The Diplomat
The Italian ambassador in Madrid, Riccardo Guariglia, stressed yesterday that a “robust cooperation” between Spain and Italy is key “in the common Mediterranean framework and also in the European context”. He did so during the reception he hosted at his residence to celebrate the 76th National Day of the Republic of Italy.
The reception, the first to be held since 2019, took place, in any case, given the circumstances of the moment, due to the circumstances of the moment, in a more reduced form and with a more sober tone with respect to past editions, but was attended by many personalities from the Spanish political, economic and cultural world, the Diplomatic Corps accredited in Madrid and prominent members of the Italian community in Spain.
Among those present were the Vice-President of the Senate and President of the Spanish-Italian Friendship Group, Cristina Narbona; and on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Undersecretary, Luis Cuesta; the Head of Protocol, María Sebastián de Erice; and other diplomats. Numerous European ambassadors also attended, such as those of France, Portugal, Romania, Cyprus or Serbia; and from other countries, such as Israel, Egypt or Lebanon.
After listening to the national anthems of Spain and Italy and that of the European Union, played by the Band of the Guardia Civil, the Italian ambassador highlighted the strong bond that unites the two countries and which he said has been increasingly consolidated in recent months with institutional visits at the highest levels, starting with the State visit to Spain, made last November by the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella.
Riccardo Guariglia also indicated that the two governments are working to hold “soon” a new bilateral summit, in Italy, after the one held in Palma in November 2020, and stressed the intense ties that characterize the Italian-Spanish relationship at the economic and cultural level.
The ambassador added that, in the near future, “the objective is to continue to consolidate and develop a robust and far-reaching cooperation between Italy and Spain, so important in the common Mediterranean framework and also in the European context”.
He also emphasized that there are very strong economic relations, “which are also deepening in the field of Spanish investments in Italy and which will be able to benefit even more from the shared challenge of the ecological and digital transition and from the actions of the respective National Recovery and Resilience Plans”, he said.
Then, the ambassador highlighted the effort towards the Italian community “with a particular attention to the most vulnerable groups, and which has seen throughout 2021 the inauguration of the new headquarters of the Consulate General in Barcelona and, throughout 2022, the opening of a new and functional first-class Vice Consulate in Arona, Tenerife, precisely in order to ensure the best possible service to our fellow citizens, who in Spain continue to grow continuously”.
For her part, the Vice President of the Senate, Cristina Narbona stressed “the importance of the friendship between Italy and Spain, two Mediterranean and European countries united by a past that goes back many years and by a common destiny”.
The guests at the reception – held thanks to the collaboration of the Italian Chamber of Commerce for Spain and sponsored by various Italian and Spanish companies – were able to admire for the first time, in the entrance hall of the diplomatic headquarters, before their next return to Italy, two works of art, a 17th century oil on canvas from the Lombard school and a 16th century reliquary of San Clemente, stolen in Italy and recently found in Spain thanks to the collaboration between the “Comando Tutela Patrimonio Culturale” of the Carabinieri and the Historical Heritage Brigade of the Spanish National Police.
