Grabar-Kitarovic: Croatia will never give up on Croats in Bosnia

Anadolija

Croatia has always and will always be with Croats in Bosnia, and will never give up on them, President of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, said in Mostar on Wednesday.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the first anniversary of the Association of Bosnian Croats ‘Prsten’ (‘Ring’), she emphasised the importance of unity among the Croats who live in two separate homelands.

“Croatia has always been with you and will always be. I proved that during my term and will not give up on you, no matter what,” said Grabar-Kitarovic, who will run in Croatia's presidential elections next month.

“I always say that I am proud of our people, who preserve and cherish the family values, who respect and cherish the origin of its predecessors, the people of open hearts and generous hands are the greatest treasure of every country and our people has always been showing solidarity, open hearts and generous hand to everyone, especially to those in trouble, both at home and away from it,” said the President.

The Republic of Croatia has always been helping the Croats in Bosnia and will never stop doing that.

“Without cherishing its historic and cultural identity, one cannot speak about the survival of the Croat people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where they keep emigrating from according to official data,” said Grabar-Kitarovic, stressing that this is why it is of utmost importance to involve the communities, associations as well as the Catholic Church.

She thanked the ‘Ring’ association for having a clear vision of the future of the Croat people in Bosnia and working on the preservation of their status.

Advocating for the Croats in Bosnia has been and will remain her policy, the President said.

“The Croats have two homelands, the Republic of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, but we are one soul and one people. This is why I won't stop until the Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina are given what belongs to the historically, politically and in accordance with the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina. That's the full equality and exercising all their rights as a constituent people,” she said, adding that “all those who believe that the Croats will disappear from Bosnia and Herzegovina are wrong.”

“They won't. I will be your guarantee that the Croats will not be neglected again like they were during the long 15 years of my two predecessors,” she added.