NUMBER 10
Address by President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano at the ceremony celebrating UNESCO's declaration of
Madame Minister of the Environment, Mr. Presidents of the Regions and Provinces, Mr. Mayor of Auronzo, Ladies and Gentlemen, First of all, I wish to restate heartfelt sympathy for the grief of the families of the four valiant workers who sacrificed their lives while performing, with passion and dedication, the services that they have systematically provided to protect the public and those who love the mountains. Auronzo di Cadore, August 25, 2009 Address by the President of the Republic at the ceremony celebrating the entry of the Dolomites on UNESCO's World Heritage List. |
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We feel close to the entire population of Belluno, who know that the ceremony we celebrate today in Auronzo is an homage to their land and a moment of both reflection and commitment. Despite this veil of sadness, I am especially happy to be here to participate in a memorable event: memorable for you, for the people of the Dolomites, and memorable for Italy, which, today, sees these marvellous places chosen by the UNESCO committee for inclusion on the World Heritage List. It is a choice that is, especially, based on the recognition of the Dolomites as "some of the most beautiful mountain landscapes anywhere," for their "intrinsic beauty" and their precious "combination of geomorphologic and geological values". This recognition did not fall out of the sky. It was not just the fruit of a historic and natural valuation by UNESCO's committee, but was the reward for the tenacious dedication carried forward by local, regional and national government in a spirit of collaboration that I hope will continue to be consolidated beyond any particularism. This is the cause of the satisfaction and even the emotion that unites us today; an emotion that I hope is not alien to the memory of one of the greats of Italian mountain-climbing who died this August at the age of 100, Riccardo Cassin, a native of Friuli, who among his first attempts, climbed the Dolomites before scaling the most difficult peaks of far-off continents. As is natural, we are also united by a feeling of pride because, with the Dolomites, Italy achieves first place with 44 sites entered on the World Heritage List. 2 of them were recognised to be natural sites of global importance: before the Dolomites, the Aeolian Islands and, today, I have the good fortune of being able to act as the ideal bridge between one and the other because I have just returned from Stromboli, which my wife and I love and have been visiting for decades, while we are linked to Auronzo by a lovely memory of our youth. 
So, now, the Dolomites and the Aeolian Islands are side-by-side on the World Heritage List: confirmation of the indivisibility of our national heritage, from North to South, of the indivisibility of that patrimony of history and beauty that makes our Italy great. We must not only share the pride but also the responsibility for this extraordinary wealth: I am happy to have heard these words forcefully pronounced together in several addresses. We are responsible in front of the world for safeguarding this great common heritage. We are also called upon by article 9, one of the fundamental principles of our constitution: "The Republic protects the landscape and the historic and artistic heritage of the Nation". If you read the Charter - and it is necessary to do so, and to return to it, constantly - you will see that the subject referred to the most is "the Republic". In the words of the Constitution, "the Republic" is the subject that upholds the majority of its precepts, which recognizes rights and protects the precious assets that belong to everyone. The Republic is, certainly, the state, the government, the system of autonomous regions, the totality of the national, regional and local institutions, the agencies of the public administration and the bodies established to enforce respect for the law and protect the safety of the public. But, at the same time, the Republic is all of us, citizens and persons as individuals and in the social structures into which we gather. Therefore, protecting the landscape and the historic and artistic heritage is a duty that we must urge the public authorities to fully discharge; but it is also a responsibility that we citizens must assume, each one of use, wherever we live and work, especially if in places of inestimable value for all of mankind. 
The behaviour of each one of us matters and it must not be oriented to the blind satisfaction of special interests but to safeguarding the common wealth, also in the interests of our children and future generations. The landscape and the natural and historic environment are assets, values that cannot be pushed into the background in the decisions of government authorities - and I am happy that Minister Prestigiacomo has demonstrated his commitment to guarding against this - but they cannot be ignored or overlooked by individuals who hope to build a house or want to derive more profit from tourism. The promotion of areas like yours, suitably aimed at improving their usability and, in general, the development of the economy and tourism, must in anchored in a sense of limits and respect for the rules. This commitment will also be among the guiding principles of the Dolomites Foundation that is about to be created. All the conditions are in place for you to become a valid example for the entire country, which sees its natural, historic and artistic heritage wounded by too many failures and exposed to serious risks. Thanks to all of you for your presence and commitment. It is true, President Durnwalder, that the concept of "frontier area" no longer applies to the Dolomites: the Dolomites are "a mountain area open to Europe". In 1998, it was my responsibility, as Minister of the Interior - on the occasion of the entry of Italy and Austria into the Schengen - to meet 
my Austrian colleague at the Brenner Pass to remove the barrier that had been bloodily crossed by armies at war two times in the course of the century. It symbolised the conclusion of a tragic period of divisions and conflicts. We are living in peace and friendship on both sides of the Alps. It is in this spirit that you are certainly operating, fulfilling the commitments made, as citizens of Italy and citizens of Europe, custodians and curators of splendid resources recognised as the World Heritage of Humanity. To all of you, to the institutions and peoples represented here, I extend my very best wishes for good work and full success.