> ENGLISH > http://www.italy-news.net/index_eng.php3 > > NATO PREPARED TO ACT IN RESPONSE TO ATTACKS > Officials for NATO affirmed that the terrorist attacks against the United Stated are equivalent to an act of aggression against all members of the alliance and will result in the activation of a common defense strategy. Alliance members convened a council to approve a declaration that affirms that the attacks against the United States fall under Article Five of the NATO charter. Article Five states that if one member of the treaty is attacked, the others must come to its defense. The declaration opens the way for eventual military intervention on behalf of the alliance. > > NATO SAYS MEETING IN POZZUOLI WILL GO ON AS PLANNED > Yves Brodeur, a spokesman for NATO, said that the summit scheduled for September 26 and 27 in Italy "will take place as planned." Mr. Brodeur said that the alliance has not received a request by the Italian government to the contrary. The venue for the summit was moved from Naples to Pozzuoli in the aftermath of the Genoa riots. > > EU MOBILIZING TO COME TO THE AID OF UNITED STATES > EU Commission President Romano Prodi, in Brussels for a special session of the organization's executive committee, announced, "We will not permit terrorism to prevail in its intention to divide the world. In Europe's darkest hours America always stood by us, today, we will stand by America." A special session of the European Parliament was also convened by President Nicole Fontaine. Meetings between all EU foreign ministers and interior ministers are scheduled as well. > > BERLUSCONI: ITALIANS WERE IN TWIN TOWERS AT THE TIME OF THE ATTACK > The number of casualties caused by the terrorist attacks in the United States is still unable to be determined by authorities. Many Italian citizens are expected to be among the dead and injured. Premier Silvio Berlusconi, speaking before the House, confirmed the presence of many Italian commercial and financial offices, a restaurant in which Italians worked, and the regional offices of Friuli Venezia Giulia and the city of Trieste were all housed in the Twin Towers in New York City. Mr. Berlusconi explained that at this time information coming out of the United Stated regarding the number of casualties "is not precise" due to the fact that "lists of the victims have yet to be furnished." > > IMF: ATTACKS WILL HAVE LIMITED IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY > IMF authorities said today that the global economic impact of the terrorist attacks "will be limited." IMF Director Horst Koehler assured, "We are in contact with monetary authorities worldwide who are acting to insure the orderly function of the financial markets. Both monetary and financial institutions are functioning well; it proves the staying power of the international financial system. The Under-Secretary of the U.S. Treasury Department said, "These acts of cowardice will not bring the markets to their knees." > > EU: READY TO COOPERATE ECONOMICALLY WITH THE USA > A communiqu� out of Brussels said that European economic ministers, the European Central Bank, and national and European banking systems are mobilizing "to furnish, in strict cooperation with the United States, all the aid that is necessary." The document goes on to say that "the economic institutions of the EU will do their share to insure the proper functioning of markets and the stability of the financial system" that has been shocked by the tragic events. The U.S. Federal Reserve Board has invited financial markets to "limit the amount of trading being done in dollars to avoid overloading the system." > > SHOWS AND EXHIBITIONS CANCELLED DUE TO MOURNING > The entertainment industry has cancelled or postponed a large number of shows and events due to the mourning of the victims of the terrorist attacks. In Milan, a Picasso exhibition in the Royal Palace was postponed. Shows in connection with the Venice film festival were also suspended. The inauguration of a Renaissance exhibition that was due to be held tomorrow at the Papal Stables in Rome was canceled. Rock musician Sting decided to cancel his concert planned for yesterday near his residence in Figline Val D'Arno. Dancers from the New York City Ballet called off a performance in Parma because they felt they could not go on stage in light of the tragedy.
