Libyan and Outreach Africa Delegations Wind Up First Round of Inspections on La Maddalena
16/04/2009
The Outreach Africa and Libyan delegations have concluded their tour of the venues at which the Summit is to be held, thereby bringing to an official close the first round of inspections by delegations from countries that will be attending the Summit in July.
Four delegations arrived simultaneously on 15 April. The Ethiopian delegation was led by Ambassador Abebe, the Algerian delegation was headed up by Ambassador Othmane Cif Eddine Adjali, and the Senegalese and Nigerian delegations were led by diplomatic representatives Diegane. S. Thioune and Edward Dolapo Osunmakinde respectively. Their tour followed the now consolidated programme for inspections of the Summit venues.
The three highlights of the delegations' visit were: a tour of the Arsenal, which will be hosting the main events at the Summit; a meeting in the offices of the Commissioner Delegate's Structure, where a film describing the Summit venues was shown, and where the delegations were able to discuss details with members of the Mission Structure; and finally, a visit to the industrial quay in Olbia which will be hosting the Press Village, and to the "Costa Smeralda" airport where the delegations with the heads of state and government leaders will be landing.
The delegations were met by the Commissioner Delegate's Structure headed up by Admiral Giuseppe De Giorgi, head of the G8 Mission Structure. The Outreach Africa delegation returned to Rome in the afternoon.
The delegation from Libya, which currently holds the African Union duty presidency, arrived on the morning of 16 April. Led by General Nuri M. El-Mismari and by Ambassador Hafed Gaddur, the delegation's members conducted their inspection in the course of the day, showing great interest in, and satisfaction with, the organisation of the Summit. The Libyan delegation returned to Rome in the evening.
