Meridian and DCI Group Host Italian Foreign Minister
On the morning of May 13, 2014, Meridian and DCI Group were honored to host Her Excellency Federica Mogherini, the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, for a breakfast discussion focused on U.S.-Italy relations. Ambassador Stuart Holliday, Meridian’s President and CEO, was joined by DCI’s Ryan Grillo in hosting Minister Mogherini for a small, off-the-record discussion that covered a wide range of topics—from the crisis in Ukraine, including EU and NATO response and sanctions, and the resulting energy and security issues. With attending representatives from the Foreign Ministry, along with His Excellency Claudio Bisogniero, Ambassador of Italy to the U.S., the 2015 Milan Expo was highlighted, as was Italy’s unique position to showcase food security and Italian culture. Other key topics of conversation included the recent (February 2014) change in administration in Italy, with the youngest government in its history and for the first time, a cabinet evenly divided between men and women. Also in attendance were Ambassador Sandro De Bernardin, the Director General for Political Affairs and Security with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Piero Cipollone, the Executive Director for Italy, Albania, Greece, Malta, Portugal, San Marino, Timor-Leste at the World Bank, among other special guests.
