Italian Justice Minister Clemente Mastella Joins 2007 Columbus Week Celebration in New York as Special Honored Guest from Italy

NEW YORK, September 29 /PRNewswire/ --

Clemente Mastella, Italy's Minister of Justice, will lead a contingent of
Italian dignitaries in the 35,000-marchers strong Columbus Day Parade as the
Special Honored Guest from Italy. The parade, which is the world's largest
celebration of Italian-American culture and heritage, will be held on October
8.

Minister Mastella was named Special Honored Guest from Italy in
recognition of his and Italy's close ties to and friendship with the United
States.

"It is impossible to imagine the United States as it is today without the
tremendous contributions made by the men and women from Italy who immigrated
to our shores," said Louis Tallarini, president of the Columbus Citizens
Foundation. "Our countries today are linked by the bonds of family and
friendship and by ties of cooperation in international affairs, diplomacy and
commerce. We are honored and touched that Minister Mastella has accepted our
invitation to join our celebration of Italian heritage, culture and
achievement in the United States and remind all Americans of the debt we owe
to one of the great nations of the world - Italia."

"During the past 31 years," Mr. Tallarini continued, "Minister Mastella
has served the people of the Region of Campania in the Chamber of Deputies
and in the Italian Senate. He has been a Member of the European Parliament,
the Minister of Labor and, now, the Minister of Justice. He is a tireless
advocate for women, children and the elderly and a source of inspiration for
the millions of Americans who are of Italian heritage."

As the 2007 Special Honored Guest from Italy, Minister Mastella joins a
distinguished roster of Italians who have participated in the Columbus Week
Celebration: Franco Frattini, former Vice President of the European Union;
Gianfranco Fini, former Minister of Foreign Affairs; Antonio Martini, former
Minister of Defense; and Mirko Tremaglia, former Minister of Italians Abroad,
among others.

Minister Mastella was born in San Giovanni di Ceppaloni, a small town
near Benevento, in 1947. He holds a literature and philosophy degree and
began his professional life as a journalist with RAI Corporation, the Italian
state-owned broadcasting company. In 1976, at the age of 29, he was elected
to the Chamber of Deputies as a representative of Benevento-Avellino-Salerno
constituency, in the Region of Campania, and has since been re-elected to the
Italian Parliament in eight times.

In addition to his elected offices, Minister Mastella has served Minister
of Labor, Undersecretary of State for Defense and as a member of numerous
Standing Committees, including those of Constitutional Affairs, Culture and
Education, and Defense. He served in the Prime Minister's Office and the
Ministry of the Interior and was Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies
from 1996 to 1998 and from 2001 to 2006. He also sat as member of the
European Parliament from 1999 to 2004.

In 1998, Minister Mastella founded the new party that led to the
formation of the Unione Democratici per l'Europa (UDEUR) party and became
National Secretary of the Popolari- UDEUR Party. In 2006, he was elected to
the Italian Senate and appointed Minister of Justice under Prime Minister
Prodi. He is still leader of the Popolari-UDEUR party.

Minister Mastella is married to Sandra Lonardo, President of the Regional
Council of Campania, and they have two sons, Pellegrino and Elio.

New York City's Columbus Day Parade is organized by the Columbus Citizens
Foundation, a non-profit organization in New York City committed to fostering
an appreciation of Italian-American heritage and achievement. The Foundation,
through a broad range of philanthropic and cultural activities, provides
opportunities for advancement to deserving students through various
scholarship and grant programs. During the 2007-2008 academic year, the
Foundation is supporting the education of 849 students. The Foundation has
organized New York City's annual Columbus Day Parade since its inception in
1929. For more information, visit www.columbuscitizensfd.org.

Event:   63rd Annual Columbus Day Parade
    Date:    Monday, October 8, 2007
    Hours:   11:45 AM to approximately 3:00 PM
    Start:   Fifth Avenue and 44th Street
    End:     Fifth Avenue and 79th Street

    Press Contacts: Andrew Decker, +1-212-222-4688, adecker@att.net
                    Giuliana Ridolfi Cardillo, Italian Cultural Institute,
                    +1-212-879-4242 x 324, gridolfi@italcultny.org



Web site: http://www.columbuscitizensfd.org