The guest of this episode of the program “With Eylül Aşkın”, hosted by Eylül Aşkın, is Mr. Salvatore Schirmo, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute and Cultural Attaché of Italy to Turkey. Filmed at the Italian Cultural Institute in Istanbul, the program features a conversation with Mr. Schirmo on the importance of soft power in cultural diplomacy, particularly in the context of Turkey-Italy relations.

Since 2020, Salvatore Schirmo has been serving at the Italian Cultural Institute. “I’ve been a civil servant at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for 35 years,” he says. “I firmly believe that cultural diplomacy opens a door in interpersonal relations. It enables neighboring countries to get to know one another. I always say, ‘When we speak of culture, the weapons fall silent.’ Truly, culture makes a significant contribution to diplomacy—it brings people together, gets them talking, and helps establish strong bilateral relations.”

“When they ask me where I’m from, I say I’m Mediterranean.”

Deeply impressed by Eylül Aşkın’s decision to approach the impact of soft power in cultural diplomacy from the perspective of Turkey-Italy relations—especially as a Turkish presenter educated in Rome—Salvatore Schirmo expressed his appreciation:
“To be honest, I believe the cultures of both countries are quite similar. In fact, when people ask me where I’m from, I say I’m Mediterranean, because the entire Mediterranean region shares more or less the same mindset and character. I feel a deep cultural and intellectual closeness to the Turkish people. I’ve never experienced any cultural difficulties—none at all.”

With these words, he positioned himself at a cultural intersection that unites the Italian and Turkish peoples.

A New Diplomatic Frontier: Space Diplomacy
Salvatore Schirmo pointed out that areas such as music diplomacy and culinary diplomacy have recently gained prominence for Italy, standing out as distinct fields within the broader framework of cultural diplomacy. He also noted the emergence of a new domain: space diplomacy.

“Cultural diplomacy paves the way for long-term cooperation.”
In response to a question about whether cultural diplomacy brings long-term benefits between countries, Schirmo stated, “We create a dialogue, a bridge, between our host country and ourselves, paving the way for long-term partnerships.”
He also shared detailed information about past and upcoming initiatives they have carried out in Turkey.

Focusing on the Unifying Power of Turkish and Italian Cultures

“For me, the point where Turkish and Italian cultures unite is about linking the finest aspects of Turkish culture with the finest aspects of Italian culture,” said Salvatore Schirmo. His references to Ajda Pekkan and Mina in the context of music diplomacy, as well as Turkish-Italian collaborations in football and volleyball while discussing sports diplomacy, clearly demonstrated his genuine focus on the unifying power of the two cultures.

Investing in the Youth Matters, Too

Schirmo also spoke about the Italy-Turkey Friendship Concerts, organized in cooperation with the Italian Embassy and the Italian Cultural Institute. Emphasizing the importance of not only large-scale events between the two countries but also youth-oriented initiatives, he noted:

“It’s not just about the giants of the opera stage. We are making significant investments in young talent in opera and classical music. To give a few examples, we held opera auditions for young artists at the Atatürk Cultural Center (AKM), in collaboration with the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet. Another initiative that comes to mind is a new operatic project called Vinci Vicenza Musica. Auditions for young Turkish opera singers will be held at AKM, and those who are successful will go to Italy for specialization courses. Following these courses, they will perform in Italian productions. That’s why we find it vital for young Turkish opera artists to benefit from these kinds of state-supported opportunities, and we continue to invest in this area.”

“We Track Our Own Ratings”

Salvatore Schirmo explained that they evaluate their events in four phases and take feedback very seriously.
“Just like television channels track their ratings, we look at our own,” he said. “We assess how much overall demand there was, what percentage of it we were able to meet, and if demand was particularly high, we even consider organizing a second edition.”