Croatia - Minorities

Last modified: 2002-08-09 by dov gutterman
Keywords: croatia | hungary | ruthenians | ukraine |
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• Overview
• Hungarian Minority in Croatia
• Muslims in Croatia
• Ruthenian and Ukrainian Minority in Croatia

See also:

• Croatia

Overview

Croatia recognize also a minority, at least the Italian speaking Croatians. These can use the Italian flag.  Legal base: part concerning Italian speaking Croats in the various status of the communes of the Istrian county, as well as in the status of the county itself.
Pascal Vagnat, 1 August 1999

Croatia recognitzes minorities (not only one as Pascal said). The constitution explicitly lists the minorities that are considered "autohtonous" . In the Preamble of the Constitution it is said:
"... [Croatia is constituted as] the national state of the Croatian people and the state of members of autohtonous national minorities: Serbs, Czecks, Slovaks, Italians, Hungarians, Jews, Germans, Austrians, Ukrainians, Ruthenians and others, [...]"

The constitutional changes in the begining of 1998 were rather contraversial when from this list were deleted Slovenians and Muslims [we would say today Bosniaks, but in 1990 when the consitution was first made the name was not used]. However, they are now included among "others".

In any case, as it is with Italians in Istria, similarly local legislation give right of use of the national flag in official occasions to other minorities in those communities where they are in larger numbers. Notably, Serbs, mainly in eastern Slavonia. Also, Czecks and Slovaks in several communities in western Slavonia, and Hungarians in several others. I'm not aware of any community with large enough minority of other minorities mentioned. However, all the minorities, mentioned above or not, have constitutional right to use their national symbols, and as far as I'm aware, they are using that right as it seem them to fit.
Zeljko Heimer, 9 August 1999

Hungarian Minority in Croatia

There are Hungarians living in Croatia. They are using only the Hungarian national flag as their flag,. this is regulated by law.
Zeljko Heimer, 15 September 2000

In Croatia, Sovenia and Austria live about 10.000 Hungarians.They use the Hungarian national flag with or without the Hungarian CoA. In Slovenia, and Croatia, the settlements officially use the state flag, their own flags and the Hungarian National flag . in those countries the Hungarian minorities have got an Ethnic Council.
Istvan Molnar, 16 September 2000

Muslims in Croatia

The traditional flag used by Muslims is green with white crescent (or yellow). This is mostly confined to mosques, and still today is so (it may also have a star, so it may make it like Turkish).
Zeljko Heimer, 7 August 2002

Ruthenian and Ukrainian Minority in Croatia

Ruthenians in Croatia consider themself as Ukrainians, the only difference being that Rusini (as they are called in Croatia) came to these regions around WWI while people that settled around and after WWII prefer the name Ukrainians. In any case, the Ruthenians in Croatia have their organizations and societies "together" with Ukraininans, and they use the same flag - blue over yellow bicolour.
Zeljko Heimer, 15 September 2000