FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:   Elissa Ruffino (NIAF) 202/939-3106202/939-3106 or elissa@niaf.org

(WASHINGTON, DC – July 12, 2002) Marine Corps General Anthony Zinni gave an overview of the major policy issues in the Middle East and America’s role in the peace process to Italian American business leaders, Members of Congress and other invited guests at a breakfast hosted by the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) on Capitol Hill on July 10, 2002. The event was part of the Foundation’s Congressional Forum Series in Washington, DC.

“As Special Envoy to the Middle East, General Zinni shared with us his insights on one of the most crucial foreign policy issues facing our nation and the world today,” said NIAF Chairman Frank J. Guarini. “If and when peace comes to the Middle East, it will be because of the dedication and efforts of people like General Zinni,” said NIAF President Joseph R. Cerrell.

Rep. John La Falce of New York, dean of the Italian American Congressional Delegation of the 107th Unites States Congress, was joined by Reps. Benjamin Gilman of New York; Melissa Hart of Pennsylvania; Marcy Kaptur of Ohio; Nick Lampson of Texas; Connie Morella of Maryland; and Pat Tiberi of Ohio at the NIAF breakfast.

Special guests included: Cabinet Secretary Anthony Principi, Department of Veteran Affairs; Giovanni Prezioso, general counsel at the SEC; and Ambassador Ferdinando Salleo, Italian ambassador to the U.S. NIAF leadership attending the event included: NIAF Chairman Guarini and President Cerrell, the Foundation’s general counsel, Joseph V. Del Raso and board member Mario V. Mirabelli.

In November 2001, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell named Four-Star General Zinni special advisor in the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. He is currently senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. For the last three years of his career with the Armed Forces, General Zinni was Commander in Chief, U.S. Central Command, responsible for U.S. Forces in a 25-country region, ranging from the Horn of Africa and the Middle East to parts of the former Soviet Union. His decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” and gold star in lieu of a second award, and the Purple Heart. Zinni, the son of an Italian immigrant from the region of Abruzzo, was raised in Philadelphia and is a graduate of Villanova University.