July 11, 2019
American Embassy
(As prepared for delivery)
Good morning and thank you all for coming. I am honored to welcome you to our Embassy.
I would like to thank General Claudio Vincelli and General Fabrizio Parrulli for being here today with officers from the Carabinieri for the Protection of Cultural Heritage.
Italy is a nation with an amazing historic, cultural, and artistic heritage. I would like to thank you for your work in protecting and preserving that heritage for Italy and for future generations.
In today’s world, crime is not confined to a country’s borders. It is truly global. It presents us with new, complex challenges that require international cooperation and understanding. This makes it vitally important to continue the strong relationships between Italian and U.S. law enforcement, so that we can pursue our common enemies together.
The FBI has been and continues to be an enthusiastic partner with Italian law enforcement, particularly in regards to enforcing laws that help Italy protect its cultural heritage.
It is my honor to be here today to witness the tangible results of the collaboration between Italy and the United States, as we return these two items to their rightful home.
We look forward to continuing to work closely with you on these matters of cultural importance.
