A NEW ETHNIC
COMMUNITY IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
The Istro-Romanians
likewise live in
Istria
The Istrian locality of Šušnjevica has since ancient times been populated by
Romanians, who are only now starting to organize themselves in a distinct ethnic commmunity as
Istro-Romanians.
(by our permanent correspondent)
Zagreb, January 4
It has long been known that Istria is complicated and ethnically
diverse, and - to serve to many as an example - that precisely this diversity represents
the core of an already well known Istrian ethnic and religious tolerance, the value and deep roots of which
distinctly surfaced in the past ten years or so, during these perceived
dark years, on the territory of the former Yugoslavia. The latest news from Istria is that there is still
another ethnic group there, the group that up to now was not largely known to
the general public, but which is now starting to organize as an ethnic community.
They call themselves Istro-Romanians, and they came to Istria
a long time ago from their original homeland of Romania. They live mainly the area of
Šušnjevica in the commune of Kršan. There is still no scientific explanation of
precisely when and why these former Romanians came to Istria, and the only thing that still ties them to their origins is the
language which is very similar to Romanian. The Istro-Romanians speak that language among themselves,
but they can also communicate with today's Romanians who are now showing an increased
interest in their "relatives" in Istria.
In Šušnjevica they now want to protect and save their
roots from extinction, and are thereby preparing the foundation of their
organization and registration to the local statute as an Istro-Romanian ethnic
community. According to board president Josip Kontus, this would mean formal recognition of this ethnic
group for which they will get the support from the local IDS organization, as
well as from European institutions which protect the rights of ethnic groups.
Translation by Franko Pavicevac, Mirko Gabler and
Marisa Ciceran
© istrianet.org, all rights reserved
Source:
- Reprinted from:
http://www.politika.co.yu/2002/0105/01_09.htm (no longer online)
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