President Milanović Receives Delegation of Jajce Croats

The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović received the chair of the Municipal Council of Jajce Josip Topić, co-chair Ivo Šimunović, the director of the Agency for the Cultural and Historical and Natural Heritage and Development of Tourist Potentials of the Town of Jajce Ante Brtan, and the president of the Association “13th September” Jajce Darko Samardžić.

The representatives of the Croats of Jajce acquainted President Milanović with the current state of affairs in the Municipality of Jajce, underlining in particular the problems that the Croats face in that municipality, and in general in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As one of the major problems, they underlined the reconstruction of homes owned by Croats, which for the most part has yet to be undertaken. Furthermore, they discussed the significance of the cultural and monumental heritage of Jajce for the identity of the Croats of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the economic situation with a message that the Croats have resolved to remain in Jajce.

The theme of the meeting was the recent celebration of the liberation of the Town of Jajce organized by the Association “13th September”, which groups all the defenders’ associations of that municipality. Jajce was liberated in the scope of operation “Maestral” launched on 8^th September, and the town was liberated on 13^th September 1995. They invited President Milanović to visit Jajce next year in September on the occasion of Liberation Day.

Alongside President Milanović at the meeting was the Adviser to the President of the Republic for Foreign and European Policy Neven Pelicarić, and the Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Dario Andrišek