Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
MEDIA STATEMENT ON THE VISIT BY THE ITALIAN DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SENATOR RINO SERRI, 26 - 28 APRIL 1998
The Italian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senator Rino Serri, will launch the international Italian television channel, RAI International of 26 April 1998 in Johannesburg, in the presence of the Minister of Post, Telecommunication and Broadcasting, Jay Naidoo, and the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Alec Erwin.
Senator Serri, who has always been very sympathetic to the freedom struggle in South Africa and to the exiled South African community in Italy, will also attend Freedom Day Celebrations on 27 April 1998 at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
On the last day of his visit, Senator Serri is to hold bilateral discussions with the Minister of Safety and Security, Minister FS Mufamadi and Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms P Mlambo-Ngcuka to discuss closer cooperation in the fields of illicit drug trafficking as well as the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises.
Senator Serri commenced his career as Secretary of the Youth League of the Communist Party in Italy and later went on to become the Regional Secretary of the same party. He has been deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy since May 1996.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 25 APRIL 1998