Sir, - The Irish Times of December 1st published an article entitled "Italy fails terror test on Kurdish leader" by Prof Norman Stone who, as it is appropriately stated, teaches at the University of Ankara.
Without entering into futile arguments about statements such as "has the Italian State a soft spot for murderers?", I would like to clarify a few aspects of the Ocalan question for your readers:
1) On his arrival in Italy Mr Ocalan was arrested on foot of international extradition warrants issued by Turkey and Germany.
2) The Italian constitution excludes the possibility of Ocalan's extradition to Turkey as the death penalty is still in force today in that country.
3) If the German government, apparently contradicting its own magistrature, will not carry out the request for extradition, this is a matter which concerns Germany. In this circumstance, Italy acted in the full respect of treaties to which it is party, as well as with the utmost good faith.
4) Mr Ocalan requested political asylum in Italy. This request is currently under examination by an appropriate commission provided for by the laws which regulate these matters.
5) At the deadline for the presentation of a possible request for extradition by Germany, and when the commission which is examining the request for asylum has reached a conclusion, the Italian government will take the decisions within its province, as always in full respect of the laws of the government of the country and of international treaties.
6) The coherence of the Italian government's position has been fully recognised by the European Parliament, the European Union and many of its partners.
Finally, I would like to add that the concluding sentence of the article - "by giving aid and comfort to this murderer, the Italian government has behaved contemptibly" - demonstrates ad abundantiam how the author has been an easy and willing victim of the propaganda of the country where he is a guest. - Yours, etc., Ferdinando Zezza,
Italian Ambassador to Ireland, Dublin.