http://www.croatia.org/crown en-us http://www.croatia.org/crown N/A letters@croatia.org Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:16:38 +0000 20 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11299/1/NFCA-and-CFU-To-Celebrate-30-Plus-Years-of-Croatian-Independence-on-June-26th-Celebration-Webinar-.html On Saturday, June 26th at 11:00am eastern, the NFCA will be co-hosting with the Croatian Fraternal Union, a global webinar salute to the founding of the Republic of Croatia's democracy. The NFCA's webinar will celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Independence Day and to honor another "Statehood Day" (1990 milestone) and Croatia's successful and historic road to democracy and it's independence achieved especially in the 1990-1991 time frame. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Thu, 10 Jun 2021 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11276/1/Poziv-Hrvatima-u-iseljenitvu-koji-su-prikupljali-donacije-Neka-vaa-pomoae-trajno-ostane-zapisana.html Nenad Bach, osnivaè œCROWN-a (Croatian World Network) pokrenuo je akciju pomoæu koje bi pomoæ Hrvata iz iseljeni¹tva stradalima u potresu, ali i inaèe pomoæ Hrvata iz iseljeni¹tva Domovini, trajno ostala zapisana, te pomoæu koje bi svima bilo vidljivo koliko je tko i iz koje dr¾ave uplatio. Bach smatra kako je hrvatsko iseljeni¹tvo uvijek pomagalo i poma¾e kad je najgore, bezuvjetno, od srca i velikodu¹no, a za uzvrat nikad nije tra¾ilo ni¹ta. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Sat, 02 Jan 2021 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11218/1/Nenad-Bach-International-Newsletter-No-55-Livestream.html I will perform a few songs starting with a ping pong game that will go to 11 points, just one game then a song on a guitar, move to piano and at the same time you can send your questions opinions, desires, concepts, recommendations, connections etc., all live. The times for the livestream on Saturday April 25, 2020 will start at 10:00 a.m. New York Eastern Standard Time. This will be Midnight in Sydney, Australia, 11:00 p.m. Tokyo, 10:00 p.m. Singapore, 7:30 p.m. New Delhi, 4:00 p.m. Zagreb Croatia, 3:00 p.m. London, 11:00 a.m. Buenos Aires and 7:00 a.m. Los Angeles time. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 23 Apr 2020 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11011/1/Tomislav-quotTomquot-Mihaljevic-is-named-new-CEO-of-the-Cleveland-Clinic.html In just a few months, Dr. Tomislav Mihaljevic (left) will take over as the new president and CEO of the Cleveland Clinic. The incoming CEO was born in Croatia and is a naturalized American citizen. He earned his medical degree from the University of Zagreb's medical school in Croatia and completed his residency in cardiovascular surgery at the Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery of the University of Zurich in Switzerland before coming to the United States. He speaks Croatian, English and German. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Tue, 05 Sep 2017 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10943/1/Giovanna-Drpic-moves-to-CBS46-in-Atlanta.html Giovanna Drpic (left) can say she’s from the South and South America. She grew up in Texas, but she was born in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Giovanna is now proud to call Atlanta home as CBS46’s political reporter. She previously served as host/producer of the Emmy-nominated business show, "Money & Main$treet", on Verizon FiOS1 News Long Island. Giovanna has also been honored by the NY Associated Press Awards, Folio Awards, the Press Club of Long Island and the Garden State Journalism Association. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Tue, 17 Jan 2017 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10838/1/KISHA-the-first-Croatian-smart-umbrella-that-youll-never-lose-created-by-Andrija-Colak.html KISHA is the world’s first smart umbrella. Never lose it, always take it with you when it rains. With KISHA, you'll never ever worry about getting soaking wet. It's connected with a mobile app on your iPhone or Android and tells you each morning (or any other time of the day) if it's going to rain. It also reminds you when you leave it in a pub, bar, restaurant or any other public place. Smart? We'd rather say intelligent! The meaning of KISHA in Croatian is RAIN. Of course, you will get umbrella, not rain :) On the photo Andrija Èolak, getkisha.com darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Fri, 06 May 2016 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10801/1/NFCA-January-2016-Newsletter.html The National Federation of Croatian Americans Cultural Foundation has released their end-of-the-year 2015 newsletter highlighting many activities promoting Croatian causes within the United States including: Pittsburgh convention, NFCA meeting with U.S. Ambassador Julieta Valls Noyes, NFCA collaboration with Team Croatia at the Special Olympics Summer World Games in Los Angeles and a UN meeting in New York City with Dragan Covic, the Chair of of the Presidency in Bosnia and Herzegovina. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Wed, 10 Feb 2016 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10697/1/Ante-Glibota-elected-vicepresident-of-the-European-Academy-of-Sciences-and-Arts-in-Paris-since-2015.html   Ante Glibota, distinguished Croatian historian of art and architecture, has been elected in June 2015 in Paris, in the Senat of the Republic of France, as the vice-president of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, L'Academie Europeenne des Sciences des Arts et des Lettres; L'AESAL). To be a leading person of this prestigious international institution, which gathers as many as 65 Nobel Prize winners, as well as several hundred outstanding experts in different fields, is not only a great honour for Mr. Ante Glibota, but for Croatia as well. We express our sincere gratitude to Mr. Ante Glibota for his achievements, wishing him good health and fruitful guidance of the Academy. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Tue, 09 Jun 2015 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10646/1/Kolinda-Grabar-Kitarovic-Croatias-first-woman-president-inaugurated-on-15th-February-2015-in-Zagreb.html Mrs. