Naples, Sept. 18 (LaPresse) – "The presence of Israel at the Rimini Tourism Fair is inappropriate." This was stated by the mayor of Rimini, Jamil Sadegholvaad, who, together with the president of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Michele De Pascale, announced that they had "sent a joint letter to the president of IEG (Italian Exhibition Group), Maurizio Ermeti, asking, while respecting the organizational autonomy of the body, to reconsider the presence of Israel’s stand at the upcoming TTG Travel Experience," the tourism fair "which will take place in Rimini from October 8 to 10. If until the 2024 edition of the event the joint presence of the Palestine and Israel stands was customary – Sadegholvaad explained – the dramatic developments affecting the fate of Gaza, with the consequences shaking not only the Middle East but the entire world, now make it difficult to reconcile the same practice. We truly do not believe it is ethically and morally acceptable today to promote as vacation destinations places of war, terror, and death, and – when defining commercial agreements – to fail to take into account the rightful words of condemnation of the violence perpetrated by the Netanyahu government, expressed also by the Italian government and by the European Commission, which has recently announced forthcoming EU sanction measures."
"Beyond logistical and technical issues (we know that the representatives of the Palestine stand, though invited, have for days – tragically – not responded to IEG’s requests to confirm their presence at the TTG) – Sadegholvaad continued – President De Pascale and I officially ask IEG to acknowledge this stance, which directly and indirectly reflects the sensitivity of so many citizens of Rimini and Emilia-Romagna. This is all in the hope that a climate of renewed peace and cessation of all conflict, guaranteeing the dignity of every People, may already in future editions mend the thread that every year, until yesterday, Rimini and the TTG patiently and with absolute conviction had woven: even an event like this can contribute to the irrepressible desire for peace that the whole world is calling for."
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