Historical director and co-founder of the Rovinj Historical Research Center, professor and politician, Giovanni Radossi has been elected honorary president of the Italian Union, for an indefinite period and with an honorary title. This was established yesterday by the Assembly, with 40 votes in favor, during its fifteenth session, at the Antonio Coslovich City Theater in Umag.

Thirty years after its establishment, the association of Italians in Croatia and Slovenia looks at the members who have marked both its path and that of the Italian National Community itself, thus contributing to the maintenance of language, culture and identity in these lands, after the presence of Italians had numerically reduced following the exodus. The award ceremony will be held during the solemn session of the Assembly, scheduled for next September 24, at the Italian Community of Pula.

The awarding of the honors had been awaited since 2004. A task far from easy and this was also seen yesterday evening in the discussion, where several councilors intervened on certain methodologies and on the names included and excluded (Krsto Babić from Abbazia, Moreno Vrancich from Fiume, Valmer Cusma from Pola, Gianfranca Šuran from Rovigno, Gaetano Benčić from Torre, Mauro Jurman from Umag).

 

The initial proposals were 250

 

To overcome the impasse, Rovinj councilor Pellizzer urged the Assembly to fully accept the formulations of the Commission for the awards – because any other solution would “create animosity” –, integrating them (after Radin asked not to include him, while Radossi was appointed honorary president) to arrive at the chosen key: thirty awards to symbolize the thirty years of the Italian Union.

It must be said that the Commission that evaluated the candidacies (composed of Antonella Degrassi, Elena Barnabà, Gianfranco Stancich, Flavio Cossetto and Neda Šainčić Pilato) accepted the proposals received within the terms set by the Italian Community, Councils for the Italian National Community, institutions, entities and individuals, by the President of the Assembly, Paolo Demarin, by the President of the Executive Board, Marin Corva, and by the President Maurizio Tremul. After an initial "screening" from the initial 250, 71 proposals were obtained (including some "duplicates"). In any case, the list of deserving compatriots will have the opportunity to expand in the years to come.

 

Seven plaques in memory

 

Some are no longer with us, like Antonio Borme from Rovinj, the professor who was a supporter of the rebirth of the CNI back in the days of Yugoslavia – and for this he was ousted from the politics of the time –, then the first president of the UI. Or Giuseppe (known to all as “Pippo”) Rota from Umag, who in addition to being a very valid activist of the “Fulvio Tomizza” (and much more), led the UI Assembly and was vice-president of the Istrian Region. Or Silvano Sau, the last president of the old Union of Italians of Istria and Fiume, and therefore a leading figure in the Italian Community of Isola. And how can we forget maestro Vlado Benussi, from Rovinj, the legendary artistic director of the minicantanti. So fellow countrymen who dedicated themselves “heart and soul” to the Italian Communities of their own territory, like Eliana Barbo in Buie, Anton Bruneta in Plostine, Roberto Grassi in San Lorenzo-Babici (and even beyond). As a sign of gratitude, all of them were awarded a plaque in memory.

 

Medals and Honorary Members

 

The UI medal therefore goes to Silvana Zorich, Norma Zani and Giacomo Scotti from Rijeka; to Pietro Varljen from Abbazia; Tullio Vorano from Labin; Pino Degrassi from Umag; Boris Brussich from Valle; Maria Sciolis and Maria Velan, both from Rovinj; Anita Forlani and Sergio Delton from Dignano; Nelida Milani Kruljac, Claudia Millotti, Elis Deghenghi Olujić and Loretta Godigna from Pola; Graziano Musizza from Poreč; Amina Dudine from Isola; Nives Zudič Antonič and Franco Juri from Capodistria; Ezio Giuricin, today in Trieste.

The former Consul General of Italy in Rijeka and currently on a diplomatic mission in Egypt, Paolo Palminteri, and the director of the Umag Civic Library, Neven Ušumović, were awarded the diploma of honorary member of the UI, while the Councilor for Culture of the Istrian Region, Vladimir Torbica, was awarded the certificate of merit.

 

«Political» Awards and Certificates

 

On the instructions of President Maurizio Tremul, the so-called “political” or, if you prefer, institutional awards were decided. Specifically, the UI Award to Pietro Fassino – who as Italian Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs supported the unity of the CNI and the UI, as well as being among the supporters of the Italo-Croatian Treaty on Minorities of 1996 and the inclusion of the UI, with a significant role, in Law 89/98, then 73/01 –, to Carlo Amedeo Giovanardi – “supporter of the UI and the CNI. Creator of the changes to the law that allowed our fellow countrymen to regain Italian citizenship” – and to Roberto Battelli, former CNI deputy in the Slovenian State Chamber, as well as UI advisor and representative (in addition to other international roles or his journalistic and political work within the CNI).

Renzo Codarin (past president of the Federation of Istrian, Rijeka and Dalmatian Exile Associations, now head of the National Association of Venezia Giulia and Dalmatia), Stane Baluh (director of the Government Office for Nationalities of Slovenia), Aleksander Tolnauer (president of the Council for National Minorities of Croatia) and the father of the Veneto regional law on the protection of cultural heritage of Venetian origin in Istria and Dalmatia, Ettore Beggiato (at the suggestion of the Commission), were awarded the UI certificate of merit. The president of the Veneto regional council, Roberto Ciambetti, received the UI medal, while the representatives of the Slovenian minority in Italy, Rudi Pavšič (former president of the SKGZ) and Walter Bandelj (president of the SSO) became honorary members of the Italian Union.

Ilaria Rocchi – 10/09/2021

Source: The Voice of the People