The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, today received the “Golden Miner” award during a ceremony organised by the Municipality of Motta San Giovanni (RC) to commemorate the sacrifice of the miners originating from this area who, having emigrated abroad, lost their lives while carrying out their work.
“I would like to thank Mayor Verduci and the community of Motta San Giovanni for this Award that moves me very much. It is a sign of the very strong connection between our present and our past, a recognition that first of all goes to the many workers who have honoured Italy in the world,” said Minister Tajani on the sidelines of the ceremony.
The Minister also reiterated that “the tragedies of Italian emigration cannot and must not be forgotten. I am thinking of Belgium and Marcinelle, where I have gone several times, both as President of the European Parliament and as Minister of Foreign Affairs, to honour the memory of those Italian workers who tragically lost their lives far from their country”.
During the ceremony, Tajani also conveyed the memory of the sacrifice of so many workers, including in Southern Italy, and the Government’s commitment to the South also through the Single Special Economic Zone to encourage investment and job creation.
The “Golden Miner” award in previous editions has also been awarded to the Carabinieri (2003), the Italian Red Cross (2004), Pope John Paul II (2006) and the National Fire Brigade (2022).
