September 3, 2008
President George W. Bush message to the Captains Regent for San Marino’s National Day.
Your Excellencies:
On behalf of the American people, I extend congratulations to you and the people of San Marino
on the occasion of your Republic's National Day on September 3.
The United States applauds San Marino's proud tradition of democracy reaching back over 750 years.
We congratulate you on San Marino's inclusion as part of UNESCO's World Heritage list.
Our two nations are bound together by shared ties of culture, commerce, and democratic governance.
Our good relations are more important than ever as we work together to meet global challenges such as terrorist financing.
As you and the people of San Marino celebrate your country's National Day, please know that the people of the United States
value their long-standing friendship with San Marino.
Sincerely,
George W. Bush
June 15, 2008
San Marino Captains Regents Rosa Zafferani and Federico Pedini Amati, accompanied by Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs Fiorenzo Stolfi, traveled to Detroit
to attend the inauguration of the San Marino Culture Center of the local San Marino Social Club. The Center was
established to preserve and pass on San Marino history and traditions to new generations. Secretary Stolfi praised
the Detroit community "for their initiatives and for maintaining the Republic's good name and image in the land that
hosts them."
June 6, 2008
Consul General Nora Dempsey traveled to San Marino to pay a farewell visit to Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
Fiorenzo Stolfi and his staff. They confirmed the shared ideals and excellent status of relations between San Marino and
the United States, particularly in light of the large number of Sammarinesi living in the United States. They also
discussed U.S. – San Marino cooperation in international organizations such as the International Whaling Commission;
a State Department program for Central Bank Officials; and San Marino's projects for economic development.
Please click here for a picture of the meeting.
CG Dempsey then met with Ambassador Federica Bigi, Director for Political Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs,
who had recently participated in an International Visitors Leadership Program sponsored by the State Department.
During her three-week visit to the United States, Ambassador Bigi met government officials and policy makers in Washington,
D.C.; city authorities and Santa Clara University gurus in San Francisco; immigration officials and community planners in
New Mexico and Puerto Rico; and magistrates and banking experts in New York City, where she also had the opportunity to
visit with the San Marino delegation to the United Nations and with members of the large San Marino community.
Please click here for a picture from her visit.
During her last visit as Consul General, Ms. Dempsey also attended San Marino’s 2008 Ambrosetti forum on
“Innovation and Competitiveness for the Future,” which included presentations on projects aimed at improving San Marino's
tourism, knowledge economy, and finance sectors. She also bid “arrivederci” to the friends of the San Marino-America
Association at a lunch hosted in her honor at “La Taverna” restaurant. Please click
here
for a picture of the event.
June 6, 2008
San Marino Finance Secretary Stefano Macina and the President of the AASFN, Orazio Pignatta,
presented to Consul-General Dempsey a draft of a stamp that San Marino will release on June 13
to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the San Marino-America Association.
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Fiorenzo Stolfi, Association President Paolo Berardi, and
San Marino Ambassador to the United States Paolo Rondelli were also present.
The beautiful stamp (quantity issued: 100,008) features the two Statues of Liberty of the United States and San Marino,
both of which represent the shared values of brotherhood, friendship, and peace. Please click
here for a picture of the
event.
April 1, 2008
Ceremony for the Change of the Captains Regent. Consul Michael Ma bids farewell.
Consul Michael Ma represented the U.S. Government at the beautiful ceremony for the change of the Captains Regent
(San Marino's joint Heads of State) on April 1st. Traditionally, diplomats from all major countries travel to San Marino
for this special occasion. Visitors paid homage to the new Heads of State, Rosa Zafferani - in her second mandate as
Captain Regent - and Federico Pedini Amati, who took office for their six-month term on a sunny day. During their address
to the diplomatic corps, the Captains Regent noted San Marino's successful international activities within the Council
of Europe and the United Nations, and indicated environmental protection, the protection of children and women from
violence and sexual abuse, and the many open conflicts existing in many continents as major issues confronting present
societies.
Consul Michael Ma, who has served for over two and a half years as Consular and Deputy Principal Officer at the U.S.
Consulate in Florence, used the occasion to inform Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Fiorenzo Stolfi of his imminent
departure from Florence. His onward assignment will be Baghdad, where he will serve as Special Assistant to the Ambassador.
But he will keep Italy and San Marino in his heart and will return as often as he can to visit with his family who
remains in Italy for the duration of his service in Iraq.
February 4, 2008
The Republic of San Marino hosted the second annual San Marino-UNICEF Awards dinner
at New York's historic Racquet and Tennis Club. The dinner was hosted by the Minister of
Foreign Affairs Fiorenzo Stolfi and the Permanent Representative of the Republic of San Marino
to the United Nations, Daniele Bodini. The awards dinner recognized two organizations that had made significant
contributions in promoting child rights; The Burkina Faso Environment and Sanitation Club from Boussouma
High School and the Children and Adolescents Communication Agency of Ecuador.
The Environment and Sanitation
Club was awarded for its work in environmental advocacy, sanitation, health, agriculture, youth participation
and the fight against HIV/AIDS. The Children and Adolescents Communication Agency of Ecuador was recognized for
its televised reports, which are produced by children and broadcast on national television. The televised broadcasts
seek to give a voice to Ecuadorian children and discuss issues related to child sexual abuse, marginalized children
in urban neighborhoods and disabled youth.
The presence of all 192 representatives from the United Nations was an explicit sign of appreciation for San Marino's
contributions to UNICEF. Secretary Stolfi stated that San Marino was “small but tenacious, determined and motivated by
principles of solidarity and peace which have always distinguished its initiatives”. He went on to state that San Marino
would continue advancing its humanitarian efforts through its collaboration with the great world powers to ensure that
the plight of children can no longer be ignored.
