This year’s ISPI Prize has been awarded to the memory of Luca Attanasio, the Italian Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo who died tragically last February, together with Carabiniere Vittorio Iacovacci and their driver Mustapha Milambo.
The award ceremony was attended by the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Roberto Fico, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Elisabetta Belloni, and the President of ISPI, Giampiero Massolo. The ceremony ended with a Lectio Magistralis entitled La “loro” Africa (Their Africa), delivered by Romano Prodi and introduced by Paolo Magri, Executive Vice President of ISPI.
In remembering the late Ambassador, Secretary General Belloni said: “I think there is no better way to remember our Ambassador Luca Attanasio than to foster a reflection on Africa. I believe that understanding such a complex, varied, fascinating and stimulating reality as Africa can help us reflect on the role diplomacy has in today’s world, discover the importance of the work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our staff in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and perhaps, as I sincerely hope, also contribute, albeit minimally, to our coming to terms wih such a tragic and definitely untimely death”.
In past editions, the ISPI prize has been awarded to Giorgio Napolitano, Enrico Letta, Federica Mogherini, Filippo Grandi, Emma Bonino, Paolo Gentiloni and Staffan De Mistura.
