The society "Slovak Matica Rijeka" was established on 3 December 1994, and it presently includes about sixty members. The actual president Miroslava Gržinić reviewed the passed fifteen years of activities of the society "Slovak Matica Rijeka". Gržinić said that the main task of the "Matica", in addition to fostering the Slovak culture, language and popular customs, had been the initiation of cultural co-operation between the Republic of Slovakia and the Republic of Croatia, through co-operation with folk groups from Slovakia and performances of Croatian groups in Slovakia.
Further to organisation of professional conferences, exhibitions, book promotions, celebrations of anniversaries of Slovak writers and Slovak national holidays, "Slovak Matica Rijeka" for nine years already has been successfully organising the manifestation "Days of Slovak Culture" in Rijeka where in addition to songs and dances it also presents traditional Slovak souvenirs and Slovak gastronomy.
"Slovenka", singing and folk group operates within the Slovak Matica, and it took part in the programme organised to mark the occasion. Further to numerous tours in Slovakia and other countries, the "Slovak Matica Rijeka" published a poetry collection "Priateľstvo" (Friendship) and a cookbook "Our Grandmothers' Recipes" written by Miroslava Gržinić. In addition to courses of the Slovak language for adults and children, the Slovak Matica takes part in conferences and seminars for minorities organised by the City of Rijeka or the Minority Council of the Republic of Croatia.
Zdenka Čuhnil, parliamentary deputy for the Czech and Slovak national minorities in the Republic of Croatia congratulated on the anniversary, pointing out that by following for may years the successful work of the Slovak Matica she had been pleased with the spirit of unity owing to which such a small community managed to achieve great results. Čuhnil thanked the City of Rijeka for support offered to the Matica and to other national minorities and in particular she thanked for the pleasant premises in which the Matica had been operating since Sept. 2008.
An address on the occasion was also given by the ambassador of the Republic of Slovakia, His Excellency Roman Supek who said he was proud that the smallest Slovak Matica had put so many efforts to better introduce the cultures of the two nations and the promotion and preservation of Slovak culture and customs, promising his full support, as well as the support of the embassy in their further work.
The words of thanks were also given by Daniel Zemančík on behalf of the "Slovak Matica" from Slovakia who assigned a decoration of the Slovak Matica to the president Gržinić on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of work, and by the City of Rijeka vice mayor Miroslav Matešić who emphasised that Rijeka had become a richer and more diverse city owing the work of the members of the "Slovak Matica Rijeka".
(I.N.)