Vincenzo Onorato: "Discussion should be open to all"

[Source: Mascalzone Latino] Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia (R.Y.C.C.S.) and Mascalzone Latino accepted the invitation by America's Cup Management to participate to the November 11th 2008 meeting at Société Nautique de Genève (S.N.G.) in Geneva.

At the meeting the team representatives were requested to sign a non-disclosure agreement in order to keep the discussion strictly confidential among only the participants.

Mascalzone Latino's representative to the meeting, Alessandra Pandarese, expressed the team's firm view that in the current circumstances discussion should be open to all interested parties, including Golden Gate Yacht Club (G.G.Y.C.), as one of the disputing parties.

Therefore, Mascalzone Latino chose not to sign the non-disclosure agreement. In response, the Mascalzone representative was not admitted to the meeting room, nor was she permitted to explain her team's position to those in attendance.

"We regret for not having been admitted to the today's meeting. Besides we don't understand the reasons of all this secrecy, nor the reasons of G.G.Y.C.'s exclusion" - said Vincenzo Onorato. "Another opportunity to discuss in an open forum has been lost, but I wish that all challengers, including G.G.Y.C., and the Defender would gather in another meeting soon."