Washington, DC (June 2, 2023) – More than 1000 guests attended the reception of the Embassy of Italy in Washington yesterday, attended by the Italian Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, and the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, who had a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the event. The Hon. Christian Di Sanzo, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, epidemiologist Anthony Fauci, President of the Inter-American Development Bank Ilan Goldfajn, and President of the Comites (Committee of Italians Abroad) of Washington Maby Palmisano were among the guests welcomed by Ambassador Mariangela Zappia.
At the opening of the celebrations, Ambassador Zappia recalled the 1946 referendum in which Italian men and women chose the Republic and the values of democracy that they share with the United States, recalling the President of the Italian Republic’s mention yesterday of Gaetano Filangieri’s inspiring the preamble of the U.S. Declaration of Independence that reads “all men are created equal” and the phrase chosen by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to define Italy’s relationship with the United States: “An unshakable alliance, a strategic partnership, and a true and deep friendship.” The Ambassador highlighted that the celebrations in Washington were dedicated to Rome, highlighting the Italian bid to host the 2030 Expo in the Italian capital and ITA Airways’ new direct link between Rome and Washington.
Minister Urso highlighted the importance of the link between Italy and the United States, recalling his visits to Washington and his two recent missions to Kyiv, reflecting Italy’s support for Ukraine. He stressed that his presence, alongside Secretary Raimondo, is motivated by the opportunity for the economies and businesses of Italy and the United States to grow together, promoting Italy’s strength and reliability, a key player internationally also thanks to the professionalism, dedication, and heroism of its Armed Forces. He expressed a statement of gratitude to Secretary Raimondo from the government presided over by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, noting the importance for the two countries to rely on each other in the current geopolitical context and in view of Italy’s G7 presidency in 2024. In view of the difficult economic and industrial challenges we face, he stressed, we must “create a single large commercial and manufacturing area that guarantees the strategic autonomy of the West and therefore the values of freedom, independence, and well-being that underpin it,” recalling the strong growth of the Italian economy, thanks also to the dynamism of Italian exports and particularly to the success of Made in Italy in the United States.
Secretary Raimondo welcomed Minister Urso to the United States, encouraging a greater Italian economic presence in the United States and more U.S. investments in Italy. After proudly mentioning her Italian origins, the Secretary promoted the growing strength of the bond between Italy and the United States, rooted in common values and concrete commitment to democracy. “Italy’s strong voice in the European Union and NATO is vital,” she said, praising Prime Minister Meloni’s leadership as the first woman to lead an Italian government, for her position on Ukraine and Italy’s partnership with the United States, “at a time when we need Italian leadership in Europe more than ever.” She promised support for Italy’s upcoming G7 presidency and, on behalf of President Biden, expressed the desire to work with Italy to strengthen bilateral relations at the political and economic level.
