February 10 marks the Day of Remembrance, established by Law No. 92 of March 30, 2004 to preserve and renew the memory of the tragedy of Italians and of all the victims of the foibe and the forced exodus from their homelands of the Istrians, the people of Fiume, and Dalmatians in the post-World War II period, as well as the complex events surrounding the eastern border.
On the occasion of the commemoration, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani took part in the memorial ceremony held at the Chamber of Deputies, in the presence of the President of the Republic, reaffirming the institutions’ closeness to the Istrian, Fiume and Dalmatian Exiles and to the Italian national communities in Slovenia and Croatia.
Seventy-nine years after the signing of the Peace Treaty that sanctioned the loss of the eastern Adriatic territories, February 10 represents a moment of shared reflection on the value of historical memory, respect for the victims, and the responsibility to pass on to future generations the meaning of those events. In his message, Minister Tajani emphasized that the victims’ sacrifice must strengthen a path of peace, dialogue, and coexistence, recalling the founding values of Europe and the importance of continuing this journey in the Balkans as well.
A special thought was dedicated to the innocent children affected by the violence of that time, and more broadly to all children who, even today, are victims of conflicts around the world.
On this day, Italian diplomatic missions and consular offices worldwide join the initiatives promoted by the Associations of Exiles, to make tangible the institutions’ closeness to those who were forced to leave their homes and rebuild their lives, even far from Italy. As a sign of this commitment, the words “Io Ricordo” (“I Remember”) light up the Farnesina today.
For further information, please refer to the press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, available at the following link.
