When the pizzas were already being served outside the immense residence of the Italian Embassy, in Billinghurst and Libertador; when the waiters could not cope with serving lasagna, pasta, wine and champagne, Ambassador Fabrizio Lucentini cut to the chase with a speech in which the deep annoyance of his country was evident.
The anger of Italians with the government of Alberto Fernández is due to the fact that the President finally decided to give his support to Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia, instead of Rome for Expo 2030, one of the most important international exhibitions in the world.
This Friday took place the holiday for the Republic Day of Italy, its national day. As every year, the head of the diplomatic representation opened the doors for hundreds of guests, including well-known faces of politics. But it was a day of sincerity.
Lucentini had been saying in his speech that Argentina and Italy are two brother countries because of their historical relationship, because of their cultural affinity and because of the presence of companies from their country here and also because of their shared principles of adherence to universal values of freedom, peace and human rights.
Italian Ambassador Fabrizio Lucentini at the Republic Day reception
But after stating that this "harmony" is the basis of the fraternal relationship, he said that Italy would always be on the side of the Argentine people "even when we disagree." This prompted him to point out that "for that reason we will continue to ask Argentina to pronounce itself in favor of Rome's candidacy to host the 2030 Universal Exhibition, although so far that has not happened."
The anger of that country grew as the months passed and Fernández still did not pronounce himself. There are those who say that he had even promised Rome his support, although he never made it public.
Lucentini is a calm, patient man, with a strong listening, and together with Rome he had put himself at the forefront of the movement here. In fact, he is one of the ambassadors who has met the most with Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero. And there were several Italian visits for this campaign.
But it was precisely from the Foreign Ministry that the coup came. "The Argentine Republic expresses its support for the candidacy of the city of Riyadh, of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for the Universal Expo 2030. Both countries strengthen in this way the political and commercial bond and the fraternal relationship that unites us," he tweeted surprisingly on May 22.
The World Expo 2030 is held every five years (the next one is in Osaka, in 2025) and is the opportunity for countries to show all their innovations and, to the city that hosts it, its growth and development. From a previous selection, where Moscow was ruled out due to the invasion of Ukraine, the main candidates are South Korea (Busan), Italy (Rome), Odessa (Ukraine) and Saudi Arabia (Riyadh).
On this unexpected support for Saudi Arabia there are two unconfirmed versions. Some asked to refer to the lunch that Vice President Cristina Kirchner had on May 9 with the ambassadors of Arab countries in the country.
The meal took place at the Saudi Arabian embassy, and they say it was a success. It went unnoticed. It was surprising. And there are those who maintain that from there the order came down.
Others point out that the vice president had nothing to do with it and look at the Argentine turn to another fact: an agreement that Economy Minister Sergio Massa signed in Washington last April with the Saudi Sovereign Fund. This foresees an investment in Argentina of US $ 500 million in infrastructure works, although so far that amount has not reached the country, which has its coffers squalid.
At the reception that Lucentini gave on Friday were the candidates for head of the City, Jorge Macri and Martín Lousteau, two rivals who were notoriously cold to each other.
Fernando Straface, Secretary General and International Relations of the City, right hand of Horacio Rodríguez Larreta, also participated in the meeting. The always active Pablo Garzonio, Undersecretary of International Relations and Institutional Cooperation; Deputy Foreign Minister Pablo Tettamanti and Ambassador Gustavo Martínez Pandiani. She was seen Estela de Carlotto, Grandmother of Plaza de Mayo, Jorge Telerman, the head of Investigations of the PFA, Alejandro ŃAmandú, and the deputy Fernando Iglesias, among others.
Among others, were ambassadors Marc Stanley (United States), Amador Sánchez Rico (European Union), Karl Dhaene (Belgium), Ulrich Sante (Germany), María Jesús Alonso (Spain). Among the businessmen, he was very visible and talking with everyone, Martin Cabrales.
NE
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