EISENSTADT, Nov 6 (Hina) - The future of Europe lies both in integration and diversity of peoples, and Burgenland has set an excellent example for it, said the Croatian national parliament's head Zlatko Tomcic and Burgenland's head
Karl Stix on Monday. Sabor Speaker Tomcic commenced his one-day visit to this region of Austria with talks with Stix. The Croatian official arrived in Eisenstadt at the invitation of the Burgenland Croats' cultural society. "The Burgenland Croats are great patriots and loyal citizens of Austria, and they are also very willing to preserve their mother tongue and culture from their motherland," Tomcic said adding that an united Europe must take care of helping maintain identity of all peoples regardless of where they lived. He also promised the Sabor's assistance to the Burgenland Croats' cultural activities. Stix underlined Burgenland's specific feature that for over 46
EISENSTADT, Nov 6 (Hina) - The future of Europe lies both in
integration and diversity of peoples, and Burgenland has set an
excellent example for it, said the Croatian national parliament's
head Zlatko Tomcic and Burgenland's head Karl Stix on Monday.
Sabor Speaker Tomcic commenced his one-day visit to this region of
Austria with talks with Stix. The Croatian official arrived in
Eisenstadt at the invitation of the Burgenland Croats' cultural
society.
"The Burgenland Croats are great patriots and loyal citizens of
Austria, and they are also very willing to preserve their mother
tongue and culture from their motherland," Tomcic said adding that
an united Europe must take care of helping maintain identity of all
peoples regardless of where they lived.
He also promised the Sabor's assistance to the Burgenland Croats'
cultural activities.
Stix underlined Burgenland's specific feature that for over 460
years the Croat minority had lived together with locals who spoke
German.
He added that the implementation of Article 7 of a state treaty of
1955 on bilingual education and bilingual toponyms was near
completion.
Burgenland has set an excellent example for an united Europe, Stix
and Tomcic agreed explaining that different peoples had been living
together in this region peacefully for years and maintaining their
identities simultaneously.
After his talks with Stix, Tomcic held a meeting with the Croat
minority's representatives in the offices of Burgenland Croats'
cultural society.
The Cultural Society is the oldest and the biggest organisation of
local Croats. Besides it, there are other societies and
organisations that also make efforts to preserve the identity of
this minority in Austria.
Burgenland Croat representatives told Tomcic about the necessity
to strengthen the ties between this region and Croatia.
The Society's head, Zlatka Gieler, expressed concern at the
increasing assimilation of Burgenland Croats and pointed to the
necessity that kids began learning the Croatian language.
Sabor Speaker met also representatives of the Burgenland farmers'
organisation and this afternoon he is to hold talks with the
Burgenland Assembly's chairman Erwin Schranz.
(hina) ms