Last modified: 2005-04-16 by dov gutterman
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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.
Željko Heimer, 9 August 1999
The Constitutional Law on the National Minorities Rights
(Ustavni zakon o pravima nacionalnih manjina, NN 154/2002, <www.vlada.hr>),
determines the organization of local minorities councils in
communities, cities and counties and enable the establishemnt of
the national coordinations of such councils to act as the
national minority body. The coordination is determined by that
law to have the right to choose the national symbols (Art. 33,
paragr. 5) of the minority with approval of the Council for the
national Minorities, a government consultative body elected from
various national minorities representatives. The article 14 of
the Law determines the use of the symbols, including flags, of
the national minorities in Croatia, so (my translation):
1) The usage of symbols and emblems of the national minorties and
the cerebration of the national holydays of the national
minorities is free.
2) The national minorities may together with the official symbols
and emblems of the Republic of Croatia display appropriate
symbols and emblems of the national minorities. When the anthe