Washington hosted the meeting that involved the chairmen of nine COMITES (Committees of Italians abroad), the Italian embassy in the USA, Italian consulates in the USA and the five members of the CGIE (General council of Italians abroad).

The business on the agenda concerned the cooperation between all the organs for the promotion of the Italian language, the keeping up to date of the consular registry office and the restructuring of the consular network in United States

The meeting was held in an atmosphere of great cooperation and it was presided by ambassador Ferdinando Salleo. In the course of the assembly various problems were examined that interest Italian communities and it emerged that, in order to allow the COMITES to be the point of contact among Italians in the United States, it is essential to ensure adequate and timely financing.

The main tasks of the COMITES can be thus summed up: encourage the diffusion of information to resident communities, represent their needs, encourage participation to local activities and to cultural and social events tied in with Italy.

The study of the Italian language within American schools is also very important, particularly in the areas of New York, Boston, Chicago, Washington.

www.italyemb.org/usefullinks.htm
www.italynet.com/consul/civile.htm
www.italcons-sf.org/