EU – Western Balkans Summit opens in Montenegro

A two-day summit of the European Union and the Western Balkans opened in Tivat Montenegro, on Thursday. The focus of discussion is on the perspective of European Union expansion and strengthening resilience in an increasingly complex geopolitical context.

Ahead of the summit Prime Minister Andrej Plenković met with representatives of the Croatian minority in Montenegro. They met at the Josip Marković Cultural Center, which is vital to ensure the continued survival of the Croatian community in Montenegro.

"We are small in numbers, but large in our unity with Croatia, and it is precisely through this unity with Croatia that we derive vitality and security. We thank you for this feeling of spiritual closeness and security," said the President and representative of the Croatian Civic Initiative in the Parliament of Montenegro, Adrian Vuksanović.

Although there are less than 6 000 Croats in Montenegro, Prime Minister Plenković vowed to help them preserve their national identity and achieve their goal of survival as Croatians in Montenegro: "My message today is that, based on your initiative and project for the restoration and reconstruction of this Croatian home, we will reserve funds in the state budget, and we will surely realize it together so that this is not only the seat of the Croatian National Council, but also of other institutions of the Croats in Montenegro."

The Prime Minister was presented with a charter in honor of the 1100th anniversary of the Croatian Kingdom.

A financial support agreement was also signed for Radio Dux, the Croatian national minority whose voice has been heard on the air for 17 years. The State Secretary of the Central State Office for Croats Abroad, Zvonko Milas: "Radio Dux, as well as the Croatian Gazette, are not only a means of information for the Croatian community and beyond, I would say that they are a strong voice in preserving identity, a strong voice of a people who may be small in number but who are extremely significant in terms of history and cultural heritage."

"This is a donation that is sufficient for Radio Dux to cover operating costs for the coming year and to broadcast the news on its portal. This is important from the perspective of the Croatian people but also important from the perspective of the Croatian community in Montenegro," noted Zvonimir Deković, the President of the Croatian National Council of Montenegro.

The Croatian Government is also working on resolving other open issues with Montenegro, such as property and legal relations and compensation for Croatian’s interred in Montenegrin concentration camps during the Homeland War.

Source: HRT