Senator Marcello Pera, president of the Italian Senate...

Senator Marcello Pera, president of the Italian Senate received a delegation of representatives of groups fighting for democracy and religious freedom and freedom of expression in China and Vietnam. "Italy is greatly committed to human rights, however any initiatives must be balanced with Italy's international relations," Pera told Erping Zhang, international spokesperson for Falun Gong, Kok Ksor, president of the Montagnard Foundation, Quan Nguyen, chairman of the International Committee to support the non-violent movement for Human Rights in Vietnam, Enver Can, president of the East Turkestan National Congress, Wei Jinsheng, leader of the Overseas Chinese Democracy Coalition and Sihem Benzedrine, spokeswoman for the National Council for Freedom in Tunisia (CNLT).
The meeting followed a hearing by the Italian Senate's Human Rights Commission where all delegates described violations of human rights by the Chinese and Vietnamese authorities, with particular emphasis on religious freedom.
Zhang, Ksor, Nguyen and Chan reiterated statements made on October 9 to the Italian Chamber of Representatives' Committee on Human Rights.
Wei Jinsheng and Sihem Bensedrine, not present at the previous hearing, focused on repression in China and Tunisia respectively.
"The war on terrorism has pushed human rights issues to the background and the US is selling out on the Chinese people's human rights because it wants the authorities' co-operation against terrorism. We look to Europe to help us," Jinsheng told the Senate Commission.
"Do you realise that in the geographic area that has produced Islamic terrorism is all subject to authoritarian regimes unconditionally allied to western democracies," Bensedrine asked the Commission.
"For the Mediterranean to become truly a haven of peace, the northern shore cannot look upon democracy in the south as an expendable luxury."
Commission president Senator Enrico Pianetta said he was particularly touched by Dr Quan's statement that freedom of belief is an intrinsic human right, and pledged to contribute to the fight for its respect.
Senator Daria Bonfietti pledged to bring up the oppressed people's rights in the assembly of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.