(11 Nov 2000) Russian/Spanish/Nat
XFA
Nobel Peace Prize winners from around the world gathered in Rome on Saturday for a special peace conference.
Attending the summit were Lech Walesa, Mikhail Gorbachev and Adolfo Perez Esquivel.
A statue commemorating the summit, called "The Man of Peace", was erected in a square outside the conference centre.
At the start of the conference, Gorbachev and Walesa emphasised the importance of continuing the peace process in the Middle East to make sure both Israeli and Palestinian people's rights be assured.
The Nobel laureates put their signature on a board which will be placed at the base of the monument.
This is only the second such summit to take place - the first one was held last year in Rome during the Kosovo crisis - on Gorbachev's initiative.
The summit aims to focus on the political implications of international debt on developing and industrialised countries.
Adolfo Perez Esquivel, the 1980 Nobel Peace Prize winner, also spoke about the trial currently under way in Italy of Argentinian generals Suarez Mason and Santiago Omar Riveros.
They are accused of the murder of Italians who "disappeared" in the 1970s and 1980s.
Esquivel, an Argentinian who is a witness at the trial, said he hoped they would be extradited to face justice.
SOUNDBITE: (Polish)
"The whole world must work to construct a situation in which two states (the Israelis and the Palestinians) and two nations can live in the same country."
SUPER CAPTION: Lech Walesa, Former President of Poland
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"In this story there can't be winners, cannot be. According to the process which we began in Madrid - I am co-president of the Madrid conference - notwithstanding all difficulties which are in the way, we have to continue this process. Both the Israeli and the Palestinian people have done a lot to get to this point."
SUPER CAPTION: Mikhail Gorbachev, Former Soviet leader
SOUNDBITE: (Japanese)
"From our point of view, our position is to find a solution through dialogue, always dialogue at all costs."
SUPER CAPTION: Mitzhiro Kaneda, President of Italian Buddhist Institute "Soka Gakkai" on Middle East
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"It is important that Italian justice intervenes against this violation of human rights suffered by Italian citizens."
SUPER CAPTION: Adolfo Perez Esquivel - witness at trial of Argentinian generals
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"I hope the generals are extradited to Italy and that there is a sentence on the part of the Italian justice to repair the damage done. At least (to assure) the right to justice."
SUPER CAPTION: Adolfo Perez Esquivel - witness at trial of Argentinian generals
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