Eighty-eight programmes of special interest to the Croatians of Bosnia-Herzegovina received funding in 2017, including thirty programmes and projects in the domain of culture, twenty-two in education and science, fourteen in healthcare and twenty-two in other domains.
A ceremony was held on Tuesday, the 12th of September, at the premises of the Croatian Heritage Foundation, for the signing of agreements on the allocation of funding for programmes and projects of special interest to the Croatians of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Eighty-eight programmes of special interest to the Croatians of Bosnia-Herzegovina received funding in 2017, including thirty programmes and projects in the domain of culture, twenty-two in education and science, fourteen in healthcare and twenty-two in other domains.
Speaking on behalf of the State Office for Croats Abroad state secretary Zvonko Milas expressed his confidence that the supported projects and programmes would achieve their objectives – to improve the quality of life for the Croatians of Bosnia-Herzegovina, their wellbeing and prosperity. “These projects show that there is potential – there is knowledge, ability and will. And what is most important – all of them will be implemented in collaboration with associations, communities, the leading institutions of the Croatians of Bosnia-Herzegovina, with representatives of the local and county authorities, demonstrating the unquestionable unity of the Croatian people of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia. The Croatians of Bosnia-Herzegovina are and need to be a leader and the locomotive of development in the whole country. The State Office for Croats Abroad and the entire Croatian Government will provide maximum support to this end,” Milas said. He thanked all the recipients of the support packages, noting that, “Without your ideas, will, tenacity and work many areas in the lives of our people in Bosnia-Herzegovina would be without the necessary support. I congratulate and thank your teams, the people who helped prepare the project proposals and those who will assist in their implementation.”
Friar Mario Divković, the guardian of the monastery of Sts Peter and Paul in Tuzla, expressed his gratitude on behalf of all the recipients, noting that the support of the Croatian Government has manifold significance, primarily as a message of encouragement. “We will stay here. This is our past, present and, what is most important – our future is in Bosnia-Herzegovina,” Divković said.
A culture and arts programme followed the close of the signing ceremony featuring the Municipal Youth Theatre Troupe of Vitez, the Elementary Music School of Ljubuški, musician Eva Pilić of Uskoplje and Željko Matuzović, Maja and Ružica Nedić and Magdalena Mišković, all musicians from Orašje.
Joining state secretary Zvonko Milas of the State Office for Croats Abroad at the signing ceremony were culture minister Nina Obuljen Koržinek, state secretary of the foreign and European affairs ministry Zdravka Bušić, state secretary at the science and education ministry Matko Glunčić, state secretary at the central state office for reconstruction and housing care Nikola Mažar, vice chair of the parliamentary committee on Croats abroad Željko Glasnović, assistant health minister Denis Kovačič and the ambassador of Bosnia-Herzegovina to Croatia Renata Paškalj.
At its 54th session of August 31st of this year the Croatian Government passed a decision on the allocation of funding from the Croatian state budget for programmes and projects in the domains of culture, education, science, healthcare and other domains of special interest to the Croatians of Bosnia-Herzegovina for the year 2017.
The procedure of issuing calls for and assessing applications for funding is conducted by the State Office for Croats Abroad with the support of the foreign and European affairs, culture, health and science and education ministries.
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