Statement by ANDREA COZZOLINO
Assessore Regionale alle Attività Produttive

Naples is a multiethnic metropolis. Inn its DNA, in its history. Greece, turckey, Lebanon, Syria, Albania, Cyprus, Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Maghreb, Iberian peninsula, Libya, Tunisia, Italy: will the protagonist for the 2006 White Night, the biggest cultural “kermesse” in the city. Above all, the citizens will have a strong opportunity to live a unique event where also showing their innate vocation to generosity and hospitality.
It will be a frisky night but also dedicated to solidarity, with a special attention for children of the Mediterranean involved in conflicts.
It will be, once again, a night for the commerce. Since less than one year, we would like to improve the first edition success when, with 2 million people, the valued a business of 50 millions euro, with about 9 millions euro of tax return.
This year the party splits in three, with two previous days of initiatives “waiting for the White Night” on the 28th and 29th September 2006.
The aim is to leave all kinds of shops open as long as possible. To live the city in every of its features, from the city centre to the periphery, in an happier and pleased atmosphere. A city where will be possible to have shopping during two uninterrupted nights, over the ordinary time, and for the entire day and night of the 30th. To live the city in all its essence, because a live city is less fragile city.
Naples, also thanks to the twinning with Paris, will return to represent a melting point of different languages and traditions, ideal centre of three continents: dancing, music, rhythms, farther and closer land scents will alternate, mixing up and contaminating, involving the spectators that will the city until the sunrise. It will be a way to confirm Naples as a natural location of the Mediterranean culture.
A way to get close, even just for a night, the Mediterranean folks, rediscovering their common roots, to believe, all together, in a future of cohabitation and solidarity.

Andrea Cozzolino