Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman continued his visit to Australia over the weekend by meeting with representatives of the Croatian community at a Christmas gala dinner in Sydney. The event was organized by a number of Croatian associations, including the AUS-NZ Croatian Women in Leadership, the Australian Croatian Chamber of Commerce NSW, the Croatian Catholic Centre, as well as the Concord and King Tomislav Croatian clubs. The minister underscored that the Croatian diaspora all over the world played an important role in Croatia’s international recognition, adding that many of those in attendance also played a part in Croatia’s struggle for independence.
“Croats still bear the scars inflicted under communist Yugoslavia because of their striving for freedom, historic identity and the freedom of religion, even beyond the borders. This is why we are closely following the case of the Croatian Six in Sydney,” Grlić Radman said. He added that Croatia had full confidence in the judicial process of the friendly Australia, with which we share common values, underlining that the Croatian government was willing to support the continuation of the court investigation in New South Wales to shed light on all facts of the case.
Conclusively, the minister thanked the big, strong and proud Croatian community for their support and commitment to the homeland throughout its history, stressing that the government would continue to invest strongly in programmes for the Croatian diaspora.
Also present at the event were representatives of the Australian Parliament, Senator Marija Kovacic, MP Hon Alex Hawke, Parliamentary Secretary to the NSW Attorney General Hugh McDermott, MP Stephanie Di Pasqua, and Councilwoman Bianca Crvelin.
While in Sydney, Grlić Radman also visited the future premises of the Croatian Club Sydney - The Concord, and held talks with its president Zvonimir Kurtović and his associates about the challenges and opportunities they face.
In addition, the minister met with the Croatian community in the Croatian Catholic Centre St. Nikola Tavelic, commending their role in nurturing the Croatian identity and promoting culture.
He awarded Croatian citizenship to 40 persons at the King Tomislav Croatian Club, emphasizing that one of the main priorities of Croatia’s foreign policy was connecting Croats in Croatia and abroad, along with constant care and support for advancing the status of Croats in neighbouring states where they are a national minority, or a constituent people as in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Grlić Radman also held talks with representatives of the Croatian Studies Foundation about cooperation and the nurturing of Croatian culture and education. The Foundation was established in 1984 and its work led to the establishment of the Croatian Studies Centre in cooperation with Macquarie University, offering undergraduate and graduate programmes in Croatian language, culture and history. The minister supported the representatives in safeguarding and advancing the language and culture, stressing that the Croatian government would continue to back the Foundation’s work and development.
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