The session of the County Assembly in Pazin, marked by the Day of the Istrian County, which is celebrated on 25 September in memory of the historical decisions on the unification of Istria with Croatia, was attended by the Primorsko-Goriska County President, Ivica Lukanović, who in his address reflected 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-Drvar and Istria counties share more than a common 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-Drvar 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 founding of the first Croatian reading room in Kastav, the work of the Society of St. Cyril and Methodius in Istria, and the contribution of Croatian intellectuals to the preservation of the Croatian language, culture and education. He also reflected on the anti-fascist tradition of Istria and the historical circumstances that led to its unification with Croatia.
In his address, he recalled the 45th anniversary of the opening of the first tunnel of Učka, which is celebrated on 27 September. As he said, as a student at the elementary school in Kastav, he attended the opening of the first tube. He stressed that the construction of the tunnel was the result of the great desire of the people on both sides of the Učka for better transport links. "The first tube was built by a popular loan, which today sounds rather archaic, but shows how much the people of Istria and our region wanted to connect, live and work together. We are dependent on each other, and the large investments that are currently under way 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 room for exchange of experience and joint development, particularly in the fields of economy, tourism and agriculture. "As the president of Primorsko-Drvar, I often point out how much we can learn from Istria, especially in the way you have developed tourism, cultivated agriculture and linked these two sectors. I am not jealous of that, but proud that 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 taken today for the future of its inhabitants. During the ceremony, the Istrian County Awards were presented to distinguished 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 the address, he highlighted the friendship and cooperation between the Primorsko-Drvar and Istria 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 togetherness turn into concrete results. I look forward to new joint projects, and I wish all the people of the Istria 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 the Istrian County.
