Tuesday, December 01, 2009

The German Ethnic Model (III) (Secessionism in South Tyrol)

Newsletter 2009/11/26 - The German Ethnic Model (III)

BOLZANO/VIENNA/BERLIN (Own report) - Ethnic chauvinist forces in Austria are demanding the practical application of German "ethnic rights" to the German speaking population of northern Italy. According to these forces, the government in Vienna should issue Austrian passports to the approx. 300,000 northern Italians (South Tyroleans), whose ancestors had been Austrian up until the First World War.
Germany has a long practice of absorbing the citizens of its East European neighboring countries, but this would be the first time involving a West European neighbor. This demand accompanies talks about the addition of a paragraph to the Austrian Constitution, declaring Vienna the "protective power" of the "South Tyroleans" - a direct infringement on the national sovereignty of the EU member nation, Italy. At the same time demands are gaining momentum in South Tyrol for an ethnic based right of secession, also along the lines of German concepts. Already last spring, the word was going around in Northern Italian Green Party circles that the foundation of a "Free State South Tyrol," along the lines of the Liechtenstein model was
being considered. The ethnic chauvinist rightwing is seeking annexation by Austria.

more
http://www.german-foreign-policy.com/en/fulltext/56302

No comments: