The Italian Embassy in Libya organised the first edition of the “Marcus Aurelius Arch” Award addressed to representatives of Institutions, the media, culture, and archaeology who especially contributed to foster cooperation relations between Italy and Libya.
The event, organised in association with the Libyan Department of Antiquities and the Municipality of Tripoli with the sponsorship of the Presidential Council, was held in the old city of Tripoli. The initiative arises from an idea of the President of the Italo-Libyan Association, Mourad al Houni and was initially scheduled for 30 August, which marks Italian-Libyan Friendship Day, but was later postponed out of respect for the victims of the clashes that occurred in the city on 27 August.
The Italian Ambassador to Libya, Giuseppe Buccino Grimaldi, expressed satisfaction for the event and stated: “I am truly happy of the success of the first edition of the Friendship Day. The Marcus Aurelius Arch Award was celebrated with a cultural event featuring a theatre performance in a marvelous venue, the symbol of Mediterranean bonds. I was struck by the joy and enthusiasm of our Libyan friends who, thanks to the perfect organization by local authorities, were able to live their city in a wonderful end-of-summer night. I am confident that, from now on, the Italian-Libyan Friendship Day will be celebrated every year, with ever-tighter cultural exchanges also through the upcoming full reopening of the Italian Cultural Institute.”
The programme of the evening also included a performance by the Khoms National Theatre.