“I was given the invitation days ago for Ceglie Messapica. I was not familiar with the event and I had initially given an outline availability,” Vannacci, 55, said.
“Then, upon seeing that it is an event that, despite being promoted by associations has a political connotation, I decided to decline the invitation.
“I reserve the right to communicate this to the organisers,” the general, who was removed from his post as head of the military geographical institute by Defence Minister Giudo Crosetto, said.
Crosetto ordered disciplinary proceedings against Vannacci after his self-publishing of the book, The World Back To Front.
Vannacci was due to have opened, by video link, the online media outlet Affaritaliani event titled The Square - The Common Good scheduled for Sunday, August 27 at Ceglie Messapica, in the province of Brindisi.
Vannacci added that, despite a furore which has seen him slammed by the left and hailed by the right, he planned to present his book early next month, but might withdraw from those presentations because of the row.
“The first presentation of the book is scheduled for September 9 in Versilia (on the northern Tuscan coast) and another a few days later, but I am still evaluating them, given the media clamour”, he said.
Other participants at the Puglia event include Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Deputy Prime Minister and Transport and Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini.
