Joso Ostrogonac, József Szolga and Angela Šokac Marković spoke of the founding of the federation and its current status. Ernest Barić, Đuro Vidmarović (a member of the Croatian Heritage Foundation’s board of directors) and Dinko Šokčević spoke of the turbulent period in 1990 that saw the demise of the Democratic Federation of Southern Slavs, which operated as a nominal umbrella organisation for all Hungarian nationals of any of the various southern Slavic nationalities.
The Federation of Croatians in Hungary celebrated the 30th anniversary of its founding at an event in Pécs on 27 November. The event kicked off with a Roman Catholic requiem mass in memory of founders of the federation at the local Franciscan church, celebrated by the priest Gabriel Barić. The banner of the federation (https://www.horvatok.hu/index.php/hr/organizacije/udruge/shm) was consecrated at the mass, which included prayers for those who fell in the defence of the country during the 1990s Homeland War for independence. This was followed by a gala event at the Croatian Theatre in Pécs attended by many guests of honour from Hungary and Croatia, founding members of the federation, and current members.
On hand to speak at the event were Croatian ambassador Mladen Andrlić, general consul Drago Horvat, Croatian Heritage Foundation deputy director Ivan Tepeš, Dubravka Severinski, the head of the sector for legal status, culture and the education of Croatians abroad at the State Office for Croats Abroad, the president of Hungary’s state-sponsored administrative organisation for the Croatian ethnic minority Ivan Gugan, the president of the Federation of Croatians in Hungary Joso Ostrogonac, József Szolga, the Croatian nationality advocate in the Hungarian parliament and a member of the presidency of the Federation of Croatians in Hungary for the Drava River region, Angela Šokac Marković, also a member of the federation’s presidency, and Arnold Barić, the deputy president of the federation.
Joso Ostrogonac, József Szolga and Angela Šokac Marković spoke of the founding of the federation and its current status. Ernest Barić, Đuro Vidmarović (a member of the Croatian Heritage Foundation’s board of directors) and Dinko Šokčević spoke of the turbulent period in 1990 that saw the demise of the Democratic Federation of Southern Slavs, which operated as a nominal umbrella organisation for all Hungarian nationals of any of the various southern Slavic nationalities.
The event closed with a presentation by CHF deputy director Tepeš of complimentary gifts to the leadership of the federation with his wishes for their continued successful work.
By: Lada Kanajet Šimić
Photography: Mladen Škrlin, Lada Kanajet Šimić