The Centre for the Culture of Dialogue on Thursday presented its project "New neighbours - Inclusion of persons under international protection in Croatian society," which covers 200 people who have been granted asylum and will last three years and is valued at HRK 14 million.

The centre’s director, Nejra Kadic-Meskic, told a press conference that the project is being cofinanced from the Asylum, Migration and Integration (AMI) fund which is being managed by the Interior Ministry, and partially from the state budget. The Islamic community in Croatia is a partner in the project.

Kadic-Meskic explained that the project was aimed at helping asylees, after they leave asylum centres, to achieve true integration in society.

The first part of the project is direct work with the people, which includes mobile teams that will operate around the country and provide assistance, advice and help in finding accommodation and a job.

The second part of the project is to raise awareness in the local population and the third to conduct a media campaign promoting fair and proper reporting about asylum seekers.

“The Islamic community in Croatia is recognised, in the world even, for its integration policy,” said the president of the Islamic community in Croatia, Mufti Aziz Hasanovic. That has been confirmed in war and peace, he said and added that not one member of the Islamic community had left to go to war anywhere in the world.

Interior Ministry State Secretary Zarko Katic said he was pleased with this cooperation, noting that the inclusion and integration of persons who have been given international protection is a common goal.