The Dalmatian Gathering is approaching (click here and on IL DALMATATA news find the program and info), here is the right spirit to participate as emerges in this interview with Toni Concina, President of the Association of Dalmatian Italians in the World and Mayor of the Free Municipality of Zara in Exile.

The idea of ​​the +1 project is yours, what does it consist of? How is it implemented? Can you explain it to us in a few words?

It is simply an attempt to broaden participation in our Gathering and our activities to those people who, for the most diverse reasons, are linked to our history, perhaps only recently known ... and therefore relatives, friends, supporters, who we can convince to spend two days with us in our Senigallia ... on the Adriatic Sea ... in front of our Zara. It is achieved simply by bringing them with us and making them live with us the simple hours of our meeting.

In addition to all of us committing to the +1 project, how can we concretely help make the next Gathering in Senigallia a success?

Mobilizing as many opinion-forming people as possible to spread the message of our passion and our history. Wherever possible. And therefore contact all the intellectuals, journalists, politicians we know so that they reflect on the reality of the lost and forgotten lands… not so much for us second- and third-generation exiles but for the dignity of a Nation that must not forget.

In taking up this thought of Lucio Toth "Our return will be complete when in Zadar, even the Croatian boys will recognize themselves in our history", what message will you send from Senigallia to the other Dalmatian shore of the Adriatic?

One cannot help but take up Lucio Toth's thought. The indicated road is long and full of obstacles, political and cultural. And so I think of a message of dialogue not only with the Croatian institutions but also with the Dalmatian People, recovering together with the Italian Community of Zara a few years lost in sterile debates, through the most varied initiatives.

Next year marks the 70th anniversary of the first Dalmatian Gathering that met in Venice and the 60th anniversary of the foundation, also in Venice, of the Association of Italian Dalmatians in the World and the Free Municipality of Zara in Exile. What do you think of Venice as a proposal for the ideal location of the 2023 Gathering also in a unitary way?

Personally, I think very well of it. Just as I think very well of the need for a Unitary Gathering, which unfortunately we were unable to organize this year. And the fortunate coincidence of such important anniversaries can make 2023 a wonderful year. Obviously, the final decision will certainly not be mine, but of our Board and the boards of the sister Exiles associations.

What do you think are the reasons for our commitment?

Ours is a dark commitment, for a cause that is not even very fashionable in the times we are living in. A voluntary commitment, obviously free, generous... sometimes considered pathetic. All the more reason then, it must be a great team effort, that overcomes silly personalisms or worse, ill-conceived ambitions. It is the same philosophy that I personally have had in mind in my very long working life. But this time the goal is higher. Humbly, we can say that we must work not for the news but for history.

MEETING PROGRAM

ALL EVENTS WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE CHURCH OF CANCELLI Via Arsilli, 23 (a few minutes from Piazza del Duomo, where the Holy Mass will be celebrated)

Saturday October 1

• 10:30 – 12:30 “27th Meeting with Dalmatian Culture”: presentation of books on Dalmatia written by Dalmatians or friends and published in the last year
• 15:00/15:30 pm – 18:30 pm Council of the Association of Dalmatian Italians in the World – Free Municipality of Zadar in Exile
• 21:00 pm – 22:30 pm “Recital Adriatico”, concert by Toni Concina on the piano: the most beautiful songs of yesterday and today (the donations collected in the hall will be in favor of the Madrinato Dalmatico for the conservation of the Italian tombs in the cemetery of Zadar)

Sunday October 2

• 09:00 am Duomo: Holy Mass for our Dead in the Cathedral
• 10:00 am Laying of the Laurel Wreath at the War Memorial
• 10:15 am Concert of the Bersaglieri Fanfare
• 11:00 General Assembly of Dalmatians – Delivery of the 26th Niccolò Tommaseo Award to Dr. Caterina Spezzano, National Director of the Ministry of Education
• collective lunch (Senbhotel)*

*COLLECTIVE LUNCH Sunday 2 October at the Senbhotel at the price of € 30,00 per person. Those who wish to participate in the lunch must book in advance by calling 071 7927500 or by sending an email to info@senbhotel.it and pay, even during the lunch itself, directly at the hotel reception.

Source: Italian Dalmatians – 30/07/2022