Next stop Genoa

Call on Italy to prepare the way for a New Deal on Debt at the 2001 G8 Summit

From 20 to 23 July 2001, the G8 meet in the Italian city of Genoa. The summit will be centrally important to getting a New Deal on Debt.

The Italian debt campaign, supported by everyone from the Pope to Inter Milan football club, is a powerful force. The Italian parliament has passed a law this year which extends Italy's debt cancellation beyond the current HIPC initiative – and could form part of a model for other creditors to provide broader and deeper cancellation. There is now new momentum for further movement on debt in 2001 after the decision of the US Congress finally to provide funds for cancellation, and the latest bilateral initiative by the UK government. This contrasts sharply with the inertia in 2000, when Congressional paralysis and Japan's chairing of the G8 kept new initiatives were off the G8 agenda.

Unlike this year in Okinawa, the 2001 summit takes place in a city accessible to millions of campaigners from around the world, at the heart of Europe. But the work towards a New Deal on Debt by the time of Genoa starts long before the summit weekend. You can take action now.

Write to Italian Prime Ministerial Candidates, Francesco Rutelli and Silvio Berlusconi, using the text below or your own words. Elections are due to be held in Italy shortly before the Genoa Summit, and these leading candidates can use their influence in the run-up to the Summit to shape the outcome - call on them to lead the way to a New Deal on Debt at Genoa.

Dear Mr Berlusconi/Mr Rutelli,

As host of next year's G8 Summit, Italy can turn away from the shame of Okinawa and give real hope to the poorest countries of the world by launching a New Deal on Debt.

The Italian Parliament has passed a new debt law with full bipartisan support, which goes beyond the inadequate HIPC Initiative. Whoever wins the election, which will take place shortly before the G8 Summit, should know that the world is expecting Italy to show global leadership on this issue in 2001. Please implement the legislation positively and build on it with your G8 colleagues to agree a New Deal on Debt in Genoa, which must include deeper cancellation reaching more countries, under a fairer process. Then we will have a reason for the whole world to celebrate in the new millennium.

Yours sincerely,

Onorevole Silvio Berlusconi
Parlamento
Piazza Montecitorio
00100 Roma
Italy

Email dlwebmast@camera.it
Or lettere@forza-italia.it


Sindaco di Roma Francesco Rutelli
Piazza del Campidoglio
00100 Roma
Italy

• Download Jubilee 2000's flyer 'They think it's all over' which highlights the continuing work that needs to be done to end debt slavery.
• For more information on Drop the Debt, the targeted campaign to win a New Deal on Debt by the time of the G8 Summit in Genoa, visit http://www.dropthedebt.org/genoa.html