President Milanović Meets with Members of Native Community of Borovica from Bosnia and Herzegovina

The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović met today at the Office of the President with members of the Native Community of Borovica from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Members of the Native Community of Borovica thanked President Milanović for genuinely fighting for the rights of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina and informed him about the group’s activities. According to the Native Community members, their goal is to encourage Croats from Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially those who live in the central part of the country, to remain there. Through various activities, their goal is to show that Croats in central Bosnia and Herzegovina have not been forgotten or abandoned.

They drew special attention to their project of erecting a statue of Saint Hedwig in Borovica, which would give Borovica a well-deserved place and lasting significance in the history of the Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Native Community of Borovica, in cooperation with the associations of Poles in Bosnia and Herzegovina, has already raised part of the funds needed for completing the project, and assistance is also expected from the Republic of Croatia, it was said at the meeting.

Members also discussed with President Milanović the plight of the population of Borovica during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the circumstances of Croats living in that area today and also the general position of Croats in the country. According to the last census, a total of 146 Croats live in Borovica, while in 1991 there were over 1,500.

The delegation of the Native Community of Borovica included the Native Community and Parish of Borovica coordinator of the Saint Hedwig-Borovica worship project Mladen Miletović, priest of the Transfiguration of the Lord Parish in Borovica Vlado Vrebac, member of the Native Community of Borovica Governing Board Tomislav Matošević and members of the Native Community of Borovica Zdenko Šimić, Slađan Bešlić and Vid Vučak.

Adviser to the President of the Republic for Foreign and European Policy Neven Pelicarić attended the meeting alongside President Milanović.    

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta