TFUS01: KATRINA CONDOLENCE LETTER FROM CHAMBER OF

UNCLAS ROME 003050 SIPDIS STATE FOR H E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPDC PREL US IT SUBJECT: TFUS01: KATRINA CONDOLENCE LETTER FROM CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES SPEAKER CASINI ¶1. Embassy Rome received a letter of condolence addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dennis Hastert, from Chamber of Deputies Speaker, Pier Ferdinando Casini. We faxed the message to Speaker Hastert's office (attn: Foreign Affairs Assistant Chris Walker) with the following informal translation. ¶2. Begin informal Embassy translation: I have followed with dismay and great emotion, Honorable Speaker, the news regarding the natural catastrophe that has struck your country so hard, causing death, injury, and great material damage. In this painful circumstance, I wish to express to you the solidarity and closeness of myself and all of the members of the Chamber of Deputies, who are united in profound grief for the victims of this terrible tragedy, and I hope to reiterate this to you in person next week in New York on the occasion of the Second World Conference of Parliamentary Speakers. Pier Ferdinando Casini Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies End Embassy translation. SPOGLI NNNN 2005ROME03050 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED