"Our objective is to preserve the identity of the Hungarian community in Croatia, in particular in the country's east, through culture, education and our media," DZMH president Robert Jankovics said at a ceremony at the Croatian National Theatre in Osijek.
He said that all DZMH members work in the interests of the Hungarian community while at the same time being law-abiding and loyal citizens of Croatia, noting that the Hungarian community has undergone considerable development in the last six or seven years.
According to the last census, there are 10,315 ethnic Hungarians in Croatia, two-thirds of whom live in eastern Osijek-Baranja County. Jankovics said that the actual number of Hungarians in Croatia is considerably higher, citing the voter register.
Jankovics, who also represents the Hungarian minority in the Croatian Parliament, said that their aim is to increase education in the Hungarian language in Croatia and to continue supporting businesses.
He said that the DZMH is a partner to both the government of Croatia and of Hungary.
Croatian government supports activities of Hungarian minority
Economy and Sustainable Development Minister Davor Filipović attended the ceremony as Prime Minister Andrej Plenković's representative.
He said that the Croatian government, acting through the Office for Human Rights and Rights of Ethnic Minorities, supports the activities of the Hungarian minority in preserving their culture, tradition and identity.
Filipović said that nearly €19 million has been invested in the last few years in projects of the Hungarian minority, and that many projects are under way, including Hungarian-language kindergartens and community centres.
He emphasised the importance of the Ethnic Museum in Kotlina and the Homeland War Museum in Laslovo, honouring the sacrifice of the Hungarian community in defending Croatia during the 1991-1995 war of independence.
Filipović announced further support for small and medium enterprises of ethnic groups, saying that a grant scheme conducted by his ministry for that purpose in 2022 was worth over a million euros.
"Only together can we build prosperity and we will continue to do so," Filipović concluded.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Furio Radin, speaking on behalf of the Italian community in Croatia, said that both these communities have further intensified their ties with their respective parent countries after Croatia joined the EU's Schengen free travel area.
"Now we live with them under the same roof, which is very important to us," Radin said and added: "Our greatest thanks go to those with whom will live together every day, to Croatian women and men and members of other ethnic minorities."
The ceremony was also attended by Arpad Janos Potapi, state secretary of the Hungarian government for relations with Hungarian communities abroad; Zvonko Milas, state secretary of the Central State Office for Croats Abroad, and Tihomir Florijančić, president of the Osijek City Council.