The Croatian Foreign Ministry on Thursday delivered a protest note to the Italian ambassador and condemned in the strongest terms the erection in Trieste of a monument to fascism originator Gabriele D'Annunzio, who proclaimed in Rijeka in September 1919 an independent state called the Italian Regency of Carnaro.
The ministry said in a press release “Croatia condemns in the strongest terms” Trieste’s decision to unveil a monument to D’Annunzio today, the 100th anniversary of the occupation of Rijeka.
“Although it is a decision by the local and not the state government, this action, just as the marking of the centennial of Rijeka’s occupation in a number of Italian cities, not only undermines the friendly and good neighbourly relations between the two states, but also pays homage to an ideology and activity that deeply contrast with European values,” the ministry said.
It also delivered a protest note to Ambassador Adriano Chiodi Cianfarani.
Croatian president condemns erection of monument
The unveiling of the D’Annunzio monument was also condemned by Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic.
“Rijeka was and remains a proud part of the Croatian homeland and the erection of a monument in Trieste which glorifies irredentism and occupation is unacceptable,” she said on Twitter.
She added that “the Croatian-Italian cooperation today is based on values which are the complete opposite of what was done by the one to whom a scandalous monument of division is being erected.”
On 12 September 1919, at the call of Rijeka irredentists, D’Annunzio marched into the northern Adriatic city with his paramilitary Blackshirts and proclaimed his own independent state there. They were welcomed by about 30,000 residents of Rijeka. This inspired Mussolini for his 1922 March on Rome.
Although D’Annunzio and Trieste have no points of contact, the city authorities set aside €340,000 for a gallery exhibition of his personal items and today unveiled a statute in Piazza della Borsa square, which is the third D’Annunzio monument in Italy.