The inauguration of the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Armenia took place in Bari on Saturday 28 September 2024 by Carlo Coppola

Articolo di Carlo Coppola da Bariconnessa

Շաբաթ, 2024 թվականի սեպտեմբերի 28-ին Բարիում տեղի ունեցավ Հայաստանի Հանրապետության պատվավոր հյուպատոսության բացումը: Կառլո Կոպպոլայի հոդված.

On Saturday 28 September 2024, the inauguration of the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Armenia in Bari took place in Bari, covering the entire Puglia Region. The headquarters is located in Corso Vittorio Emanuele n.30 in the heart of the city, a few steps from the main buildings of the political and cultural institutions of the region.

At the beginning of the ceremony, the anthems of Armenia and Italy were sung by the tenor Raffaele Pastore, member of the Petruzelli Theater Choir, and Don Mario Persano imparted the Blessing on those present and on the rooms of the Consulate.

In the presence of the main institutions of Puglia, H.E. Tsovinar Hambardzumyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia in Italy, the Prefect of Bari H.E. Francesco Russo, the Mayor of Bari Hon. Vito Leccese, the First President Emeritus of the Supreme Court of Cassation of the Italian Republic, Dr. Pietro Curzio and Honorary Consul Dario Rupen Timurian gave inaugural speeches.

During their speeches, everyone recalled the great quality of the Armenian community of Puglia that for hundreds of years has distinguished itself for its adherence to the moral and material values ​​of the Armenian people. It was also remembered how after the Genocide of 1915, Bari had great importance for Armenians through the presence of the poet Hrand Nazariantz. The poet was remembered both by Ambassador Hambardzumyan and by the Mayor of Bari as the Armenian intellectual in Italy best known to the general public in the last century. The authorities also mentioned the Nor Arax Village where the Armenians found hospitality and worked on the famous carpets of fine style. The Ambassador recalled in his speech that the Honorary Consul's family comes from the Nor Arax Village and came to Bari after the Armenian Genocide and that it later became part of the social and entrepreneurial fabric of Puglia and beyond the regional borders.

The Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Armenia in Bari, as stated by the Armenian Ambassador and the Prefect, will be the point of reference for the protection of the citizens of the Republic of Armenia in Puglia and for initiatives aimed at promoting and strengthening scientific and cultural, educational, economic and commercial cooperation between Armenia and the Puglia Region.

The inauguration of the Honorary Consulate was attended by numerous members of the Armenian community of Puglia, as well as political authorities: the Hon. Gianmauro Dell'Olio, the former member of the Italian Parliament Hon. Anna Rita Tateo, councilors and members of the City Council of the City of Bari including Carla Palone, Francesca Bottalico and Micaela Paparella. There is no shortage of prestigious intellectuals from the City of Bari, including the architect Prof. Giulia Anna Linda Neglia of the Polytechnic of Bari, Prof. Marco Misciagna, professor at the Conservatory of Music "Nino Rota" of Monopoli, former visiting professor at the Komitas Conservatory of Yerevan, the president of the Nikolaos Foundation Dr. Vito Giordano, numerous members of the Consular Corps of Puglia, Basilicata and Molise. Alongside the Honorary Consul Dario Timurian, also Prof. Carlo Coppola, an Armenian and Italian citizen who received the Medal of Gratitude from the President of the Republic of Armenia in 2023 and who will have the role of General Counselor of the Consulate.