From the Helsinki Final Act to GO! 2025

An all-day event organized as part of the European Capital of Culture 2025 Nova Gorica - Gorizia entitled From the Helsinki Final Act to GO! 2025, jointly organized by the Club of Former Slovenian Ambassadors from Ljubljana and the Associazione Nazionale Diplomatica a r. – Constantino Nigra from Rome.

As part of the European Capital of Culture 2025 Nova Gorica - Gorizia, a special joint event of retired Slovenian and Italian ambassadors, distinguished diplomats, and academics will take place on 23 October 2025. The event will take place in two parts, in the morning on the Italian side (Sala Verdi di Palazzo De Bassa; Passaggio Edling, 2 Gorizia) and in the afternoon on the Slovenian side (EPICenter, Kolodvorska pot 10, Nova Gorica). 

PROGRAMME

9:30–12:30, the morning part, the Sala Verdi di Palazzo De Bassa, Passaggio Edling, 2 Gorizia

This part will focus on events in Europe, specifically the 1975 Helsinki Final Act and its impact on relations between the West and the East, as well as relations between Italy and Yugoslavia (Slovenia) fifty and forty years ago.

Short welcoming addresses:
-    Antonio Paoletti, President of the Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture, Industry, and Crafts of the Julian Region,
-    Ambassador Giusandrea Mochi Onory, President of Assdiplar,
-    Mauro Tretiach, Vice-Rector of the University of Trieste,
-    Rodolfo Ziberna, Mayor of Gorizia,
-    Matjaž Longar, Slovenian Ambassador in Italy,
-    Claudia Colla, representative of the European Commission in Italy,
-    Georg Meyr, Director of the Department of Political and Social Sciences at the University of Trieste (Gorizia campus).

Panelists:
-    Francesco Bascone, Ambassador,
-    Dr. Božo Cerar, Ambassador,
-    Raoul Pupo, historian, professor at the University of Trieste,
-    Andrej Grasselli, Ambassador.

Moderator: Alberto Flores d’Arcais, journalist, Co-director of the Master's Degree in Journalism at LUISS University

Testimonies of participants in the development of Italian-Slovenian relations:
-    Massimo Spinetti, Ambassador (of Italy to Slovenia),
-    Bogdan Benko, Ambassador (of Slovenia to Italy),
-    Dr. Francesca Zilio, researcher at the Italian-German Center for European Dialogue Villa Vigoni.

This will be followed by questions from the audience and closing remarks by moderator Alberto Flores d’Arcais.

12:30–14:00, lunch break

14:00–17:00, afternoon part of the event, EPICenter, Kolodvorska pot 10, Nova Gorica

This part will focus on the situation in Europe and Italian-Slovenian relations today and future prospects.

Short welcoming addresses:
-     Ivo Vajgl, Ambassador, President of the Club of Former Slovenian Ambassadors,
-     Neva Grašič, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
-     Samo Turel, Mayor of the Municipality of Nova Gorica,
-     Giuseppe Cavagna, Ambassador of Italy to Slovenia,
-     Dr. Jerneja Jug Jerše, Representative of the European Commission in Slovenia,
-     Prof. Dr. Emilio Marin, President of the Croatian Diplomatic Club.

Panelists:

-     Roman Kirn, Ambassador,
-     Gianfranco Varvesi, Ambassador,
-     Janja Hojnik, Dr. Prof., University of Maribor,
-     Moreno Zago, Prof., University of Trieste.

Moderator: Ambassador Dr. Božo Cerar

Testimonials of participants in the development of Slovenian-Italian relations:
-     Dragoljuba Benčina, Ambassador,
-     Daniele Verga, Ambassador (of Italy to Slovenia),
-     Iztok Simoniti, Prof. Dr.,

This will be followed by questions from the audience and closing remarks by moderator Dr. Božo Cerar.

Each witness and panelist will give a speech in their own language. Simultaneous interpreting will be provided.