I wish to thank President Pirc Musar, firstly for what she said about me and Italy, and for inviting me to share with her this history-making moment for the two cities – Nova Gorica and Gorizia – for Slovenia and Italy, and for the entire European Union.
Let me express my sincere appreciation to the organisers, to the local authorities and to the representatives of the European institutions in attendance for the work carried out in full harmony and with farsightedness to bring to fruition a project launched from this very square back in 2021. A project whose roots lie in the long journey of friendship and reconciliation actively promoted by our two countries, Madam President. This is something we can be proud of.
In a world marked by growing tensions and conflicts, a world that has forsaken cooperation as a fundamental element of international life, Slovenia and Italy have proven that the path of cooperation is still a valid option.
Against the backdrop of the tragedy of the Second World War an Auschwitz survivor, Roman Kent, said “we don’t want our past to be our children’s future”.
It is with such spirit that we faced the post-war events, in order to write a new page and nothing will turn back the history that Slovenia and Italy have built, and are building, together.
Along this journey, two elements turned out to be crucial: our common membership of the European Union and the culture our two peoples share.
When Slovenia joined the European Union, twenty years ago, our countries converged in a shared path. The Italian Republic supported and accompanied your accession process with conviction, so that our two peoples could once again contribute to a common destiny.
Working side by side, within the European institutions, we have consolidated reciprocal trust alongside an additional sense of belonging and identity: our shared European identity.
Differences and misunderstandings were superseded by uniting factors.
And this is something that encapsulates the great historical value of European integration.
A culture encompassing so many valuable national peculiarities and so many languages, but one shared culture: the one the two cities will be celebrating together this year.
Nova Gorica and Gorizia want to celebrate a cross-border culture.
Together with Chemnitz, in Germany, Nova Gorica was chosen as European Capital of Culture 2025, and the Slovenian city decided to set itself a challenge with its twin city, Gorizia: to put forward a cross-border cultural experience.
While culture, by definition, knows no boundaries, it does take shape as an expression of a community, which however is open to insight, to a shared pursuit, to mutual enrichment.
After defeating the horrors of nationalist extremism – which have caused so much harm in Europe – the values of coexistence and openness re-emerge.
These are the values that can stand against the obscurantism of war and of the conflict that has returned with Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
Being the very first cross-border European Capital of Culture means being bold enough to be the bearer of light and faith in the world’s future, at a time when shadows, uncertainty and fears are spreading. It means that Nova Gorica and Gorizia are indicating the path to true progress.
This is a task that begins today. In a spirit of sincere friendship, I join President Pirc Musar in wishing you great success.
