ITALY-AID: Rome Continues to Assist Mozambique
ROME, Dic 22 (IPS) - Italy, already heavily involved in the Mozambique peace process, will reinforce cooperation with the Maputo government during 1995, says Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Martino.
"Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world and safeguarding peace there depends, to a large extent, on reconstruction programmes supported by the international community," he told IPS.
Martino expressed satisfaction that the peace agreements signed between the FRELIMO government and the RENAMO rebels in Rome "were reached through steady Italian mediation."
"Thanks to substantial Italian contributions of financial and human resources...Mozambique has celebrated the first democratic elections since the civil war."
Italy sent 1,000 troops to Mozambique in 1993 to patrol the Beira corridor, but in April this year reduced the contingent to 250 personnel - mainly working in a field hospital.
Martino said that from 1994 to 1995, Italian donations to the Mozambique peace process will total 100 million dollars, and the 30 or so cooperation projects in the country were valued at 220 million dollars.
"I would like to mention that at the request of the United Nations Secretary General, Boutros Boutros Ghali, Italy has already given nearly 11 million dollars to the Peace Trust Fund which aims to convert RENAMO into a political party," Martino added.
Under UN auspices, Italy played a main part in preparing the successful Mozambique election held on Oct. 29 which resulted in victory for President Joaquim Chissano - the FRELIMO candidate.
"We encouraged the two most important parties in Mozambique to produce an outlook of harmonious development for the country following the years of civil war," Martino. said
© Inter Press Service (2014) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service