The presidents of Italy and Slovenia, Sergio Mattarella and Borut Pahor, laid wreaths today at two memorials in Italy, one to the Slovenian victims of Fascism, and another to the Italian victims of post WWII killings. In a symbolic gesture, the two presidents held hands as they paid respect to the victims.
Later in Trieste the two presidents attended the signing of a document, which gives back the National Hall in Trieste to the Slovene minority, exactly 100 years after it was burnt down by Fascists. President Pahor called it a historic event and said justice has now been done. The ceremony was also attended by the Trieste-born acclaimed writer Boris Pahor, who is 106 years old, and witnessed the burning of National Hall as a child.