Croatian Heritage Foundation enters new era
The Croatian Heritage Foundation (HMI) celebrates its 75th anniversary next, and its newly-elected director Zdeslav Mislav underscored, after assuming office on 20 July, that the HMI has an irreplaceable role as a bridge between the homeland and Croats abroad, CE Report quotes HINA.
"Today, more than 3.5 million Croats and their descendants live around the world, from emigrants in Europe and overseas countries to Croatian minorities in neighbouring states. All of them form an inseparable part of the unique Croatian national identity - they are guardians of our language, traditions and cultural heritage, without which our sense of self would be incomplete," Milas said.
He pointed out the special status of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, whom he described as the "oldest constituent people" of that country.
Milas said that in the era of modern Croatian statehood, the Croatian Heritage Foundation has a special and irreplaceable role - to act as a bridge between Croats in Croatia and those living abroad, to connect hearts and people, to share knowledge and experience, and to preserve and promote what defines us as Croats: our language, our culture, our faith, and our belonging to one unified Croatian nation.
He added that the Foundation was "a symbol of the homeland's ever-outstretched hand to all who wish to strengthen their bond with their ancestral heritage and values", especially young people, whom he described as "the future and the guarantee of preserving Croat identity in the world".
