Good afternoon everyone.
I wish to thank the Lazio Association of Journalists and its President Guido D'Ubaldo and Vice President Roberto Rossi for inviting me to this ceremony to unveil the plaque commemorating the Jewish journalists in Rome who were persecuted by the Fascist regime after the racial laws were introduced.

Despite this being quite a complex day, I nevertheless wanted to be here as a journalist, who is also a member of the Association, as you correctly mentioned, and as President of the Council of Ministers, considering the symbolic value of this initiative.
I wish to greet the authorities present here today, Israeli Ambassador to Italy Alon Bar, Mayor of Rome Gualtieri, Minister Sangiuliano, President of the Jewish Community of Rome Ruth Dureghello and Chief Rabbi Di Segni. I also wish to greet Sami Modiano, who has just joined us, Professor Enrico Serventi Longhi and indeed everyone present.

As I have said many times, the racial laws that Italy introduced in 1938 represent the lowest point in Italian history, a disgrace that has scarred our people forever. I also said this during my address to Parliament on my Government’s programme, and I shall reaffirm it here today: the racial laws are an indelible stain on our nation’s history, an infamy that happened while too many kept silent. Initiatives like this one are important, because Piazza della Torretta in Rome, as headquarters of the Lazio Association of Journalists, is home to those who, every day, report on reality. They report on our lives, on the reality of events, on my life in particular at the moment. They are the ones who report on what is happening. This plaque, dedicated to the 35 journalists who were expelled from the official register, is therefore very symbolic, as many were no longer able to do their jobs, while many others kept silent. 

These events teach us that we must always report on what is happening, even if it may cost us, even if it may be frightening. For those who, like us, have studied professional ethics and the mission of journalists – and I’m saying this as a journalist myself – this is the most important thing that these events can teach us because, at the end of the day, remembrance is of course important, but it is only truly important if it teaches you something, if you understand that, by studying what happened, you can also learn what you can do if it should happen again. I believe this is an important event, and we must remember it. One of the names on this plaque is Alberto Moravia who, as a very young man, was among those no longer able to do their job under the Fascist regime. Alberto Moravia actually then returned to his work and went on to receive international accolades, but others never did. 

I believe that remembrance serves to remind us that everyone, in their own way, can play their part in the face of tragedy, violence, tyranny. Each of us can play our own part, no matter how large or small that may be. This initiative teaches us this very important lesson, and also tells us that the challenge of fighting discrimination, the challenge of fighting anti-Semitism, is something that involves looking not only to the past, but also to the present day, because we have still not won this battle. Anti-Semitism still resurfaces, in many new and different forms. It is a battle that concerns us all; it concerns politics, government and institutions at all levels, as well as those who report on what is happening every day; it concerns anyone who has any responsibility.
With regard to the Italian Government, I can say that we are always ready and willing, focused and careful when it comes to doing our part to fight all forms of discrimination and anti-Semitism, which still risks being in our midst; fighting this is a daily challenge and everyone must do their part.
Thank you and all the best.

[Courtesy translation]