(ANSA) - ROME, SEP 20 - Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli on
Friday opened the G7 Culture Summit in Naples saying it was
essential to defend cultural identities.
"Democracy, the rule of law, the respect of the freedom of
expression and of pluralism are the most urgent issues" on which
to find "shared responses, starting from the values that unite
us", said Giuli.
"But we will focus first of all on the theme of the defence of
our cultural identities.
"Culture is the soul of a nation, it embodies its identity,
history, the values of its community
"It is one of the most precious possession a population has and
it is imperative to protect it from the threats of our times",
the culture minister added.
Giuli also spoke about culture as an "antidote against any form
of discrimination and extremism" and described as "wicked and
criminal the aggression of Putin's Russia" which means to
"cancel the cultural identity of Ukraine".
"We cannot allow it, we must continue to stand beside the
Ukrainian population to defend its sovereignty", he said.
The G7 Culture Summit is scheduled to be held in the southern
port city on Friday and Saturday with key events planned in
nearby Pompeii. (ANSA).
'Defence of cultural identity essential' - Giuli opens G7 Culture Summit
Meeting begins in Naples with events planned at Pompeii