The Italian Legacy in the Dominican Republic

THE ITALIAN LEGACY IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

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receiving any reply. Only President Giorgio Na-

politano informed us that they would strengthen

the network of Vice Consuls in the country. We

also visited local newspapers, making public our

efforts to reopen the Embassy of Italy. We pub-

lished a half-page announcement in

La Repubbli-

ca,

one of the most widely circulated Italian daily

newspapers within Italy. We visited the Ministry

of Foreign Affairs in Rome. It was finally decided

to contact three attorneys in Italy, and we brought

the case before the Administrative Court of Lazio,

which ultimately ruled in our favor and annulled

the decree for the closure of the Embassy in the

Dominican Republic. Finally, on October 3, 2016,

we were summoned to Palazzo Chigi, the seat of

the Italian government in Rome. There, members

of the board of directors of Casa de Italia—Renzo

Seravalle, Ángelo Viro, Frank Rainieri, Felipe Vi-

cini, and Guillermo Rodríguez Vicini—met with Luca Lotti, the Undersecretary to the Presidency and His

Excellency Ambassador Varricchio, Diplomatic advisor for the Prime Minister. It was then that the reopening

of the embassy was agreed upon. Thanks to the diligence of the two Italian officials who upheld their promise,

we currently have an Italian Ambassador in the Dominican Republic. In January of 2017, Andrea Canepari was

appointed as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, representing the government of Italy and the

interests of the Italian community.

It was with great satisfaction that the Italian community welcomed the arrival of Ambassador Canepari

as a sign of Italy’s esteem for the Italian community in the Dominican Republic. The community, in particu-

lar, appreciated an ambassador with such energy and enthusiasm for renewing relations and for expressing

concern for the Italian community in the Dominican Republic. It was very much appreciated by all the Italian

citizens who, in the first sign of respect for them, and for the first time in history, were graced by the pres-

ence of the Italian ambassador at events held within the Italian community in all the Dominican Republic, by

his attention to the community’s problems, and by his personal commitment to address those issues. I have

accompanied the ambassador on these trips on numerous occasions, and I have been able to witness the com-

mitment that he has shown at those times and to later see how those promises were fulfilled. In just a few

short months, consular conditions vastly improved; for example, in the past Italian citizens had to wait months

for a passport. Later, the reception and the structure of the embassy improved, creating safe and protected

areas where transactions and affairs could be carried out. I saw firsthand and immediately how interest in Italy

on the part of the Dominican Republic was piqued. For the first time, I saw prominent Dominican families

including those with no Italian heritage supporting Italian initiatives, taking part in different Italian events,

and promoting them. The press has written numerous articles about the embassy’s activities, highlighting the

achievements that have been made.

All Italian citizens were invited to Casa de Italia by the ambassador on Italian national holidays in 2017,

2018, and 2019, and also on December 5 of each of those years to commemorate Italian Immigrant Day. These

dates were celebrated not only with a reception, but also with a cultural event organized by the embassy to

demonstrate the unity between the community, Italian culture, and the Dominican Republic.

I still recall the first reception hosted by the ambassador to celebrate his arrival on November 27, 2017, as

well as my great excitement. I considered the presence of the vice president of the Dominican Republic, Dr.

Margarita Cedeño, appearing on behalf of the president since he was out of the country, as well as various

Cultural event held at

Casa de Italia. Date

unknown.