Catalog Title

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Social and Cultural Events …. ……………… page 02

Political Highlights…………………………… page 13

Business and Finance Highlights …….……... page 14

www.ambwashingtondc.esteri.it Volume Two | Issue One January-March 2007

First Lady Laura Bush and Mrs. Lila Castellaneta at the National Museum of Women in the Arts visiting the Exhibit “Italian Women Artists from Renaissance to Baroque”

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On the evening of January 3, the Embassy of Italy opened its doors to the first inauguration party for the new Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.

Among the over 600 family members and frinds of Nancy Pelosi, Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Barak Obama, General Wesley Clarck, the new Majority Leader, Congressman Steny Hoyer, Il Congressman, J. Murtha, Madelaine Albright, and other prominent members of the Democratic Party.

The entertainment for the party consisted in live performances by Tony Bennett and James Taylor.

Ambassador and Mrs. Castellaneta Welcome the Speaker of the House,

Nancy Pelosi, to the Embassy

The new Speaker of the House of Representatives,

Nancy Pelosi

Inauguration Party for the New Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi,

held at the Embassy

Tony Bennett and James Taylor Performing together Live

A concert of the 'Symphonica Toscanini', held at the Embassy of Italy in Washington on January 11th, 2007 marked the beginning of a series of celebrations in honor of the great Orchestra Conductor, Arturo Toscanini on the 50th anniversary of his death.

The 'Symphonica Toscanin i ' , composed in the case of this concert of only 52 of the 120 yooung musical virtuosos, played music by Rossini, Mendelssohn, Mascagni, and Brahms at the Embassy. The Concert was conducted by the great maestro Lorin Maazel and was enjoyed by some of the most important political, economic, cultural, and legal personalities of the U.S. Capital.

Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta, together with his wife Lila, welcomed more than 400 guests for the important evening which once again confirms the important role played by the Italian Embassy in the political, social, and cultural world of the US Capital.

Symphonica Toscanini Opens U.S. Tour with a Concert

at the Embassy

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Among the guests were two Supreme Court Justices, Samuel Alito and Stephen Breyer; the Secretary of Veteran Affairs, James R. "Jim" Nicholson, Congressman Henry Brown, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staffs, Admiral Edmund Giambastiani, and DC City Council Member Carol Schwarz. Several other Ambassadors to Washington were present, as well as the Presidents of some of the most prestigious cultural institutions in Washington, such as the President of the Phillips Collection, of the National Gallery, and of the Corcoran Gallery, and the Presidents of some of the foremost Universities in the area, American University, George Washington e Georgetown. Washington Think Tanks also were well represented, for example by John Hamre (Center for Strategic and International Studies), Richard Haas (Council on Foreign Relations) and Walter Isaacsons (Aspen Institute).

Some of the Guests

In New York, on the same day, an exhibition of Toscanini’s own art collection will open at the Lincoln Center.

More than 60 pieces of his private collection will be shown, including works by Umberto Boccioni, Giovanni Segantini, Gaetano Previati e Giovanni Fattori, as well as the American artists Alfred East and George Inness.

The U.S. Tour seems to be particularly strenuous with 14 stops across the country from the East Coast to California.

On the Italian side the VIPs included T.H. Eda Pia Locatelli, President of the Symphonica Toscanini Foundation, Dr. Gianni Baratta, Superintendent of the Foundation, the President of the Symphonica Toscanini Institute, Dr. Antonio Gambino, and Mrs. Emanuela Castelbarco, niece of Maestro Toscanini. They will perform a joint concert with the 'New York Philarmonic'.

Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta and First Counselor Luca Ferrari, Embassy Spokesman, with

Maestro Lorin Maazel

A View of the Concert from the Second Floor

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Opening Remarks for the 2007 Annual Meeting of AIEA by H.E. Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta

The Embassy of Italy Hosts the 2007 AIEA (Association of International Education Administrators)

