Referring to the kidnapping of the italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo, Dr. Gino Strada, the founder of the italian Ngo Emergency, urges to 'hurry up'. The surgeon renews the offer of Emergency to help in 'exchanging information'.

"It's a very delicate moment, yesterday's statement and the new audio file, as well as this morning news, according to which Daniele's driver has been killed, express the urgency and the tension of the situation. But the channels for dialogue are open, I am sure the negotiation that is being carried out will lead to a positive conclusion".

Mr. Strada, what are the next steps the italian government must undertake to keep the margin for a manoeuvre, given the current situtazion?
"I believe the situation is clear. It appears to me that a negotiation is being carried out at the highest level, between the italian Prime minister Romano Prodi and the afghan president Hamid Karzai. The negotiation will bring to a conclusion, and I hope the conclusion is the release of Daniele, obviously".
 
Do you confirm your appeal to caution and to be optimistic, for the release of the journalist?
"Most of all, I confirm an appeal to urgency. It is clear enough, from many signs, that everybody is hastening to come to a solution, therefore time is becoming a very important factor. Yesterday's audio file, on which we could discuss for hours, is a signal of this hurry. It is not just someone's attitude, yet it's strictly related and dependant on the open war scenario, on the bombings going on in that afghan region".
 
The audio file is a precise message to the italian government?
"I didn't analise it, but I think it's not far from the subject matter".

Nevertheless, the negotiation is now entirely in the hands of the italian government?
"Entirely. The government has its own contacts, we play the role we have always played: we help exchanging information, requests, contacts, that is the possibility of communicating".

Emergency renews the offer for help?
"Absolutely. No doubt about this".