Big plans for Imotski and surrounding areas.
President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović visited Imotski on Wednesday where she participated in the celebrations of the day of the town, the feast of Our Lady of Angels, which is this year even more important than usual because it marks the 300th anniversary of the liberation of Imotski from the Ottoman Empire, reports Večernji List on 2 August 2017.
“There are few peoples whose history is so troubled, filled with endless battles for survival, freedom and emancipation. Just in the last century, we had to endure three terrible wars, but the greatest sacrifice was made during the three centuries of defence from the Ottomans. The feast of Our Lady of Angels is a golden part of our history because it is the day of liberation of Imotski,” she said in a speech at the special session of the Town Council.
“Three centuries have passed, and distant wars are something from which we must learn lessons. They teach us about the value of peace which we must continuously build on the foundations of equality and mutual respect towards different faiths and peoples. In democratic Croatia, we have achieved much in creating an atmosphere of equality for all our citizens,” said the President and added that the memory of the past makes sense only if it opens the horizons towards the future.
“The focus of politics must be on creating such economic policies that will enable every Croatian citizen to lead a good life in Croatia. Unfortunately, Imotski has not yet been the focus of these endeavours. This should be acknowledged and corrected. Let us not forget that the people of Imotski, although this region was not affected by the Greater Serbian aggression, were willing to defend the homeland and many have given their lives. This is an additional reason why we should launch a project of economic reconstruction and demographic revival,” said Grabar-Kitarović.
She added that she had talked with State Property Minister Goran Marić, who promised her that facilities of the old tobacco station would soon be handed over to the Town of Imotski. She also spoke with Transport Minister Oleg Butković, who told her that the Imotski-Zagvozd road, with a connection to the main motorway, had been included in the government’s four-year plan for road construction.
“With this project, Croatia will pay its debt to Imotski. I am convinced that, after the road is completed, we will speak about Imotski as a Croatia’s Provence,” said Grabar-Kitarović.
She also talked about the emigrants who, if they want to, should be able to return, and about the need for stronger ties with the diaspora, which was an important factor in the victory during the Homeland War.
Translated from Večernji List.
