ROME, Feb 10 (Hina/AR) - On February 10, 1947 when Italy, defeated in World War II, signed a truce, will be celebrated as a day of remembrance of Italian refugees from Istria, Rijeka and Dalmatia, the Italian House of Representatives
announced at the beginning of its session on Monday.
ROME, Feb 10 (Hina/AR) - On February 10, 1947 when Italy, defeated
in World War II, signed a truce, will be celebrated as a day of
remembrance of Italian refugees from Istria, Rijeka and Dalmatia,
the Italian House of Representatives announced at the beginning of
its session on Monday. #L#
Opening the session, the house's chairman, Pierferdinandi Casini,
recalled "the painful exodus of thousands of Italians who were
forced to leave Istria, Rijeka and Dalmatia."
Their dramatic fate was forgotten for too long in Italy's history
but has now been recognised, Casini said speaking about those "who
were cut off from their roots and who were denied, even in their
homeland in Italy, any solidarity to which they had a right to."
One of the leaders of the opposition Democratic Left, former
president of the House of Representatives Luciano Violante said
Italy still carried a debt to those refugees called Esuli because of
the way the country had treated them.
"I am officially requesting forgiveness on behalf of the Italian
government because of the insensitivity shown by Italian
institutions for so long against this human tragedy which in fact is
a tragedy for our entire nation," a vice premier, Gianfranco Fini,
said speaking to the Esuli who gathered in Rome.
Fini, who thanked them for holding the tragedy in memory, announced
that the government would undertake steps so that February 10 might
become an official remembrance day.
The Italian parliament was informed that upon the signing of the
said truce, about 350,000 ethnic Italians left Istria, Rijeka and
Dalmatia.
(hina) sp ms