ITALIAN COMMUNITY IN RIJEKA PROTESTS REMOVAL OF PLAQUE IN ITALIAN

RIJEKA, Oct 24 (Hina) - The Italian Community Assembly in Rijeka on Saturday released a statement protesting against the inappropriate act of removing a plaque in the Italian language from the Istria County Assembly building. The Croatian Administration Ministry ordered the Istrian County Prefect and leadership to remove the plaque and gave them a deadline of October 20. As they failed to do it, the plaque was removed last Wednesday. The Italian Community in Rijeka believes that the existence of Italians in Istria and Rijeka, whose life motto is based on tolerance and coexistence, "has been threatened by the appearance of nationalist aspirations of the Croatian Government, whose aim is to suspend the rights of the Italian national minority, acquired during 50 years of struggle". The lack of respect for the signed and ratified Italian-Croatian agreement on minority protection calls for decisive intervention by Europe and Italy, the statement notes. "It is our wish for the Croatian Government to finally start respecting its commitments regarding the protection of acquired rights of the Italian community", the statement concluded. (hina) rml