Abruzzo News: 23 May 2001

In 1948 Mario Basti left Ortona for Buenos Aires. Twelve years later he was director of the "Corriere degli Italiani", which he left in 1977 to found his own "Tribuna Italiana", now in its 24th year, the largest publication in the Italian language in Argentina. About 50% of the 34 million Argentinians are of Italian origin, but only 500,000 speak italian. 1 million Argentinians also have an Italian passport, which grants them access to the EU and the USA. Marco Basti, Mario's son, believes there are about 90,000 Abruzzese in Argentina, most of them in Quilmes, Berazategui and Bahia Blanca.