Croatia unveils Person of the Year
Croatian footballer Andrej Kramarić was named Person of the Year, while fellow footballer Luka Vušović received the award for Most Popular Athlete at the 20th anniversary edition of the awards honouring the most popular Croats living abroad.
Kramarić received the Večernjakova Domovnica award in Bad Homburg, Germany, from Croatia's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Gordan Grlić Radman, the event's patron and envoy of the Croatian prime minister, CE Report quotes HINA.
The final awards ceremony, jointly organised by the Večernji List daily and Fenix-magazin, brought together more than 400 guests. A total of 18 prestigious awards were presented across categories ranging from sports and music to culture and show business and the overall Person of the Year category.
"For Croatia, relations with its diaspora have a special significance. Our compatriots abroad have always been an important part of the Croatian story -- in preserving identity, promoting the truth about Croatia, and especially in moments when the homeland needed the greatest support and assistance," Minister Grlić Radman said.
He emphasised that the Croatian diaspora played a key role in the creation and defence of the Croatian state, particularly during the Homeland War, as well as in its international recognition.
Among those attending the ceremony were Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries David Vlajčić and Minister of Demography and Immigration Ivan Šipić. Both highlighted the importance of maintaining strong ties between Croats abroad and their homeland.
They called on Croats living outside Croatia to preserve their language, culture and traditions, actively contribute to their communities and homeland, and take advantage of opportunities for cooperation and return.
The first Večernjakova Domovnica awards ceremony was held in 2007 in Frankfurt. Soon afterwards, the event was permanently moved to Bad Homburg.
Since the launch of the awards, more than 1,900 candidates from around the world have been nominated, with several hundred having been honoured for outstanding contributions to the Croatian community.
Speaking at the ceremony, Grlić Radman said the initiative has grown into a strong platform connecting Croatia with its diaspora.
"What began 20 years ago as an initiative by enthusiasts has gradually developed, and today we can clearly see that it has become a powerful platform for cooperation between the homeland and Croats living abroad," he said.
In a post on X, the minister wrote that the award is not only recognition for individuals but also a symbol of the lasting and deep connection between Croatia and its diaspora.
"Throughout history, our people have gone out into the world in search of new opportunities, but they have always carried with them their love for Croatia, its language, culture and traditions. Thanks to that devotion, strong Croatian communities have been built on every continent," he wrote.
He also noted that Croats around the world are well connected and integrated into the societies where they live, while remaining inseparably linked to Croatia.
Earlier on Saturday, the minister attended the presentation of the book Kroatien in 30 Geschichten by Božo Skoko and Zvonimir Frka-Petešić in Bad Homburg. He said such projects help strengthen cultural ties, mutual understanding and promote Croatia worldwide.
Later, at the Consulate General in Frankfurt, he held a coordination meeting with Minister Vlajčić and Minister Šipić, State Secretary for Croats Abroad Zvonko Milas, Director of the Croatian Heritage Foundation Zdeslav Milas, and representatives of Croatia's diplomatic and consular network in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
The discussion focused on the return of Croats to their homeland and strengthening ties with the diaspora.
"We discussed concrete measures to facilitate return, strengthen cooperation with Croatian communities worldwide, and better connect the diaspora with Croatia's economic and demographic development," Grlić Radman wrote on Facebook.
foto Damir Senčar
