Dragi prijatelji,
prije godinu dana stigla sam u Sarajevo. Bila je to intenzivna godina koja mi je omogućila da bolje upoznam Bosnu i Hercegovinu – prekrasnu zemlju s izuzetno vrijednim ljudima.
Sa političkog i diplomatskog aspekta, Ambasada je angažirana da izbliza prati aktuelnu političku krizu, uključujući i djelovanje u različitim multilateralnim formatima – od Evropske unije do NATO-a, Upravnog odbora Ureda visokog predstavnika i grupe „Prijatelji zapadnog Balkana“. Italija nastavlja snažno podržavati suverenitet i teritorijalni integritet BiH, između ostalog i učestvujući sa svojim kontingentom u misiji EUFOR Althea, u okviru koje su u martu ove godine u BiH stigle i rezervne snage iz Italije. Imala sam priliku da posjetim našu „Liaison Observation Team House“ u Drvaru, gdje karabinjeri sarađuju s lokalnim vlastima i stano-vništvom na konkretan način. Takođe snažno podr-žavamo vlada-vinu prava, što je neo-phodan uslov za ostvarenje cilja koji nam je veoma važan – vidjeti Bosnu i Hercegovinu ponovo ujed-injenu s europskom poro'dicom.
Tokom ovih mjeseci sus-relasam-se s brojnim političkim pred-stav-nicima, kako na bilateralnom nivou, tako i u okviru grupe Prijatelja zapadnog Balkana. Uvjerena sam da je dijalog sa svim akterima u zemlji ključan za razumijevanje različitih stavova i pružanje konstruktivnog doprinosa. Važni su bili i kontakti s medijima, koji su omogućili jasno prenošenje stavova Italije. Mnogo sam puto'vala po zemlji i na svakoj destinaciji susretala sam se s grado-načelnicima i načelnicima općina: od Tuzle do Bihaća, od Mostara, Prnjavora do Travnika – susreti su bili veoma korisni za bolje razumijevanje stvarnosti Bosne i Hercegovine.
Na ekonomskom planu, Italija se i dalje potvr/đuje kao drugi trgovinski partner Bosne i Hercegovine i prvi izvoznik. Ove godine smo, ne slučajno, bili partnerska zemlja Međunarodnog sajma u Mostaru i Pri-vrednog sajma u Zenici, zahvalju-jući i uspješnoj saradnji s-Udru-ženjem italijanskih poduzeća u Bosni i Hercegovini i drugim akterima Sistema Italija – vrijedne prilike da pre'dstavimo najbolje od italijanske proizvodnje. Posebno me raduje što je prije nekoliko dana u blizini Laktaša otvoren važan italijanski proizvodni pogon: konkretan primjer koliko je ekonomija Bi Hercegovine čvrsto povezana s Evropom.
Tokom godine organizo-vali-smo brojne događaje za promociju “Made in Italy”: od dizajna i arhitekture, preko sedmice italijanske kuhinje, i mnogi drugi. I u oblasti kulture godina je bila veoma bogata: od učešća Italije na Sarajevo Film Festivalu s oskar-ovcem Paolom Sorrentinom, do proslave Dana Republike uz nastupe međunarodno poznate pijanistkinje Leonore Armellini i violončeliste Ludovica Armellinija, pa sve do koncerta povodom TRIDESETE. godišnjice genocida u Srebrenici koji je održao poznati flautista Andrea Griminelli, koji je nastupio i u Memorijalnom centru u Potočarima. Tom prilikom imala sam čast pročitati poruku pred-sjednika Sergia Mattarelle. Posebno sam sretna što će uskoro početi izgradnja Muzeja savremene umjetnosti Ars Aevi, čiji je arhitekta Renzo Piano, a u kojem Italija od samog početka ima ključnu ulogu. Organizirali smo i brojne aktivnosti za promociju italijanskog jezika i akademske suradnje. Održani su i brojni događaji „sportske diplomatije“, poput video-instalacije o Zimskim olimpijskim igrama Milano-Cortina dvja-hiljade-dvadesetsest 2026. u Olimpijskom muzeju u Sarajevu ili podrške „Speed Campu“ s italijanskim skijaškim šampionima koji su trenirali mlade skija'še iz BiH. Tokom ove godine imala sam zadovoljstvo da se sretnem s mnogim predstavnicima kulturnog, privrednog i akademskog života Be i Ha, kao i da upoznam istoriju italijanskih zajednica u Štivoru i Tuzli, koje i danas čuvaju tradiciju i snažnu povezanost s Italijom.
