On the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, I wish first and foremost to express the closeness of the Italian people to the families of the victims of that heinous attack and to all the people of the United States, in keeping with the deep and long-standing friendship that binds our two countries.

A special thought goes to my compatriots, and to those of Italian origin who lost their lives in those painful circumstances: lives cut short by a blind and cowardly fanaticism that struck down innocent men and women. The grief of that tragedy brought us together. The memory of the barbaric aggression of two decades ago spurs us with ever-increasing determination to protect that common framework of values which reflects the principles of freedom and peaceful coexistence among peoples.