The session was marked by the anniversary of the Day of Istria, celebrated on 25 September in memory of the historical decisions to unite Istria with Croatia made in 1943. The Primorsko-Goranska County president, Ivica Lukanović, attended the ceremony, reflecting on the historical connection between the two neighbouring regions, their long-standing cooperation and friendship, and the importance of joint development projects.
Lukanović highlighted that the Primorsko-Georgian and Istrian counties share more than a border, as their history, identity and development are linked by numerous events and people over the decades. "Of all the Croatian counties, we are your only neighbour, and that is a convenient fact, but also an opportunity for me to address the people of the Primorsko-Georgian County, who are well aware of how good it is to have Istria as a neighbour," Lukanović said.
He recalled his personal ties with Istria, noting that he is the grandson of an Istrian partisan and former mayor of Kastav. He mentioned the establishment of the first reading room in Kastva, the work of the Society of St. Cyril and Methodius in Istria, and the contribution of Istrian intellectuals to the preservation of the Croatian language, culture and education. He specifically reflected on the anti-fascist tradition of Istria and the historical circumstances that led to its union with Croatia.
In his address, he also recalled the 45th anniversary of the opening of the first tube of the Učka tunnel, which is celebrated on 27 September. As a student at a primary school in Kastav, he attended the opening of the first tube. He stated that the construction of the tunnel was the result of the great desire of the people on both sides of Učka for better transport links. "The first tube was built by popular subscription, which sounds archaic today, but shows how great the desire was for people in Istria and our region to connect, live together and work together. We are dependent on each other, and the investments currently underway are further linking us," Lukanović said.
He also mentioned the construction of the second tube of the Učka tunnel, the completion of the full profile of the motorway, and the further development of transport infrastructure, including the planned connection of the Istrian Y to the transport network. He stressed that the two neighbouring regions have much to learn from each other in terms of experience and joint development, particularly in the fields of economy, tourism and agriculture. "As the Primorsko-Georgian county president, I often point out how much we can learn from Istria, especially in terms of the way you have developed tourism, cultivated agriculture and linked the two sectors. I am not jealous of that, but proud, because you are our first and only neighbour. We believe that we have a lot to offer and that we can learn from each other and achieve good results together," he said.
In his address, the Istrian county president, Boris Miletić, reflected on the development of the Istrian county and the importance of the decisions made today for the future of its residents. During the ceremony, the Istrian county awarded certificates of appreciation to individuals for their contribution to the community. Lukanović congratulated the year's recipients on their awards, thanked them for their work and contribution to society, and wished them good health and success in their future work.
At the end of his address, he highlighted the friendship and cooperation between the Primorsko-Georgian and Istrian counties, expressing his satisfaction with the joint work so far and his expectation of new projects. "I thank all of you for the cooperation and friendship we have built over the years. It has shown us many times how vision, work and unity can be transformed into concrete results. I look forward to new joint projects, and I wish all the people of the Istrian county much success and progress, with the message that they should be proud of their region," Lukanović concluded, congratulating all the Istrians on the Day of Istria.
