Italian Ministers Visit Israel
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No. 25 September 2003 ADVANCED MEDICAL COOPERATION: Plans for Reconstruction ITALIAN MINISTERS VISIT ISRAEL of Palestinian Economy Minister of Health Girolamo Sirchia and Deputy Minister of the Economy Mario Baldassarri visited Israel on July 26-28 he visit followed Scientific Director of the Presidenza Italiana T the adoption of the Centre of Bone Marrow del Consiglio dell'Unione Europea Agreement on Transplant in the "San Cooperation in Health Salvatore Hospital" of Italy Contributes 77 million to and Medical Sciences Pesaro, is one of the first Palestinian Reconstruction signed by former Israeli and most important Italy will finance the first projects for the Health Minister Nissim initiatives resulting from the reconstruction of the Palestinian economy for a Dahan during his agreement. On June 27 total value of 77 million. The proposals center mission to Rome last another group of on encouraging investments in the private sector October. Ministers thalassemic children and and the supply of services to small and medium Sirchia and Baldassarri their families was Deputy Minister for enterprises ( 27 million); the creation and were warmly received accompanied to Italy for the the Economy Mario Baldassarri development in Gaza and the West Bank of by Israeli Health necessary bone marrow industrial zones similar to those in Italy ( 25 Minister Danny Naveh, transplant treatment. million, see p.3); and the democratization of who expressed Israel’s Minister Sirchia emphasized the Italian Government’s government offices and institutions by the interest in the interest in the activity of the two Italian hospitals in establishment of management education forthcoming ratification Italian Minister for Health Haifa and Nazareth during meetings with officials of programs, both locally and in Italy ( 25 million). of the Agreement, and Girolamo Sirchia these institutions on July 27. In his speech to a group The educational programs are the result of underlined the of researchers and doctors from the Rambam Medical initiatives by local Italian authorities to promote significance of the convention between the recently Center, the Minister reflected on the pioneering work collaboration with Palestinian entities. constituted Istituto Mediterraneo di Ematologia (IME) in the struggle against Thalassemia conducted by of Rome and Haifa’s Rambam Hospital to provide Prof. Lucarelli, and expressed his appreciation for assistance to Palestinian children affected by the collaboration during recent difficult times between Optimism on Italy-Israel-Palestine Thalassemia. This project, supported by Minister Israeli and Palestinian doctors in this field.<> Cooperation Baldassarri and directed by Prof. Guido Lucarelli, At the recent Euromed Foreign Trade Ministers meeting, which took place in Palermo on July 7, Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom Visits Rome Minister Adolfo Urso Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom was in Rome on July for a three-day visit which met with Israeli focused on Israel’s relations with Italy and the European Union, as well as the Middle Minister of Trade and East Peace process. Shalom met with Senate Speaker Marcello Pera, House of Industry Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Representatives Speaker Pier Ferdinando Casini, Premier Silvio Berlusconi, Deputy Minister Maher al- Premier Gianfranco Fini and Foreign Minister Franco Frattini Masri At the meeting Deputy Minister for Productive inister Shalom and reiterated his offer Minister Olmert Activities Adolfo Urso M discussed the to host the conference on expressed interest in progress in the the implemention of the the Italian Government's plan for regional implemention of the 'road map'), as soon as economic growth, including the establishment 'road map' and conditions permitted. of incentives for entrepreneurs in the Palestinian analyzed the current Foreign Minister Shalom territories. A seminar will be held on 2-3 october situation in the Middle underlined Israel’s in Rome, between Israeli and Italian East. Prime Minister concerns on security and entrepreneurs, followed by the visit of an Italian Silvio Berlusconi regional stability, delegation to Israel and Palestine. outlined Italy's and the conveyed his Minister Urso also announced increased funding EU’s Middle East appreciation for Italy's for FinMed (from 36m. to 76m.), the instrument priorities, and assured position on the conflict, managed by Simest (Italian Company for Shalom of his country's (left to right) Foreign Ministers Silvan Shalom and Franco Frattini and expressed his Enterprises abroad) to aid the establishment of commitment to meet in Rome confidence that the mixed Israeli-Palestinian commercial initiatives. security, fighting European Union would EU