The ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Rome, Khaled Ahmad Zekriya, hosted a "Round Table" dedicated to the future of his country, on the occasion of the presentation of awards to the authors of books dedicated to Afghanistan and written in the latter twenty years.
“Afghanistan, yesterday, today and above all tomorrow” the theme of the meeting.
After the playing of the Afghan and Italian national anthems and after a minute of silence requested by the ambassador in honor of the Afghan victims, the attention of the large audience turned to the literary competition.
“We organized this competition because, in addition to being an editorial recognition for the most deserving works from a literary, news and cultural point of view, it also has an intellectual and educational reference value to be able to get to know the reality of a country that we Italians know firsthand. geographically and culturally distant... And you authors were invited to participate in person so that we could all recognize ourselves as 'people informed about the facts' and to be able to compare our opinions". With these words, Gherardo Lazzeri, LoGisma publisher, opened the conference, generating a succession of interventions by the authors and journalists present, including the director of La Verità, Francesco Borgonovo, who illustrated with their observations, a broad picture of what was and now is the country tormented by the Taliban government.
Authoritative representatives of the Afghan community in Rome were present, HRH Princess Soraya Malek of Afghanistan, Monsignor Giuseppe Moretti, a Barnabite who led the Catholic diocese in Kabul for many years, Father Giovanni Scalese, also a Barnabite with experience in Afghanistan, Erika Monticone, gender advisor for long periods in Herat.
After the delivery of certificates to the winners of the literary prize, one for each section dedicated to Afghanistan, an interesting debate took place between MEP Cinzia Bonfrisco, Senator Cinzia Pellegrino and Ambassador Zekriya, conducted by Maria Clara Mussa, director Of Cybernaua.it InformAction Magazine.
From the debate, which began with the question: "What can we do to help Afghanistan emerge from the tragedy it is suffering?" it has emerged that the International Community and we Europeans have great responsibilities.
Bonfrisco pointed out how until now “no country has recognized the Taliban government” and that the ''cultural message can be a stronger weapon to support the Afghan people''.
Mussa reported the news in recent days: Nooruddin Azizi, Taliban Minister of Trade, was in China at the ''Silk Road'' Forum organized by the People's Republic of China which continues its program of improving its trade links with the countries in 'Eurasia.
“We need to contain Chinese expansion”, observed Bonfrisco, “From the Doha agreements onwards, we have done a lot, but not in an accomplished way”.
He also noted that the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, established the ''Afghan women's day''.
Senator Pellegrino pointed the finger at the human rights denied to Afghan women: “When you want to control a people, you silence the women; because the woman represents rebellion, she is the guardian of history and manages to change things. It is the method used by all oppressive structures. And the Taliban fear their own political ''death''”.
“Let us not overlook the fact that Afghanistan has become home to 23 terrorist institutions,” the ambassador noted; “The international community needs to take note of this. And it would be appropriate to set up an authoritative group", he said concluding the meeting, "a group of technocrats who, with their own skills and experience, can rebuild the future of Afghanistan; there are people capable of operating."
The discussion therefore remains open on how to help the Afghan people; an issue that must involve the attention of the international community, due to the gravity of the situation in which the country finds itself. Women are not allowed to live, but the whole country is suffering the most serious humanitarian catastrophe ever.
The following journalists and writers have received the award:
Farhad Bitani for the ''Novels'' section, with the book The last white sheet (Neri Pozza 2020)
Giorgio Battisti and Germana Zuffanti for the ''Reportage'' section, with the book Escape from Kabul. The return of the Taliban to Afghanistan (Country Editions 2021)
Andrea Franchini for the ''History'' section, with the book Afghanistan. Story of a country in crisis (Editorial Program 2022)
Special mention for the photographic book by Lorenzo Peluso, Across the river. My Afghanistan (Gagliardi publisher 2021)
(Press Release from the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan)
