Fiume as a destination: the occasion is the celebration for the patron saint San Vito with Modesto and Crescenza. How could we miss the appointment with Fiumanità, the moment of memories and the pleasure of sharing a rich program of meetings, discussions, awards and shows at Palazzo Modello with the Italian Community and the Association of Fiumani Italiani nel Mondo as protagonists in a communion of intents, ideas, purposes. All in the name of the cultural return of the Fiume exiles - which is already a reality - but this edition of San Vito confirms it further, as the AFIM-LCFE President Franco Papetti underlines in this interview.

“One of the main goals I set myself when I was elected president of Afim in October 2019 was our cultural and intellectual return to the city of our roots. All the work of the last two years, even if carried out remotely, had this goal sublimated in the physical presence in Rijeka this year. The program of the three days of the meeting is rich and full of initiatives carried out in collaboration with our resident Rijeka residents. This is the path we pursue in the continuous collaboration with the Italian Community and the presence of Melita Sciucca in our presidency office is tangible proof of this. We want to return to Rijeka not only by indulging in memories and nostalgia but also with the strategic will to form a single body with the Italian minority to let the Rijeka of today know our history, our culture, our dialect and also set up projects that strengthen our national community. It is true, we live in every part of the world but we will always be citizens of this city and humanity will be the glue that will guide us”.

The meeting with the Polesi (or polesani in our dialect, who will be in Pola in the previous days for their annual appointment) on Monday 13 June will mark an important stage that you have wanted and underlined several times. What does it open up?

"We are faced with something that I would define as unprecedented and exceptional. On the morning of the 13th, two buses of Polesine exiles will arrive in Fiume and at Palazzo Modello there will be an official meeting in the presence of the Italian Consul in Fiume, Davide Bradanini. I strongly wanted this meeting because beyond our parochialism that has always seen us focused on our respective places of origin, I believe the time has come to start talking to each other and to discuss all the problems that are common, namely the aging and decreasing number of members, collaboration with our Italian communities in Croatia, joint activities and the definition of a common strategy with the Italian Union".

Among the projects of the Julian-Dalmatian associationism there is that of a unity that overcomes anagraphic issues and includes the younger generations. What is your vision in this regard?

"It is one of the fundamental problems for our survival. We have now reached the second and third generation of the exodus. Even if our young people are well integrated in the places that welcomed grandparents and parents, as Afim we are trying with all our strength to awaken or keep alive the attachment to the roots of Fiume. In this regard we have created a WhatsApp group, Sempre fiumani, and we are planning other initiatives in the future such as award trips to Fiume for young descendants of exiles, exchanges of stays, sports meetings or other initiatives aimed at stimulating the love for their roots in Fiume in the new generations".

Conversely, among the meetings planned in Rijeka, there is also one with the young people from local schools who participated in the Libera la fantasia competition…

“We have always considered the relationship with the schools of Rijeka as one of the most important aspects of our activity. This year too, we are dedicating the initiative Critico in erba to the elementary schools; while for the high schools, after the great success of last year, which saw the participation of more than 50 students, we are re-proposing the competition Liberiamo la fantasia. The dynamic of the competition consists in using cinematographic works as stimulating elements for the creative activity of young people. This year too, participation was very numerous and I would like to thank both the teachers and Principal Scalembra for their great availability and collaboration”.

To overcome the concept of "us and you" AFIM is working transversally. An example of this is the CD on Fiume's folk song that is now being released by La Voce di Fiume, produced by AFIM but with the direct involvement of some fellow countrymen from Fiume. Eight songs and two poems entrusted to the artistic and musical genius of Bruno Nacinovich and his staff...How do you consider this transversality?

“With the June 2022 issue of Voce di Fiume we pay homage to our members with a CD that simultaneously represents the past, present and future of our world: in fact, traditional music is combined with a current arrangement and new proposals are added to signify an important common vitality in the name of continuity. A collaboration that has produced an exceptional result and the continuation of a unity of purpose that unites us and will always unite us”.

Same path, of complete sharing, also for the next paths, namely the conferences dedicated to the writer Paolo Santarcangeli in October/November of this year and in 2023 to the great astrophysicist Attilio Colacevich. A demanding but essential activity. How do they fit into the mission of your association?

“Even in the future, the strategic cornerstones on which we will operate are those of making both Italians and Croatians aware of pieces of our cultural and intellectual history of Rijeka, an activity that will always be done together with the Italian Community”.

 

Interview by Rosanna Turcinovich – 08/06/2022