TRIESTE. Ukraine is the common theme for the interventions of the local authorities and the Rector, in the presence of the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, at the inauguration of the 98th Academic Year of the University of Trieste. The mayor, Roberto Dipiazza, the Governor, Massimiliano Fedriga, and the Rector, Roberto Di Lenarda, underlined the “threat” and dismay caused by the conflict as well as the strong welcoming spirit in Fvg.
Greetings from the mayor and the governor
Mayor Dipiazza said that “the European Union guarantees us peace today threatened by the war not of Russia, but of Putin, against Ukraine”. Fedriga instead focused on the need to include, to involve, while the Rector dedicated the initial thought of his report to the war. “No one just over a month ago could have hypothesized such a tragic war at the gates of Europe – he said – For a city and a border area, with past wounds that are painfully healing, this is even more distressing”, fearing “Inevitable negative repercussions”. The university welcomed 66 Ukrainian students and made seven doctoral scholarships available to as many Ukrainian researchers and “will continue to support and welcome students and teachers together with the Region and the regional education system, within the” Scholars at rick “network. “.
The long applause before the hymn
A warm applause greeted the arrival of the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella at the University. All standing, teachers and guests invited to the ceremony, greeted the President and immediately afterwards the orchestra of young musicians sang first the national anthem and then the European anthem. “An important choice made by the Head of State to come to Trieste today, given the particular situation of international crisis – said the governor of Friuli Venezia Giulia Massimiliano Fedriga -: Trieste has always been, especially in the cultural and scientific fields, a European center of encounters and dialogue between worlds at times even contrasting with each other “.
The appeal of the Head of State
«Ukraine is a friendly country – said the Head of State – what is happening is serious. We do not find a rational motivation for this war. Peace is always necessary and possible: for this very reason we are responding with due solidarity, with the reception of refugees. And with economic and financial measures that weaken those who want to impose a war with the violence of arms that would not stop if it did not find obstacles ». A war “to be stopped now, immediately: dialogue and negotiations are needed to close it immediately”, added Mattarella.
The president defined this retrogression of history as “unimaginable”: “It was hoped, it was thought that the emergency of the pandemic had made us understand the need to always seek dialogue, collaboration, to push all States to face together the evils of humanity: climate change, the pandemic. It seemed logical, but instead we had to witness the resurgence of aggressive national selfishness as it had not happened since the 19th century. A retreat of history that forces us to witness victims of all ages, devastation, an impoverishment of the world ».
Street demonstrations
Just over a dozen people, including No vax and representatives of associations for peace, demonstrated at the passage of President Mattarella, as he left the University of Trieste, aboard the presidential car, escorted by police cars. Protesters waved peace flags, rang cowbells and displayed banners. And speaking of Covid and vaccines, the president underlined how solidarity has “allowed a fast production of vaccines whose value we appreciate more and more, especially in these weeks when the spread of Covid contagion is increasing, but without serious consequences for almost all of those who are vaccinated ».