Commissioner for Trade Pascal Lamy said terrorism and reforming the Palestinian Authority. play an active role in the Middle East peace process his office will fully support the The PM also touched on Palestinian economic under Italy's duty presidency. initiative. (cont. p. 2) reconstruction, recalling his own plan for the area, Minister Shalom said he was certain (cont. p. 2) 1 Italy-Israel R&D Fund Approves 6 New Projects AGRITECH 2003 The Israel-Italy Program for Industrial, Scientific, and Technological Research and Development Cooperation has approved new joint projects between Israeli and Italian companies he Third Meeting of the Italian-Israeli Joint common to Fiat Research Center and Elbit Systems; An Italian delegation, headed by T Commission for the implementation of the and several other interesting projects. Agreement on Industrial, Scientific and Technological There is also close cooperation between the two FIERAGRICOLA VERONA, will visit the Research and Development Cooperation was held in Governments in the fields of medicine and public AGRITECH 2003 exhibition, which will present Tel Aviv on July 29. The Italian Delegation was headed health and culture. During the Italian semester at by Ambassador Riccardo Sessa, Director General the helm of the European Union, three major Israel’s achievements in agro technology. The for Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Countries of scientific conferences are planned: Euro-Med delegation will maintain a stand to showcase the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while the Israeli Forum on the Knowledge Gap, (Capri, 5-6 October); Italian achievements in the sector. The 15th Delegation was led by Dr. Eli Opper, Chief Scientist a Conference of Ministers of Education, of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor. The Universities and Research from European and International Agritech Exhibition will be held main result of the meeting was the selection of six Mediterranean countries, (Catania, 7-8 November); at the Israel Trade Fairs & Convention Center new joint research and development projects to and Online Cultural Heritage, (Parma, 20-21 be financed according to the regulations of the November). in Tel Aviv on September 15 - 18. <> agreement, which provides grant support in sums of Conferences and Workshops up to 50% of eligible R&D costs. The next conferences to be held in Israel within the Following the ratification of the agreement, an framework of the R&D agreement are: Cognitive on Modelling, Imaging and Tolerancing in allocation of 1 million euro per year was approved Neuroscience, (October); Advanced Materials Production Engineering (seminar proposed by the by the Italian Parliament. (November); Cellular and Molecular Biology in Life Technion-Israel Institute of Tecnology and by the Eight joint Israeli-Italian projects in a variety of fields Sciences, (November); Digital Access to Scientific “Politecnico di Torino” June or July 2004); Effects were subsequently approved for grants. Among the and Cultural Heritage and Application of Algebraic of Environment on the Diseases of the Immune projects: Development and Adaptation Diesel Geometry to Computation (dates to be determined). System, (workshop proposed by the Hebrew Engines for Aviation, a project run by the Fiat Environmental issues: Evaluation and Conservation University of Jerusalem); Conferences on Agriculture Research Center and Israel Aircraft Industries; of Archeological Sites (proposed and hosted by the and Industrial Design.<> Accident Information and Rescue Systems, University of Haifa in May or June, 2004); Workshop Plans for Reconstruction of Palestinian Economy European Commission reform process and providing humanitarian aid economy. A further payment of 40 million later (cont. from p. 1) Unveils 100m. Package to to the Palestinians stands at 570 million for 2002- this year is conditional on continuing reform of Assist Palestinian Economy 2003. PA financial management. The Commission is Aiming at The aid package will concentrate on improving doubling support available in loans to the private improve conditions in three areas: sector bringing the total available for its newly conditions in 1) A 30 million emergency program to restore created emergency loan fund for Palestinian SMEs Gaza and the West Bank, and at accelerate the basic public services, including upkeep of roads, to 30 million. The fund is designed to ensure implementation of the Road Map for Peace. sewers, electricity supplies and rubbish disposal. that SMEs weather the current crisis and provide The European Commission is delivering a 100 A further 4.5million has been earmarked for the the basis for economic development, which has million package of financial assistance to support rebuilding of bridges, repair and reconstruction to go hand in hand with the current political the