In the debate on Italy's agenda for its EU presidency...

In the debate on Italy's agenda for its EU presidency presented by Premier Silvio Berlusconi to the European Parliament, MEP and Hands Off Cain president Marco Pannella, called on Italy to "include the moratorium issue in the agenda of the next UN General Assembly".
Answering Pannella directly, Berlusconi said: "I reassure him that as far as the moratorium on the death penalty is concerned, I have always asserted the necessity of such an intervention, and I shall therefore take it upon myself to take to the General Assembly in September this request as a request shared by the European Parliament."
"We are glad of this pledge and the solemnity with which the Premier chose to announce it," Sergio D'Elia, HOC General Secretary, declared.
Recalling that the Italian government had already, in 1994 (led by Silvio Berlusconi even then) presented to the UN General Assembly a resolution for a moratorium on executions that was defeated by just eight votes, D'Elia pointed out that: "This time round we have the majority needed to win and ensure an historic achievement in the battle for human rights.
"We say well done Berlusconi, but we need to immediately launch initiatives aimed to rope in support from countries that may co-sponsor the resolution, vote for it or otherwise decide not to support counter-initiatives by retentionist countries."
Pannella, during the debate in the EP reminded Berlusconi that the commitment to present a resolution for a moratorium on executions at the next UN General Assembly had already been expressed on behalf of the Italian government by Vice-Premier Gianfranco Fini on May 6, on receiving the former government of Illinois George Ryan.