Annual Conference—February 19, 2007

Chaired by the Ambassador of Italy to the United States, H.E. Giovanni Castellaneta, the inaugural meeting be-tween members of the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) and Italian University dele-gates, took place at the Embassy of Italy in Washington. The AIEA was represented by its President Uliana Gabara and its Executive Committee. The Italian side was represented by several University Presidents, Vice Presidents, and High Internationalization Officials from the following Italian Universities: IUSS Pavia, Bocconi, LIUC, Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Pavia, Perugia per Stranieri, Siena per Stranieri, Torino, Trento e ISIA of Firenze. Members of the AEIA represented the following American Universities, among others: Brown, Cornell, Duke, Emory, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Michigan, NYU, Pennsylvania, Purdue, Yale. The initiative aims to increase the flux of American students to Italy, not only as an unforgettable life experience, but also as an opportunity to specialize in the ever increasing excellent fields of study that our country can offer. As Ambassador Castellaneta explained: “there is, in the United States, a widespread feeling of friendship and goodwill toward our country, and we must endeavor to translate it into concrete cooperation.” Italy then, not only as a country of Arts and Fashion, but also as a country of new technologies and high speciali-zation, and which aims to increase the number of American students in our Universities from the current 25,000 per year (Italy is the second European country after Great Britain). The number is already high, but not com-mensurate with the potential of our University system. The Embassy of Italy was the catalyst for this important initiative which facilitates contact between American Universities and their Italians counterparts in order to increase their cooperation in the field of exchanges for students, researchers and teachers. An unusual role for the Embassy, as the starting point of a process which would allow to better focus the potentialities of development in this area.

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AEIA’ s President, Prof. Uliana Babara

H.E. Amb. Gianni Castellaneta Guests at AIEA Reception

6 The Meeting in the Main Conference Room

Ambassador

Gianni Castellaneta, his

wife Lila , the Governor of

Georgia Sonny Perdue with Ms.

Turner

Italian Day in Georgia

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Italian Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta traveled to Atlanta on February 20th, 2007, on the occasion of the proclamation of “Italian Day”, a bipartisan resolution approved by both the Senate and the House of Represen-tatives of the State of Georgia. Ambassador Castellaneta, thanked the Congress and, following the ceremonies, held cordial meetings with both the President of the Senate Eric Johnson, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Glenn Richardson. The Ambassador also met with the Governor of Georgia, Sonny Perdue as well as several Italian businessmen who operate in the State. A tour the Pirelli plant in Georgia concluded the Ambassador’s visit. This visit was of great importance also for the strong economic potential of the state of Georgia, which is now considered the 10th largest State of the union for population (8,8 million inhabitant) as well as economic out-put. Georgia is located in the natural center of the United State’s Southern Region which has had remarkable economic development in the last few years, becoming one of the most important centers for the economic relationship between the United States and the rest of the world.

H.E. Amb. Castellaneta addressing the Congress of

the State of Georgia

On the occasion of the National Governors Association ‘s 2007 annual meeting in Washington, the Chair, Janet Napolitano, Governor of Arizona and many other US Governors, were guests of Italian Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Giovanni Castellaneta, and his wife Lila Castellaneta for a reception at the Em-bassy, on February 24th, 2007 The meeting this year had as the main theme innovation, and, as it was emphasized by Ambassador Cas-tellaneta, this is one of the fields in which Italy is particularly respected. “We want to work ever more closely with each of US State – said Ambassador Castellaneta to the Governors - Italy is ready to work with all of you.” The reception, moreover, was also an occasion, as stressed in an interview by Governor Napolitano, to strengthen the already excellent relations that all the States have with individual European countries and with the European Union. Academic Exchange and Trade are considered the strong points of this rela-tionship. Each single State in the USA has ever-increasing exchanges with Europe, and Italy is one of the countries which is receiving the most attention in this regard.

Embassy of Italy Hosts US Governors

Ambassador Castellaneta welcomes Governor Janet Napolitano, Chair of the National Governors Association, and the other Governors and guests

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Opening of the Exhibit

“Italian Women Artists from Renaissance to Baroque”

at National Museum of Women in the Arts

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The official opening of the exhibit “Italian Women Artists from Renaissance to Baroque” took place on March 14th, 2007, at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC at the presence of H. E. Ambas-sador Giovanni Castellaneta, Ambassador of Italy to the United States, and his wife Lila. The Ambassador pronounced a speech in which he remarked on the excellent collaboration between the Mu-seum and the Embassy of Italy in organizing the exhibit, on the importance of introducing the lesser known Ital-ian artists to the world, on the importance of the Italian cultural heritage in general for the international com-munity, and on the excellent ties between Italy and the United States in cultural cooperation as well as in other fields.

Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta Pronouncing his Speech

Ambassador Castellaneta, his Wife Lila, and the Museum's Director Dr. Judy L. Larson

First Lady Laura Bush and Mrs. Lila Castellaneta, wife of the Italian Ambassador to the United States, tour an exhibit of Italian Women

Artists from Renaissance to Baroque at the National Museum of Women in the Arts

The First Lady and Mrs. Lila Castellaneta, wife of the Italian Ambassador to the United States,

tour an exhibit of Italian Women Artists from Renaissance to Baroque at the National Museum

of Women in the Arts Thursday, March 22, 2007, in Washington, D.C. They are guided by the

museum's director Dr. Judy L. Larson, who is pictured at the far left.

The visit was followed by a private lunch at "Villa Firenze", residence of the Ambassador of It-

aly to the United States, offered by Mrs. Castellaneta in honor of Mrs. Bush.

White House photo by Shealah Craighead

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Versace Fashion Show at the

Embassy of Italy

On Thursday, March 22, the Embassy of Italy had the great pleasure of hosting a prestigious fashion event in collabo-ration with Versace U.S. and Capitol File maga-zine. During the evening, more than 300 promi-nent guests, representa-tives of Washing-ton’s high society, were delighted to view more than 30 creations from the Versace’s Collection for the Spring and Sum-mer 2007. The fashion show took place in the elegant and exclusive atmosphere of the central hall of the Embassy of Italy from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m. There were two main runways while plasma screens broadcast Do-natella Versace receiving her fashion award in Los Angeles.

Versace’s designs

Cat Walk

Versace’s design

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Political Highlights

Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Massimo D’Alema, stopped over in Washington, DC for a private dinner with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on his way to New York where he addressed the United Nations’ Security Council.

Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, T.H. Massimo

D’ Alema visits Washington, DC (March 19, 2007)

Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, T.H. Mas-

simo D’Alema

U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice

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During her visit to the United States, from January 17th through 19th, 2007, Minister Emma Bonino met in Washington with the United States Trade Representative, Susan Schwab, with the President of the H o u s e Way s a n d M e a n s Committee, Congressman Charles Rangel, with the Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, John Lipsky, and with the Vice President of the World Bank, Ana Palacio. During her stay in New York she met with important representatives of the financial world in order to attract investors into the Italian markets.

Italian Minister for European Affairs, T.H. Emma

Bonino, visits the United States (January 17-18, 2007)

Italian Minister for European Affairs, Emma Bonino

Business and Finance Highlights

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Minister Pierluigi Bersani answers journalists’

questions

Minister Pierluigi Bersani’s Visit to Washing-ton

T.H. Pierluigi Bersani, Minister of Economic Development, visiting Washington and New York. In addition to taking part in the Aspen Convention on En-ergy and the Enviroment, Minister Bersani met IMF’s representatives, and members of the Defence, Trade, Energy and Treasury Departments. During his visit to New York, he met with representatives of industries interested in in-vesting in Italy.

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February 4-6, 2007

Aspen Institute Italy Organizes Symposium on Energy

and the Environment February 4-6, 2007

Aspen Institute Italy organized a Symphosium on Energy and the Environment. Held at the Embassy with the participation of Minister Bersani, Aspen’s President Mr. Tremonti, and other prominent Italian and American panelists as well as members of International Or-ganizations. The Conference compared the ‘minimalist’ approach of indus-try with the environmental one of the scientific world. Focus on safety of supplies, di-versification and EU/USA co-operation.

H.E Giovanni Castellaneta, Minister Pier-luigi Bersani and former Minister Giulio

Tremonti

Aspen Institute Banner

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H.E. Ambassador Giovanni Castel-laneta

with Former Italian Minister of the Treasury, T.H. Giulio Tremonti

A View of the Conference Ta-ble in the Beautiful Embassy

Atrium

Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta Greets the Guests at the

Evening Dinner

High Technology and Research Workshop held at

the Embassy

The “Italy-US Workshop on Advanced Su-perconductors” was held at the Embassy of Italy in Washington D.C. on 2-3 March. The main theme of the workshop was Magnesium diboride (MgB2), the supercon-ducting material discovered in 2001. MgB2 is very light and also rather inexpen-sive and has already found applications in the realm of high intensity magnets for MRI. The purpose of the Workshop was to ex-change ideas and to strengthen the already very strong collaboration between Italian and US teams. Participated in the event, researchers from, on the Italian side, the Universities of Genoa (Prof Marina Putti) and Naples (Prof. Antonello Andreone and Ruggero Vaglio), from the CNR/INFM laboratory in Genoa (Dr. Carlo Ferdeghini), and from Columbus Superconductors (Dr. Gianni Grasso); on the US side, Arizona State, Florida State, U. of Wisconsin –Madison and from Argonne national Laboratory as well as representatives of funding agencies (DOE and NSF). Min. Stefano Stafanini, Chargé d’Affairs, Counselor Stefano Beltrame, Head of the Economics and Scientific Section of the Embassy, and Dr. Alberto Devoto, Scien-tific Attaché, represented the Embassy.

Professor Alberto Devoto (left) and Minister Stefano Stefanini (right)

flanking workshop participants

Workshop Participants

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From the Infinitely Large to the Infinitely Small

An Overview of the Research Projects Undertaken in Collaboration between the Labora-

tori Nazionali del Gran Sasso and Princeton University for the General Public

Prof. Eugenio Coccia (University of Rome, “Tor Vergata” and Director, La-boratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso) and Prof. Cristian Galbiati (Princeton Univer-sity) described, for the gen-eral public, the features of the Laboratory and some of its main experiments. The event took place on March 23, 2007 at 5:00 pm at the Embassy. It was an audio visual presentation which was jointly organized by Prof. Devoto, Scientific Attaché at the Embassy, the Italian Cultural Institute in Washington, DC, and the Abruzzo Molise Heritage Society. The Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS), located under the Italian Apennine Mountains, is the largest underground laboratory in the world for experiments in astro-particle physics. It is one of the National Labo-ratories of the Istituto Nazi-onale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), but it is used by scientists from all over the world.

The underground fa-cilities are located on a side of the ten kilo-meter tunnel dug deep under the Gran Sasso Mountain, the highest peak in the Apennines. The Labo-ratory conducts ex-periments in the field of astro-particle phys-ics, the branch of physics that looks at the particles coming from the most distant parts of the universe.

The information col-lected may help us better understand both what happened in the earliest mo-ments of the life of the universe as well as its eventual ultimate fate. In the Labora-tory, researchers from INFN and from Princeton University have been collaborat-ing for many years.

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(from the left) Prof. Alberto Devoto, First Counselor Stefano Beltrame, Prof. Eugenio

Coccia, and Ennio Di Tullio

First Counselor Stefano Beltrame Introducing Prof. Eugenio Coccia

Prof. Eugenio Coccia During his Presentation

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Ferrari’s 60th Anniversary Celebration

March 31, 2007

The Ferrari Relay 60, a cele-bration of Ferrari’s 60th An-niversary, traverses the globe, thrilling enthusiasts everywhere it stops. The celebration began in Sao Paulo Brazil, site of numer-ous Ferrari racing triumphs, at the Interlagos Circuit. The baton was then passed to Ferrari North America, and the stops included San Francisco, Los Angeles, To-ronto, Montreal, and Wash-ington D.C. The tour will continue in Europe, and conclude in Ma-ranello itself on June 21st

through 24th, after traveling five continents in commemo-ration of the 60 glorious years. The event held at the Em-bassy of Italy on March 31st, hosted 80 Ferrari cars, 60 of them from private collectors and 20 from Ferrari deal-ers. The cars’ arrival at the Embassy will appear in a documentary Ferrari will produce to commemorate the 60 years of Maranello. The event opened with speeches by the Ambassador of Italy, H.E.Giovanni Castel-laneta, who thanked Ferrari

for its leading role in the economic relationship be-tween Italy and the United States, and by the Marketing Director of Ferrari North America, Dr. Attilio Ruffo, who presented the Ambas-sador with the autographed baseball bat and t-shirt both of which will be auctioned at the final celebration in Maranello on June 21st through 24th. The evening continued with a buffet and concluded around 9:30 pm. The 80 cars arrived at the Embassy during the afternoon.

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Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta with Ferrari North

America’s Marketing Director, Dr. Attilio Ruffo