The Embassy of Italy in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is organizing a conference ‘’Italy and BiH: The Balkans and the EU Through the Centuries – 155thAnniversary of the Opening of the First Consulate General of Italy in Sarajevo’’ on November 28thand 29th at the Hotel Holiday in Sarajevo.
Through four panel discussions, the conference will cover topics of history, politics, culture, and cooperation, with comments by panelists from Italy and BiH, and representatives of the European Union (EU) and partner institutions.
The Italian authorities will be represented by the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Committee on European Union policies of Italian Chamber of Deputies, together with the Commission President Marta Grande, Vice-President Pierre Fassin and Mr. Maurizio Lupi.
‘’If there is one aspect that is particularly noticeable in the relations between Italy and BiH over the centuries, then it is the fact that two countries that have no common border have rarely been so closely linked by historical and human ties,’’ said the ambassador of Italy to BiH, Nicola Minasi, in the beginning of a text summarizing the book ‘’Italy and Bosnia and Herzegovina. 155 Years of Common History,’’ printed on the occasion of the 155thanniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between these two countries.
The panel discussions will discuss 155 years of common history, the idea of Europe in BiH, possible models for Europe and the Balkans, as well as the image of the Balkans and Europe in the media. Also, a book on bilateral relations will be presented on this occasion.