The preservation of Italian graves in Istria started as a plan launched by I.R.C.I. in 1995 for the Croatian jurisdiction and was implemented in 1996 when 177 cemeteries were visited. Besides the reports, 17.000 photographs were taken. In the following years the pictures were catalogued together with the transcriptions of the epigraphs. In the same period all rulings regarding cemeteries, both on national and municipal level, were collected and examined. In 1998 the new law for cemeteries in Croatia was adopted, including updates, costs and fees. A copy of our reports was sent to the municipal authorities, as well as the request to add in the new provisions the mandatory preservation of cemetery monuments built before 31st December 1956 (when the exodus came to an end). We also requested to compare and update the available data about graves that had been abandoned or not paid for. We hope that in 2000 we will be able to start the negotiations for the local maintenance of around 7000 graves or, be that not possible, for the relocation in a specific epigraphic museum that will be set up inside or outside the considered cemetery.   The new rulings concerning cemeteries include the right of limitless use of the burial plot against payment. The right is extended to those who exercised this right in the past as well. However not all cemetery administrative offices possess the documents related to the Austro-Hungarian period. All interested parties should therefore submit their documents or write and send a self-certification where the person declares their rights.   During the visits of 1996, 707 monuments and gravestones bearing Italian worn-out epigraphs were registered. After the new visits in 1999, other 300 elements were added. The new legislative framework, requiring that municipalities provide detailed cemetery maps for each cemetery, made it easier for us to identify the precise location of the Italian graves. We identified their sector, row and number and sent a copy of the reports to the municipal authorities and the funeral homes for a mutually beneficial data exchange as mentioned before. In 2000 we cooperated with many municipalities (Pula, Pisino, Umag, Buje, Cittanova, Grisignana, Verteneglio…) in order to ban the yearly fee and to fight discrimination against foreign citizens who have to pay twice as much to access limitless burial lot use. We have not succeeded in achieving these goals yet, but we will continue our fight with the competent authorities.   I.R.C.I. has not only dealt with the preservation of Italian graves in Istria but has also started partnerships with so called “Families” and communities of exiled people, in particular from Rovigno, Pisino, Pola, Parenzo, Visignano, Pinguente-Rozzo-Sovignacco and Montona. Together with the delegations for exiled people from Rovigno and Pisino we met the mayors of those cities in order to discuss the matter of the preservation of Italian tombs. In Pula we discussed about the replacement of 50 damaged wooden crosses with gravestones in the Italian navy cemetery sector. In Visignano the first epigraphic museum was set up by the Comunità degli Esuli (Community of the exiled people). In Rovigno we talked about the construction of an epigraphic museum in Duecastelli (already completed), in Rovigno, Pinguente and Rozzo (still under construction).     On the basis of our initiatives, municipal authorities of Pula and Rovigno appointed their commissions for the preservation of the historical heritage in cemeteries. The city of Pisino is now working in the same direction. Professor Nerina Feresini wrote a text about the history of the Pisino cemetery, a city she has always deeply loved. Likewise, there are similar texts for the cemeteries of Fiume, Zara and partly Umag.   In partnership with the Famiglia Rovignese we carried out a project for the creation of a memorial stone in the cemetery of Rovigno in remembrance of the 17 priests of the city who died during the diaspora. We also realized the project for a memorial stone for the 130 citizens of Rovigno died in the WW2 - soldiers, navy members, victims of the foibe and civilians died during the Allied bombing raids. We realized a project for a memorial stone for the cemetery of Porec commemorating the 94 victims of the foibe in that region (Porec, Torre, Abrega e Villanova di Parenzo). We are currently working on the project for a memorial monument requested by the Famiglia Montonese in remembrance of the 20 victims of Montona, slaughtered in May 1945 and still buried in the Cise pit in Villa Terviso-Scropetti. A big stone cross, to be located near the Vines foiba, has been designed in memory of all the victims of the foibe in Istria. For the construction of the museums we collected detailed information about the cemetery monuments saved from storages or landfills: Cemetery of Visinada: 39 gravestones; Lindaro: 14; Barbana e Pergnani: 22; Lussingrande: 32; Canfanaro: 10; Duecastelli: 3; Rozzo: 22; Pinguente: 40; Berda-Briz: 5; Buie: 58; Grisignana: 22; Materada: 39; Castelvenere: 42; San Lorenzo di Daila: 32; Draguccio: 6; Chersano: 29, for a total of 519 gravestones   In 2001 we plan to collect data for other 114 elements for the museums of smaller cemeteries in Novacco di Pisino, Previso, Borutto, Moncalvo di Pisino, Bellai, Passo, San Giovanni di Sterna, Cerion, Fianona, Cosliacco, Cepich al Lago, Letai, Valdarsa, Santa Croce, Villanova, Sovignacco, Colmo, San Lorenzo-Diminici, Pedena, Carsette, Lanischie and Vodizze. We started the procedure for the allowance to monitor Italian burial lots in Istrian cemeteries under Slovenian jurisdiction in Koper, Pirano, Isola, San Pietro del Carso, Postumia, Sesana and in other cities, once part of the Province of Trieste and now Slovenian. This topic is well developed in the articles regularly written in the publications of different associations (Famiglie) of exiled people like “Unione degli Istriani" "La Voce della Famia Ruvignisa", il "Notiziario Pisinoto", "La Sveglia" of Koper" “Nuova Voce Giuliana" of Pinguente-Rozzo and Sovignacco.     In the local Istrian newspapers - apart from “Voce del Popolo” - and especially in “Glas Istre”, the work of the municipal authorities related to the cemeteries is always of great interest. According to the data from our archive, 51 pieces of news were published in 1996; 36 in 1997, 83 in '98, 90 in '99, 102 in 2000 e 45 by 9 May 2001. Cemetery preservation is also a main topic in the political campaigns of candidates of local elections. I.R.C.I. is not given sufficient funding in order to fulfill its tasks, namely a) guaranteeing limitless concession of Italian burial lots in Istria (in Croatia and Slovenia), often without an heir and constantly rising. b) Payments in arrears and other fees. c) Construction of epigraphic museums. It should be possible to receive funding according to Law no. 72 of 16/03/2001, Journal of Laws no. 73 of 28/03/2001 on preservation works for the historical and cultural heritage of the Italian exiled people from Istria, Fiume and Dalmatia.