italian astronaut is first european on space

No. 12
Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
For more information see:
www.governo.it or www.palazzochigi.it.
See at page 3 the list of Ministers. <>
ITALIAN ASTRONAUT IS FIRST
EUROPEAN ON SPACE
The first European astronaut, Italian Umberto Guidoni, took off
from Kennedy Space Center on the Space Shuttle Endeavour for
the International Space Station on April 19. The mission was the
Shuttle’s ninth visit to the Station.
returned to Earth
G uidoni
on May 1, proud to have
become the first European
astronaut to set foot on the
International Space Station.
Space Shuttle Endeavour made
a safe re-entry at Edwards Air
Force Base after delivering the
European-developed "Raffaello"
Multi-Purpose Pressurized
Logistics Module (MPLM) and
attaching the Station's new 17
meter Canadian-designed robotic
arm.
The mission also delivered ten tons of equipment
to the Station inside the MPLM, including six
experiment racks and two storage racks for the
US Destiny laboratory as well as a UHF antenna,
2001
Edited by:
The Italian Embassy in Tel Aviv
Berlusconi's Government was voted
S ilvio
into office by Senate and Chamber of
Deputies on 20-21 June, after the Italian general
elections on 13 May 2001 gave his "House
of Liberties" alliance a clear majority in both
Houses of Parliament. The House of Liberties
is a centre-right coalition including Berlusconi's
Forza Italia, National Alliance, Northern
League, and the Christian Democratic group
CCD-CDU. Italy's new Government comprises
23 Ministers, including five non-political
personalities, entrusted with Foreign Affairs,
Education, Health, Infrastructure-Transport
and Technological Innovation. Deputy Prime
Minister is National Alliance's leader Gianfranco
Fini. There are 53 Undersecretaries.
JUNE
supplies for the astronauts and
other equipment for future
construction and maintenance
work.
Guidoni was instrumental in the
success of the mission taking
control of all logistical operations
involved with the MPLM and
overseeing the unloading of all
the experiments and equipment
onto the Station.
"It was a highly complicated and
intensive task," said Guidoni, who
spent nearly five years training for his trip to
the Station. "I feel relieved that it all went so
smoothly and very proud to have been the first
astronaut to represent Europe on the Space
Station".
1
ITALY'S NEW GOVERNMENT
pg1
ITALIAN ASTRONAUT IS FIRST EUROPEAN ON SPACE
STATION
pg1
FOCUS ON SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN ITALY
pg2
NEW ITALIAN INITIATIVE TO ASSIST THE POOREST
COUNTRIES
pg3
NEW HI-TECH PIRELLI LABS IN MILAN
pg4
GROWTH IN EUROPE:
OECD MORE OPTIMISTIC THAN THE IMF
pg4
SCIENTIFIC FLASH
pg4
VINITALY
pg5
NEW ITALIAN SHIP IN SHARM EL SHEIK UNDER THE
MULTINATIONAL FORCE FLAG
pg6
ITALIAN DEPUTY CHIEF OF DEFENSE STAFF VISITED
ISRAEL
pg6
EVENTS IN ISRAEL
pg7
EVENTS IN ITALY
pg7-8
Embassy of Italy
4, Weizman St. Tel Aviv
Tel: 03-6964223 Fax: 03-6918428
E-mail:[email protected]
www.italian-embassy-israel.org
The "Raffaello" is one of three MPLMs. Developed
by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and built by
Alenia Aerospazio, it is the only module capable
of delivering specially prepared racks of experiments
to the Station.
Each MPLM has been designed to perform 25
missions over a ten-year life-span and will act
as a kind of sophisticated 'removal van', delivering
and returning crucial experimental payloads back
and forth to Earth.
With the delivery of some of the first experiments,
the STS-100 mission opened a new chapter in
the story of the Space Station. "Most missions
have until now been exclusively involved in
construction. "Now the Station can at last begin
to be used for its intended research purposes,"
said Guidoni.
The International Space Station is being constructed
by the world's major space powers, including
Europe, represented by the European Space
Agency, the United States, Russia, Canada and
Japan.<>
pg7
Focus on Scientific Research in Italy
THE ITALIAN INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR PHYSICS
National Institute of Nuclear
T hePhysics,
set up in 1951, is the
Italian body that promotes, coordinates and carries out research
in the field of nuclear, elementary
particles and fundamental interaction
physics as well as the technological
research necessary for such sectors.
Organisation and Activity
The activities of the INFN are carried out by
nineteen sections, set up in the departments of
physics at a number of
Italian universities, four
national laboratories, one
national centre
(CNAF),eight groups
associated with sections
or laboratories, the central
administration and the
offices of the presidency.
The research activity is
carried out at the sections
and national laboratories
where major equipment
and infrastructures are
located.
were the scene of important technological
developments (in the construction of a
superconducting cavity, in radiobiology and
in material science).
- Southern National Laboratories (Catania),
set up in 1975, specialise in nuclear physics
with light and heavy ion beams. The laboratories
are equipped with a Tandem accelerator and
a modern superconducting cyclotron, entirely
designed and constructed by the INFN and
able to accelerate heavy ions to energy levels
of 100 MeV/nucleon. This has been operational
since 1994.
as well as strengthening its already remarkable
international presence.
Some far-reaching programmes, started up in
recent years, dominate the 1999-2003 Plan:
the participation in the construction of detectors
for the LHC collider at CERN and the
construction of the VIRGO interferometer at
Cascina near Pisa, for the detection and study
of gravitational waves, in co-operation with
the French CNRS. There is also a new project,
inspired by the most recent advances in the
physics of neutrinos: the construction of a high
energy neutrino beam, generated at CERN for
observation at Gran Sasso, 700 km away (Long
Baseline Neutrino Experiment).
As regards the Laboratories of Frascati, Legnaro
and the South, the Plan envisages the intensive
exploitation of the recently completed machines,
in the context of widespread international cooperation, with a major international character.
At the same time, highly demanding R&D
work has been undertaken in order to participate
in programmes at present in preparation, and
which will follow those set out in the present
plan, at both a European and a world level.
The following special projects are involved:
"Techniques for electron acceleration" at LNF,
"SPES" at LNL, "EXCYT" at LNS.
The INFN Headquarters are in Rome
- Frascati National
at the following address:
Laboratories (Rome), set Gran Sasso Laboratory GALLEX
up in 1959, specialise in elementary particle
- Gran Sasso National Laboratories (L’Aquila) Piazza dei Caprettari,70 00186 Rome
physics, which is mainly studied with electron
have been in operation since 1988. Their large
tel. 0039-06-6840.031
- positron collision rings. ADA, the first machine size and excellent rock cover make them the
fax 0039-06-6830.7924
in the world of this type, and later ADONE,
most important laboratory in the world for
were designed and developed at Frascati. For
research into the stability of matter, neutrinos
www.infn.it <>
some time ADONE was the only source of
from the sun and other astrophysical
synchrotron light in Italy. ADONE was closed
sources, magnetic monopoles, cosmic
in 1993 but in 1997 it was succeeded by the
radiation as well as interdisciplinary
very high luminosity storage ring, DAFNE.
forms of research. In less than ten years
Through the decay of the K mesons, produced
Gran Sasso National Laboratories have
in large numbers by DAFNE, it will be possible become the third largest European
in the coming years to study important phenomena laboratory for particle physics (after
regarding the violation of the matter - antimatter CERN and DESY), in terms of the
symmetry.
presence of researchers from the United
States. The GALLEX experiment in
- Legnaro National Laboratories (Padua), set
1992 was of great scientific importance:
up in 1968 for the study of dynamics and the
the first observation of neutrinos
structure of atomic nuclei. The laboratories are originating in the hydrogen fusion
equipped with a Tandem accelerator and, as
reaction in the sun.
from 1994, a linear accelerator, ALPI, based
upon superconducting technology. From 1996
The 1999-2003 Plan
the detector EUROBALL, an advanced
instrument for the study of high-resolution
In the past decade INFN has carried
gamma-ray spectroscopy, used in a wide European out a far-reaching development
collaborative context has been located there.
programme for research structures
In the course of the last decade, the laboratories located throughout the national territory, A prototype of BOREXINO
2
Silvio Berlusconi's Cabinet
Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
Home Affairs
Foreign Affairs
Silvio Berlusconi
Gianfranco Fini
Claudio Scajola
Renato Ruggiero
Economy (incorporating Treasury, Finance and Budget)
Education
Defense
Productive Activities (Industry and Trade)
Environment
Justice
Public Administration
Infrastructure and Transport
Agricultural Policies
Labour and Social Welfare
Cultural Heritage
Communications
Health
Technological Innovation
Institutional Reforms and Devolution
Relations with Parliament
Regional Affairs
Program Implementation
Equal Opportunities
Italians Abroad
European Union Policies
Giulio Tremonti
Letizia Moratti
Antonio Martino
Antonio Marzano
Altero Matteoli
Roberto Castelli
Franco Frattini
Pietro Lunardi
Giovanni Alemanno
Roberto Maroni
Giuliano Urbani
Maurizio Gasparri
Girolamo Sirchia
Lucio Stanca
Umberto Bossi
Carlo Giovanardi
Enrico La Loggia
Giuseppe Pisanu
Stefania Prestigiacomo
Mirko Tremaglia
Rocco Buttiglione
Leader of the House of Liberties Coalition and of Forza Italia
Leader of National Alliance (AN)
Forza Italia
Independent, former Italian Diplomat and former Director General
of the World Trade Organisation
Forza Italia
Independent
Forza Italia
Forza Italia
National Alliance (AN)
Northern League
Forza Italia
Independent
National Alliance (AN)
Northern League
Forza Italia
National Alliance (AN)
Independent
Independent
Leader of Northern League
CCD-CDU (Christian Democrats)
Forza Italia
Forza Italia
Forza Italia
National Alliance (AN)
CCD-CDU (Christian Democrats)
NEW ITALIAN INITIATIVE TO ASSIST THE POOREST
COUNTRIES
he 1999 G7/G8 Summit in Cologne
T
launched the "Enhanced HIPC Initiative"
to ensure the sustainability of the medium
to long-term foreign debt of the low-income
countries. It was open to all countries which,
since they were eligible for highly concessional
loans, had an "unsustainable debt". The
Italian Government which currently holds
the Presidency of G7/G8, decided unilaterally
on April 3, 2001 to go even further and
effectively complete the process of cancellation
of the foreign debt of HIPC countries. By
placing Italy in the forefront of the fight
against poverty, this initiative hopes to set
an example for the whole international
community of bilateral creditors, both members
and non-members of the Paris Club.
The Enhanced HIPC Initiative
the conventional date distinguishing
the debt that may be restructured from
the debt which cannot be restructured),
speeding up the implementation of the
Initiative’s programme and strengthening
the linkage between the financial resources
released by the debt cancellation and the national
Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers - PRSPs. This
new, more decisive Initiative was renamed the
"enhanced HIPC Initiative".
Italy's Initiative
Italy wants to complete the process of cancellation
of the foreign debt of HIPC countries, while, at the
same time, increasing the financial resources released
from debt cancellation and using them in the fight
against poverty in all respects, beginning with
healthcare and education. Italy has therefore decided
to add the cancellation of 100% of "post-cut-off-
The "HIPC (Heavily Indebted Poor Countries)
Initiative" was adopted in 1996 at the Lyon
G7 Summit within the framework of activities
undertaken by the international community
to ensure the sustainability of the mediumlong term foreign debt of the low-income
countries. The 1999 G7/G8 Summit in Cologne
decided to increase the number of countries
eligible under the Initiative by easing the
conditions for access, raising the amount
of debt eligible for cancellation (from 80%
in Lyon to 90% and above where necessary,
of the so-called "pre-cut-off" date, that is
3
date" trade credits (not considered eligible
for cancellation) to the 100% "post-cutoff-date" aid credits decided by the G7/G8
in Cologne (where an appeal was launched
to all bilateral lenders to do the same). Italy
is therefore ready to cancel about US$ 4.1 billion
of HIPC debt, 70% of which is in trade credits and
30% in aid loans.
Italy’s commitment within - and beyond - the
framework of the "enhanced HIPC Initiative" can
be summarized as follows:
- cancellation at the "decision point" of 100% (and
not 90%) of the debt service charges due in the
"interim" period leading up to the "completion point"
(Palermo G7 communique’, February 17, 2001);
- cancellation at the "completion point" of 100%
of the aid credits (ODA), not only "pre-cut-off-date"
but also "post-cut-off-date" (Report and Communiqué
of the G7 and the G8 in Cologne, June 20, 1999);
- cancellation at the "completion point" of 100%
of trade credits not only "pre-cut-off-date" but
also "post-cut-off-date" (unilateral declaration
by the Prime Minister of Italy in Florence, April
3, 2001). It should be noted that according to
the "enhanced HIPC Initiative", 90% and above,
where necessary, of the so-called eligible debt
(i.e. "pre- cut-off-date") is to be cancelled.
The deadline for the calculation of the trade
and aid "post-cut-off-date" credits to be cancelled
is the date of the Cologne G8 Summit (June
20, 1999). <>
NEW HI-TECH PIRELLI LABS IN MILAN
Photonics, Fiber Optics,
Superconductors, New Materials.
On May 3, 2001 the group led by
Marco Tronchetti Provera officially
announced the creation of "Pirelli
Labs", a new high-tech research centre that is presently under construction
in the "Bicocca" industrial area north of Milan. The new laboratories,
which require an investment of Euro 135 million of Pirelli money will
provide work for 250 researchers and are expected to be fully operational
in the spring of 2002.
ronchetti Provera explained that Pirelli
Labs will constitute a point of reference
for all of Pirelli’s worldwide research
activities and that the laboratories in Milan will
be directly connected to all the company’s other
research centres, as well as to other private and
university research centres in the U.S., the U.K.,
Russia and Italy. "Pirelli Labs will allow us to
operate in the forefront of research and not to
limit ourselves to defending already conquered
ground", he said.
Bicocca, once the centre of Milan’s productive
system, now becomes the central point of this
research project and will be the nerve centre of
a high-tech operation fully equipped to introduce
new products and new ideas. "Pirelli Labs" added
Tronchetti Provera, "can also be expected to be
a source of additional income for our company
and the researchers employed there, as they will
benefit directly from the results
of their work".
The new research structure,
which will stand on the 13,000
square metres of land that once
belonged to the Ansaldo
company, will be organised
along two major themes: optical
innovation and materials
innovation. Pirelli is known
for regularly investing three
percent of its total turnover
in R&D, a percentage expected
T
to increase in coming years.
Pirelli leads Italian companies for the more than
12,400 national patents registered, 6,800 of
which are still active. According to Tronchetti
Provera, 37,5% of its patents are in the tyres
sector while the remainder (some 40%, 2,661)
concern cables and tlc systems. In the last ten
years alone, 6,775 patents were deposited of
which 5,600 are still
active. The first patent,
on a new type of tyre,
dates back to the end of
the 19th century, while
the fluid oil cable that
Pirelli perfected was first
patented in 1917. Every
year, Pirelli develop some
150 inventions, 60% in
cables and fibre optics
and 40% in the tyre
sector.<>
GROWTH IN EUROPE:
OECD MORE OPTIMISTIC THAN IMF
economic growth can be expected
I taly's
to be about 2.3% and 2.5% in 2002, according
In the countries that have adopted the Euro, the
so-called "Euroland", GDP can be expected to
to the forecast of the OECD in the latest issue of grow by 2.6% this year and by 2.7% in 2002.
"Perspectives Economiques", published in May Here too - at least for this year - a more optimistic
2001. The OECD is thus less optimistic than the forecast than that of the IFM. According to the
Italian government and the European Commission, OECD, growth in Euroland "should remain
but more optimistic than the IMF, which puts satisfactory, as long as the world economy does
Italian growth at 2.0%. Inflation should stand at not soften more than is expected". But the OECD's
2.7% and the deficit of the public sector at 1.3%. analysis is based on the assumption that in coming
The unemployment rate for this year will probably months there will be "a certain relaxation" of the
remain at 10%, but could drop to 9.2% in 2002. monetary policy. <>
4
SCIENTIFIC FLASH
STEM CELLS
TRANSPLANTED FROM
FATHER TO DAUGHTER
IN RAVENNA
The stem cells, progenitors of all the tissues
of which the human body is made, will be
used in Italy in order to restore sight to
patients who have lost it. A very special
transplant has recently been carried out at
Ravenna Hospital. The stem cells from the
cornea of a living donor have been transplanted
into the eyes of the same donor’s daughter.
Over a period of ten days, the stem cells
transplant reconstructs the cornea surface
of a patient who has lost his sight.
Until now the transplant of stem cells from
the cornea has been made only from one
eye to the other of the same patient (this
type of transplant was impossible in the
present case because the pathology of the
patient was bilateral) or from a dead body.<>
"PILL-TELEVISION
CAMERA" EXPERIMENT
IN ROME
Experiments have begun at the "Policlinico
Agostino Gemelli" at the Catholic University
in Rome, into the use of a "pill-television
camera" aimed at revealing the condition
of the digestive system. Four patients
swallowed the pill without any specific
preliminary preparation. If successful, the
pill, which is taken with water, will replace
other diagnostic examinations of the intestine.
The pill, produced in Israel, is used only
once, weighs approximately 20 grams, is
1,5 centimeters long and is 7 millimeters in
diameter. Inside the pill there is a very small
television camera, a source of light, a microbattery and an antenna.
During the approximately four hours that
it is inside the intestine, the camera sends
two images per second, which are collected
by a small device that the patient keeps next
to him, like a cellular telephone. The images
are read by the doctor in order to discover
any internal changes that may indicate some
irregular absorption or tumors. If the
experiment produces positive results, the
pill-television camera will become one of
the new methods of endoscopic testing. <>
Sasha Cooklin, renowned wine expert, visited the "Vinitaly"
Exhibition and Wine Competition in Verona from 5-9 April. She
shares her impressions with the readers of "Notizie Italiane".
t the end of last year I was stunned to learn
that I had received a nomination for the "Prix
Lanson", the most coveted award for wine writers,
for my work in Italy. I was even more surprised when
Guy Gazzetta, the Italian Trade Commissioner for
Israel, informed me that I had been given the honor
of sitting on the adjudicating panel of the 9th
International Wine Competition - Vinitaly 2001,
which was to be held in Verona in March, as the
special guest of the wine department of the Italian
Institute of Foreign Trade (ICE)."
ITALIAN WINE IN THE ISRAELI
MARKET
V I N I TA LY A S G L O B A L W I N E
EXHIBITION
Vinitaly has once again proved itself a pivotal meeting
point for the global wine market. This year, it was
surely the launching point that marked the trends of
increasingly demanding and sophisticated consumers,
in Europe as well as on other continents. It was a
meeting point for comparisons at a global level, as
shown by the presence of more than 135,000 total
visitors, of whom more than 13,700 were from 87
countries (+6.8% more than in 1999), with significant
increases in visitors from the Middle East and Central
Asia (+115.3%), North America (+12.4%) and
countries outside the European Union (+16.35%).
This is no doubt a direct consequence of the demand
for product quality, which is being strictly adhered
to by Italy’s new generation of winemakers and the
innovative sector of producers, which are no longer
found solely in regions such as Tuscany and Piemonte,
but as far afield as Sicily, Puglia, Abruzzo in the
south, and Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige and Lombardia
in the north.
The Italian dedication to wine marks Italy not only
as a traditional winemaker, locally as well as globally,
but also once the education, public relations and
marketing schemes have been successfully established,
the world's most "modern" wine nation.
W I N E S T O WAT C H O U T F O R
Indigenous grape varieties are being cultivated with
impressive bottled results, which the producers are
continually striving to improve. The true champion
of this year's Vinitaly was Abruzzo, which offered
a range of state of the art Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
wines, notably from the Tenuta di Testa Rossa (named
after the winemaker's grandmother, not the Ferrari)
and Zaccagnini from Bolognano.
Puglia also comes through well, with spicy, floral
whites and deeper reds from the regional Primitivo
grape, which is the forbearer of California’s Zinfanden.
A brilliant example is the "Don Peppe" made by the
talented wine maker Benedetto Lorusso of the historic
Cantina del Locorotondo.
The well-known Pio Cesare winery from Alba,
Piemonte has produced excellent traditional Piemontese
wines once again stunning visitors with a "stupendous"
the effort of wine industries to constantly improve
the quality of their products.
The importance of this initiative is underlined by
supporting organizations as well, such as the "Union
Internationale des Oenologues" and the Italian Ministry
for Agricultural Policies.
Each sample was numbered and registered on its
arrival in Verona by the personnel of Veronafiere in
order to guarantee the maximum seriousness of each
operation and total anonymity.
The score of each sample was determined by the
arithmetic mean of the seven cards, upon the elimination
of those with the highest and lowest scores, according
to the method stipulated by the "Union Internationale
des Oenologues".
All wines that reached the score of 80 hundredths
were awarded the "Gran Menzione". Among these
and for each category and group, those with the
highest score were awarded the ‘Great Gold Medal’,
the Gold Medal, the Silver Medal and the Bronze
Medal. It must be noted that the panels were very
strict and selective in this competition: from the 2,800
wines from 28 countries represented, only 86 received
awards!
Moscato d'Asti.
Other noted producers from the north are Vercesi
Del Castellazzo from Pavia, who displayed a nutty,
harmonious Pinot Nero "Luigi di Monti" from the
97’ vintage, crafted by Aldo Venco, a consultant
winemaker who seems to have been involved in the
making of countless wines from the Pavia region.
The relentless Maurizio Zanella, of Ca' del Bosco,
Franciacorta, has yet again proved himself to be a
master of innovation of Italian wines, previewing
the 97’ "Carmenero", a wine based on the indigenous
Carmenero grape of northern Italy, which was formerly
labeled as Cabernet or Cabernet Franc.
Equally inventive and tenacious are a younger
generation of winemakers from the north, Martin
Foradori Hofstatter of Southern Tyrol's "Hofstatter"
winery, with a new range of fresh, silky Blauburgunders
and Gewurztraminers, and Stefano Inama of Inama
from Soave Classico with his by now legendary
"Vulcaia", a complex, original Sauvignon Fuma. In
fact, Stefano Inama has had the foresight to make
a new acquisition in Abruzzo with Fattoria La
Valentina, in San Valentino in Abruzzo Citeriore,
a locality situated in the La Maiella National Park.
The vineyard will be reserved for the production of
a top quality Montepulciano DOC by the name of
"Binomio", which will be released later this year.
THE WINE COMPETITION
The 9th "Vinitaly" International Enological Competition
is considered to be the most prestigious international
wine competition, and for five days, I combined
forces with Italian as well as foreign enologists and
journalists to evaluate no less than 2,500 wines! My
school days seemed like a breeze by comparison,
analyzing series of twelve to fifteen wines at a time
from red to white, in various aging categories and
styles ranging from sparkling to sweet. It seemed
as if the entire world of wine met on my tasting table
within those five days, and my palate and those of
my "classmates" opened to new sights, smells and
tastes. The purpose of the competition is to aim to
highlight the best wine production, make it known
to consumers and operators and reward and stimulate
5
Italian wines were first introduced into Israel nearly
30 years ago, as a business project inspired by the
increasing "westernization" of the Israeli lifestyle
in the early 70's. At present, the Italian wine market
encompasses an average of 32% of wines imported
into Israel.
The first wines to be imported were Chianti in the
traditional "fiasco" bottle. The taste factor was in
complete symbiosis with the Israeli palate;
Mediterranean, rugged and potent. The future success
of Italian wines in Israel was assured.
The consumption rate in Israel is edging towards 6
liters per capita per annum, and 50% of those wines
are consumed in Tel Aviv, which is Israel’s trend
setting capital. The city also boasts hundreds of Italian
restaurants and espresso bars, several of which are
actual franchise extensions from Italy.
Israel currently imports wines from Abruzzo, Friuli,
Piemonte, Sardegna, Sicilia, Trentino, Toscana and
Veneto.
For more information on Vinitaly, contact Ms.
Nili Kariv, Representative in Israel and P.A. of
"Veronafiere" Tel. 03.5467913, Fax 03.5468862,
e-mail: [email protected] <>
NEW ITALIAN SHIP IN SHARM EL SHEIK
UNDER THE MULTINATIONAL FORCE FLAG
"Vedetta" comes and "Palma" goes
4, 2001,
O nafterMayexactly
19
years and 8 days and
more than 2000 hours
of patrolling, the Italian
Ship "Palma", the last member of
its class to do so, sailed out of the
harbour of Sharm el Sheikh bound
for Italy, thus ending its service
under the Multinational Force and
Observer flag.
Licensed by the US Navy to be built
in July 1956, "Palma" is a former
coastal minesweeper later converted
into a patrol vessel for the MFO's
operational requirements. It arrived
in South Sinai on April 26, 1982.
It was later followed by "Mango",
"Bambu" and "Mogano", members
of the same "Alberto" Class, which
left Egypt earlier for
decommissioning.
"Palma" has been replaced by
"Vedetta", the most recent member
of the "Esploratore" class, which
arrived in Southern Sinai on February
28, 2001.This is a new type of coastal The "Palma"
patrol boat, specifically designed and built by
the Italian Navy to fulfil the M.F.O.'s operational
requirements.
The official replacement ceremony took place
on April 29, 2001 at the M.F.O. dock in Sharm
el Sheikh harbour in the presence of the Italian
Ambassadors to Egypt and to Israel, Mario
Sica and Gian Paolo Cavarai, UNTSO
Commander Maj. Gen. Franco Ganguzza,
Chief of the Egyptian Liaison Authorities with
International Organisation (LAWIO)
Gen. Mohamed el Hakim, the mayor
of Sharm Maj. Gen. Saleh Abdouel
Raouf, the M.F.O. Commander Maj.
Gen. Robert G. Meating, the
representative of the Chief of the
Italian Navy Capt. (N) Giuseppe
Siragusa and various Italian, local
and M.F.O. authorities.
With the arrival of "Vedetta", the
Coastal Patrol Unit (the Naval branch
of the Force) has been completely
up-dated, and is now comprised of
"Esploratore", "Sentinella" and
"Vedetta".
In Italy "Staffetta", the last member
of the "Esploratore" class is still under
construction and is being fitted out
to sail toward the Red Sea to join its
sister ships in accomplishing the peace
mission assigned to the Coastal Patrol
Unit and to the Italian Navy. <>
ITALIAN DEPUTY CHIEF OF DEFENSE STAFF VISITED ISRAEL
Vincenzo Camporini visited Israel following his appointment
The visit also included two military industries: Israel Aircraft Industries
G en.as Deputy
Chief of Defence Staff (see below).
and Rafael.
Lt. Gen. Camporini was invited to visit the Israel Defense Forces from
17 to 19 April by Maj Gen. Moshe Ya’alon, the IDF’s Deputy Chief of
Defense Staff.
In a three-day session, Lt. Gen. Camporini was given a general overview
of the military and strategic challenges facing Israel.
Gen. Camporini also met with the Director General of the Ministry of
Defense Gen. Amos Yaron, Commander of the Air Forces Maj. Gen. Dan
Haloutz, Commander of the Home Front Command Maj. Gen. Gaby Ofir
and Commander of Women Corps, Brig. Gen. Suzy Yogev.
