Zenka visits the Croatian National Council: Improving the promotion of the cultural and historical heritage of national minorities

During the regular working visits to the national councils of minority people, Minister for Human and Minority Rights Mehmed Zenka paid a visit to the Croatian National Council of Montenegro in the Josip Marković Cultural Center in Donja Lastva.

On that occasion, Minister Zenka and Croatian National Council President Zvonimir Deković discussed the legal definition, status and position of minority national councils in Montenegro and exchanged views on current challenges in the field of improving the position of minority people together with the suggestions for intensifying the existing co-operation.

Minister Zenka stressed the importance of the role of national minority councils and other minority national communities in affirming the national and cultural identity and cultural heritage of their people, and that this is by no means prejudicial to the multiculturalism in  Montenegro, nevertheless it strengthens the values ​​of coexistence.

National minorities in Montenegro, including the Croatian national minority, have been recognized by the Montenegrin authorities as a quality and reliable strategic partner on the path of European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Montenegro, whose Republic of Croatia is already a full member.  

Minister Zenka and President of the Council Zvonimir Deković expressed satisfaction with the quality of cooperation that the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights has with the Croatian National Council of Montenegro, which certainly guarantees the active contribution to the protection and promotion of the rights of the Croatian people as a minority and the promotion of the cultural heritage and cultural and historical heritage of the Croatian people in Montenegro Worse.

Mr. Deković informed Minister about the numerous activities the Croatian National Council carried out in the previous year as well as the plans for 2017. On this occasion, Deković emphasized and commended the cooperation with the Montenegrin Croatian National Committee and its activities in Croatia on the affirmation of the Montenegrin national minority.

It was jointly considered that the strengthening of cultural and scientific cooperation between the two nations through project activities that affirm the tradition and culture of minorities and contribute to the promotion of multiculturalism and interculturalism in Montenegro, which is something Ministry and national councils are obliged to having signed  the Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Montenegro.

Ministry for Human and MinorityRights