Sicily's regional councilor for
productive activities, Linda Vencheri, has said it was important
for Sicily to open a debate on immigration at the Milan Expo
2015 world's fair.
"It is truly important for our region to open a debate on
migrants at an international event such as the Universal
Exposition in Milan", said Vancheri, who is also Sicily's
coordinator at the world's fair, on the event "Mediterranean
Frontier" promoted by the region at Palazzo Italia's auditorium
on Saturday.
Along with Vancheri, the event's participants included
Sicily Governor Rosario Crocetta, councilors Bruno Caruso and
Antonio Purpura, the European director of the WHO, Santino
Severoni, Viviana Valastro from Save the Children, Mario
Morcone, Gad Lerner, Agriculture Minister Maurizio Martina,
Mons. Domenico Mogavero and Virginio Colmegna.
"In two centuries of history, each culture that conquered
and dominated Sicily decided not to demolish what it found but
rather influence it with its own scientific, cultural and
economic heritage", continued Vencheri.
"This is how the greatest garden of the Mediterranean was
born, carrying the history of Greece, of the Phoenicians, of
ancient Rome, of the Arabs, Normans and many others".
"It was a flourishing area, rich in culture and knowledge
that over the centuries was a symbol of tolerance and
integration - in Sicily, Jews, Muslims and Christians shared the
same space without ever producing conflicts and divisions".
"We will talk about the history of Sicily by trying to
define its role over the centuries until today", she continued.
"It is an Italian region where the words racism, refusal of
entry, xenophobia, appear to belong to an unknown vocabulary",
concluded the councilor, citing as examples of integration
schools and hospitals and the role of the region in assisting
migrants and minors.
"We will start from Sicily for an international debate on
the issue, involving different institutional levels".
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