Joining Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović at this traditional gala event hosted by the Prsten Association were science and education minister Pavo Barišić, MP Drago Prgomet representing the prime minister, state secretaries Zvonko Milas and Zdravka Bušić and the ambassador of Bosnia-Herzegovina Renata Paškalj. Also among the special guests were former Croatian president Ivo Josipović and the Croatian member of the Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina Dragan Čović, joined by many other guests and dignitaries from Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Austria and Germany.
Some four hundred guests and dignitaries gathered on the 3rd of December at Zagreb’s Sheraton hotel for the eleventh Prsten Association of Bosnian Croats Gala Dinner, bringing together members and friends of the association (http://www.udruga-prsten.hr/posts.aspx?PageID=36&cmsID=2). On hand for the event was its high patron Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović.
Also at this traditional gala event hosted by the Bosnian Croatian group was Croatian science and education minister Pavo Barišić, Member of Parliament Drago Prgomet as the special representative of the Croatian prime minister, State Secretary Zvonko Milas, who heads the State Office for Croats Abroad, State Secretary Zdravka Bušić from the foreign and European affairs ministry and the ambassador of Bosnia-Herzegovina to Croatia Renata Paškalj. Also among the special guests were former Croatian president Ivo Josipović and the Croatian member of the Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina Dragan Čović, joined by many other guests and dignitaries from Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Austria and Germany.
The gathered were welcomed and greeted by Prsten association president Mijo Marić, who spoke of the role of the association, numbering some three thousand individual members and three hundred entities.
It was also the occasion for the presentation of Prsten foundation scholarships. Student Edo Pleše thanked the association on behalf of the ten recipients, saying he hoped they would justify the confidence that had been expressed in them by the presentation of these scholarships. The Prsten foundation has to date provided scholarships worth some three million kuna for 94 students – one of the current scholarship recipients, Klara Barišić, was the moderator of the event.
Performing at the event were the Prsten Culture & Arts Associations of Varaždin and Osijek and a young dance pair from the Habanera Dance School, with entertainment provided by the Lira band and “the best voice in Croatia” Ruža Janjiš, winner of the second season of the television show The Voice.