On the occasion of the great Italian holiday of June 2, Republic Day, the Embassy of Italy in Bosnia and Herzegovina hosted a ceremonial reception at the Sarajevo City Hall on Monday, attended by a large number of guests from diplomatic, political, cultural and public life in BiH.
Republic Day, June 2, is the most important national holiday in Italy. On that date in 1946, the Italian people voted in a referendum for a republic instead of a monarchy, and since then Italy has officially celebrated its birthday.
After the national anthems of both countries were sung, the Italian Ambassador to BiH, Sarah Eti Castellani recalled the historical circumstances surrounding this date in her speech.
“On June 2, 1946, millions of Italians – including, for the first time, women – were called to vote in a referendum to choose between monarchy and republic. It is a founding date that marks the transition from a monarchy, deeply affected by the war, to a new Italy: democratic, constitutional, founded on labor, and con ed to multilateralism and Euro-Atlantic integration as cornerstones of foreign policy,” Her Excellency started her speech.
Italy’s support for the EU enlargement process towards the Balkans is a concrete demonstration of this commitment. Italy firm believes that the stability, security, and prosperity of the continent must pass through the European integration of the region. In this spirit, Italy promotes an inclusive and realistic path for candidate countries, offering political, technical, and economic support.
“A political will from the Bosnian-Herzegovinian leadership is needed. Citizens – especially young people – believe in it: they want a European future, one of prosperity, employment, and freedom,” Ambassador said, recalling the words of Alexander Langer, Italian pacifist and environmentalist politician, from 30 years ago-“Europe will be reborn or will die in Sarajevo”-are more relevant than ever. Europe is reborn where identities, cultures, and religions coexist. Where diversity is recognized as a richness and not a threat.
Ambassador Castellani continued by saying that Italy is concerned by the recent initiatives undertaken by Republika Spska: secessionist rhetoric and questioning of the constitutional order run counter to the European path.
On the other side, the sovereignty, territorial integrity, constitutional order, and international legal personality of Bosnia and Herzegovina must be respected. At the same time, Italy supports the mission of the High Representative in implementing the 5+2 Agenda and reaffirms its unequivocal commitment to the Euro-Atlantic path as a sovereign country.
Also, ambassador added that Italy actively participates in the EUFOR Althea Mission, contributing with its own military contingent to the country’s stability and security.
“The Italian presence in BIH is not made up only of diplomacy. It is made up of faces, stories, and relationships. I have witnessed this in my first months here and have been deeply touched by the genuine affection that so many Bosnian-Herzegovinian citizens express towards our country. It is a feeling rooted in historical, cultural, and human ties – marked by mutual curiosity and instinctive familiarity,” Her Excellency continued the speech.
Ambassador added that she found many signs of Italian presence in places and in people’s stories, often accompanied by feelings of gratitude toward Italy. It was in the 1990s, during the war, that this bond was profoundly strengthened: Italy welcomed over 70,000 refugees from BiH and promoted an extraordinary mobilization of civil society, with thousands of volunteers, activists, and ordinary citizens.
Still today, dozens of Italian municipalities are twinned with cities and towns in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These twinnings are not empty formulas: they are living bridges, made of projects, school exchanges, cultural and social cooperation. The success of the air routes to and from Italy also shows the curiosity and affection Italians toward BiH.
She concluded by saying that the economy also plays a key role. Italy is the top exporting country to BiH and its second-largest trading partner.
“Our companies create jobs and innovation. Two major Italian banks contribute to the solidity and reliability of the financial and credit system. The Mostar Economic Fair, where last April Italy was the partner country, showcased the potent this cooperation,” she explained.
“I would like to express my heartfelt thanks for the warm welcome I received upon my arrival in this beautiful country: I have met wonderful people, full of heart, strength of spirit, and generosity, who made me feel at home from the very beginning,” Her Excellency concluded.
National day reception was preceded by a piano and cello concert by Leonora Armellini and Ludovico Armellini.
