Montenegro's support to Italy for the organization of the world exhibition EXPO 2030 should be natural, taking into account the European aspirations of Montenegro, announced the Italian Ambassador to Montenegro Andreana Marcela.
She said that she therefore hopes that Montenegro "will not decide to go against those aspirations".
The previous Government, led by Dritan Abazović, decided to support Saudi Arabia, instead of Rome, for the organization of the aforementioned exhibition. The President of the country, Jakov Milatović, said in September that he hoped the executive would change its decision.
"Rome's candidacy for EXPO 2030 is a priority of the Italian government. The project we are promoting is recognized for its quality, both thematically and architecturally. In this sense, Rome EXPO 2030 is not intended to be just a showcase for the visiting country, but as an opportunity offered to all participating countries to present to the world the best ways in which we can address the subject of the relationship between people and the area, from this much-needed point of view - which is sustainability. Starting from this very concept, Rome's bid for EXPO 2030 pays special attention to the concept of heritage through the realization of a pavilion that will become permanent, enabling - in this way - to realize an undoubted advantage in terms of carbon neutrality. Participating countries will also have the opportunity to get a permanent showcase in Rome, i.e. access to the European market," said Marcela
This, as she said, will enable the strengthening of economic, academic and scientific ties with Italy, and through Italy with the whole of Europe.
"It is precisely for these reasons that Rome's candidacy, which is the only European candidacy, received the official support of European institutions - the European Commission, High Representative Borel, the European External Action Service - as well as the support of 'Business Europe', the largest organization that represents economic interests in Europe , which recognized the inherent qualities and values of our project. In order to enable broad participation in the EXPO, Italy also provided a financial support plan for the benefit of 144 countries. Within this framework, Montenegro could use 2 million euros to participate in the event and the construction of a pavilion, in line with its ambitions and expectations. But that's not all. The Italian bid is the only one that has a plan for Odesa, which unfortunately had to withdraw from the bidding due to the terrible Russian aggression against Ukraine. As part of Italy's efforts to reconstruct Ukraine , we will make sure - if we win - to reserve a central place for Odessa at EXPO 2030, in such a way that we will build the pavilion 'Odessa in Rome' and the pavilion 'Rome in Odessa', creating a physical and virtual bridge and a place of constant meeting of the two communities. It will be only the starting element of a series of initiatives - related to the EXPO - in favor of the reconstruction of Odessa and the implementation of projects dedicated to the children and youth of that city," says the ambassador.
She said that EXPO 2030 in Rome will represent a unique opportunity for a nearby country such as Montenegro: "Which will be able to profit from the positive consequences of the influx of visitors to Rome, estimated to be around 30 million, who will - as this was demonstrated during the EXPO in Milan - once they arrive in Italy, they should also visit all the neighboring countries, and above all Montenegro, which could present its beauty to a much wider tourist audience".
"Our project for the EXPO, which is firmly linked to our National Plan for Recovery and Resilience, will enable the creation of economic synergies between our two countries, as well as the establishment of new partnerships between Italy - the founding country of the EU, a member of the G7 group and the other largest power in the field of manufacturing the European continent - and Montenegro," says Marsela.
Also, as she said, it will be easy for Montenegro to establish other forms of cooperation through Italy with all other EU member states, "which Montenegro aspires to enter".
"Rome's candidacy for EXPO 2030 is solid. Our project, as I tried to synthesize in these sentences, is based on sustainability, on the fight against climate change, on inclusion, as well as on the values and principles that unite the EU member states, one family which I hope Montenegro will soon become a member of, and a NATO ally, among which is Montenegro. Italy and Montenegro are friendly countries connected by history, culture and unbreakable ancient ties. Those elements of the unity of our two countries cannot be ignored. Valuable the heritage we share, at the center of which is man, his fundamental freedoms and fundamental rights, cannot be replaced by some alternative model to the democratic model. An event of world importance, such as EXPO 2030, cannot be used to endorse national viewpoints which are so far from those that unite us.As I have already stated on many occasions, Montenegro's support to Italy for EXPO 2030 should be natural, taking into account its European aspirations. Therefore, I hope that Montenegro will not decide to go against those aspirations," said the ambassador.
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