On December 15, 2017, as part of the visit to the Italian capital, Foreign Minister of the PMR Vitaly Ignatiev and Chairman of the Bendery City Council of People’s Deputies Yury Kara took part in the opening of the central office of the House of Friendship Italy-Pridnestrovie. The official ceremony was also attended by member of the Senate of Italy Luigi Marino, President of the Italy-BRICS Association Matteo Peggio, Ambassador of South Ossetia in Italy Mauro Murgia, public and cultural figures, as well as media representatives.
Giving a welcoming speech, Vitaly Ignatiev noted great potential for development of ties between Italy and Pridnestrovie. “I am certain that mutual friendship at different levels can enrich our nations. Therefore, I would like to thank our Italian partners who established the Association of Friendship Italy-Pridnestrovie and thanks to whom it became possible to hold this event. I hope that today we will give a new practical momentum to our cooperation by opening the House of Friendship,” the PMR Foreign Minister stated.
He expressed hope that the projects and initiatives announced in the course of bilateral meetings will be put into practice in the future. “For our part we are ready for further interaction, I’m sure, as our Italian friends,” the diplomat added.
In his turn, the President of the Cultural Association Italy-Pridnestrovie (Associazione culturale Italia-Pridnestrovie) Igor Camilli stressed that the parties have important and responsible work to do. “I am convinced that with support of our Pridnestrovian partners we will be able to fulfill all the tasks set to bring a bit of Pridnestrovie to Italy and a bit of Italy to Pridnestrovie. It is an honour for us to assume such responsibility,” Igor Camilli noted.
During the event, the Agreement on Cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PMR and the Cultural Association Italy-Pridnestrovie was signed.
In the House of Friendship Vitaly Ignatiev met with Luigi Marino, senator of the Italian parliament, the President of the Maxim Gorky Cultural Association (Associazione cultural “Massimo Gorki”). They discussed prospective areas of bilateral interaction, including opportunities for contacts in the socio-cultural sphere. In this context, the Italian politician expressed support for establishment of the Cultural Association between Italy and Pridnestrovie.
Also, the Head of the PMR Foreign Ministry met with the Ambassador of South Ossetia in Italy Mauro Murgia, who had previously visited Pridnestrovie as part of the delegation from the Italian region of Marche. During the dialogue, interlocutors exchanged views on a number of topical issues of the bilateral agenda of cooperation between Pridnestrovie and South Ossetia, focusing on prospects for further strengthening of ties between the two states. Mauro Murgia expressed his readiness to assist in the work of the Association Italy-Pridnestrovie, as well as in development of the House of Friendship.
