Premier Mario Draghi expressed
satisfaction after seven Italian far-left former terrorists,
including ex members of the Red Brigades (BR), were arrested in
Paris on Wednesday.
Rome has long been pressing Paris to arrest a long list of
former terrorists who have taken refuge from Italian justice in
France.
The BR committed many atrocities during Italy's years of lead of
political violence in the 1970s and 80s, including the
kidnapping and murder of former premier Aldo Moro in 1978.
Draghi's office said the government welcomed "France's decision
to start the judicial procedures, requested by the Italian side,
against those responsible for very serious crimes of terrorism,
which left a wound that is still open.
"The memory of those barbaric acts is alive in the conscience of
the Italian people,
"In my name and that of the government I renew participation in
the pain of the relatives in remembering with emotion the
sacrifice of the victims".
The operation, conducted by the French police's SDAT
anti-terrorism unit in collaboration with Criminalpol and the
Italian police, led to the arrest of former BR members Enzo
Calvitti, Giovanni Alimonti, Roberta Cappelli, Marina Petrella
and Sergio Tornaghi, plus Giorgio Pietrostefani of Lotta
Continua and Narciso Manenti
of the Nuclei Armati contro il Potere Territoriale group.
Three others, Luigi Bergamin, Maurizio Di Marzio and Raffaele
Ventura, managed to get away before being arrested and are on
the run.
All 10 have been convicted of terrorism-related crimes.
A statement by French President Emmanuel Macron's office said
his administration had wanted to solve an issue that has long
caused tension with Rome.
"France, which is also affected by terrorism, understands the
absolute need to provide justice for victims," the statement
said.
"It is also part of the absolute need to build a Europe of
justice in which mutual confidence must be central".
Under the "Mitterrand Doctrine" Paris allowed former left-wing
terrorists to stay in France and not get extradited to Italy as
long as they pledged to renounce violence.
Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio welcomed Wednesday's
development.
"These former BR members had been accused and convicted in Italy
of acts of terrorist linked to bloodshed in the 1970s and 80s,"
Di Maio said via Facebook.
"Total commitment to combat crime and terrorism.
"You cannot flee from your responsibilities, from the pain
caused, from the evil generated".
Italian Justice Minister Marta Cartabia said France's decision
was "historic".
"Today my thoughts go, above all, to the victims of the years of
lead and their relatives, who have been waiting for responses
for so many years," she daid.
Irene Terrel, a lawyer who has represented many former Italian
terrorists in France, said Paris had committed an act of
"nameless betrayal".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
