NAPOLITANO: DEATH PENALTY DISCUSSED WITH QATAR EMIR

Italian president Giorgio Napolitano raised the issue of a Moratorium on the death penalty in his meeting with the emir of Qatar Al-Thani, at the head of a country whose legislation still includes the death penalty. "There is a de facto moratorium on the death penalty in Qatar," said the Head of State in response to a question during his visit to the desalination plant that Tisia is building a few kilometres from Doha. "We have once again brought up our arguments," he added, "and met with a reasonable attitude," despite the cultural and religious traditions of Qatar. Napolitano also said that he was not able to predict what stance Doha will take in the United Nations. The president also stressed that he was able to "have direct contact with the speed at which modernization is advancing and the introduction of a democratic mentality" in the Arab country.