LETTER FROM ITALIAN PRESIDENT CIAMPI TO PRESIDENT

UNCLAS ROME 000819 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPDC PREL IT US IRAQI FREEDOM SUBJECT: LETTER FROM ITALIAN PRESIDENT CIAMPI TO PRESIDENT BUSH ¶1. Please deliver following message from President Ciampi to President Bush. ¶2. Begin Text. Mr. President, Dear George, I appreciate the sincerity of the words of solidarity you have addressed to me after the tragic accident in Iraq which caused the death of Nicola Calipari and the wounding of Giuliana Sgrena and the other Italian official accompanying them. I also took note of you assurances that the U.S. will conduct a complete joint investigation between our two Countries so that the facts concerning this tragedy can be clearly ascertained. This need for transparency and rapidity, of which you are a sensitive and authoritative interpreter, is deeply felt by the Italian people. Your letter is of great comfort to me also because I am certain that the friendship between our two Countries is solid and that it will remain essential to face the complex challenges that Americans and Europeans have to face with shared goals. With cordial regards, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi End text. SEMBLER NNNN 2005ROME00819 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED