10|04|20 Washington Post columnist David Ignatius is the 2010 winner of the prestigious Urbino Press Award. The announcement was made by Italian Ambassador Giulio Terzi at a reception held at the Italian Embassy in Washington, DC, on April 19, 2010. Maurizio Sacconi, the Italian Minister of Labor, Health and Social Policies, who is currently in Washington for a G-20 meeting, said that in addition to recognizing the excellent work of David Ignatius, the award also represents a tribute by Italy to American journalism.

In his remarks, Amb. Terzi noted that the annual Urbino Press event had become one of the most important events in the nation's capital. Soprano Giorgia Ragni, accompanied by pianist Stefano Vagnini, entertained the guests.

The official ceremony will take place in Urbino on June 11, 2010, when Giovanni Lani, President of the Urbino Press Award will present the prize to Ignatius. Previous winners of the Urbino Press Awards include Michael Weisskopf, who was present at this year's event, Thomas Friedman and Martha Raddatz.

(Pictured top: David Ignatius, center, Minister Maurizio Sacconi, right; pictured middle, Pino Cicala, the winner of an Alitali round trip to Marche, Italy; pictured above,Amb Giulio Terzi and Italy's Minister for Labor, Maurizio Sacconi.)