The Ambassador of Italy in Zagreb, H.E. Adriano Chiodi Cianfarani, organized the traditional reception for Republic Day on June 3rd. The event, which saw the participation of many political authorities and leading figures from the world of business and culture, as well as numerous representatives of the Italian national minority, took place on the terrace of the Hotel Esplanade.
Among others, the Minister of Tourism Gari Cappelli, the Vice Presidents of Sabor Furio Radin and Zeljko Reiner, the Croatian Ambassador in Rome Jasen Mesic, the President of the Council of National Minorities Aleksandar Tolnauer and the Consul General of Italy in Fiume, Paolo Palminteri
In the speech, given on the occasion of the 73rd anniversary of the birth of our Republic, the Ambassador emphasized the strong relations existing between Italy and Croatia from the political and economic, cultural and scientific point of view. “Our relations have been cementing over the years through constant political dialogue, at all levels,” said the Ambassador, mentioning the next session of the Bilateral Committee of Ministers, which will be hosted by Croatia.
The Ambassador then recalled how, even in difficult years, the economic relations between Italy and Croatia went from strength to strength, with the trade that in 2018 exceeded 5.3 billion euros and reached the highest level of the last 10 years.
No less important are cultural relations. In this regard, the Ambassador cited the symbolic exchange of witnesses between Matera as European Capital of Culture 2019 and Fiume, which will be in 2020, as well as the collaboration between Fiume Capital of Culture 2020 and Trieste Capital of Science 2020, emblem of how the culture and science can constitute a further bridge between the two countries.
The framework of bilateral relations outlined in the Ambassador’s speech was completed by the reference to the autochthonous minorities, Italian in Croatia and Croatia in Italy, “expression of a historical-cultural link which has its roots in the past and which is now also fueled by the contribution which they bring to the growth of political but also economic ties. ”
Finally, the Ambassador recalled a passage from the speech given on June 2 by the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, in particular the reference to the founding values of our Constitution – freedom, justice and democracy – and concluded by expressing heartfelt best wishes to Croatia for the Presidency of the Council of the EU, which the country is preparing to occupy from next January and for a semester.
