ALBANIA: celebrating Verdi’s Requiem in Tirana and Shkodër

Italy and Albania join forces to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Giuseppe Verdi with a performance, Albania’s first, of the Requiem composed in 1874 to commemorate Alessandro Manzoni, the famous Italian writer. The performance in Tirana, on Wednesday 11 September, will be repeated in Shkodër. The initiative was organised by Fiesole Music […]

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Syria: Quirico released – a cause for rejoicing, says Bonino

“The news that Domenico Quirico has been freed fills me with great joy and satisfaction. My thoughts go out first of all to his family, who at last can embrace Domenico after all these months, days and moments of anxiety”. These were the words of Foreign Minister Emma Bonino on hearing the good news of […]

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Bonino: «È stato fondamentale tenere un basso profilo» (La Stampa)

“There are situations and ‘theatres’, like the theatre of war, where it’s vital to maintain our reserve and keep our emotions in check. I’d like to thank the people who showed resilience, patience and faith: Domenico Quirico’s family and you from “La Stampa”, who were quintessentially ‘Piedmontese’ in your reserve. And my thanks also to […]

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Bonino: “We can still negotiate and, sooner or later, Assad will fall”

There’s still time for negotiations – of that, Emma Bonino is sure. The United States will wait a few more days before they launch missiles on Syria. In the meantime, we can try to bring politics back into play, especially as Europe seems to have at last found a common position (or at least something […]

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Death penalty: Minister Bonino’s appeal for suspension of execution of the Tibetan, Drolma Kyab

“I am saddened to learn that the People’s Court of Ngaba has sentenced the Tibetan Drolma Kyab to death. On several occasions I have expressed my conviction that progress towards full respect for human rights will proceed at a different pace in different social contexts. But there can be no doubt as to the absolute […]

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Economic Diplomacy/Sole 24 ore – 6 September: latest news from around the world. Saudi Arabia: Arriyadh Development Authority chooses construction manager for Riyadh metro

Saudi Arabia’s Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA) has selected the two consortia that will supervise the construction works for the new metropolitan railway in Riyadh. One is Riyadh Metro Transit Consultants (RMTC), a joint venture between the US Parsons and the French companies Egis Rail and Systra, which will be responsible for lines 1, 2, and […]

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An invitation from the MFA to produce a logo for the Italy-Africa Conference

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wants your logo proposals for a conference on Italy-Africa relations which will be taking place in autumn 2014. Proposals from young people are especially welcome. The aim of the Conference is to increase Italian awareness of Africa, especially Sub-Saharan Africa, and to enhance and highlight what we are already doing. […]

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BOSNIA: a new wave of italian culture

“With the exhibition of Gianna Tosello’s works recently opened in Sarajevo, our aim is to foster a new wave of Italian culture in Bosnia. The performance of the Youth Orchestra of the Marches, Sarajevo and Jerusalem is another signal in this direction”. These were the words of the Italian Ambassador in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ruggero Corrias, at […]

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Under-Secretary Giro concludes the International Institute for Humanitarian Law’s 36th Round Table

Under-Secretary Mario Giro presented the closing address at the International Institute for Humanitarian Law’s 36th Round Table on “Respecting IHL: Challenges and Responses”. In his presentation, Under-Secretary Giro underscored just how topical the subject is and illustrated some of the limitations of the current system. “We need to diversity the tools available to the international […]

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Middle East: Pistelli in Gaza, Development Cooperation and political talks

Development cooperation and political talks to reiterate Italy’s full support for the peace negotiations were the focus of Deputy Foreign Minister Lapo Pistelli’s visit to the Gaza Strip. Pistelli met the operations director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Robert Turner. He also visited centres […]

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TBILISI: from la Dolce Vita to i Vitelloni. a homage to Fellini

Tbilisi is paying homage to Federico Fellini with a retrospective hosted by the Georgian National Museum to mark the 20th anniversary of the death of this leading Italian director. The films will be shown in Italian with English sub-titles. Read more, in Italian.

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HUNGARY – Film: new initiative by the Italian cultural Institute

The Italian Cultural Institute in Budapest will be showing 4 films/operas for the “’Cinema/Opera’’ season in September, October and December 2013. The initiative is being organised in collaboration with Rada Film and the Puskin Cinema. Cinema/Opera is a unique events that bridges the worlds of live television, film and music. Read more, in Italian

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