Austrian Croats "extremely important" to Croatia, says Jandroković

Zagreb - The Croats in Austria are extremely important to Croatia, which wants to develop the best relations possible with them, notably the younger generation, Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković said in Vienna on Wednesday.

"There are many Croats in Austria. There are 50,000 Burgenland Croats and 80,000 Croats who came here because of work, for political reasons in the past. They are all extremely important to Croatia," he told the press before meeting with representatives of Austrian Croat associations.

"We want to have the strongest relations possible with them, with the younger generation which is doing better and better in Austria," said Jandroković.

"Croatia wants to build quality relations with all Croats, with representatives of the Croatian national minority, including here in Austria."

Asked about the learning of a so-called Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian language and not Croatian as a separate language in Austrian elementary and secondary schools, Jandroković said Croatia was working on a solution to the problem.

"Colleagues from the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs warned me about it. They sent a note to the Austrian side expressing dissatisfaction with such a decision. I expect that we will find a solution in the near future that is better than the one we have."

Still, Jandroković said, "at the same time we must recognise that Austria provides for the Croat minority," adding that "financing has been doubled" for the Burgenland Croats.

"On the one hand, we can be very satisfied, and the problem noticed by the Croatian side should be resolved," he said, adding that Croatia and Austria were "friendly states" with "many interests in common."

Author: Hina/Croatian Parliament