"Dialogue with Africa is at the heart of Italy's G7 presidency," said Italian Ambassador to Dakar Caterina Bertolini during a Republic Day reception in the Senegalese capital, attended by the Minister of Labour, Employment and Relations with Institutions, Yankhoba Diémé, and the Secretary of State with responsibility for culture, Bacary Sarr.
Bertolini recalled "the Italian Cooperation mission organised in the framework of the Mattei Plan and an important follow-up to the recent Italy-Africa summit". "The gradual strengthening of the Italian institutional presence in Senegal," he went on to say, "is a strong sign of the growing attention Italy is dedicating to this country, with which there is an important common commitment to promoting regular mobility and fighting human trafficking.
Minister Diémé thanked Italy for the traditional welcome given to the numerous diaspora in Italy and expressed appreciation for the cooperation in the field of security, particularly between the respective police forces.
Numerous Italian companies supported the organisation of the reception, which was supported by some of the most important restaurateurs and importers of Italian products. The evening ended with a concert, organised by the Italian Cultural Institute with the financial support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by the Sicilian trio 'Freak Machine' (Giovanni Falzone, Giuseppe La Grutta, Andrea Bruzzone), which alternated between jazz, folk and punk-rock songs, in a programme with Sicilian inspirations. Guests were also able to visit Skira's photographic exhibition '100 Vases', dedicated to Italian vase art between the 20th and 21st centuries, set up for the occasion in the ambassadress' residence.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
