"Honorary Consulate of Armenia in Puglia Joins the Unveiling of the Bust of Prof. Biagio Tatò: Barletta, April 26, 2026," by Carlo Coppola
On Sunday, April 26, 2026, at 11:00 AM, a ceremony will be held at the headquarters of the Municipal Police in Barletta (Via Zanardelli 3) to unveil a commemorative bust dedicated to Sen. Prof. Dr. Filomeno Biagio Tatò. The event will be attended by the Prefect of the Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani (BAT), Dr. Flavia Anania, the Mayor of Barletta, Cosimo Damiano Cannito, and leading civil and institutional authorities, alongside the Tatò family. Notably, the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Armenia in Bari, Dr. Dario Rupen Timurian, will be present to represent the Consulate in this moment of collective memory, which holds a profound significance within this week’s calendar. The choice of April 26 is far from coincidental, as it immediately follows two pivotal anniversaries: Italy’s Liberation Day on April 25 and the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day on April 24. "April 24 and 25 are dates that speak, in different but converging languages, of peoples who have transformed suffering into collective memory, restored dignity, and a civil commitment passed down through generations," stated Consul Timurian, adding that this unveiling—an act naturally intended to resist oblivion—occurring in the immediate aftermath of these two dates is more than a mere coincidence. Beyond the symbolic timing, there is a deep biographical connection, as Sen. Tatò maintained close personal ties with members of the local Armenian community, heirs to the diaspora that gathered around the Nor Arax village and the poet Hrand Nazariantz.
Consul Timurian recalled how Sen. Tatò recognized a vibrant and precious component of the Apulian social fabric in that community, a recognition the Consulate continues to honor. Senator of the Republic in the XIV Legislature, Regional Councilor of Puglia, and Associate Professor of Orthopedics at the University of Bari, Sen. Tatò was a key figure in the establishment of the Province of BAT and a founder of medical centers of excellence. A recipient of the Meritorious Citizenship of Barletta, he led the SIREF syndicate for nearly forty years, defending the right to care for the most vulnerable. On a personal level, he was the pillar of a distinguished family including his wife Prof. Lilia, descendant of the patriot Giustino Fortunato, his daughter Dr. Ilaria, and his granddaughters Enrica and Ilaria. The Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Armenia in Bari proudly joins the City of Barletta in this act of remembrance and gratitude.
