Italy has a new face in Samoa.

He is Frabrizion Marcelli.

The new Ambassador of Italy presented his credentials to the Member of the Council of Deputies, Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II yesterday.

The ceremony took place at the official residence of the Head of State at Vailele.

Mr. Marcelli also met with government dignitaries and non government organizations thereafter. 

In welcoming Mr. Marcelli, Tuimaleali’ifano reminded about the special relationship between Samoa and Italy.

“This coming May will mark 30 years since Italy and Samoa first established diplomatic relations in 1987,” Tuimaleali’ifano said.

“Since then they have maintained and promoted through cooperation a mutual desire to work closely together in the pursuit of interest that benefit our people."

“Samoa appreciates Italy’s support to the Pacific Region in the areas of security, renewable energy and particularly your government’s commitment to sustainable development which targets areas of significance to small island countries like Samoa in particular the areas of climate change and sea level rise and the consequential challenges of adaptation, environmental degradation, fisheries and regional security."

“Wherever possible, Samoa has also endeavoured to support Italy’s candidatures for membership in various international organizations as it did in the United Nations Council Elections."

“I wish you all the best in your tenure as Ambassador of Italy to Samoa. I am confident that your office will assist in strengthening the warm relations that our countries presently enjoy and in promoting areas for cooperation between our governments.”

Ambassador Marcelli holds a law degree from the University of Rome and has held many posts of responsibility in the various embassies of Italy. 

In1991, Mr. Marcelli was appointed Second Secretary for Trade at the Italian Embassy in Antananarivo, Madagascar and later on went to become consul of Italy in Mar del Plata, Argentina in 1994 and in Cologne, Germany in 1999.

A year later, 2000, Mr. Marcelli returned to Rome to serve in the Weapons Export Authorising Unit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and was later appointed Counselor at the Division for the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Countries, particularly the Libyan Desk.

The year 2007 would then see Mr. Marcelli posted as First Counselor at the Italian Embassy in Buenos Aires and was later appointed Italian Consul Geberal in San Francisco (USA) the following year in April, 2008.

In June 2012 he was appointed as head of the Human Rights at the Italian MFA until in 2014 he took up his recent appointment as Italian Ambassador to Somalia on June 3rd, 2014.

Mr. Marcelli speaks English, German and Spanish.