco Pannella, MEP and Marco Cappato, MEP (ALDE, Italy)

Sergio D’Elia, MP and Maurizio Turco, MP (Rose in the Fist, Italy)

Matteo Mecacci, UN Representative, TRP and HOC

Elisabetta Zamparutti, Treasurer, HOC

Niccolo’ Figa’ Talamanca, Projects Director, No Peace Without Justice

Marco Perduca, Secretary International Antiprohibitionist League

On hunger strike since 16 April 2007: Valter Vecellio, Claudia Sterzi, Guido Biancardi, Michele Rana, Lucio Berte' together with Mr. Pannella and D'Elia