“I will not move from Croatia for a million euros,” says David Šav.
While Joško Joras, an infamous Slovenian troublemaker living in the border area between Croatia and Slovenia, had no comment on the decision by the Slovenian government to offer up to 100,000 euros to Slovenian families if they decide to move out of their houses which are located in the Croatian part of the border area, other people living in the region are divided about this proposal, reports 24sata.hr on December 15, 2017.
While some have welcomed the proposal and are undertaking steps to take the offered money, Slovenian David Šav from Škudelin has categorically refused it. “Although I was born in Slovenia, I will not move to Slovenia for a million euros. There are some things which cannot be bought. We have other open issues with the Slovenian government since 1992 when we asked for dual citizenship, and we did not get it, so we had to give up our Croatian citizenship. We have discontinued relations with them and stayed on the Croatian side, and we will continue to live here,” said David, who lives in the village with his family.
He was born in Koper in Slovenia but moved to Croatia with his family when he was just three. “I have heard they offer money to families wishing to move to Slovenia, but we have not yet received an official offer from the Slovenian side. Nobody has visited us. If we were going to sell ourselves, we would do it for more money, but there are things which cannot be bought with any money. I am not neither Croatian nor Slovenian, I consider myself to be an Istrian,” said Šav.
He says that Istria is one region extending to Slovenia, Italy and Croatia. “My mom is half Italian, my father is Slovenian, and I live in Croatia. My family is mixed. My dad has contributed his whole life to the construction of the hospital in Izola, but when I need an exam, I have to pay it, because if I go to a doctor in Croatia, I have to travel much further. Izola is just 15 minutes by car, while Pula is 50 minutes, and Rijeka an hour and ten minutes. My family will not move from Croatia, that is for sure,” explained Šav.
In recent days, representatives of the Slovenian government have been visiting the border areas and talking with the locals.
Others do not share Šav’s position. “For 100,000 euros, I would consider changing my sexual orientation. Therefore, I will think about this offer as well. If I can keep a house in Croatia and live in Slovenia, I will think about it, although for 100,000 euros I cannot buy a property in Slovenia,” said one local.
Translated from 24sata.hr.
