The leaders of ethnic Croats, who received Anušić, said Croatia’s help was key for the Croatian minority, the Vojvodina newspaper “Hrvatska Riječ” said on Wednesday.
Anušić and his associates visited the Monoštor parish house which will become with support from Croatia a place for gathering and promoting the culture and tradition of local Šokci gathered around the association Bodrog.
The county prefect said it was their duty to help their countrymen in Serbia, which Osijek-Baranja County has been doing for years.
“We are always ready to do that. Not only help financially but also stand behind you politically. Specifically, when we are talking about the Monoštor parish house, we will allocate additional funds for that project. You can count on us,” Anušić said during a meeting with representatives of the Croatian community.
He said that ethnic communities in Croatia were getting support, so Serbia should also do that for their minorities and get more involved in the projects of Croats.
“Until that happens, we will, not only Osijek-Baranja County but also other counties in Croatia, help the projects of the Croatian National Council (HNV),” said Anušić, as carried by Hrvatska Riječ.
He said a meeting would be organized in Osijek to determine cross-border cooperation projects financed by the European Union, which are of interest to both Osijek-Baranja County and Croats in Serbia.
The support from Osijek-Baranja County is equivalent to the funds the HNV received from Serbia’s budget, said HNV president Jasna Vojnić.
“Over the past four years, Osijek-Baranja County has provided €100,000, which is a fifth of the HNV’s total budget and which how much the Republic of Serbia gives us,” she said.
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