The Diplomat
Italy’s hitherto ambassador to Spain, Riccardo Guariglia, has published a farewell message in which he highlights his “modest contribution” to the improvement of bilateral relations “in all sectors” during his nearly three years at the head of the Embassy in Madrid.
Guariglia, who assumed the post of Italian ambassador to Spain and Andorra on May 11, 2020, plans to join the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this March, after having been chosen by Minister Antonio Tajani for a position whose functions are greater than those of the undersecretary of Foreign Affairs in Spain. At the head of the Embassy will remain the Minister Counselor, Benedetto Giuntini, as Chargé d’Affaires, until the appointment of the new ambassador, which should happen soon, given the proximity of the Spanish Presidency of the European Union.
“Dear fellow citizens residing in Spain and Andorra and users of the web pages of the Embassy of Italy in Madrid. On the eve of my definitive departure from this Headquarters to return to Rome, where I have been called to assume the post of Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, I would like to formulate a sincere, friendly and, if you will allow me, fraternal greeting to all of you,” begins the message, published last Friday by the Embassy’s website.
“After almost three years since my arrival in Madrid which, I would like to recall, took place at the hardest time of the pandemic, I can say with satisfaction that I have offered my contribution – albeit modest – to the relaunching, at a strategic level, of Italian-Spanish relations in all sectors: political, economic, cultural, sporting, social,” he continued. “Our common interests are, in fact, numerous and working intensely together, as had rarely happened in the past, has allowed us to note without doubt that the results achieved have benefited not only our two countries but the whole of Europe,” the ambassador stressed in his message.
“The visits to Spain made in this period by Italian government presidents, which had been missing for a long time, have been significant, as well as the development of the intergovernmental Summit in Palma de Mallorca in 2020, in person despite the pandemic (such a summit had been missing since 2014), and, above all, the ‘historic state visit’, in the words of H.M. the King of Spain, made by President Mattarella in November 2021, filling a gap that had existed since 1996,” he continued. The XIX bilateral Summit was held in Palma de Mallorca on November 25, 2020. Apart from that, President Sergio Mattarella paid a state visit in November 2021 and Prime Ministers Giuseppe Conte and Mario Draghi have visited Spain in this period for one reason or another.
“There have also been numerous exchanges of ministerial visits in the two countries and of delegations of senior officials,” the ambassador recalled. “Political cooperation has been relaunched at all levels and important, in perspective, is the negotiation already underway for the signing of a bilateral Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, which will allow a further qualitative leap in our bilateral relations”, he added.
Riccardo Guariglia also recalled that, “at the economic level, exchanges have resumed with energy and have even surpassed pre-COVID levels” and highlighted the launching of the Spanish network of Italian high-speed Frecciarossa trains, “a wonderful Italian flag that crosses Spanish territory every day”.
In the cultural field, Guariglia highlighted the work of the two Italian Institutes of Culture in Madrid and Barcelona “to give the maximum possible visibility to Italy, with its wonderful culture, so strongly linked to Spain” and, in the social field, he recalled the opening of the new headquarters of the Consulate General in Barcelona and the opening of a Vice-Consulate in the Canary Islands, as well as “the negotiations underway with the Spanish authorities to reach an agreement allowing dual nationality between our countries”. “I wish finally that Italy can continue to grow in this wonderful country that is Spain, so closely linked to Italy by culture, geography and common interests,” he continued. “I assure you from now on that, also from my new position and as a sign of gratitude, I will continue to pay special attention to all of you,” he concluded.
