Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini on Saturday said he was "deeply saddened" by the execution of Italian-American Derek Rocco Barnabei but warned against interfering in the US justice system.
Dini has asked Washington to "explain" its advice to US citizens traveling to Italy to be cautious, following threats of reprisals for the Thursday's execution of 34-year-old Barnabei.
"I, too, am saddened by the execution," Dini said in an interview with the daily newspaper La Republica. "But it is important to understand that differences of appraisals among countries must respect the law.
"If we want our legal system to be respected by others we must respect that of others, trying peacefully and appropriately to bring about change."
Barnabei was executed by lethal injection in Virginia late Thursday for the 1993 murder and rape of 17-year-old student Sarah Wisnosky.
He maintained his innocence, in a case that aroused strong emotions in Italy -- where appeals for clemency and protests against the death sentence mounted as the day for the execution drew closer.
On Friday the State Department issued a statement saying: "While we have been unable to determine whether the threats are credible at this time, we consider it prudent to apprise American citizens in Italy of this information so that they may take those precautions they deem necessary to ensure their safety."
The warning is to be in effect for a month.
Dini said Italy's longstanding battle for the abolition of the death penalty, which does not exist in the 15-nation European Union, will be "fought democratically and with international cooperation."
He said Italy had "done the utmost" to save Barnabei.
"Maybe, in the future, we will be more aggressive in international debates on a moratorium on executions, work for consensus and explore compromise solutions," he added but warned not to "exaggerate the importance" of the US travel advisory.
The statement "was probably a routine announcement, for reasons of caution, by State Department functionaries," he said.
But he also backed a statement by the junior minister in the prime minister's office, Enrico Michele, recalling Friday that Italy is a civilized country where the rule of law is implemented.
Dini said Italy "did not need such a reminder" by the State Department.
He asked the Italian ambassador in Washington "to ask the government in Washington for a full explanation."
Dini said he trusted Italians' judgement and did not think Americans were at risk, adding that Italians knew perfectly well that Americans were not responsible for their legal system, even if a majority - 67 percent according to the latest Gallup poll - continues to be in favor of the death penalty." -- ROME (AFP)
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