According to the President, Lithuania sees Italy is a close partner and ally and highly values its contribution to the security of our region through participation in NATO’s forward presence battle group. Dalia Grybauskaitė underlined that the two countries were engaged in meaningful cooperation across cultural, scientific and trade sectors, and that they were linked by historical bonds.

The Ambassador has personal ties to Lithuania. His grandfather and namesake Francesco Fransoni served as envoy extraordinary in Kaunas in pre-war years, who also presented his credentials on November 9, but back in 1935.

The Ambassador started his diplomatic career in 1982. He worked at embassies in India, the United States, Poland, and Italy’s permanent representation to the United Nations. In 2008, he was appointed ambassador to Jordan. Before his posting to Lithuania, Francesco Fransoni worked at the Foreign Ministry’s General Department for Political Affairs and Security. He also served in Afghanistan and Pakistan.