4 June 2013 – The President of Uruguay José Mujica, accompanied by a delegation of Uruguayan government officials will make an official visit to the Fondazione Mediterraneo after an audience with Pope Francis I.
They will be welcomed by President Michele Capasso and other members of the Fondazione who together will inaugurate the “Uruguayan Room” which for political ethical reasons will be located in the “Euromedcafé Casa Tua For Peace”. On this occasion, there will be a ceremony to present the “Mediterranean Award for Institutions” and the title of "Ambassador of the United States of the World", awarded to President Mujica on the following grounds:
“In a world that is increasingly invaded by personal interests, in which every social, political and religious space is used merely to  pursue a miserable “Love of Power”, he has been able to shed light, give  meaning and force to his “Power of Love”, which means living in modesty and demonstrating by your own deeds that power must not change people, but reveal your deepest true nature”.

The President of the Fondazione Mediterraneo, Michele Capasso, together with Caterina Arcidiacono, Vice President and other members of the institution welcomed the President of the State of Palestine Mahmūd Abbās (Abū Māzen) to their headquarters in Naples where he received the “2013 Special Edition of the Mediterranean Award” ''for his action – as is stated in the reason -  “as the architect of dialogue in the fraught peace process between Israel and Palestine”.
A numerous Palestinian delegation attended  the ceremony led by the Palestinian Ambassador to Italy, Sabri Ateyehe, the Head of Palestinian Negotiations (former spokesman to Yasser Arafat) Saeb Erekat as well as ministers, diplomats and advisers to  Abū Māzen. Members of the Fondazione Mediterraneo spoke at the ceremony, together with delegations from various countries including diplomats and representatives from cultural, scientific, political, religious and military authorities from different countries as well as Mayors who support the “Totem for Peace” (author Mario Molinari).
In his speech, which was of high political-institutional content, President Abū Māzen emphasized the pivotal role of the peace process: “We have chosen the path of negotiation and only negotiation to achieve peace with Israel. There is no other way. In this historical building where the pages of the history of peace have been written thanks to the passion and commitment of President Capasso, I hope that one day we will write a happy page of history about the lasting peace between Israel and Palestine. I am honoured to have received this acknowledgement from the Fondazione Mediterraneo, which has been an anchor for peace and cooperation among peoples for more than twenty years”.

President Abū Māzen made a gift of a handcrafted work of art depicting Bethlehem representing the “Virgin Mary with Baby Jesus” and inaugurated the “Palestinian Room” at the Maison de la Méditerranée, and participated at a solemn flag-raising ceremony before the “Totem for Peace” by Mario Molinari: “This universal symbol of peace” he stated, “will soon be erected in Ramallah and I would like to welcome you all to our country for that occasion to celebrate this work of art for Peace”.