Dr Rasha Al-sabah Honored With Order Of The Star Of Italy Award

Ambassador of Italy to Kuwait H.E. Carlo Baldocci presented the Order of the Star of Italy, with the rank of Officer the highest Italian award for foreigners to Sheikha Dr Rasha Al-Sabah during a prestigious ceremony held at the Italian ambassador’s residence last week to honor her outstanding contribution to the relations between the two countries.

The ceremony was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Dr Ahmed Nasser Al Sabah as well as dignitaries from the foreign office and Amiri Diwan.

Welcoming the distinguished guests to his residence, the Italian Ambassador praised Dr. Rasha as an exceptional woman and a strong friend of Italy, who has greatly contributed in supporting and strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries.

He pointed out that the honoring of Dr Rasha with the Order of the Star of Italy at the rank of Officer is a reflection of her distinguished contributions in the diplomatic and academic field.  He added that through her work at the university, or through her books that contributed to the dissemination of Italian literature, she will continue her enlightening role and the embassy will undertake her expertise in many events in the coming weeks.

Ambassador Baldocci, also noted the over half a century of distinguished contribution in academia by Dr. Rasha and her role model as a woman in Kuwaiti society.

Addressing the gathering Dr Rasha Al-Sabah expressed her happiness in receiving the award  which is the highest decoration granted by the Italian Republic to foreigners. She added that it was a great honor to stand among the guests to receive this prestigious medal and this appreciation was an honor and a generous gesture from President Sergio Mattarella, President of the Italian Republic.

She pointed out that as much as she was proud and happy for this beautiful gesture on a personal level, I see it as another new building block to be added to the bonds of friendship and the deep-rooted friendly relations that bind my country, Kuwait, to the Italian Republic, and the two friendly peoples.

She noted that she began studying Italian at the age of thirteen when she was a student at a boarding school in Britain, after which she decided to specialize in this beautiful language, along with French, to obtain a first university degree from the British University of Birmingham and the University of Parma in the Emilia-Romagna region.

Her passion and fondness for the Italian language, literature, culture and heritage deepened during her postgraduate studies at Yale University in the United States of America, where she  began publishing a number of books and scientific research on Italian scientists, philosophers, writers and poets, such as Dante Alighieri, Boccaccio and Petrarca.

After this long journey filled with love and pure affection towards Italy, its people, its heritage and its arts, she never imagined, not ever in her mind, that Italy, that beautiful country she loved, would turn to me and give the same wonderful feeling and grant me this honor.

She reiterated her gratitude to Ambassador Baldocci for his kind nomination, to the Italian Presidency for accepting the nomination, and to His Highness, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of the State of Kuwait,  for the supreme approval to the bestowal of the honor.

For his part, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Dr Ahmed Nasser Al Sabah expressed his happiness at attending the ceremony honoring Dr Rasha Al-Sabah with the Order of the Star of Italy at the rank of officer.

Foreign Minister Dr Ahmed Nasser said Dr Rasha was not only a role model as an educationist but also as a human being. He added, “She has touched a lot of lives, even those amongst us today by her contributions and accomplishments and her principles, and as a leader.” He added that Dr Rasha has over 40 years of contribution in the education field, which made her a rare woman of Kuwait because she has not only travelled the world in search of knowledge but has contributed her knowledge for the benefit of her country.

The foreign minister pointed out that the distinguished honor of Order of the Star of Italy bestowed upon Dr Rasha Al Sabah also reflected the depth of Kuwait-Italian relations.

 

SOURCE  :    TIMES KUWAIT

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