• by IPS Correspondents (rome)
• Thursday, November 24, 1994
• Inter Press Service

ROME, Nov 24 (IPS) - An important change in the area of news and information which will benefit citizens who live outside the country was accorded Thursday in the General Council of Italians Abroad (CGIE).

After a two day meeting with the Italian foreign ministry which concluded on Thursday, the CGIE signed an agreement that all Italians who live abroad and have a telefax in their house or private office will be able to receive all national dailies, free of charge.

Sergio Berlinguer, head of the ministry of Italians abroad, and vice-minister of the foreign ministry Vincenzo Trantino stressed the importance of making news available to all citizens who live outside of Italy.

Berlinguer said that by means of news transmitted in print or by television, "a strong cohesion with the mother country" can be maintained, and added that the government wishes to work "in close collaboration with organisations which represent Italians abroad."

He also said citizens living outside the country should be considered a part of modern Italian society and treated accordingly.

Italy's state-run television and radio stations will offer a specialised service that will take into account the diverse situations in which Italians live, either within Europe or outside the continent, said Angela Buttiglione, in charge of special programmes.

Foreign Minister Antonio Martino also said the system for calculating the pensions of Italians living abroad will be reviewed "to ensure decent pensions to the most disadvantaged."

He added that the approval of a law which grants Italians abroad the right to vote is "a fundamental priority for the government."

If the measure is approved, 1.5 million citizens registered in Italian consulates in foreign countries would be able to cast their ballot in national elections.

© Inter Press Service (2014) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service

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