Free Trieste

One more year, one more celebration of Trieste (and its port) “returning” to Italy. A pompous celebration, unlike in the past years. Indeed an evidence of the weakness hidden behind anacronistic nationalism. No strong State would need to show off this much to try impressing the world.

By now, the local nationalistic “camorra” is well-aware that its simulation of Italian sovereignty over Trieste is crackling. So it tries once more: Trieste would do anything, because “Trieste is Italy, and Italy is Trieste”.

This is the moral of such celebrations. Nationalism, as the only shield against the calls for legality that come from Trieste’s people. Legality established under the 1947 Treaty of Peace and even under Italian law. Trieste’s independence is recognized since September 15th, 1947.

Italian sovereignty that lasted twenty-three years, it had begun at the end of the First World World, as a consequence of the dissolution of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, of which Trieste and its port had happily been part for half a millennium.

Trieste was faced with the horrors of Italian nationalism twice.

The first time starts on November 3rd, 1918. First the occupation, then the annexation (1920). Italian nationalists are oppressive even before the raise of fascism, then, with Mussolini’s regime, comes the horrific anti-Jewish legislation, and, finally, another cruel war.

The second time starts on October 26th, 1954. After the Governments of the United States and of the United Kingdom sub-entrust Trieste’s temporary civil administration to the Italian Government (Memorandum of Understanding regarding the Free Territory of Trieste).

By Italian law, the Italian Government should have acted in continuity with the previous British-US Government of the Free Territory. Instead, in spite of their own law, the local representatives of the Italian Government started simulating Italian sovereignty over Trieste.

Shielding behind nationalism, with the complicity of the local establishment, they made Trieste something like a colony. This is the true face of the local nationalistic “camorra”.

Every year, the unfortunate celebrations to remind the people of Trieste of their role as oppressed folk (even, in the name of one of Europe’s most criminal and corrupt States) take place from October 26th to November 4th.

This year, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the “second redemption” (at least, this is what Italian authorities call it), the Italian Military Navy sent here its flagship, aircraft carrier Cavour, and frigate Fasan, one of the newest in a class that represents the finest jewel of the Italian Navy.

Follow the usual bersaglieri marching. Reduces and youth still in service. The Allies used to call them “chicken men” because of their feathered helmets. The few reduces look lost as they attempt to parade running: it is indeed a depressing show. They look exhausted: a very real portrait of their Republic.

There are no Frecce Tricolori in the sky. This time, and despite the important occasion, the aerobatic flight patrol of Italy seems to be busy elsewhere. In January [2014], I publicly questioned their Aermacchi MB 339 low-flying over Trieste. This caused an outcry and an uproar from the Frecce‘s fans.

The fact is, this is no trivial question: can Italian military airplanes fly over the Free Territory’s demilitarized airspace? Even, can military airplanes train in the middle of the built-up area? Doesn’t it put hundreds of people in serious danger?

Of course it didn’t end with a public speech. I reported the events to the UN, to NATO, and to the Signatories of the 1947 Treaty of Peace with Italy, including Russia.

Anyways, this time there were no Frecce Tricolori in the sky. Maybe it’s because of the tense international situation: as Russia’s military planes fly over European airspace, avoiding what could be read as a provocation is a good idea.

Anyways. All that remains of this expensive and unwanted celebration (at least according to Trieste’s man in the street) is that nobody cares about it. Namely, by the oppressed people. People unwilling to celebrate nationalism. The celebrations end in a gloomy, gray autumn. Maybe, so is to end the power of those who organized them.

And then Trieste is free again.

Update: in September 2015, new documents clarified the relations between NATO, Italy, and the present-day Free Territory of Trieste: NATO CODE ACP 104.

Translated from blog “Ambiente e Legalità” – “Environment and Legality” by Roberto Giurastante