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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release February 13, 1996

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY

Visit by President Scalfaro of Italy

The White House announced today that Italian President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro has accepted President Clinton's invitation to pay a State visit to the United States on April 2, 1996.

The two presidents look forward to the visit and will use the occasion to reaffirm the close relations between the United States and Italy based on friendship, family ties and a long history of cooperation and respect. Italy is an important player on international issues of mutual concern, including peace implementation and reconstruction efforts underway in Bosnia, European security and efforts to promote democratization, human rights, economic development and world trade. We welcome the opportunity to deepen the transatlantic relationship, particularly now, during the Italian Presidency of the European Union.

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