Official statement.
About the relations of Free Trieste and political autonomist/separatist/etc. groups in Italy
Lately, Italian press spread false interpretations that make people think there are operational political connections between autonomist/separatist political groups based in Italy and the Free Trieste Movement.
In truth, Free Trieste does not represent interests of Italian citizens. Rather, it only represents the legitimate interests of the people of the Free Territory of Trieste, which is an independent State, UN Member de jure, with an international Free Port. The Free Territory is independent under the 1947 Treaty of Peace with Italy.
This is why Free Trieste denies the existence of such alleged relations, because the authorities and citizens of the Free Territory have no interest or right to interfere in the domestic affairs of a foreign, bordering State as is the Italian Republic. Equally, they have no interest to interact with its political organizations of any kind.
Relations between the Free Territory of Trieste and the Italian Republic are limited to the role of the Italian Government. Under the 1954 Memorandum of Understanding of London, the Italian Government is the Free Territory’s temporary civil authority (special trusteeship) on behalf of the UN. This includes international disputes arising from breaches of said mandate, committed by either the Italian Government or the Italian State.
The Guarantor of those relations, as well as the authority of the aforementioned controversies between the Free Territory and the Italian Republic is only and exclusively the UN Security Council.
Still, Free Trieste expresses it duly solidarity to the citizens and people in the Italian peninsula and anywhere in the world who were or are subject to State or Government authorities that breach their human, civil, and political rights granted under UN international conventions.
Furthermore, Free Trieste is against discrimination, promotes multiculturality, democracy, peace, international cooperation, and the free choice of people to unite or dissolve their unions, in accordance with the principles cemented, since the 4th of July 1776 with the US Declaration of Independence. The US had their own representatives in the city and free port of Trieste as early as in 1797.
On its side, Free Trieste appreciates that political groups in Italy or other foreign Countries, inspired by the same principles of law and right, reciprocate the solidarity of the citizens and people of the Free Territory of Trieste.
In view of this, contacts between Free Trieste and pro-autonomy or pro-independence movements in Italy or other States are limited to reciprocal exchanges of solidarity in the field of human and civil rights, and to exchanging useful information about the protection of international rights, democracy, peace, and international cooperation.
The aforementioned solidarity and exchange of information with foreign political groups are an exclusive competence of the President and of the Movement’s Management Board, who are also the only subjects allowed to use the name, logo, and symbols of the Free Trieste Movement, as well as those in charge of its policy and diplomatic actions.
This is why any other eventual connection that members of supporters of the Free Trieste Movement may have with those or other political groups in Italy or other States are to be regarded as personal initiative, which are not authorized by Free Trieste and therefore do not represent it.
The Free Trieste Movement reserves all appropriate measures against unauthorizes uses, no matter by whom, of its name, logo, and symbols.
Trieste, April 14th, 2014
The Movement’s President,
Roberto Giurastante