President Milanović with Croats in Janjevo: Croatia is thinking of you, we will help as much as we can

On the first day of his Official visit to the Republic of Kosovo, the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović paid a visit to the Croats in Janjevo. There President Milanović spoke with Rev. Mato Palić, pastor in Janjevo and met with members of the Croatian minority with whom he discussed living conditions in Kosovo.

The visit of President Milanović with members of the Croatian community was held in St. Nicholas Church. “Dear fellow Croats! I rarely say this in Croatia because that is Croatia, but this is Kosovo, another state, a friendly and dear one. I hope that you feel at home here, I think that the relation of people in this state towards our homeland is good and vice versa”, President Milanović said among others.

Talking about Croatianhood he said that it is not an issue of race or origin but an issue of reason and belonging “to one idea, to a circle of people who are not the same, are not of the same origin, and are even not of the same native soil”.

“This small enclave of Croatianhood, these are people who have never forgotten who they are, where they are from. This is such a big accomplishment because the people left Dubrovnik so many centuries ago and to this day live in an environment that is friendly, is not Croatian, but that identity has been preserved. This is not an easy task and is full of uncertainty”, the President added.

“We are with you and we are thinking of you. We will help as much as we can, and you yourselves know what is best for you. We would like you to remain here, but the Homeland has a large embrace”, President Milanović told the Croats in Janjevo, and expressed confidence that the government will help as much as it should and even more. “Since my childhood the term Janjevac was a synonym for successful people, with a lot of money, but now I see that you have a difficult and demanding life. I can wish you all the best and pass on the ideas and messages to Zagreb, to the people who can help you. I wish you a Merry Christmas, a healthy New Year and I hope to see you again”, President Milanović concluded his address.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Marko Beljan