APPEAL BEFORE THE TAR (REGIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE COURT): CANCEL ILLEGAL REGIONAL ELECTIONS!
The plaque at the entrance of the Regional Administrative Court for Region Friuli Venezia Giulia.
WE REQUESTED THE COURT TO LODGE ITS DECISION IN ITALIAN AND IN SLOVENE. BOTH ARE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES OF THE FREE TERRITORY OF TRIESTE.
On October 11th, 2013, Free Trieste’s lawyers requested the Regional Administrative Court for Friuli Venezia Giulia to rule in the case of Regional elections in the two official languages of the Free Territory of Trieste: Italian and Slovene.
The 1947 Treaty of Peace that makes Trieste independent grants the State two official languages (Annex VI, art. 7):
Article 7. Official Languages.
The official languages of the Free Territory shall be Italian and Slovene. The Constitution shall determine in what circumstances Croat may be used as a third official language.
In 1954, under the Memorandum of Understanding regarding the Free Territory of Trieste, the Italian Government committed to respect linguistic rights. This means that in exercising the temporary civil administration over the present-day Free Territory, the Italian Government must respect all people, regardless of their mother language. Be it Italian or Slovene.
This is what the 1947 Treaty of Peace rules afte all, and it is also one of the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
But there is more: even Italy has its own law that grants the rights of Slovene-speaking nationals. This is Law No. 38 of 23 February 2011, and it is true for all public authorities, including Courts. This law regards also Italian officers serving their duties in Trieste.
The appeal to the Regional Administrative Court is supported by 57 Triestines: they seek the annulment of the 2013 Regional election for Friuli Venezia Giulia, which were summoned also in Trieste, which is not a part of Italy. Among the appellants there are also people whose mother language is Slovene.
Translated from blog “Environment and Legality” by Roberto Giurastante