President Milanović Receives Representatives of the Union of Anti-Fascist Fighters and Anti-Fascists of Koprivnica-Križevci County
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović today received representatives of the Union of Anti-Fascist Fighters and Anti-Fascists of Koprivnica-Križevci County.
The Union of Anti-Fascist Fighters and Anti-Fascists of Koprivnica-Križevci County brings together local anti-fascist associations, actively fosters a culture of remembrance, and commemorates key events from the anti-fascist struggle in the area. The Union’s main activities focus on preserving historical truth, organising commemorations, and restoring memorial heritage, it was said at the meeting. The Union has around 200 active members, with new and younger members also joining who wish to help preserve anti-fascist values, it was emphasised.
Union President Anica Desnica explained that several important events related to the anti-fascist struggle in Koprivnica-Križevci County are commemorated in September. The most important of these is the establishment of the “Braća Radić” Brigade on 4 September. In cooperation with the Municipality of Rasinja and the Alliance of Anti-Fascist Fighters and Anti-Fascists of the Republic of Croatia, the Union therefore organises a central commemoration every year on 4 September to mark the anniversary of the Brigade’s establishment, in the forest between Duga Rijeka and Ludbreški Ivanec. They also highlighted the closure of the Ustasha concentration camp at Danica, which took place on 1 September, as another important event. Today, Danica is a memorial site within the Museum of the Town of Koprivnica. The meeting also discussed the need for partial restoration of the memorial site, for which funding has been secured.
In addition to Union President Anica Desnica, who is also a member of the Association of Anti-Fascist Fighters and Anti-Fascists of the Town of Koprivnica, the meeting at the Office of the President of the Republic was attended by numerous members of the Union and members of local associations of anti-fascist fighters and anti-fascists: Ivan Knok, Rade Prosenjak, Dušan Dulikravić, Stjepan Henezi, Milan Podravac, Marijana Lokotar, Biserka Sitar, Božidar Bačić, Željko Laptoš, Žarko Pintarec, Dražen Ernečić, Ana Marija Đurđ, Diana Žepina, Jovan Kantar, Marija Vukobratović and Branko Dulikravić.
The meeting was also attended by Koprivnica-Križevci County Prefect Tomislav Golubić, a member of the Union and of the Association of Anti-Fascist Fighters and Anti-Fascists of the Town of Koprivnica, and Davor Tetec, Head of the Municipality of Rasinja, a member of the Union and of the Association of Anti-Fascist Fighters and Anti-Fascists of Rasinja.
President Milanović was accompanied at the meeting by Melita Mulić, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Human Rights and Civil Society.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Ana Marija Katić