CEREGNANO
25th April
2008
Dear
citizens,
today
25th April 2008, here in Ceregnano, a pact of friendship between our
community and the community of Seeheim-Jugenheim has been sealed. The pathway
that has led us to this very important stage has been neither short nor easy.
Sixty-three
years of memories and as many of reconstruction of the relationship have not
had the same importance to all. For some of us a feeling of suspect has
prevailed, for other a feeling of confidence. Single citizens, families, public
associations and institutions have worked their energies to make the
collaboration and the will for peace prevail.
Someone
else will remember, here, as every year, the past that has formed us throughout
the pain and the toil of a memory to be overcome. In the name of the Committee
I want to highlight the importance of the present but also of the future.
We
have prepared this appointment with a series of four meetings on the German
culture, because we believe that mutual acquaintance is the base to overcome
the existing prejudice and suspects. Paola De Matteis of the University “Ca’
Foscari” of Venice, Christina Gentzik of the Goethe Institut of Milan, Daniele
Peggio of the Liceo “Celio” (grammar school) of Rovigo and Maddalena Guiotto of
the Italian-German Historic Institute of Trento has helped us. They have been
invited to this ceremony and send us their salutes.
We
want to remember that the first fundamental stage for the reconciliation
between Italy and Germany was carried out by two great statesmen of our two
countries (who, besides, spoke the same language: German). They were Alcide De
Gasperi and Konrad Adenauer.
The
emigration of many Italians to Germany involved the level of the feelings and
of the physical proximity. Sport has trained our two peoples for a competition respectful
of the individual and of the rules (let us remember Munich 1972 and the recent
World Football Championship in Germany).
In
conclusion, if in the 1930s and the1940s our two countries were involved in the
war, at first as allied armies and afterwards as enemy, now we want to build
peace together and assure peace for our two peoples and for the whole Europe.
Ivo
Zambello
President of
Towtwinnings Committee
Ceregnano
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