Speech by H.E. Sergio Mercuri on the occasion of Italy’s National Day (June 2, 2011)

Vice Minister, Deputy Minister, Member of the National Assembly, Excellencies, distinguished Authorities, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I wish to thank all of you for being here today in occasion of the “Second of June”, the date Italy has chosen for its National Day. This year we have one more reason to celebrate…. an important one: the 150th anniversary since the proclamation of the Unity of Italy.

That Proclamation, adopted in 1861, marked the end of a long process of political, diplomatic and military struggles, all waged around the idea that the pre unitarian states may successfully merge in what was already from centuries perceived as one Nation, Italia.

It is therefore the third time in our history - after the years 1911 and 1961 – that we are called to draw a balance of our past. And three are in fact the sails, flag shaped, forming the logo chosen for this anniversary and displayed in such occasion.

It entails a sense of freedom, vitality and celebration; the symbol recalls the flight of a bird or full blown sailing vessels as those who brought in Korea our first countrymen in past centuries.

In fact even at its dawn the young Italian state was able to conduct its own foreign policy around the world. In 1884 - only 23 years after the 1861 unification - Italy inaugured diplomatic relations with a very distant and ancient country , Korea.

The displayed picture of the Italian diplomatic Mission dates back to 1904 and is a proof of our presence and support to Korea’s independence at the turn of the century. It suggested us to mark this anniversary with a special postcard especially prepared for this commemoration.

At that time Korea had being enjoying already since many centuries its independence and territorial unity, hence well before Italy reached the same formal status and international recognition.

Many Korean friends might find this sequence of events in our respective histories unexpected. We take this sentiment of surprise as an implicit recognition that - as has been stressed by the President of the Italian Republic H.E. Giorgio Napolitano - even if  the unity of Italy was largely achieved in 1861, our country was a Nation and perceived as such well before becoming a united State.

An idea of common destiny goes back indeed to the Middle Ages but we decided to recall this important phase in our history in the 19th century trough some images inspired to the period of the Risorgimento.

Such time represented a source of artistic inspiration for painting and classical music, in particular for Opera, so praised by the Korean public as shown by the success of Verdi in Seoul during these days.

Today’s technology - Korean technology - is helping us to spread these images and sounds and link them to our celebration.

According to recently conducted polls, the large majority of Italians attach an enormous importance to the value of our county’s Unity. It is reckoned as a unrenounceable achievement which is the catalyst of national sentiments.

With  the same enthusiasm Italy has always been looking and keeps looking at the struggle by all the people in the world for reaching or maintaining the ultimate goal of national unity. We try to contribute to this objective trough our active membership of the United Nations and of other international organizations.

Let me recall in this respect the common peace effort Korean and Italian armed forces are sustaining in countries struggling for their future: in Afghanistan as well as in Lebanon and the several other theaters of common military and civilian deployment for cooperation, logistic and surveillance tasks around the world.

If we look back to the past years during the Korean war we recall the time when with a Red Cross Field Hospital we tried to alleviate the sufferance of the population in those difficult times as well as nowadays we are providing medical and health support in the Kangwon area of the present DPRK. Italy’s work remains constantly dedicated to the value of unity even in the Korean peninsula.

In a few hours in Rome at the Residence of the Italian President, H.E. Giorgio Napolitano, Heads of States and Official representing several countries will take part to the formal celebrations and once more the old friendship between Italy and Korea will be revived.