Five new ambassadors have been accredited to the Republic of San Marino. The credential-presentation ceremony took place today, Friday 16 October, at Palazzo Valloni, before the Captains Regent Gerardo Giovagnoli and William Casali. The new diplomatic representatives were introduced to the Heads of State by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Luca Beccari, during an official audience marking their formal appointment.
The five are Jorge Luis Cepero Aguilar, ambassador of the Republic of Cuba; Peter Kmec, for the Slovak Republic; Carla Jazzar, for Lebanon; Carlos José de Pinho e Melo Pereira Marques, for Portugal; and Melita Gabrič, for the Republic of Slovenia.
In his opening remarks, Beccari highlighted the role of diplomacy and international cooperation, dwelling on the Republic’s stance regarding the major crises currently affecting the international scene. According to the official statement, the Secretary of State “reaffirmed the central role of diplomatic dialogue, multilateralism and international cooperation in promoting peace, preventing conflict and seeking shared responses to global challenges, in full respect of international law.” Addressing ongoing geopolitical tensions and conflicts, Beccari also reiterated the principles underpinning San Marino’s active neutrality and its support for the role of the United Nations.
The ceremony was preceded, on Thursday 15 October, by a series of meetings with the new ambassadors. These talks, the Secretariat of State reports, “provided an opportunity to review the state of bilateral relations, discuss key international political and economic developments, and identify new prospects for cooperation.”
Among the issues discussed were the protection of civilian populations, the easing of international tensions and the peaceful resolution of disputes — areas in which San Marino reaffirmed its commitment to dialogue and respect for international law.
Particular attention was given to the association agreement with the European Union, due to be signed on Monday 19 October in Brussels, together with the Principality of Andorra. This represents a pivotal step in relations between San Marino and the European institutions, and was also discussed with the newly accredited diplomats.
As the statement underlines, “This historic agreement will strengthen integration within the European single market and expand opportunities for collaboration and exchange for citizens, businesses and institutions, while safeguarding San Marino’s distinctive characteristics.”
The Secretariat of State for Foreign Affairs concluded by noting that the meetings “confirmed the Republic’s determination to strengthen friendly relations with the countries represented and to develop new forms of cooperation, in the belief that solid bilateral ties and constant international dialogue are essential to addressing shared global challenges.”
