D'Annunzio statue in Trieste, Croatia protests with ambassador: friendship relations with Italy disturbed

Croatia does not accept the idea that a statue dedicated to Gabriele D’Annunzio was unveiled in Trieste on the very day it marked the centenary of theRijeka feat, and handed the Italian ambassador in Zagreb an official note protesting the initiative and pointing out how the monument disturbed friendly relations with Italy. This was stated in a statement released by the Croatian Foreign Ministry.

Croatia, in particular, strongly condemns the statue of D’Annunzio, unveiled on a day “that marks the centenary of the occupation” (the note reads). In the communiqué, Croatia writes that “despite the fact that this is a decision of local, and not state, authorities, this act, as well as the commemorations of the occupation of Rijeka in other Italian cities, contribute to disturbing the friendly and good neighborly relations between the two countries.” These tributes, according to Croatia (which still sees D’Annunzio as a fascist and according to which the Rijeka enterprise was an occupation of the city as well as a dress rehearsal for fascism), “are also a tribute to an ideology and behavior deeply at odds with European values.”

Even the president of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-KitaroviÄ?, had spoken out in recent days via her Twitter account against the Trieste municipality’s initiative: “Rijeka was and still is a proud part of the Croatian homeland,” the president wrote, “and the erection of a monument in Trieste that glorifies irredentism and occupation is unacceptable.” Even in Italy, as we mentioned, there were many protests, even after the unveiling. Giordano Bruno Guerri himself, president of the Vittoriale Foundation (which collaborated on the operation), let it be known that perhaps a different date could have been chosen for the inauguration, and so did the former president of Friuli, Debora Serracchiani. In contrast, the mayor of Trieste, Roberto Dipiazza, tried to tone it down, saying that in Italy there are many streets, squares and statues dedicated to D’Annunzio and that the controversy “seems incredible.”

D'Annunzio statue in Trieste, Croatia protests with ambassador: friendship relations with Italy disturbed

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