The municipal administration of Beli Manastir has called on legal and natural persons to nominate potential recipients of the city awards. Nominations were to be submitted by 2 October, relating to recipients of the Golden Plaque 'St Martin' and the Charter of the City of Beli Manastir.
The Golden Plaque is a public award given to natural and legal persons for outstanding achievements in all fields of activity within the city. The Charter is an honour awarded to natural and legal persons for exceptional contributions to the spiritual and material development of the city. Awards may be granted for achievements in the fields of economy, education, health care, and social welfare, as well as in culture, sport, technology, and other social activities.
The impetus for awarding these honours may come from any citizen, council members, businesses, other legal entities, institutions, and citizens' associations. The impetus to declare an honorary citizen may come from the members of the City Council, the working bodies of the City Council, and the Mayor of Beli Manastir. The committee submits the nominations to the City Council, which is responsible for the final decision, and the ceremony takes place during a session of the City Council on 11 November, on the very day of the city's celebration.
City awards have been presented since 2000, when the decision on their introduction was adopted. To date, 20 golden plaques and 126 charters have been awarded, of which 40 were awarded to legal entities and 86 to natural persons. Golden plaques were awarded to 11 individuals and 9 legal entities.
Recipients of the golden plaque include Božidar Kalmeta, Marina Matulić Đuriček, Dr. Ljudevit Herceg, Ivan Bračić, Grga Ivešić, István Kuti, and Josip Sek. The same honour was awarded to the Home for the Elderly and Infirm in Beli Manastir, Radio Baranja, the Belišće Fire Brigade, Lumar d.o.o., the military unit of the IV. Brigade of Beli Manastir (whose legal successor is the Baranja Veterans Association), the 135th Baranja Brigade of the Croatian Army, Starco d.o.o., Tehno filter d.o.o., and Nova Carto d.o.
Honorary citizens of Beli Manastir include Jadranka Kosor and Vladimir Šeš, both declared in 2004. Kosor, who was serving as the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia and Minister of Family, Veterans' Affairs, and Intergenerational Solidarity, began her official campaign as the HDZ candidate for the presidential elections at the end of that year. Šeš, who was at the head of the Croatian Parliament, assumed office in 2003 and served until 2008.
The title of Honorary Citizen has not been awarded for several years, with the 'abstention' lasting 22 years. The 'keys to the city' are currently held by only two individuals. The decision on the awarding of public honours, along with the relevant regulations, remains in force, meaning there is still a possibility of awarding this honour, though it is not mentioned in the public call as the proposers are different from those for the other two honours.
