Battisti freezes approval of military accord between Brazil and Italy
ROME, Rio and Brasilia - The Italian parliament decided to bar the approval of the military cooperation agreement between Italy and Brazil. The House of Representatives resolved unanimously to refer back to committee the text of the agreement, which delays the entry into force of the business. According to news agency ANSA, the measure is seen as a retaliation to the decision of former President Lula not extradite former Italian activist Cesare Battisti Sentenced to life imprisonment in his country for four murders committed in the 1970s, a time when part of the group Armed Proletarians for Communism (PAC).
(Understand the case Battisti)
However, the rapporteur of the committee outside of the camera, Fiamma Nierenstein, which proposed to bar the approval of the agreement, says the decision is "a pause for reflection to avoid manipulation of the case Battisti.
- The postponement of the parliamentary debate, I decided to propose to the heads of all parliamentary groups in no way entails a renunciation of retaliation and a cooperation agreement or bilateral relations with Brazil. It is necessary, given the tension that comes from Battisti case, to avoid any kind of manipulation "- says Fiamma Nierenstein.
Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said last week in an interview with TV Globo, which hardly the military accord between Brazil and Italy would be ratified in January as scheduled. Declaration that led to a paradox, because the Minister was contradicted by an official note from his own ministry.
"Frattini said that there is not the ideal weather in January to ratify the economic and military agreement with Brazil," but "the agreement remains fully valid." Not true - the statement said Italian Foreign Office - that the military partnership between Italians and Brazilians can not be signed until the outcome of the case Battisti.
Military cooperation agreement would be a "compensation" for the case Battisti
Another paradox of the Italian parliament's decision is that the package was decided war between the two heads of government of Brazil and Italy just as "compensation" for the case Battisti. The Brazilian government's refusal to surrender to justice Battisti Italian to fulfill his sentence would have been "compensated" with the signing of a military partner.
Under the agreement, Italy provided through a joint venture between two major Italian companies in the marine sector, Finmeccanica and Fincantieri, a partnership proposal to build in Brazil, with full transfer of technology, type FREMM frigates, patrol vessels Ocean Commander Class and logistical support Class Etna. The package is estimated at $ 3 billion, but actually it is not clear that the final figure could reach.
The Italian Members also vote on the 18th, a motion presented by the Union of Democratic Centre (UDC) for the extradition of Battisti.
Last week, Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi, assured that the episode will not affect the good relations between the two paísesa Despite being willing to take the case to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Attorney-General hopes that STF Battisti release after the recess
The attorney general of the Union, Luis Inacio Adams said on Tuesday that the government's expectation is that the Supreme Court allow Battisti to continue in the country and is released from the Papuda Penitentiary, in the federal capital, where he is trapped in preventive since 2007, although the Brazilian government to recognize their status as political refugee.
With the end of the recess of the Judiciary in February, the Supreme will return to discuss the process of extraditing Battisti, analyzing petitions presented by the defense of ex-militant , Which requires that he be released, and Italian government Requiring the extradition. It will also be assessed a popular action, in which Congressman Fernando Franscischini (PSDB-PR) requesting the suspension and annulment of the decision of President Lula . The rapporteur of the process is the Gilmar Mendes.
Although it has authorized the extradition of Battisti, even the Supreme Court in November 2009, decided that the last word on the delivery or not former activist of the Italian court would be for the president, subject to the terms of the extradition treaty signed between the two countries. Still, last Thursday, the request to deny that the guerrilla was released , The presiding judge, minister Cezar Peluso, reaffirmed see no reason to suppose that, if extradited to Italy, Battisti will suffer persecution or discrimination.
DEM will bring a suit before the Supreme Court in defense of the stay in Brazil Batistti
The DEM said it will judge on Wednesday a direct action of unconstitutionality before the Supreme Court (STF) against the advice of the Attorney General of the Union (AGU) defending the permanence of Battisti in Brazil. The opinion upheld the decision of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva - who, on December 31, denied the extradition of former activist government of Italy.
The treaty signed between Brazil and Italy require the extradition of persons who have been convicted or that respond to process in their country of origin. The exception is for the risk of political persecution of the accused. This device was that the case included the AGU Battisti.
In the lawsuit, the DEM argues that only the Supreme Court may dismiss a case for extradition. In 2009, the Court dismissed the case. For most, the ministers authorized the extradition, but gave the president the last word.
The President of the DEM, Mr Rodrigo Maia (RJ), considered absurd that Lula's decision has been taken based on reports in the Italian press. In its opinion, the AGU cited these stories to try to prove political persecution Battisti.
- In the rush to try to demonstrate a possible prosecution Battisti, the opinion was based solely on news reports, that according to Supreme Court, are not robust evidence for absolutely nothing - said the parliamentarian.
http://oglobo.globo.com/pais/mat/2011/01/11/caso-battisti-congela-aprovacao-de-acordo-militar-entre-brasil-italia-923473416.asp