EISENSTADT, Feb 22 (Hina) - Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic on Thursday morning arrived in Eisenstadt, the capital of the Austrian province of Burgenland, where the Croatian minority - Burgenland Croats - lives. Mesic has been on a
three-day official visit to Austria since Tuesday. This morning he arrived in Burgenland, accompanied by Austrian President Thomas Klestil who visited this Austrian area for the first time. Klestil's first visit to Burgenland is seen as a sign of understanding of Austria's authorities for the Burgenland Croats' rights. Prior to Eisenstadt, Mesic stopped in Trausdorf where he and Klestil held talks with the Burgenland head, Hans Niessl, and toured a primary school where lessons are given in German and Croatian. According to the 1991 census, there were over 26,000 Burgenland Croats, but some assess that this number is higher by about 15,000. Of them, 73 percent live in Burgenland, and 23 percent is in Vienna. Th
EISENSTADT, Feb 22 (Hina) - Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic on
Thursday morning arrived in Eisenstadt, the capital of the Austrian
province of Burgenland, where the Croatian minority - Burgenland
Croats - lives.
Mesic has been on a three-day official visit to Austria since
Tuesday.
This morning he arrived in Burgenland, accompanied by Austrian
President Thomas Klestil who visited this Austrian area for the
first time. Klestil's first visit to Burgenland is seen as a sign of
understanding of Austria's authorities for the Burgenland Croats'
rights.
Prior to Eisenstadt, Mesic stopped in Trausdorf where he and
Klestil held talks with the Burgenland head, Hans Niessl, and
toured a primary school where lessons are given in German and
Croatian.
According to the 1991 census, there were over 26,000 Burgenland
Croats, but some assess that this number is higher by about 15,000.
Of them, 73 percent live in Burgenland, and 23 percent is in
Vienna.
This minority is very well organised. It has 26 kindergartens, 29
primary schools and one high school in southern Burgenland.
(hina) ms