CNN’s Wolf Blitzer Winner of Urbino Press Awards 2013

CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, currently the host of The Situation Room and its lead political anchor,  is the 2013 winner of the Urbino Press Award as announced by the Italian Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero, at a reception held at the Italian Embassy on April 18, 2013.  The prize, now at its sixth edition, is awarded in recognition of excellence in journalism to American

Wolf Blitzer

Wolf Blitzer

reporters who, through their commitment and daily work, conscientiously inform millions of people.

The Urbino Press Award “recognizes excellence in journalism, in searching for news, in writing stories, in analyzing facts and turning information in freedom and progress,” as stated by former Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi who also underlined how “media, both traditional and new ones, can influence today’s decision-making in foreign policy”.

In announcing the winner, Ambassador Bisogniero noted that, ”Per tutti noi Wolf Blitzer rappresenta un marchio di qualita’ del giornalismo.  ‘Wolf ha saputo costruire una sua forte immagine professionale nel corso di una straordinaria carriera.”  In accepting the award, Blitzer said that he was accepting it in the name of all his colleagues at CNN.

The City of  Urbino, which during the Renaissance gave life to one of the most enlightened courts of Europe, symbolically reinstates its court, once enriched by geniuses like Baldassarre Castiglione and Torquato Tasso, with the voice and experience of todays’ reporters, the outstanding interpreters of the events that are changing our world.

The award will be officially presented to Blitzer on June 20 in the Ducal Palace of the City of Urbino.  Giovanni Lani, President of the Urbino Press Award, who has managed to bring to Urbino, Italy, the best of the best of American journalism, was  very satisfied by the large crowd who joined in the evening’s ceremony and was already thinking about how he could top this year’s honoree.

Amb. Claudio Bisogniero, Wolf Blitzer

Amb. Claudio Bisogniero, Wolf Blitzer

Prior winners of the Urbino Press Award include, Sebastiano Rotella of Pro Publica,   Helene Cooper of the New York Times, David Ignatius of the Washington Post, Thomas L. Friedman of the New York Times, Martha Raddatz of ABC news, and Michael Weisskopf of Time magazine.

 

 

Italian Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero Greets Italian American Congressional Delegation

At a reception on Capitol Hill hosted by the National Italian American Foundation, Italian Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero greeted on  Wednesday evening (Feb 27) the new Italian American Congressional Delegation for 113th Congress.

Pat Tiberi, Claudio Bisogniero, Bill Pascrell

Pat Tiberi, Claudio Bisogniero, Bill Pascrell

“The relationship between Italy the United States is so profound and so solid” said Bisogniero.  The Ambassador noted that the 2013 Year of Italian Culture was happening at “the right time” because “these days Italy is in not in the front page of newspapers  for the right reason, we’re trying through this initiative  to put Italy in the front page of those papers for the right reasons.”

Representative Bill Pascrell (NJ-8), co-chair of the IACD said in his welcoming remarks, referring to the Italian elections held last Sunday,  “we pray that our mother country will put this together in a way that forms a government  that lasts more than two months.  This is serious business.  This is a great ally of the United States of America.”

Representative Pat Tiberi (OH-12), the other co-chair of the IACD, recounted in his remarks that Angelina, his nine-year old daughter, early this year wrote a report on one of her grandparents, and after completing her research she said to him: “Italians have done a lot for America!”  “We share a common culture that binds us—let’s celebrate what connects us tonight. We are so fortunate to have Ambassador Claudio Bisognero here with us tonight to help us strengthen our relationship with Italy,” Tiberi said. He encouraged everyone to get closer to Italy since the Italian people are facing difficult times. “When we help our mother country, we help our country,” he added.

Other Senators and Representatives who attended the reception included Senator Michael Enzi , Representatives Lou Barletta (PA); Suzanne Bonamici (OR); Michael Capuano (MA); David Cicilline (RI); Chris Collins (NY); Rosa L. DeLauro (CT); Mike Doyle (PA);Michael Grimm (NY); Marcy Kaptur (OH); Tom Marino (PA); Jim Renacci (OH); Brad Wenstrup (OH); and Ted Yoho (FL).  Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi recounted a recent reception at the White House when President Obama warmly greeted Italy’s President Giorgio Napolitano, and many Italian Americans. “It’s all about personal relationships and respect we have for each other,” she added. She thanked NIAF for their work in bringing everyone together this evening.

 

Italian Armed Forces Day Celebrated in Washington, DC

Italian Armed Forces Day was commemorated in Washington, DC  with a mass at the Italian Church, Holy Rosary on November 4,   and on the following day, with a reception at the Italian Embassy.  The Italian Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero, General Giovanni Fantuzzi, and the Embassy diplomatic corps joined the Holy Rosary Church parishioners Sunday in a solemn  mass in honor of the fallen soldiers .In particular, special observance was made of the following soldiers who died in the line of duty during the past year: Giovanni Gallo, Francesco Currò, Paolo Messineo, Luca Valente, Michele Silvestri, Manuele Bray, and Tiziano Chierotti.  At the end of the Mass, Amb. Bisogniero delivered brief remarks noting the sacrifices of Italian troops in places such as Afghanistan, where they serve side-by-side with America troops to defend the shared values of both countries.

On Tuesday, November 5, the Italian Embassy celebrated Italian Armed Forces Day with a reception at the Embassy’s Piazza Italia attended by senior representatives from the U.S. military and federal government, together with representatives of the Italian American community.  In their brief remarks, both Amb. Bisogniero and  General Fantuzzi underscored the extraordinary commitment of the Italian Armed Forces to peace missions throughout the world.  Amb. Bisogniero also noted that Armed Forces Day was also an opportunity to reinforce the ties and friendships between Italy and the United States.

Italy celebrates Armed Forces Day on November 4th each year to mark the end of World War I in 1918, which ended in victory but took the lives of 650,000 Italians.