The Italy-United States Bilateral Friendship recently visited Washington D.C. to meet U.S. State Department officials, members of the Congressional Italian American Delegation, and leaders of Italian American organizations and think tanks.
The delegation included Sen. Pier Ferdinando Casini, Sen. Mariastella Gelmini, the President of the Bilateral Friendship Section and the Hon. Giangiacomo Calovini. Senator Casini is the longest serving member in the Italian parliament and former President of the Chamber of Deputies. Senator Gelmini was the Minister of Education under the Berlusconi government and Minister of Regional Affairs and Autonomies under the Draghi Government. The meetings were also attended by Hon. Christian Di Sanzo, Member of the Italian House of Deputies in his capacity as the elected official representing the North and Central America constituency.
There were meetings at the State Department and a series of influential think tanks to exchange views on the common engagement of Italy and the United States and bilateral collaboration on major foreign policy dossiers, starting with the Middle East and Ukraine.
The delegation traveled to Capital Hill, where they met members of the Italian American Congressional Delegation, led by co-chairs Hon. Bill Pascrell and Mark Amodei. Both sides affirmed the excellent level of bilateral relations and full agreement on the main international agenda issues.
Italian Ambassador Mariangela Zappia hosted the parliamentarians at her residence, where discussions were held with guests representing the Italian and Italian-American community. Francesco Isgro represented the Italian American Museum of Washington DC. Other guests included managers of Italian and U.S. companies, and executives of Washington-based international financial institutions.
The National Italian American Foundation hosted a luncheon two days later on Capitol Hill for the parliamentary delegation and members of the Italian American Congressional Delegation. NIAF President Robert Allegrini welcomed Senator Casini and Hon. Di Sanzo and expressed the NIAF’s intention to continue to collaborate on projects that help promote Italy-U.S. relations.
The consensus from the Italian delegation was that relations between the two countries continue to be strong.