Imala sam priliku da se upoznam s konkretnim projektima kojima Italija podržava evropski put Bosne i Hercegovine: na primjer, EU4FAST, koji pod-razumijeva saradnju policijskih snaga u borbi protiv trgovine ljudima. Italija, takođe, doprinosi jačanju kapaciteta institucija Bosne i Hercegovine u upra-vljanju migracijama, i to i kroz saradnju sa IOM-om, te podržava APIK u borbi protiv korupcije. Italijanska razvojna saradnja ostaje veoma aktivna: od podrške poljo-priv-rednom biodiverzitetu i održivom turizmu do projekata za mlade u partnerstvu s UNFPA-om i drugih. Bilo je i konkretnih akcija solidarnosti, poput pomoći zajednicama u Jablanici nakon poplava prošlog oktobra.
Završavam ovu svoju prvu godinu u Sarajevu s obnovljenim entuzijazmom i željom da dodatno ojačamo bilateralnu suradnju u svim oblastima, kao i da još snažnije podržimo europski i euroatlantski put Bosne i Hercegovine. Hvala vam na pažnji i hvala što nas pratite na našim društvenim mrežama!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLTutMYiEkI
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Dear friends,
A year ago, I arrived in Sarajevo. It has been an intense year that allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of Bosnia and Herzegovina – a beautiful country with extraordinarily dedicated people.
From a political and diplomatic point of view, the Embassy has been closely following the current political crisis, including through engagement in various multilateral formats – from the European Union to NATO, the Steering Board of the Office of the High Representative, and the “Friends of the Western Balkans” group.
Italy continues to strongly support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including through its participation in the EUFOR Althea mission, within which, last March, reserve forces from Italy were deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
I had the opportunity to visit our Liaison Observation Team House in Drvar, where the Carabinieri work closely with local authorities and the population in very practical ways.
We also firmly support the rule of law, which is a necessary condition for achieving a goal that is very important to us – to see Bosnia and Herzegovina reunited with the European family.
During these months, I have met with numerous political representatives, both bilaterally and within the framework of the Friends of the Western Balkans group. I am convinced that dialogue with all actors in the country is essential to understanding different perspectives and providing a constructive contribution.
Equally important have been contacts with the media, which have allowed us to clearly convey Italy’s positions.
I have travelled extensively throughout the country, meeting mayors and municipal leaders in every destination: from Tuzla to Bihać, from Mostar and Prnjavor to Travnik – these meetings were extremely useful for gaining a better understanding of the realities of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
On the economic front, Italy continues to confirm its position as Bosnia and Herzegovina’s second-largest trading partner and top exporter. This year, we were – not by chance – the partner country of both the International Fair in Mostar and the Economic Fair in Zenica, thanks also to the successful cooperation with the Association of Italian Companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina and other “Sistema Italia” partners – valuable opportunities to showcase the best of Italian production.
I am particularly pleased that, just a few days ago, an important Italian manufacturing facility was inaugurated near Laktaši – a tangible example of how closely Bosnia and Herzegovina’s economy is linked to Europe.
Throughout the year, we organized numerous events promoting the “Made in Italy” brand: from design and architecture to the Italian Cuisine Week, and many more.
In the field of culture, it has also been a particularly rich year: from Italy’s participation in the Sarajevo Film Festival with Oscar-winning director Paolo Sorrentino, to the celebration of Italy’s Republic Day featuring internationally renowned pianist Leonora Armellini and cellist Ludovico Armellini, and finally the concert marking the thirtieth anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, performed by famous flautist Andrea Griminelli, who also played at the Potočari Memorial Center. On that occasion, I had the honor of reading a message from President Sergio Mattarella.
I am especially happy that the construction of the Ars Aevi Museum of Contemporary Art, designed by Renzo Piano, will soon begin – a project in which Italy has played a key role from the very start.
We also organized numerous initiatives promoting the Italian language and academic cooperation.
Several “sports diplomacy” events were also held, such as the video installation on the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Olympic Museum in Sarajevo, and support for the “Speed Camp”, where Italian skiing champions trained young Bosnian skiers.
Throughout this year, I have had the pleasure of meeting many representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s cultural, economic, and academic communities, as well as learning about the history of the Italian communities in Štivor and Tuzla, which continue to preserve their traditions and maintain strong ties with Italy.
I have also become acquainted with concrete projects through which Italy supports Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European path – for example, EU4FAST, which involves police cooperation in the fight against human trafficking.
Italy also contributes to strengthening Bosnia and Herzegovina’s institutional capacities in migration management, including through cooperation with the IOM, and supports APIK in its efforts to combat corruption.
The Italian Development Cooperation remains very active – from supporting agricultural biodiversity and sustainable tourism, to youth projects in partnership with UNFPA and others.
There have also been concrete acts of solidarity, such as assistance to the communities of Jablanica following the floods last October.
I conclude this first year in Sarajevo with renewed enthusiasm and a strong desire to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in all areas, as well as to continue supporting, even more firmly, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European and Euro-Atlantic path.
Thank you for your attention, and thank you for following us on our social media channels
