Speakers at the meeting, supported by Hon. Simone Billi, Franco Papetti, president of AFIM-LCFE, Melita Sciucca, president of the Italian Community of Fiume and Rosanna Turcinovich Giuricin, head of La Voce di Fiume

Representatives of the Association of Fiume Exiles in the World (AFIM-LCFE) and the Community of Italians of Fiume, together in Rome, in the prestigious seat of the Chamber of Parliament, in a press conference introduced by the Honorable Simone Billi, elected MP of the European Constituency, to continue the dialogue of rapprochement and collaboration between the two associations. The essence of the speech, condensed in the title of the event, also broadcast on the Internet, on the website of the Chamber (at the address webtv.camera.it): “Recomposing humanity, a challenge for the future”.

After the greeting and an introduction by the Hon. English: Simone Billi, to introduce the three speakers, namely the president of AFIM-LCFE Franco Papetti, the president of the Italian Community of Fiume Melita Sciucca and Rosanna Turcinovich Giuricin, editor in chief of the Fiume exiles' newsletter "La Voce di Fiume", spoke with a report focused on the theme "The reasons for our cultural return to Fiume, a recomposition in the name of the fathers but also of the grandchildren", Franco Papetti, who, thanking Billi for the welcome and for the opportunity to talk about his hometown and the relationship between the exiled and remaining Fiume people, briefly illustrated its history, focusing in particular on the exodus and the long and often difficult path of rapprochement and reconciliation and mending of relations between the two parties, from 1991 to the present day and on the possibilities of further strengthening the existing bonds, with the aim of involving the new generations, children and grandchildren, in order to be able to reach new goals, enhancing not only the past but also the future. also a cultural and intellectual return in an increasingly intense and fruitful collaboration with the Italian Community of Rijeka, to work together so that traditions, history and language continue to be present in Rijeka and there is no longer an “us” and a “you” but only an “us, Italian Rijeka citizens”. He finally mentioned and praised the good relations with the current municipal authorities in Rijeka, concluding: “Ideological barriers no longer exist. Croatia is now part of the EU. We have achieved significant goals but there are still many things to achieve. By working together we will succeed”.
The floor was then given to the president of the Italian Community of Fiume Melita Sciucca, for a speech on the theme “The culture of hospitality: the role of the Italian Community in a city that was the European Capital of Culture 2020. The attention we hope for”.
She in turn focused on historical events, on the history of the exodus and on that of those who chose not to leave their city. She then illustrated the post-war situation and the current one, highlighting the autochthony and listing all the institutions that still contribute to keeping Italian education, culture and language alive in Fiume: the elementary and middle schools, the Edit publishing house and our daily newspaper, the University courses in Italian Studies, the Italian Drama, the Italian programs of Radio Fiume…
“What can we do to keep our humanity alive?” – she finally asked herself. “The task I have set myself as a Rijeka citizen, as president of the Community, as a teacher, is, in my opinion, to go out of our four walls and make the Croatian majority understand that we are present: that we were there, we are there and we will be there again. Constantly putting together all our forces to achieve the cultural connection to which the inclusion of one of our representatives in the presidency of AFIM-LCFE has undoubtedly given a significant contribution”.
Rosanna Turcinovich Giuricin, editor in chief of the Fiume exiles' newsletter "La Voce di Fiume" focused on the topic "Informing to be: from memory to projects for the future. The role of literature as a glue of humanity".
“The newspaper I direct is one of the tools we have used over the years to try to convey and build information among the people of Fiume around the world and make them feel like one people anyway and always. Ours continues to be a single reality that, although separated from history, continues to be so, because the glue that holds it together is common and is a glue in which we all recognize ourselves. From the discomfort of thinking back to our abandoned birthplaces, the desire to recognize the tools to help a memory has made its way and culture is one of these tools. A very strong and deep-rooted approach with a dichotomy that must be overcome with important steps that we are taking and continue to take with projects that do not only concern literature but also science, remembering important people of Fiume and making them known to the world trying to ferry our commitment by making it go beyond our sphere, just as we and the Community of Italians of Fiume are doing.
The conference concluded with some speeches from those present in the room, including the Fiume exiles Egone Ratzemberger and Diego Zandel.

Roberto Palisca
Source: The Voice of the People – 24/07/2022