"The Arab Springs haven’t been a transition since transition entails the passage from one point to another one. Instead, they’ve represented the starting point for a transformation, which is still undefined. The Arab Springs could not have turned into sunny summers in a few months ". This is what the Italian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lapo Pistelli, stated last 18 July at "Italy calls Africa", the first edition of the parliamentary seminar with the African Ambassadors in Italy held on the occasion of the Mandela Day in Rome.

The seminar was opened by the President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Parliament, Laura Boldrini, and was attended by the African diplomatic representations in Italy, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the representatives of the academic world and the press. It will become a yearly event to explore the relationships between Italy and the African continent to be held on July 18th , date of birth of Nelson Mandela.