To date, 621 parliamentarians and government officials, and 185 important figures from the world of science and culture, have signed the petition presented in the course of the RP's World Parliamentary Campaign for the abolition of the death penalty in the former Soviet Union.

A few weeks ago, we outlined the political and organizational scenario of our campaign in the fourth issue of "The New Party". We announced that the petition with its signatures would be officially presented to the Soviet authorities, in Moscow, at the end of February, and also that the first World Parliamentary Congress would take place in Rome at Easter, as well as a Protest March across the city to St. Peter's Square.

The political events in the former Soviet Union, the resignation of Gorbachev in particular, the birth, and uncertain future, of the Commonwealth of Independent States, has cmpromised the first of these appointments, and necessitated that the others be brought up for discussion again.

Meanwhile, the Transnational Congress of the Radical Party will take place from 29 April - 3 May. It will be attended by citizens and parliamentarians who are members in 30 different countries, and also gives us the possibility of postponing the Easter events until then.

We are, therefore, planning to set up, either during the Congress itself or in a moment apart, a period for the discussion and organization of undertakings to support the "World Parliamentary Campaign for the Abolition of the Death Penalty by the Year 2000", in which the important figures and parliamentarians who have signed the petition, scientists and experts in International Law, can participate.

We are also thinking of organizing a symbolic protest against the death penalty during the Congress, in which the public can take part.

We will be sending out a detailed programme of these events during the following weeks. We are, nevertheless, firmly convinced of the need for us to meet, join together and organize ourselves, so that we may succeed in abolishing the death penalty, in the name of human rights and the law, at the dawn of the new millenium.