With regard to the article entitled “Il lato oscuro del caso Telecom” (“The dark side of the Telecom case”) signed by Giovanni Valentini, which appeared in daily newspaper La Repubblica on 1 December 2007, Telecom Italia S.p.A. wishes to state that:
• the first statement presented by the Company to judicial authorities on the matter, involving the company’s Security division and its former chief, was dated June 2006 (and therefore more than 3 months prior to the cautionary measures taken by judicial authorities);
• in the following months, and again recently, the Company presented other statements, through which the judicial authorities were made aware of facts and circumstances which emerged during the process of auditing and control effected by the company itself beginning from January 2006, and also supported by a leading consultancy;
• the judicial authorities – which always corroborated the content of the statements – were always given the maximum cooperation, both in terms of information and access to documents.
In this context, it seems removed from reality to accuse the Company, its bodies and management, which up to now have constantly made themselves available to the judicial authorities, of non-transparent behaviour or of pursuing ends other than those of faithful cooperation with the activities of the judicial authorities.
Telecom Italia S.p.A. has total confidence in the work of the Magistracy and is confident that the findings of the investigations, which are still underway, will demonstrate that the many conjectural accusations against the Company, its bodies and its management are unfounded.
Telecom Italia S.p.A. reserves the right to defend its image, and that of its bodies and management.
Milan, 3 December 2007