Minister for Foreign Affairs Emma Bonino received the news of the death of Renato Ruggiero with “profound sadness”.
“With the death of Renato Ruggiero”, the minister stated, “we lose an eminent protagonist of 20th century Italian diplomacy, who placed his exceptional professional and moral stature at the disposal of his nation in his many responsibilities as a diplomat and in other prominent international endeavours”.
“We would recall, in particular”, Emma Bonino continued, “the negotiating skills and farsightedness, recognised unanimously at international level, with which he filled the role of Director General of the World Trade Organization, which has acquired renewed credibility not least as a result of his contribution.
“A man of institutions and, at the same time, an astute businessman knowledgeable in the dynamics of the international economy, Renato Ruggiero”, the head of Italian diplomacy underscored, “was paralleled by few in the prestige he gave to Italian diplomacy, which he led on two occasions, first as Director General of this ministry and later as my predecessor. We regret his passing”, Emma Bonino concluded, “and extend our sincerest solidarity and affection to his family”.
