Saeed Al-Khotani Saudi Gazette RIYADH — The new Italian Ambassador to the Kingdom praised the role the Kingdom plays in international relations, especially in the fields of dialogue and peace. Speaking to local newspapers at his residence here, Mario Boffo commended Saudi Arabia's move to establish the King Abdullah Interfaith and Culture Dialogue Center in Vienna and said the role of the center comes in line with the Italian policy of promoting international dialogue and freedom of religion. He hoped this center would boost an understanding of common traits that link religion and cultures for the benefit of humanity and world peace. Boffo, Italy's former ambassador in Yemen, also commended the role the Kingdom played in solving the Yemeni crisis following the Arab Spring movement that swept across some countries of the region. He said: “This role involved mediation between two disputing parties, the government and opposition, as well as the financial assistance pledged by the Kingdom to Yemen at the Friends of Yemen conference. “In this conference, Italy was the first country to propose supporting Yemen politically and financially to overcome the post-crisis consequences, and along with the efforts of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the international community, it helped Yemen to overcome its crisis with less casualties. “Indeed Yemen was the only country so far where crisis was overcome thanks to dialogue.” Boffo also spoke on his country's relations with the Kingdom, hoping that these relations would witness a period of strong progress. He said he discussed with the Chief of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy Dr. Abdullah Bin Hashim Yamani the possibility of sending Saudi students to special grade level programs run in English at top Italian institutions so they could specialize in nuclear physics and renewable energy. Boffo said his country is very keen to attract students under the King Abdullah Scholarship Program. He added that Italy is on its way to establishing more cooperation in the field of archeological excavations with the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities. “Our Italian mission has deep expertise in this field and did great excavation jobs in the ruins of ancient states in the neighboring Yemen. “This expertise, coupled with its incremental expertise with their excavation works in Italy, will help a great deal in uncovering mysteries of the old history in the Domat Al-Jandal ruins north of the Kingdom.” Boffo said he hopes to be able to establish more cooperation with concerned authorities and get more companies into the Kingdom, along with organizing more Italian cultural activities like lectures, exhibitions and seminars in a manner that combines Italian excellence and qualities with the tradition and culture of the Kingdom. On Saturday, Boffo visited the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), where he was received by Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu. The ambassador was accompanied by the Italian Consul General in Jeddah Simone Petroni. During the meeting with Ihsanoglu, Boffo underlined the keenness of his country to enhance political dialogue and practical cooperation with the OIC in areas of mutual interest and invited him to pay an official visit to Rome.
