Charters were presented to the Croatian Culture Association of Mainz, the Croatian Culture Association of Wiesbaden, The Croatian-European Culture Association of Frankfurt, the German-Croatian Association of Mainz, the Livanjska Zajednica Association of Frankfurt, the Croatian Culture Association of Mannheim, the Hercegovina Croatian Community of Stuttgart, FC Posavina Frankfurt, FC Croatia Frankfurt and the Sveti Ivan Ričice Local Heritage Association.
During her official visit to Germany Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović presented Charters of the Republic of Croatia to ethnic Croatian associations active in this country and met with German businesspeople, including those of Croatian backgrounds.
Charters for patriotic activity, long-term volunteer work in preserving the Croatian language and our culture and customs, and for promoting Croatia and its collaboration with Germany were presented on 10 February to the Croatian Culture Association of Mainz, the Croatian Culture Association of Wiesbaden, The Croatian-European Culture Association of Frankfurt, the German-Croatian Association of Mainz, the Livanjska Zajednica Association of Frankfurt, the Croatian Culture Association of Mannheim, the Hercegovina Croatian Community of Stuttgart, FC Posavina Frankfurt, FC Croatia Frankfurt and the Sveti Ivan Ričice Local Heritage Association.
For contributions to Croatian sovereignty, promotion of the international status and reputation of Croatia and its relations with other countries Michael Haußner received the Order of Ante Starčević; for particular contributions to Croatian independence and sovereignty and its international reputation and status Karl Müller received the Order of Ante Starčević.
President Grabar-Kitarović said that these decorations and awards aim to round off her term as the head of state in which she highlighted the role of the Croatian diaspora: people from Croatian and Bosnia-Herzegovina that have found a new home abroad.
Thanking all the diaspora communities that supported her through her term in office and worked with her to bolster ties between the homeland and the diaspora, President Grabar-Kitarović noted that she had worked from the start of her term on reviving the neglected relationship with our diaspora communities. “Although many obstacles still plague us along the way, thanks to the efforts of your communities and associations, we have witnessed in the past years both returnee achievements and economic and social ties that have overcome the gap between the diaspora and homeland Croatia,” the president said.
The president continued her working visit to Germany meeting with businesspeople in Mainz, including those of Croatian background, concluding a content-rich and productive Croatian-themed business event staged to coincide with the Croatian presidency of the Council of the European Union.