President Milanović Speaks with Leadership of Croats from Bay of Kotor on the Status and Preservation of Tradition of Croats in Montenegro

The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović received a delegation of the Association of Croats from the Bay of Kotor (Zajednica bokeljskih Hrvata), a non-government, non-political, non-profit organization founded with the aim of promoting and preserving the tradition, the culture, economic cooperation and the humanitarian work of Croats from the Bay of Kotor in Croatia and Montenegro. In the delegation were the president Srećko Đuranović, vice-president Luka Perković, general secretary Tomislav Brguljan, executive secretary Marijan Banelli as well as Association member and manager of the project “Putevima bokeljskih Hrvata” (The Paths of the Croats of Bay of Kotor) Toni Dabinović.

They discussed the status of Croats in Montenegro and particularly of the Bay of Kotor. The members of the Association informed President Milanović of the initiative they presented to the Croatian Parliament to adopt a Declaration on the Croats of the Bay of Kotor and Bar. Such a move was motivated by the current political situation in Montenegro following the last parliamentary election in that state which had an adverse effect on the status of the Croatian community in Montenegro, and especially in the Bay of Kotor.

Representatives of the Boka Croats further informed President Milanović of the status of the Boka Navy, a crucial issue for Croats of the Bay of Kotor. Although Croatia launched in 2015 an initiative for a joint nomination for inscription of the Boka Navy on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage, Montenegro rejected it and nominated it on its own. The Association considers this unacceptable and supports Croatia’s decision to go on with its nomination because they are members of the Croatian nation in Montenegro and Croatia and are most deserving for preserving the tradition of Boka seamen.

They also acquainted President Milanović with the continuation of the project “Putevima bokeljskih Hrvata”, the President of the Republic of Croatia co-patron with the President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović. The project was launched four years ago, and its goal is to educate the citizens of both countries about the importance of the role of Boka Croats and their rich cultural heritage. Alongside President Milanović at the meeting was the Adviser to the President for Foreign and European policy Neven Pelicarić.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas