This evening, a dinner was served in honor of President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian, who is on a state visit to Italy, and his wife, Mrs. Nouneh Sarkissian on behalf of President of Italy Sergio Mattarella and his wife Laura Mattarella at Quirinal Palace.

Presidents Armen Sarkissian and Sergio Mattarella made toasts during which they touched upon the centuries-old Armenian-Italian friendship, the strong interstate relations and the prospect for development of those relations.

President Sarkissian particularly said the following: “The Armenian-Italian relations are hinged on rich and ancient traditions. Throughout the centuries and history, the Armenian people have faced many trials and tribulations, but have resisted and overcome them with dignity and endurance. Unfortunately, today, we Armenians can’t talk about complete and sustainable peace in Armenia and our region. A few days before my visit marked the first year of the 44-day war that Azerbaijan unleashed against Nagorno-Karabakh, and Armenians in Armenia and Artsakh commemorated our young heroes, the soldiers and civilians who fell in the war…

According to a common Armenian and Italian saying, one knows real friends during crisis, misery and difficult days. Last year, during the most tragic period due to the pandemic, we Armenians were very sad for the Italian people. In our turn, we were deeply touched by the exceptional support, heartfelt attitude and solidarity of the Italian people during the days of the war. We will never forget it.

Of course, crises and tribulations aren’t the only things that link the Armenians to Italians. There are traces of the presence of Armenians in Italy in almost the whole territory of the country. Our relations have been deep and comprehensive. Today, our countries have strong interstate relations, with high-level political dialogue, and a brilliant example of this are the cordial ties between the Italian and Armenian presidents.

Next year will mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Italy. I am certain that my state visit to Italy, which is future-oriented, will help strengthen the Armenian-Italian friendship and will turn a new page over in our historical ties.

Mr. President, we talk a lot about the similarities between the Armenian and Italian societies and the peoples. We are similar because we are peoples with histories spanning centuries and because we are Christian nations. When I was in Venice for two to three days, in the premises of the Mekhitarist Congregation, I discovered that we are also similar in terms of our attitude towards and love for knowledge and preservation of literature.

Mr. President, when you and Mrs. Mattarella were in Armenia, you visited the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts (Matenadaran). Most of the books were brought by certain individuals and women who escaped the genocide in the Ottoman Empire. In 300 years, the congregates of the Mekhitarist Congregation compiled a tremendous amount of books that are preserved and protected, and I thought that the future of our two nations will be linked to knowledge and science. In this sense, it is a great pleasure for me to present you with a book that is entitled “Rome-Armenia”. This is a story of the 2,000-year-old friendship between Armenia and Rome. I hope we are starting the first day of the next 2,000 years today.

I propose to drink to the friendship, welfare and peaceful future of our peoples, the sincere Armenian-Italian friendship and for my dear friend, wise and provident politician, President of Italy Sergio Mattarella and Mrs. Mattarella.”