US Delegation Visits L'Aquila
09/05/2009
A US Government team has kicked off the round of inspections by foreign delegations at the site where the G8 Summit is to now be held following the decision to shift the venue from La Maddalena to L'Aquila. The US delegation, comprising some 50 people, was led by Emmett Beliveau, Director of the department responsible for preparing the US President's visits and Director of Advance, and it was accompanied by Elisabeth Dibble, chargé d'affaires with the US Embassy in Rome. On its arrival at the Guardia di Finanza Non-Commissioned Officers' School in Coppito, the White House team was met by Commissioner Delegate Guido Bertolaso.
After an initial explanatory briefing from Bertolaso, the delegates viewed the area where the Summit is to be hosted: the meeting areas, the rooms set aside for bilateral talks, the work areas and the prospective lodgings for the delegates. Lastly, they were shown the Non-Commissioned Offciers' School auditorium, where the final news conference is due to be held.
The US delegates were “pleasantly surprised by the buildings” in the Coppito compound, and they voiced their appreciation for the excellent organization. Concluding their preliminary inspection ahead of the July summit, the US representatives visited L'Aquila's historic town centre, devoting special attention to the city's cathedral square.
Teams from all the other countries involved in the July G8 Summit are expected to conduct preliminary inspections over the coming weeks. The Russian delegation is due to arrive on Monday 11 May.
