World elite in Rome for Italian unification celebrations
PR dla Zagranicy
Peter Gentle
02.06.2011 14:50
Silvio Berlusconi was joined by Russian president Dmitri Medvedev, President Bronislaw Komorowski and other world leaders in Rome for ceremonies marking the 65th anniversary of the Italian Republic and the 150th anniversary of the country’s unification.
Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi and President Medvedev in Rome; photo - EPA
President Komorowski is among the leaders of 31 countries and over 80 national delegations invited to the event by Italian president Giorgio Napolitano.
Initially, the celebrations were to be attended by just representatives of EU member states but the invitation list had been extended to include, among others, US vice-president Joe Biden and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
The ceremonies were highlighted by a grand military parade. Included in the group of marching participants is the Colour Guard of the Polish Armed Forces. (ss/pg)