I address a very cordial greeting to the Ambassadors accredited to our Country present at this concert, on the occasion of our National Day, which commemorates the beginning of the Republic.
To celebrate the Republic Day in the presence of the Diplomatic Corps expresses the spirit of friendship that Italy harbours for the Countries here represented.
I also cordially greet the institutional authorities present. For Italy this is a moment characterized by the passing of duties and responsibilities from the former Government - which I sincerely thank for the work carried out - to the new Government to which I express my best wishes for the work attending them.
I want to thank conductor Antonio Pappano and the Santa Cecilia Orchestra for the moments of extraordinary artistic intensity they are about to give us and all those who are following on television and via the web, who I cordially greet.
The Italian Republic steadily pursues peace, as this is what laid down in its Constitution, of which we are celebrating the 70th anniversary.
Italy's relationship with the Countries worldwide is characterized by a continuous search for cooperation: the increasingly global challenges set before us by the international context can be faced only if we work together.
The keys to peace and wellbeing are represented by collaboration, mutual understanding and the progressive removal of barriers between peoples, by the avoidance of all types of conflicts and a shared development. Indeed, this is what has been experienced by Europe's integration, where Italy intends to play an increasingly positive role as protagonist.
It is always necessary - both in the international community as within each Country - to avoid words of hostility and conflict; these are to be opposed and removed. Instead, we need to hear and express words of goodwill.
The Republic Day on June 2nd testifies that Italy's citizens - gathering to celebrate the Republic - are conscious, serious, honest and very hard-working. It also testifies the demand for a strong national cohesion.
In these seventy years Italy's history has gone through tensions and trials, and the Republican institutions have always proven to be able to allow Italy to face the many difficulties and challenges, without wavering.
Even the sometimes harsh debates between political parties have always been characterized by an attitude not based on useless conflicts, but on the ambition to provide Italy with stronger and more certain prospects of development.
With this firm belief and in this view, I wish all of you a great Republic Day.
