Interview with Elisabetta Righi Iwanejko, new President of the San Marino Association – Italy

Today we interview Elisabetta Righi Iwanejko, new president from 1 May 2020 and for the three-year period 20/23 of the San Marino-Italy Association. A reality that by statute is non-profit, has no political aims and aims to consolidate the ancient friendship and develop relations between the Italian Republic and the Republic of San Marino on a cultural, social, economic and scientific level in order to favor every possible form of collaboration, cooperation and synergy between the two countries and their citizens.

Would you like to remind us how your love for San Marino was born?

The love for the Republic was born thanks to my father, a citizen of San Marino who, through his profession as a doctor practiced immediately after graduating in Rimini for over 40 years, passed on to me the uninterrupted bond with his homeland. Since I was a child I have been fascinated by the history of the ancient land of freedom that I have always frequented having family ties and very close friendships. Destiny led me to live permanently in San Marino with marriage having married an Italian doctor, active in San Marino, of whom I assumed citizenship and fathered two children whom I love dearly. The assumption of dual citizenship has always made me proud and the sense of belonging has meant that my interests have always turned to both Republics, placing my attention on two realities that are linked by important bilateral agreements starting from the Convention of Friendship and Good Neighborhood signed on March 31, 1939. After having obtained the high school diploma at the Liceo Classico in Rimini and the degree in Letters and Philosophy at the University of Bologna, in 1981 I assumed the position of Director of the State Library and Book Heritage of San Marino. Directing the important cultural institute for almost thirty years has allowed me to appreciate an invaluable heritage, both for local history and for the great wealth of values ​​of the protagonists who have made the history of the Republic itself. A work of analysis and continuous research that has allowed me to broaden my horizons also and above all with regard to the role played by San Marino in the international historical, political and economic panorama. The diplomatic post of Consul General of the Principality of Monaco accredited to San Marino, assumed in 1991, has given me great satisfaction, thanks also to the great availability and trust that the Monegasque statesmen have granted me. I still remember with emotion when in the first meeting with HSH Prince Rainier who had nominated me, I asked myself if I had been able to serve and worthily represent the Principality of Monaco, so different from the State in which I lived. The answer was not long in coming and today I can say that the Monegasque experience has allowed me to continually enrich myself. Representing the Principality personally at high-level political meetings and building relationships with authoritative exponents of the institutional and business world has made me understand over time how important the policies exercised by micro-states are for their economic-tourist-cultural development. 

What has your passion for culture and history taught you?

I learned that the culture of a people is made up of historical memory, testimonies, knowledge, traditions, behaviors that make it completely unique and ready to deal with different cultural expressions in order to rebuild political-economic relations with neighboring realities. A uniqueness that well characterizes both San Marino and Italian identity. Both need today more than ever to enhance "segments of their own history" and offer "unpublished interpretations" to those who want to deepen their knowledge. Retracing history is always a fascinating undertaking which allows you to get to know certain situations often unknown to the community and having a good knowledge of a nation's cultural heritage is a wealth to be safeguarded. In this context, I believe that narrating national identity through one's historical heritage using it as an innovative, strategic and competitive tool is an extremely urgent activity. Today, the path of recovery, selection and transformation of physical to digital archives is fundamental, studying all-round services and customizing outsourcing projects according to user needs. Multiple professional figures in continuous training are needed by fielding cutting-edge technologies, but only in this way can we save and disseminate historical memory.

You have been present in the Association for several years and now you are appointed President, what are your short-term projects?

Since 1 January 2015 I have held the role of Secretary General of the San Marino-Italy Association and now the recent election as President will commit me with greater responsibility considering the health and economic emergency situation affecting not only San Marino and Italy but the whole world. The projects that had been approved for the year 2020 are largely postponed for obvious reasons but I hope with the Board of Directors to evaluate the possibility of carrying out at least one within the year. A musical concert that has the theme of "Thanksgiving" as its main theme. Protagonists are the students of the San Marino Music Institute and Raphael Fusco, an internationally renowned Italian composer and pianist. The aim of the event is to allocate the proceeds to the Social Security Institute whose doctors and health workers from the first to the last, Italian and San Marino, still on the front line during the pandemic, are working with a truly commendable commitment. Our collaboration and support as partners will not be lacking in the XNUMXnd edition of the San Marino Green Festival and in the XNUMXth edition of the Forum del Dialogo in which we have participated since its first edition as an active part of the project group. 

The historic moment is teaching us many things, what could an Association like yours do again to further strengthen relations between San Marino and Italy. Will it open up more by setting up new partnerships with Italy?

Unfortunately, the current situation confronts us with different ways of relating. In consideration of the government decrees that indicate restrictions of various types, the dialogue with the Italian and San Marino institutions makes use of IT tools, which allow us to exchange views and identify initiatives in the forms and ways that we will decide to activate with the various players. The observance of the statutory purposes, which indicate the consolidation of the old friendship and the development of relations between the Republic of Italy and the Republic of San Marino, on a social, cultural, economic and scientific level will be the object of my action for the next three years and I will encourage all forms of collaboration and cooperation between the two countries and their citizens. In consideration of the results obtained to date, I believe that our Association, with everyone's commitment, will be able to represent a constant and unstoppable driving force in promoting, with concrete actions, the development of effective and innovative synergies that distinguish our two countries in the international scene. "Building to grow" is my motto and making ourselves known will help us welcome new members and new energies. Together, the ideas resulting from constant dialogue with the social partners will be able to be translated into projects. Two inputs: building and networking will accompany me during my mandate. Only by realizing concrete facts can it be demonstrated that it has actually contributed to the development of society. 

How does it intend to bring young people closer to this reality?

Certainly they are our future, they are the hope of Italy, San Marino and Europe. Young people are promoters of innovation and, through a unique enthusiasm, they fight for what they believe in. They just need to be supported and listened to so that, in finding true and equally demanding witnesses, they can build the society of tomorrow based on those values ​​which allow for the overcoming of barriers between nations. One example among many in favor of young people is the journalism competition "A land to live" a highly topical issue aimed at two-year and three-year secondary school students in the Republic. The event sponsored and organized in collaboration with the Italian Embassy in San Marino, COMITES and the Emigrant Museum saw the participation of personalities from the world of culture, from the world of education but above all from Italian and San Marino citizens who shared the emotion of the very young "aspiring journalists" winners. Other projects are being developed not only for young people but also for women who I consider the strategic reserve, the secret weapon for the revitalization of the country system. Proof of this is that gender equality was finally achieved for the first time in the Board of Directors for the next three years exactly thirteen years after the establishment of the San Marino-Italy Association.

Thanks Elizabeth and good luck.