“the day of Remembrance calls the Republic to recollection and solidarity with the families and descendants of those who were killed with cruelty and thrown into the foibe, of the Italians torn from their homes and forced to flee, of all those on the eastern border who had to pay the highest human costs to the horrors of the Second World War and its prolongation in persecution, violent nationalism, oppressive totalitarianism”. This was emphasized by the president of the Republic Sergio Mattarella in a statement on the occasion of the day of remembrance.
Preserving the memory of the tragedy of the Istrians
“It is a commitment of civilization to preserve and renew the memory of the tragedy of Istrians, rivers, Dalmatians and other Italians who had roots in those lands, so rich in culture and history and so stained with innocent blood. Survivors and Exiles, along with their families, have been slow to see the truth of their suffering recognized. A wound that has been added to the others, ” stressed the head of State. “The unfortunate war wanted by fascism and the Nazi occupation – Mattarella stressed-were followed, for these Italians, by hostility, repression, terror, summary executions aggravating the horrible succession of crimes against humanity witnessed in the twentieth century. Crimes that the people and the lands of the eastern border have experienced with dramatic intensity, generating trails of resentment and misunderstanding that have long marked relations between neighboring peoples”.
Memory becomes a seed of peace and civil growth
“Europe born of peace and dialogue revived by the affirmation of democracies have opened and developed a new path. These memories have earned respect, dignity, listening. They are lived history, warning and responsibility for the future”, recalled the head of State. “Memory, even the most painful, even that which originates from evil, can become a seed of peace and civil growth. This is the commitment of which in recent years our country has become the protagonist together with Slovenia and Croatia to make the border areas a land of encounter and prosperity, collaboration, hope. The choice of Gorizia and Nova Gorica – the president of the Republic has recalled – which will be jointly capital of European Culture 2025, shows how important it is for the whole union that the memory of the inhuman oppressions of the past has now become a road of friendship, understanding, the primacy of the dignity of people, in respect of diversity and rights”.