(by correspondent Domenico
Palesse)
An "extended honeymoon" that unites two countries not only at an
institutional level but also at an economic and cultural level.
The one between Italy and the United Arab Emirates is a sharing
of intent that is destined to improve over time, as demonstrated
not only by the data but also by the welcome that Villaggio
Italia and the Amerigo Vespucci in Abu Dhabi are receiving in
these days.
The closeness between the two countries was underlined today by
the Undersecretary of Defense, Isabella Rauti, and the Italian
Ambassador, Lorenzo Fanara, during the ANSA Forum dedicated to
bilateral relations between Abu Dhabi and Rome.
"In the last two years - the ambassador underlined - there have
been 24 Italian institutional visits in 24 months. Exports
between the two countries are growing exponentially and at the
end of the year Italian exports will exceed 7 billion euros,
more than what we export to the Asian subcontinent. But the
commitment of the Italian embassy is not only in promoting
institutional visits or the economy and business, but also
culture, our fundamental pillar".
"We as a government - explained Senator Rauti - have worked hard
to strengthen relations, which are now excellent, with the
United Arab Emirates. In a not too distant past there had been
some critical issues but we managed to regain their trust by
relaunching and strengthening these relations".
One of the main themes of the 31st stage of the Vespucci tour,
the second in the Middle East, was that of peace and the "role"
of the historic sailing ship of the Navy as its ambassador.
"The Vespucci is certainly an ambassador of peace - Rauti said
- because it represents Italy and Italianness. We are perceived
everywhere as those who have an approach of cooperation,
dialogue and respect. The sailing ship, sailing the seas, has
done just this, building dialogue, harmony and peace between
peoples at a time when instability is rampant".
The ANSA Forum, organized in the Villaggio Italia of the Zayed
Port in Abu Dhabi, was also attended by representatives of
culture and sport, both Italian and Emirati, including the
director of the Dubai Opera Paolo Petrocelli, the very young
Formula 4 driver Rashid Al Dhaheri, the founder and editor of
Radio Italia Dubai Marco Virgili and the sculptor Jago, who has
been working in the Emirates for years.
"This country - said Jago - is a stage on the world. Here you
can experience being in the world, which is something unique,
incredible. I have lived here for five years, and my entire
experience is now conditioned by Arab culture".
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