Nova Gorica (Slovenia) and Gorizia (Italy), European Capital of Culture in 2025, are a testimony to how a border divided by tragic events in the 900th century has transformed from a divisive border to a border of cohesion and collaboration.

On this border, nationalist policies have been practiced that have caused pain and suffering to the Slovenian and Italian populations. This has been recognized several times by the Presidents of the respective Republics and by the national Governments. But the border has divided, after the Paris Peace Treaty of 1947, also a city that has always been unique, composite, multilingual, with houses in one State and gardens or stables in the other, even a cemetery assigned half to Italy and the other half to Yugoslavia.

Yet here we have managed to create the conditions for a new life, based on respect, on the recognition of the suffering of others, on collaboration, on the awareness that we owe it to ourselves as well as to future generations who live with intolerance of borders.

We would never dare to teach anyone anything because every story is different from the other, but we would like to shout out loud to those who today, but also yesterday, fight in those lands that peace is possible! It can and must be achieved!

Being the European Capital of Culture also entails the burden of representing, where possible, a good practice, a good example, and from Nova Gorica and Gorizia we want to launch an appeal for responsibility on the part of anyone who in any way is responsible for the future of future generations.

That land has the right to peace like every part of the world.

We appeal that the hostages, children, women, men, elderly, innocent people can be immediately released and free to return to their loved ones.

We call for a halt to warfare on both fronts.

We appeal for everyone to finally be recognized as having the right to live in Israel and Palestine, regardless of their origin.

We appeal that all Nations and all people capable of doing so may help Israel and Palestine to live, as we have lived on our border after 1947, with two States, two Nations, two Peoples who are progressively able to look each other in the eye, recognizing each other's suffering and finally grow together.

Peace can not only be achieved, it must be achieved.

THE MAYOR OF GORIZIA	THE MAYOR OF NOVA GORICA
Rodolfo Ziberna	Samo Turel

Gorizia / Nova Gorica, 6 November 2023