During a ceremony, which also marked Croatia’s Statehood Day, he was presented with a commemorative plaque as a token of appreciation.
“Over these 30 years, the consulate has handled more than 3,000 cases. I currently work with a group of volunteers who strongly identify with Croatia. We also have a person who teaches the Croatian language,” Jakubek said in his address.
Jakubek, a construction-sector entrepreneur, has lived in Bolivia since 1981. He began cooperating with the Croatian Embassy in neighbouring Chile, which is also responsible for Bolivia, in 1994, during Croatia’s War of Independence.
“At that time, our enthusiasm was enormous. The Croatian state was calling on us, and nothing seemed impossible or too difficult to do,” he said.
He was appointed Croatian honorary consul in Bolivia on 12 June 1996, a position he still holds today in a country where around 5,000 Croats and their descendants live.
“I try to act as a bridge between Croatia and Bolivia, preserving the identity and cultural heritage of Croats who have settled in Bolivia,” Jakubek said.
Croats began arriving in Bolivia during the 19th and 20th centuries for economic and political reasons.
According to some estimates, the number of people of Croatian descent may reach up to 10,000, mainly in the cities of Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, Oruro, La Paz and Tarija, where Croatian associations are active.