WE ARE DEEPLY SHOCKED AND GRIEVED TO INFORM ABOUT THE SUDDEN AND UNTIMELY DEMISE OF MR. IVANO BARBERINI, PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATIVE ALLIANCE ON 6TH MAY 2009. THE COOPERATIVE WORLD HAS LOST ONE OF THE GREATEST SERVING COOPERATIVE LEADERS OF THIS CENTURY.

MR. IVANO BARBERINI WAS A VERY WARM, FRIENDLY AND AMIABLE PERSON. HIS SUDDEN DEMISE HAS LEFT A DEEP VOID IN THE COOPEATIVE LEADERSHIP AND HAS CAUSED IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE COOPERATIVE MOVEMENT OF THE WORLD.

WE ARE IN DEEP STATE OF SHOCK EVER SINCE WE HEARD THE MOMENTOUS NEWS OF MR. BARBERINI’S DEATH, SINCE WE WERE INTIMATELY ASSOCIATED WITH HIM ALTHROUGH HIS TENURE AS PRESIDENT OF ICA AND CONSEQUENTLY FEEL VERY SAD AND MUCH POORER HAVING LOST HIM AT A PREMATURE STAGE AND AT A VERY CRITICAL JUNCTURE WHEN WE HAD NEEDED HIM MOST TO FIGHT OUT THE PLIGHT OF THE MILLIONS OF COOPERATORS FACING THE ILL EFFECTS OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS. HE WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE COOPERATIVES AT LARGE AND WE WILL CHERISH THE FOND MEMORIES OF THE ASSOCIATION WE HAVE HAD WITH SUCH A GREAT COOPERATIVE LEADER.

WE CONVEY OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO MRS. IVANO BARBERINI AND HER FAMILY MEMBERS AND PRAY TO GOD TO GIVE THEM STRENGTH TO BEAR THIS UNBEARABLE LOSS.

WE SINCERELY ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORDS OF SYMPATHY AND SADNESS RECEIVED FROM OUR ESTEEMED MEMBERS FROM THE REGION.


LI CHUNSHENG, PRESIDENT, ICA-AP
SHIL KWAN LEE, REGIONAL DIRECTOR, ICA-AP