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DEATH PENALTY. INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT DEFEATED
June 18, 2007: Marco Pannella, Sergio D'Elia, Lucio Bertè, Valter Vecellio, Claudia Sterzi, Guido Biancardi, Michele Rana, all on a indefinite hunger strike since April 16, issued the following statement.
"If the news from Luxembourg on the outcome of the EU Council of General Affairs is confirmed, then we welcome the fact that the presentation of the Moratorium resolution to the UN General Assembly will not be postponed forever. This is a great success and is the result of our non violent initiative, the indefinite hunger strike, the extraordinary international participation of Nobel Prizes and the unanimous stands taken by the Italian and European Parliaments.
The European Union, which has been delaying the moratorium for 13 years, has finally stopped this indefinite adjournment. An important factor was the firm stance by France's Kouchner, who was assisted by Italy’s Emma Bonino. In agreement with Italy, France requested a formal commitment from the EU and that a date be set for the presentation of the Moratorium resolution at the opening of the next General Assembly on behalf of a global coalition. It's a date that, unlike in the past, the EU will be forced to comply with. Today we are particularly proud of our long non violent initiative and the way the Radical Party has fought for the Moratorium.
Therefore, our indefinite hunger strike is suspended and we will start organising and strengthening international participation so that today's success can be turned into a victory at September’s General Assembly." (Sources: radicali.it)
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