Nikola Čiča elected President of HKD Napredak

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - After thirty years, the Croatian Cultural Society Napredak has a new president today. Young and promising Nikola Čiča has been elected to lead HKD Napredak.

Prof. dr. Franjo Topić, the man who contributed to the revival of HKD Napredak for thirty years, stepped down from the position of president today. Professor Franjo Topić has been appointed honorary president, and the newly elected president previously held the position of vice-president. He is the former president of the Main Branch of HKD Napredak in Tuzla. 

President Nikola Čiča says he will continue to realize Professor Topić's visions and that the society will continue to support the best.

"Napredak's mission will always remain humane, because everything we do through the Croatian Cultural Society Napredak is for the benefit of people, whether through culture or concrete social activities. I am honored to have been given the opportunity to lead the Croatian Cultural Society Napredak. It is truly a great challenge, but believe me, also a great honor," said Čiča.

Honorary President of HKD Napredak Franjo Topić says he will forever remain with Napredak. 

"It is a phenomenon worth noting that in 29 years we have not had a single argument and we never will. Napredak should continue as before, spreading a positive atmosphere in this country and thus sending a positive message that it is possible to live well here," said Topić, who through his work contributed to the development of peace and coexistence in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

The newly elected vice-presidents of HKD Napredak are Miroslav Landeka, Dražen Vikić-Topić, Mario Nenadić, and Josip Križanović. Elected to the Central Board are prof. dr. Franjo Topić, Venka Zorić, Sretko Tomić, Franjo Bratić, fra Mirko Filipović, Ivana Barišić, Josip Nikolić, Robert Petrović, Ivica Kovačević, Danijel Stanić.

The new Supervisory Board consists of Zoran Kupreščić, Dragan Glavaš, and Jakov Gavran. 

Professor Franjo Topić will be remembered as a man who made an immeasurable contribution to spreading peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also as someone who in recent years urged people to stay in this country. Professor Topić is the recipient of numerous international and national awards and recognitions, the last of which he received in April in Sarajevo, the highest recognition, the April 6th Award of the City of Sarajevo.