NOTIZIE ITALIANE Newsletter of the Embassy of Italy in Israel No. 30 July 2004 Dear Friends, Minister Gasparri: Closer cooperation in Telecom, IT It is a real ‘Declaration of Intent’ on Undersecretary of State Hon. pleasure to avail A communication Giancarlo Innocenzi, and a myself of this stage infrastructure, computer and large delegation of – the pages of our Notizie Italiane - and network security was signed in representatives from the warmly greet all of Jerusalem by the Minister of Communications Authority, you. Communications, Hon. Maurizio TV companies (RAI, I am honored Gasparri and the Israeli Deputy Mediaset), satellite that the Italian Prime Minister and Minister of broadcasters, telecom Government has Communications, Ehud Olmert companies, and network chosen me to represent Italy in Israel, and I (photo). security experts. am looking forward to dealing with the Accompanying Minister Gasparri Hon Gasparri was received challenges and the responsibilities that this during his visit to Israel on May 9-10 was in the Knesset by the Speaker and (Cont p. 2) appointment entails. The privileged character of the relations between Italy and Israel is not incidental, nor is it temporary; yet even the strongest Minister Moratti: Boost for scientific collaboration friendships demand constant attention. I taly's Minister of presided over the Italy-Israel intend to contribute my share in making the I Education, University and R&D Day and presented an ties between Italy and Israel ever stronger Research, Hon. Letizia Moratti, overview of the new Italian and closer. visited Israel on May 30 – June scientific districts. This was Allow me to say that, during my long years of service, I have rarely encountered 1. The Minister held meetings followed by a working lunch such expressions of friendliness and passion with Education Minister Limor with a group of major Israeli towards my country as I have noticed in Israel. Livnat, Finance Minister venture capitalists. This should also be attributed, I believe, to Benyamin Netanyahu, Science Minister Moratti opened her the Italians who have chosen to live here or and Technology Minister Eliezer visit at Yad Vashem, where to divide their lives between these two most Sandberg (photo) and Deputy she placed a wreath in the beautiful countries, and constitute the most Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, as Hall of Remembrance. She natural and effective bridge between them. well as with Labor Party leader visited the Hebrew University These few lines are – I am confident – Shimon Peres. of Jerusalem and the Weizmann Institute of only the beginning of a long and fruitful Science in Rehovot. A dinner for the Minister dialogue with the Israeli public. Minister Moratti was guest of honor at the Israel was held on May 31 and attended by Minister The Embassy is doing its utmost to Gateway international economic conference Sandberg as well as economic, scientific and improve access to and availability of data where, together with Minister Sandberg, she academic leaders. Minister Moratti (Cont p.3) and updates by means of Notizie Italiane, of our new and advanced telephone system, and of our website. I certainly hope that these measures of communication, together with Minister of Environment Matteoli visiting Israel personal meetings as a result of the frequent activities of the Embassy, will ensure the he Italian This mission by Minister Matteoli is intended maximal accessibility of the Embassy for T Minister of the to mark a new breakthrough in the intense your convenience Environment and Land scientific cooperation in environmental issues I look forward to meeting you, Protection Hon. Altero between Italy and Israel. In particular, six joint exchanging opinions, and learning how we Matteoli (photo) is due projects are currently being developed under - the staff at the Embassy and myself - can in Israel from June 29 the cooperation agreement signed last year assist and support all bilateral endeavors. to July 1, at the between the Italian Ministry for Environment invitation of the Israeli and Tel Aviv University. A number of projects Toda raba and Arrivederci Minister for Science and and seminars have also been held in the Technology and acting Minister for framework of the Bilateral R&D Agreement Sandro De Bernardin Environment Hon. Eliezer Sandberg. between Italy and Israel. <> Alitalia increases flights to Israel: new schedule till October 30 From July 1 till October 30 2004 Alitalia will be the first Flight AZ Departure From To Special Rates for July & August EU carrier to operate three daily flights to and from Israel. 