The role of the Deputy Chief
of Defense Staff
The Deputy Chief of Defense Staff is appointed following
a proposal submitted by the Defense Chief of Staff to
the Minister of Defense. He is chosen from officers
with the rank of Lieutenant General or Vice Admiral
on active service. He directs the Defense General Staff,
which is organized into divisions and general offices
and is responsible for planning, coordination and
supervision in the various area of activity. He fills the
post of Chairman of The Defense Technical Scientific
Council.<>
6
E V E N T S I N I TALY
Spoleto - Festival of the Two Worlds
June 28, 2001 - July 15, 2001, Spoleto, Italy
of this year's forty-fourth Festival
T hewillhighlight
be the ninetieth birthday of its founder,
Gian Carlo Menotti, on July 7. It seems only
natural, therefore, to plan the musical programme
around this event, and to celebrate the art of this
great twentieth century figure. The opera which
has been selected is La Santa di Bleecker Street,
the composer's masterpiece and his favorite work.
Stars like Renee Fleming, Placido Domingo and
Luciano Pavarotti will celebrate with Menotti on
July 8 at the Gala Concert.
The opera and the concert will be conducted by
Richard Hickox, just back from a series of triumphs
in London. The second operatic production will
be a liturgical drama from the twelfth century,
Daniele Leoni, with an evocative interpretation
by the New York Ensemble for Early Music,
directed by Frederick Renz. The rest of the musical
programme will consist of the traditional Midday
Concerts, The Mystical Hour, Music from Hidden
Umbria, the Cafe Chantant and Spoleto Jazz series,
plus two orchestral concerts and a concerto for
voices.
On the occasion of the Verdi Celebrations, there
will also be a musical conference, chaired by
several famous critics. The Carlo Colla & Sons
Marionettes Company will participate in a concert
celebrating the work of Giuseppe Verdi. The
Festival will close on July 15 with the traditional
concert in the piazza. Dance is represented by
soloists and principals from the Royal Danish
Ballet and by a rare appearance of the Indian
company Madhu and Sajeev Samudra Performing
Arts.
The drama section offers the gripping atmosphere
of real forensic art with Altroteatro, when two of
Italy's most distinguished lawyers address the
audience as a law court. Great poetry is also back
in style with two of the most famous voices in the
Anglo-Saxon literary world celebrating Gian Carlo
Arena di Verona - 79th Festival 2001
Anfiteatro Arena, Teatro Romano
IL TROVATORE
June 30
July 7, 14, 25
August 3, 8, 15
AIDA
July 1, 5, 8, 13, 22, 24, 27
August 7, 12, 14, 23, 26, 30
September 2
Menotti's 90th birthday with a marathon session
of poetry reading.
The figurative arts will be represented by Giuseppe
Palanti, an unfairly neglected artist; Georges
Jeanclos, a great French artist, and, for the first
time in forty-four years of the Festival a
photographic exhibition by Derry Moore. After
the pleasure of seeing one of the Festival's regular
guests, Florian Gallenberger win the Academy
Award for the best short film, new talent in
cinema is once again shown alongside the great
masters, plus interesting retrospectives.
Teatro Nuovo, Teatro Romano, Teatro Caio
Melisso, Piazza Duomo, Church of St Maria
della Piaggia, Church of St Eufemia, Rocca
Albornoziana, Stadio Comunale, Sala Frau,
Medieval Churches of the surrounding mountain
villages (transport will be provided)
For Information contact:
http://www.spoletofestival.it/
email: [email protected]
phone: +39-0743-45028 <>
N T SL
E
V
E
R AE
S
I
IN
VERDI
CELEBRATIONS
In collaboration with the New Israeli Opera,
the prestigious Israel Festival includes two
operas by Giuseppe Verdi on the 100th
anniversary of his death. Cesarea’s beautiful
Roman amphitheater has been the backdrop
for the opera "La forza del destino" and will
be the stage for "Otello".
NABUCCO
Cesarea Roman Theatre
1, 2, 4, 5, 7 and 8 of July (Otello)
RIGOLETTO
For information contact: Tel. 02-5663198 <>
July 6, 12, 15, 20, 26, 29
August 10, 16, 19, 21, 24, 28, 31
July 21, 28
August 4, 11, 17, 22
September 1
LA TRAVIATA
August 5, 9, 18, 25, 29
Arena di Verona
celebration of the 100th anniversary of Verdi's
I ndeath,
the entire season is devoted to his glorious
MESSA DA REQUIEM
June 29
vocal creations. Works presented include Messa da Requiem, Il Trovatore, Aida, Nabucco, Rigoletto
and La Traviata.
The Arena of Verona is famous for being the most important contemporary "archaeological theatre".
