ZAGREB, November 10, 2018 - The head of the government's Council for Croats outside Croatia, Ivan Grbešić, said on Saturday that Croats outside Croatia had reason to be optimistic as positive steps were visible after 20 years of promises, while Foreign Minister Marija Pejčinović Burić said the government was trying to advance cooperation and ties between Croats at home and in diaspora.
Speaking at the start of a two-day diaspora conference in Šibenik, Grbešić said those positive steps included amendments to the Citizenship Act, the register of Croats outside Croatia, and programmes for learning Croatian.
He said there were still outstanding issues and that the biggest worry was the position of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). "The indivisibility of Croats is also constitutionally protected, so we think we have the right as well as the duty to help Croats in BiH."
Grbešić said the Council's cooperation with the government was good but that change was too slow. "In the countries we live in, we have learned to discuss with arguments and respect others' opinions, which we sometimes don't share, but that's the only way to create unity and prosperity... Whether we will be successful depends on whether we can communicate."
Minister Pejčinović Burić said that strengthening the unity of diaspora was everyone's task and that this conference was "a confirmation of our unity and ties." "We are tied by a common homeland, a common identity, language, history, cultural heritage and our faith," she said, adding that Croats outside Croatia had played an outstanding role in the most difficult moments, such as in pushing for Croatia's freedom, independence and international recognition.
She said that commitment still existed "in many matters of importance for Croatia" and that the incumbent government was doing its best to advance cooperation and ties between Croats at home and abroad. "We especially advocate the rights of Croats in European countries and our key foreign policy priority is strengthening the Croat people in BiH."
The minister said amendments to the Citizenship Act, which are in procedure, were aimed at answering many outstanding questions faced by Croatian emigrants.
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