ZAGREB, August 22, 2018 - The government of the northern Serbian autonomous province of Vojvodina has allocated 14,500 euro for textbooks for first graders enrolling in Serbian-language schools operating in areas where the Joint Council of Municipalities (ZVO) is active in eastern Croatia's Vukovar-Srijem and Osijek-Baranja counties, Radio-Television Vojvodina reported on Wednesday.
This gesture will contribute to the commitment of the two countries regarding care for minority communities, which was also highlighted at the last joint meeting of the inter-governmental committee for minorities in Serbia and Croatia, held last January in Belgrade.
The state secretary in Serbia's Ministry of State Administration and Local Self-Government Ivan Bošnjak then said that "all matters and problems facing the minority communities in both countries" will be discussed at that and following meetings, noting that one of the priority topics will be "education and employment, particularly in the public sector."
ZVO is a body that aligns the interests of the Serb ethnic community in eastern Slavonia, Baranja and western Srijem on the territory of Osijek-Baranja and Vukovar-Srijem counties, coordinates rights and presents initiatives and proposals to government institutions.
ZVO can establish and manage information and publishing activities of the Serb community aimed at preserving national identity, customs, religion, tradition, language and script.