804 10.05 MIL TLV To Price The inauguration of a third daily connection between Italy 805 05.35 TLV MIL and Israel marks a happy return to the schedule in force 810 10.05 ROM TLV Milan 389 USD before September 11, 2001, and demonstrates a renewed 811 16.15 TLV ROM Rome 389 USD 812 21.30 MIL TLV Rest of Europe 409 USD demand from Italian travellers as well as Alitalia's 813 15.40 TLV MIL commitment to the Israeli market. www.alitalia.co.il <> New Schedule New Flight 1 NOTIZIE ITALIANE July 2004 Italian month in Israel series of industrial, scientific and cultural Accademia Italiana della Cucina). The Embassy also A events entitled "Technology and The program was designed to collaborated with Creativity - Italy in Israel 2004" was held last promote Italian industrial, Hamashbir in the May and June, organized by the Embassy in scientific and cultural relations organization of a 'Made collaboration with major Italian institutions with Israel through a wide ranging in Italy' promotional in Israel (Italian Cultural Institutes of Tel Aviv agenda of events that characterized, in little over month in six of the company's outlets in different and Haifa, ICE of Tel Aviv, the Israel-Italy a month, the ongoing state of bilateral relations. areas of the country. Hamashbir intends to repeat Chamber of Commerce, the Nahon Museum of A specially designed logo (reproduced here) this initiative in the autumn with an even larger Jerusalem, the Dante Alighieri Society of unified the events, which are described elsewhere presentation of 'Made in Italy' products.<> Jerusalem and the Israeli branch of the in this newsletter. Italy celebrates National Day taly's Festa della Italian Constitutional I Repubblica was celebrated in Israel by a Court visits Israel reception at the Ambassador's residence in he President of the Supreme Court of Ramat Gan. The over 1000 T Israel, Prof. Aharon Barak, hosted a guests included several delegation from the Italian Constitutional members of the Knesset as well as leading Court on 16-19 May. The Italians were led personalities from Israel's economic, political, by Vice President Prof. Valerio Onida and cultural, religious and social circles. Prof. Carlo Mezzanotte, together with judges Dr. Guido Neppi Modona, Dr. Francesco Amirante, Prof. Romano Vaccarella, Secretary General Couns. Chargé d’Affaires Couns. Luca Franchetti Pardo greets Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz Pierfelice Pratis. The visit, which included a homage at Yad Greeting the guests were Chargé d’Affaires Vashem, comes within the framework of Couns. Luca Franchetti Pardo, collaboration between the two countries' Ambassador-designate Sandro De juridical institutions, guarantors of the Bernardin and, representing the Government founding principals of the two of Israel, Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz, democracies.<> all of whom emphasized the excellent state of bilateral relations between Israel and Italy as well as the growing agenda of cooperative Lombardozzi (wearing a red dress designed by projects in all sectors. Egon von Furstenberg, see p.7), who then National anthems of both countries were presented a selection of Italian songs much Ambassador-designate Sandro De Bernardin celebrates National performed by soprano Claudia Toti appreciated by the public.<> Day with Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz Minister Gasparri: Closer cooperation in Telecom and IT security (cont. from p. 1) former Communications Minister Reuven legislation in Italy regarding the introduction of Minister Gasparri spoke of the significant Rivlin. digital terrestrial TV by 2006, and international contribution by Italy's Jewish community to the During his meeting with Min. Gasparri, Mr cooperation on issues of common interest in the political, scientific, economic and cultural life Olmert stressed the good relations between the area of network security. of the country, and reaffirmed the government's Italian and the Israeli governments, and with The Minister then held further meetings with determination to combat all and any resurgence Hon. Gasparri in particular, who first visited representatives from Israel's business and cultural of anti-Semitism. In this context he also recalled Israel during the Israel Telecom 2002 sectors, organized in cooperation with ICE, the his personal involvement in the publication of conference. Israel-Italy Chamber of Commerce and the Israel a joint Italian-Israeli postage stamp Hon. Gasparri, in accepting Minister Olmert's Export and International Cooperation Institute, commemorating the centenary of Rome's Great invitation to attend the 'Israel Telecom 2004' and inaugurated the Jews of Rome exhibition Synagogue (see p.3). conference in November, invited Mr Olmert to at Jerusalem's Nahon Museum of Italian Jewish The Minister's program concluded with a the 'Sat Expo' exhibition of satellite technology Art. Greeting the Minister, the President of the bilateral seminar on May 10 that featured a rich (see p.8),