Zagreb - The treatment of the Croatian minority in Hungary and the treatment of the Hungarian minority in Croatia can serve as an example to other countries, the visiting Croatian parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković said in Budapest on Monday evening.
Both countries can be satisfied with how their ethnic kin are treated, Jandroković said after meeting with representatives of the Croatian community.
The meeting, held in the Croatian embassy, marked the beginning of his two-day official visit.
Jandroković recalled that the joint committee for the implementation of the agreement on the protection of the two ethnic minorities had prepared 40 recommendations. "The joint committee covers a lot of topics and areas. I've heard from the representatives that they are satisfied with how the recommendations are being implemented. Of course, there is a lot of work, but what is important is that there is good will and that both countries are aware of the importance of protecting ethnic minorities' rights. It seems to me that we are on the right track," he said.
The spokesman for the ethnic Croats in the Hungarian parliament, Mišo Hepp, told Hina that it was important to the ethnic Croats that senior Croatian officials heard their opinion when visiting Hungary "since obviously many institutions in Croatia do not hear their voice and know little about them". Hepp described Hungary's treatment of the minorities as fair. In the last three years, budget allocations set aside for the minorities have increased 2.5 times and they will increase further in the next budget, Hepp said.
On Wednesday, Jandroković will be received by his Hungarian counterpart László Kövér and President János Áder. (Hina)