On February 22, the Italian Atlantic Committee conferred the 2011 Atlantic Award to Mr. Massoud Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region in Iraq. The ceremony was held at the monument of the Holy Spirit in Sassia, Rome, and attended by distinguished national and international guests from the political, diplomatic, military and academic world.
This international honor was awarded for the first time this year and was presented to Mr. Barzani by the President of the Italian Atlantic Committee, Hon. Enrico La Loggia, and by the President of the Italian Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Sen. Sergio De Gregorio.
The Atlantic Award will be given annually to a leading international figure whose work has produced concrete results in favor of peace and stability in their own country. From this point of view, the role of President Barzani has been emblematic both in the fight against terrorism and in promoting dialogue between different religious confessions and ethnic groups in Iraq. This was demonstrated by the hosting in his region of over ten thousand Christian refugees.
With this initiative, the Italian Atlantic Committee confirms itself as a leader in the promotion of the values and culture of the Atlantic Alliance at national and international level. This commitment has been at the very center of the Italian Atlantic Committee’s activities for more than fifty years.