 (VH1)-Following a meeting with Bono and a Jubilee 2000 delegation in Rome, Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema agreed to put Third World debt cancellation back on his country's agenda. The Jubilee 2000 group is aiming for the cancellation of all unpayable debt by the end of the year 2000. "What we convinced him to do was not to miss the opportunity of the goodwill, the interest of the general public," Bono said. So far, Bono's efforts on behalf of the organization have seen results in the United States, Great Britain and Canada, who have all agreed to reconsider their positions regarding Third World debt. D'Alema's commitment to debt relief included reviving legislation aimed at forgiving the debt of 18 poor nations, with at least as many more countries to be made eligible for debt cancellation. His decision came after meeting last Wednesday with Bono, Jubilee 2000 coalition director Ann Pettifor and the Italian rapper - yes there are such things - Lorenzo Jovanotti. Bono was in Italy to appear at the six-day San Remo music festival, where he was joined by The Edge. On Saturday he thanked both D'Alema and the Pope for supporting his Jubilee 2000 endeavor before leading the festival's grand finale. Speaking in perfect Italian, he said, "To the Pope - thank you; to Mr. D'Alema - thank you for your promise."
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