President Milanović Tours Croatian Clubs and Meets with Members of Croatian Community in Antofagasta

On Saturday the President of the Republic of Croatia Zoran Milanović visited societies and clubs of Croatian emigrants in Antofagasta, northern Chile, where he met and talked to members of the large Croatian community.

In Antofagasta President Milanović visited “Sociedad Croata” society, the oldest Croatian institution founded in 1894 whose founders mostly originated from the island of Brač. In the society’s premises in the city centre, the President attended a cultural and artistic entertainment programme performed by the society’s youngest members. He then visited the “Bomba Hrvatska” Fire Brigade and the “Hrvatski sokol” (Croatian Hawk) Sports Club where the day before he had watched the football match between Croatia and Brazil, which Croatia won. The President presented a gift to the “Bomba Hrvatska “ Fire Brigade from the Croatian Firefighting Association.

Approximately 200,000 Croats and their descendants live in Chile today and about 6,000 of them have Croatian citizenship. They assemble in various cultural and sports associations and clubs where they take part in activities aimed at promoting Croatian culture through music, song, dance, gastronomy and the history of the Croatian people. Ties with the motherland are nurtured with the third even the fourth generation of Croatian emigrants.

Later this evening Chilean time, a formal dinner in Antofagasta will be held on the occasion of President Milanović’s Official visit where he will meet with a large number of Croatian emigrants who live in northern Chile.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta