Romania’s President Traian Basescu on Monday, December 2, at the Cotroceni Palace, received Pietro Grasso, President of the Senate of the Italian Republic, an occasion on which he appreciated the role played by Italian companies in the Romanian economy. According to a release the Presidential Administration sent to Agerpres, Traian Basescu voiced gratefulness for the Italian people’s hospitability and for the support the authorities of the Italian State gave to the Romanian communities with a view to their integration. ‘An important topic of the discussion was the migration as a phenomenon whose consequences affect the entire Europe. President Traian Basescu said that the main cause of the uncontrolled illegal migration was the institutional corruption,’ also reads the above-mentioned source.
On the other hand, Romania is a partner of Italy within the European Union, said the Italian Senate’s Speaker, reiterating the support that his country is giving Romania for joining the Schengen Area. ‘The cultural and economic relations between our countries are centuries old. We share common ideals and values and we have supported each other in the fight for national unity. ( … ) Today, Romanians are the largest foreign community in Italy, around one million, actively participate in the Italian economic life and actively contribute to Italy’s welfare. They have integrated perfectly into our community,’ added Grasso.
Pietro Grasso – Doctor Honoris Causa of Bucharest University
Pietro Grasso, a major figure of the contemporary Italian politics, was awarded yesterday the Doctor Honoris Causa title from Bucharest University, for his meritorious fight against organized crime in Italy, as well as his involvement in the assemblies meant to remind the world about the victims of this social phenomenon. “His entire activity was built on the conviction that no one can manage alone, that only merging all the members of society around the state structures can lead to expected results. Hence his continuous involvement in any popular assembly meant to remind the world about the victims of the Mafia; for most this is only a mere list of names, but for him, a face is associated most of the times with that name,” said pro-dean of the Foreign Languages and Literatures Faculty of Bucharest University Roxana Utale during the laudatio speech.
As for Grasso, he confessed there was “a real pleasure” to be awarded the Doctor Honoris Causa” title. He said he dedicated 43 years of his life to magistracy and tried to reach the truth, lawfulness by virtue of his position and to protect and contribute to achieving the rights of people.
