"Istria - an autonomous state": Istrians are neither Italians, Slovenians, nor Croats

A blog dubbed Republika Istra (Republic of Istria) was launched a week ago, while an eponymous Facebook page already exists, Index is reporting.

According to the Croatian website, the blog states that residents of Istria - a peninsula in western Croatia - are "neither Italians, Slovenes, nor Croatians" but are instead "Istrians who have the elements of many peoples."

"Istria is based on anti-fascist heritage," the announcement, published in several languages, remarked, and added:

"Istria - an autonomous state. Always has been, always will be (…) Istria is a state, Istrian, a nationality; Istrian, each person who respects all Istrian ethnic groups, their languages, dialects, speech, and traditions; accepts Istrian culture - particularly the culture of coexistence; acts, within their abilities and capabilities, to improve Istria for the good of its citizens."