An association coordinating the integration of refugees in the Croatian society on Tuesday launched in Zagreb the 8th Refugee Week, aimed at raising awareness of the need for Croatia to be an open country where anyone who wishes to stay and build their lives can do so.

“We want Croatia as a state and society to offer adequate, systematic and quality support in the integration of all its residents,” said Lucija Mulalic of the Centre for Peace Studies nongovernmental organisation.

She noted that this year activities related to the Refugee Week would be taking place in Zagreb, Osijek, Split, Sisak, Rijeka, Kutina, and Karlovac.

“In the two weeks ahead, we will be meeting, talking to each other, and building a society to stay in. Welcome, friends,” she said.

Mulalic said that refugees granted asylum in Croatia continued building their lives by enrolling at faculties, opening businesses, finding a job, starting a family, obtaining citizenship, going to school, creating art, etc.

This was confirmed by Semih Huseyin, who arrived in Croatia four years ago and now studies law in Zagreb in Croatian.

“People often ask me why I have stayed in Croatia and I always say that I can achieve here everything I would achieve in other countries. I love Zagreb, I have friends and want to live here. I study law and have completed my first year,” said Huseyin, whose struggle against the system has resulted in changes to rules on scholarships.

Statistics show that since 2006 Croatia has granted international protection to fewer than 1,000 people, of whom 500 have left Croatia for some other European country while a very mall number of refugees have returned to their country of origin. The reasons for departure are numerous, but those related to problems in the Croatian society prevail.

The organisers of the Refugee Week said that in addition to respect for laws and action plans, also important was mutual support between new and old members of society. The 8th Refugee Week will focus on problems in education, language learning, employment and exercise of the right to healthcare, which are encountered by almost all refugees.