The fifteenth consulate in Rijeka and the first Macedonian consulate in Croatia is a result of long and dedicated work by the Macedonian national minority in Rijeka, as well as successful and unselfish dedication by Goran Kalogjera who devoted great part of his scientific work to the study of the Macedonian culture and language, in respect of which he received the highest state recognition by the Republic of Macedonia.
Rector Pero Lučin also expressed his pride because a member of the Rijeka University had been elected as honorary consul, emphasising good co-operation with the universities of Macedonia and the widening of co-operation to projects and student and professor exchanges.
Mayor Obersnel pointed out he was pleased with the opening of the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Macedonia not only because of the strengthening of already good relations at state level, but, moreover for establishing closer co-operation between the cities Rijeka and Bitola, the city with which the city of Rijeka will sign a co-operation agreement by the end of the current year. His Excellency Danče Markovski, ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia to the Republic of Croatia wished Goran Kalodjera a lot of success in carrying out his honorary duty as consul, stressing that there were many reasons for opening the first consulate in Rijeka, and that among them the most important were the activities of the Macedonian national minority in Rijeka, as well as the work performed by professor Kalogjera owing to whom Rijeka had become „the fortress of the Macedonian culture and language“ and the largest Macedonian language department abroad where 170 students learn the Macedonian language. Furthermore, the opening of the consulate in Rijeka, on the basis of such successful co-operation between the two states and the cities of Bitola and Rijeka, can be a good example for other countries, said the ambassador Markovski.
The Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Macedonia will encompass the area of the Istria County and the Primorje – Gorski Kotar County, where about one thousand members of the Macedonian national minority live.
(I.N.)