The first European country to take this step, Italy has handed over 60 files regarding desaparecidos of Italian origin, or with dual nationality, during the years of the dictatorship (1976-83). The handover took place during a ceremony in Buenos Aires chaired by Under-Secretary Dassù and the Argentinian Foreign Minister, Hector Timerman, in the presence of the Argentinian authorities, Ambassador Guido La Tella, and representatives of the mothers and grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo.
No justice without remembrance
In recalling Italy’s sympathy for the victims of this tragedy, Dassù underscored that “there can be no justice without remembrance and these files will help reconstruct those tragic events”. Timerman made the same point and commented that the information on desaparecidos of Italian blood will help “reconstruct the ‘map’ of repression” by the military regime.
“This is a great day for Italian-Argentinian relations, a day of pride”, added the Argentinian Foreign Minister. He recalled the work done by the two countries, together, and thanked the Italian Government and people.
Trilateral cooperation
During her mission to Buenos Aires, Dassù also met Deputy Minister Eduardo Zuain, and the head of international economic relations, Cecilia Nahon, with whom she discussed how to “launch joint Italian-Argentinian initiatives in the field of human rights in Africa”. The Under-Secretary noted that “this is a new idea for trilateral cooperation. We would like, for example, to work together in Tunisia, and if possible in Mozambique and other countries in the African region”.
During her visit, Dassù also raised “concerns expressed by the Italian business community in Argentina. On this front, I have been reassured that a more reliable framework of commercial and trade rules is being drawn up. We have also discussed mutual perceptions of the way Europe is handling the Eurozone crisis. I explained”, concluded Dassù, “why we think that in the end the Eurozone will emerge more integrated from this difficult experience and that in 2013 we will begin to see signs of recovery”.