Bosnia, Ambassador Di Ruzza bids farewell to the President

(ANSA) - SARAJEVO, 11 SET - In view of the completion of his mandate, the Italian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina Marco Di Ruzza was received by the President-in-Office Denis Bećirović for a farewell visit. During the conversation, which was characterised by particularly cordial and friendly tones, the President expressed sincere words of thanks to the Ambassador for the excellent and constructive cooperation, emphasising the crucial importance that Bosnia and Herzegovina attaches to its partnership with Italy as a member country of the European Union and NATO. In particular, President Bećirović's recent official visit to Italy (the first by a President of Bosnia Herzegovina in seventeen years) and his meeting with President Mattarella were recalled. Bećirović emphasised his appreciation for the Ambassador's contribution to strengthening bilateral relations in every sector, highlighting the importance of the economic dialogue between the two countries and the great development of cultural relations.
    Ambassador Di Ruzza, in turn thanking his interlocutor for the excellent cooperation, reiterated the Italian support to the Euro-Atlantic path of Bosnia Herzegovina and, in particular, to its process of accession to the European Union, in light of the decision of the European Council last March in favour of the opening of accession negotiations. In this regard, the Ambassador expressed his hope that the country would soon be able to resume the path of reform in order to progress along that path. Di Ruzza also emphasised the action of Italian cultural diplomacy in the country, which also intends to contribute to the processes of reconciliation and social cohesion, as demonstrated by the commitment to the relaunch of the Ars Aevi Museum of Contemporary Art project, designed by Renzo Piano to house the art collection of the same name. Finally, the Ambassador asked the President to pay his respects to the other two members of the Collegiate Presidency, Željko Komšić and Željka Cvijanović.