Anušić: Croats abroad an “added value” in every country they live in

Croats living outside Croatia are an “added value” in every country where they reside, Defense Minister Ivan Anušić said in Zagreb on Thursday at an event dedicated to Croat communities abroad.

“They have incredible potential — an example of how a minority community should function. Croats are never a problem in their adoptive countries; they are always an added value,” Anušić said during a round table on the position of Croats in neighbouring countries, held as part of the inaugural Week of Croats Abroad.

At the same time, he stressed that the experiences of Croat communities vary greatly depending on where they live.

“It is not the same to be a Croat in Vojvodina, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, or Montenegro, as it is to be a Croat in New Zealand, Australia, Germany, or the United States. The difference is enormous,” he said.

Anušić noted that Croatia has a constitutional obligation to care for Croats abroad and said the current government strongly supports Croatian communities outside the country.

“The Croatian government stands by our communities, although this has not always been the case,” he added.

Croatia’s current efforts to support Croats abroad were praised by Croatian MP and president of the Croatian National Council in Serbia, Jasna Vojnić, and the president of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lidija Bradara.

“With this government, things have changed significantly. Unfortunately, we would not be able to survive without Croatia’s support. We live in specific circumstances. It is not the same to be a Croat in Serbia as somewhere else,” Vojnić said.

Bradara also praised the government of Prime Minister Andrej Plenković for its support and said that Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, although recognised as a constituent people, still lack adequate political representation.

“That is extremely frustrating for the Croat people,” she said.

The Week of Croats Abroad, aimed at strengthening ties and unity among Croats worldwide, is being held from May 25 to 31 in Zagreb and Zagreb County.