TurkishPress - An Italian senator will participate in a meeting on "law, state and deep state (on alleged activities of secret state agencies)", in the Turkish city of Istanbul. "Deep state" is believed to be an influential and informal anti-democratic coalition within the political system of countries, composed of high-level elements within the military, security and intelligence services, the judiciary, and important figures of organized crime.

Italian senator Felice Casson will attend the conference organized by "Young Civilians" at the Bilgi University on April 26th.

Casson was the person who revealed the existence of a secret organization named "Gladio" when he was a first instance judge.
"There cannot be secret or underground organizations in democracies, similar to the Gladio in Italy," Casson told AA correspondent in his office at the Italian Senate in Rome.

The Italian senator said that the Gladio had tried to steer the internal policy of Italy, and told the AA that it was totally abolished on October 24th, 1990.

Casson said some of those involved in the Gladio were acquitted due to lapse of time, whereas some others were punished on charges of certain incidents.

On the "operation Ergenekon" in Turkey, Casson said the judiciary undertook great responsibilities and underlined importance of illuminating this incident. "Ergenekon" terrorist organization was brought to daylight after police seized hand grenades, TNT explosives and fuses in a house in Istanbul on June 12th, 2007.
The Italian branch of Gladio was the first one to be discovered. It was set up under Minister of Defense (from 1953 to 1958) Paolo Taviani`s supervision.

On May 31st, 1972, judge Felice Casson found out that explosives used in an attack that killed three gendarmery officers in Pateano were provided from an arms depot that belonged to a secret organization.

The "Gladio" organization was officially revealed in 1980s at the end of a deep investigation. In 1990, the organization was dissolved. Those days, many circles thought and claimed that there were "Gladio-like organizations" in all NATO member states during the Cold War era.