The Arena has long been a centre of opera, has progressively improved in quality and risen in
popularity. The opera festival has featured some of the best artists in the world, including: Maria
Callas, Renata Tebaldi, Mario del Monaco, Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, Luciano Pavarotti,
Jean Vilar, Franco Zeffirelli, Tullio Serafin, Riccardo Muti and Daniel Oren. The opera season in
the Arena brings over half a million people to Verona every year, and more than fifteen thousand
spectators fill the amphitheatre every evening. A cosmopolitan crowd, with people from all over
Europe as well as further afield. <>
7
Giuseppe Verdi
ARLECCHINO'S SUCCESS
Piccolo Teatro of Milano performed
"Servitore di Due Padroni" by Carlo
Goldoni at the Israeli Festival in Jerusalem
last May. The lead role was played by
Ferruccio Soleri. The press comments
were enthusiastic. Here are some excerpts.
"...the vitality and precision of timing, the
perfected styles of body language, lingual
as well as physical acrobatics, a parade of
entrancing costumes set against a subtle
simplicity of set, all amount to standard of
theatrical sophistication and achievement
rarely seen on our stages."
( The Jerusalem Post, June 6, 2001 )
"Many are the versions represented in Israel
of the classical comedy of Carlo Goldoni
on the astute servant that takes a double job
and that has to unravel funny situations, but
the one of Teatro Piccolo di Milano is for
sure the most classical show ever represented.
(Yediot Aharonot, May 30, 2001)
E V E N T S I N I TALY
"Masterfully staged" ... One of the important
roles of the Israel Festival, which is too
often forgotten, is to present the best traditional
culture. That is exactly what this production
of Servitore ("A Servant of two Masters")
by Milan’s Piccolo Teatro is. It represents
the best of the commedia dell'arte tradition,
with colourful, exaggerated characters such
as Pantaloon and Harlequin, and a staging
that fully appreciated the exaggeration".
(Ha-aretz, May 30, 2001)
"Palla al centro"
Rossini Opera Festival
August 10, 2001 - August 24, 2001, Pesaro, Italy
musical event is the
T hisonlyinternational
one in the world exclusively
dedicated to Gioacchino Rossini. The purpose
of this opera festival is to present his lesserknown works to a wide audience.
XXII Edition
Pesaro, 10-24 August 2001
10, 13, 16, 19, 22 August 2001, at 21.30 Villa
Caprile
LE NOZZE DI TETI E DI PELEO
11, 14, 17, 20 August 2001, at 20.30 22, 24 August 2001, at 17.00
Auditorium Pedrotti
LA GAZZETTA
12, 15, 18, 21, 23 August 2001, at 20.30 Palafestival
LA DONNA DEL LAGO
21, 23 August 2001, at 17.00
Teatro Sperimentale
IL MONDO DELLE FARSE
30 luglio 2001, at 21.00
Teatro Sperimentale
Festival giovane
ACCADEMIA ROSSINIANA
Closing Concert
14, 17 August 2001, at 17.00
Palafestival
IL VIAGGIO A REIMS
ENQUIRIES Tel. +39.0721.30161 Fax
+39.0721.30979
e-mail: [email protected]
From Monday to Friday, from 10 am to 2
pm and from 3 pm to 5 pm
www.rossinioperafestival.it
e-mail: [email protected] <>
24 August 2001, at 22.00
Palafestival
STABAT MATER
11, 14, 20 August 2001, at 20.30
Piccolo Teatro di Novilara
SERENATE
Roma’s Vincenzo Montella "flies" around
the field after scoring against Parma in the
last match of the Italian Championship
T
he most famous world championship,
"Serie A", has finally a winner team: AS
Roma. Last 17 June its fans celebrated the first
premier league title (scudetto) in 18 years, their
third ever. After years of dominance by Juventus
and Milan, with disappointing results for both
of Rome and Lazio clubs, it was Lazio who
finally broke the mould by winning the title last
season. The acquisition of Fabio Capello, an
experienced and respected coach who had won
championships with Milan (four consecutive
championships) and in Spain with Real Madrid,
has transformed AS Roma. But experts say that
the key-move of Roma’s President, Franco Sensi,
has been the performance of both Vincenzo
Montella, a truly "explosive" forward and
Francesco Totti, a player in true Italian style and
second to none. Roma lost just three games all
season (34 games totally), and finished the
championship two points ahead of Juventus,
while Lazio was third. The three of them qualify
automatically, together with Parma, for the
European Champion League next year. <>
Festival Musica Riva
15, 16, 18, 19 August 2001, at 18.00
Teatro Sperimentale
CONCERTI DI BELCANTO
July 21, 2001 - August 04, 2001
Riva del Garda, Italy
http://www.garda.com/Manifest/Musicariva
8