Hon. Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata, Ambassador of Italy to the United States, was the guest of honor at a Congressional Reception welcoming him to Washington, D.C., March 16, 2010. This special event, held at The U.S. Capitol, was hosted by the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) under the auspices of the Frank J. Guarini Public Policy Forum and the Italian American Congressional Delegation (IACD).

U.S. Representatives Pat Tiberi and Bill Pascrell, co-chairmen of the Italian American Congressional Delegation of the 111th United States Congress, were joined by Representatives Robert Aderholt, John Boccieri, Marcy Kaptur, John Mica, Steve Scalise, and former Representative Mike Ferguson at the reception.

Speaking at the event, NIAF President Joseph V. Del Raso, Esq., welcomed NIAF’s leadership including Robert E. Carlucci, Paul Chiapparone, Joseph Della Ratta, Hon. Louis J. Freeh, Patricia de Stacy Harrison, Dr. John Rosa. Del Raso thanked Hon. Frank J. Guarini, NIAF chairman emeritus, for his friendship and generosity over the past three decades and for endowing the Foundation’sPublic Policy Forum, which bears his name.

Frank Guarini introduced the evening’s guest of honor, Ambassador Terzi. At the podium Reps. Tiberi and Pascrell discussed the importance of our two great nations and asked the group to lean on the Italian American Congressional Delegation.

The Ambassador spoke about Italy as a privileged partner of the United States and Italian Americans as a fundamental part of U.S. culture, economics, and political life. He singled out the work of Fiorello La Guardia, Mario Cuomo, Geraldine Ferraro, Rudy Giuliani and Honorable Nancy Pelosi, the first Italian American to serve as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

He also outlined how our economies are linked by a close interdependence and noted that many Italian companies have successfully settled in the U.S. According to the Ambassador, the Italian language should be considered a vital component of our legacy. He congratulated NIAF’s leadership for its financial commitment in support of the Advanced Placement Exam in Italian as well as the Foundation’s determination and confidence in this project.

He closed with the announcement of the upcoming 150th anniversary of Italian Unification in 2011. “The year 1861 marked a long struggle toward independence and would be best celebrated by bringing our two nations together,” Amb. Terzi remarked.

Background : In October 2009 Giulio Terzi assumed his duties in Washington, D.C. as Ambassador of Italy to the United States. A career diplomat, prior to Washington, Ambassador Terzi served as Italian Ambassador to Israel (2002-2004) and Permanent Representative to the UN (2008-2009), heading the Italian Delegation to the Security Council. He also served in the Foreign Ministry in Rome as Deputy Secretary General, Director General for Multilateral Political Affairs and Human Rights, and Political Director from 2004-2008. During those years, his responsibilities included major international security and political issues.

NIAF is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization that works closely in Washington, D.C., with the Italian American Congressional Delegation and the White House as a national voice of the Italian American community that promotes stronger economic, social and cultural relations between Italy and the United States. NIAF’s cornerstone programs include scholarships for young people and grants to support educational and cultural activities at many colleges and universities.