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic was sworn in as Croatia's first female president in history. She was a former foreign minister, ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to Washington and an Assistant Secretary General of NATO for Public Diplomacy. She was the first woman ever to be appointed Assistant Secretary General of NATO. Mrs. Grabar-Kitarovic is at the age of 47, and except her native Croatian, she fluently speaks English, Castillano and Portuguese and can also communicate in French, Italian and German. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sun, 15 Feb 2015 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10532/1/Croatian-Ambassador-to-USA-Joko-Paro-leads-campaign-to-reduce-dependance-upon-Russian-Energy.html For more than a year Croatians and Americans have been proposing that Croatia be an entry point of U.S. natural gas into the European market. The recent crises in the Ukraine has brought the matter to the forefront as it becomes more and more evident that dependency on Russian energy supplies places Europe at a marked disadvantage in negotiations with Russia. slavonac46@gmail.com (David Byler) Sat, 08 Mar 2014 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10514/1/-Joko-Paro-in-Houston-for-the-United-Nations-Remembrance-Day-2014-.html His Excellency, Mr. Jo¹ko Paro, Croatian Ambassador to the United States (left) was in Texas on January 27, 2014 to make a presentation to the Houston Holocaust Museum. This was part of the United Nations Remembrance Day commemorations. There was also recognition of the Croatian "Righteous Among Nations". slavonac46@gmail.com (David Byler) Sun, 02 Feb 2014 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10434/1/NFCACF-Elects-New-President-Paul-Tonetiae-Kunder.html The National Federation of Croatian Americans Cultural Foundation (NFCACF) has elected a new President, Mr. Paul Ton¹etiæ-Kunder, to succeed Mr. Bill Vergot who is retiring after serving two terms as President since 2011. Mr. Ton¹etiæ-Kunder of Coral Springs, Florida is a third generation Croatian American originally born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. Both maternal and fraternal grandparents came from Croatia in the early 1900’s (Samobor and Grubi¹no Polje), and they settled in the Western Pennsylvania area. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Mon, 01 Jul 2013 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10278/1/Mobilne-aplikacije-Vatrenih---Mobile-applications-of-Croatian-soccer-team-on-iPhone-Android-and-Blackberry.html   Mobilne aplikacije Vatrenih. Sada je moguæe sve informacije o Hrvatskoj nogometnoj reprezentaciji saznati i u pokretu! Trenutno je moguæe instalirati aplikacije na mobilne ureðaje koje proizvode iPhone, Android i Blackberry. ©kljocnite na logo kako biste odmah instalirali aplikaciju na svoj ureðaj i pristupali cijeloj statistici, povijesti, kolumnama i najsvje¾ijim vijestima nogometne reprezentacije., Android aplikacija zahtjeva verziju 2.2 ili noviju, iPhone i iPod aplikacija zahtjeva verziju iOS-a 4.3 ili noviju, BlackBerry aplikacija za BlackBerry Playbook te BlackBerry 10 Beta - Uskoro! letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 09 Jun 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10230/1/4-Croatians-in-Super-Bowl-XLVI-2012-Bill-Belichick-Robert-Ninkovich-David-Diehl--Anthony-Lucas.html I did not check the history of Super Bowls, but the fact that three Croatian Americans are playing today in a single game on the Lucas Stadium which is named after the fourth Croatian is a day to celebrate. Belichick & Diehl Two Croatian-Americans face off at Super Bowl for the second time. First time was in 2008. Since they play for opposite teams, Croatians will cheer all the way to the end. Super Bowl XLVI: New York Giants vs. New England Patriots is 46th Super Bowl, the most watched show in America, could be the world. With a victory, Patriots coach Bill Belichick becomes the Greatest of All-Time. With the victory, Giants offensive guard David Diehl gets his second ring. R. Ninkovich is playing for the Patriots. The Lucas Stadium is named after another Croatian-American Anthony Lucas b. Antun Lucic, considered as the father of petroleum engineering in the USA. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sun, 05 Feb 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10164/1/Nenad-Hancic-created-a-new-high-quality-Croatian-Glagolitic-font-for-Windows.html Nenad Hanèiæ from Germany, Duesseldorff, created a new Croatian Glagolitic font for Windows. The lower case letters of the font “Glagolica Missal DPG” are oriented on the “Missal from 1483”, the first Croatian printed book (incunabulum), while the capital letters are oriented on those of “Transit of St. Jerome”, a book printed in Croatian Glagolitic characters in the town of Senj in 1508. We owe our deep gratitude to Nenad Hanèiæ: his work will be immensly useful both for amateurs and professionals. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sun, 28 Aug 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10125/1/Pope-Benedict-XVI-in-Croatias-capital-Zagreb-4-and-5-June-2011.html “I offer my most cordial greetings to the beloved land of Croatia!” Here I would like to introduce the main topic of my brief reflection: the theme of conscience. This cuts across all the different fields in which you are engaged and it is fundamental for a free and just society, both at national and supranational levels. Truly, the great achievements of the modern age – the recognition and guarantee of freedom of conscience, of human rights, of the freedom of science and hence of a free society – should be confirmed and developed while keeping reason and freedom open to their transcendent foundation, so as to ensure that these achievements are not undone, as unfortunately happens in not a few cases. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko �ubrini�) Sat, 04 Jun 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10116/1/Vlada-usvojila-Strategiju-odnosa-Republike-Hrvatske-prema-Hrvatima-izvan-Domovine.html Vlada Republike Hrvatske usvojila Strategiju odnosa Republike Hrvatske prema Hrvatima izvan Republike Hrvatske. Predvidjeno je i donosenje Zakona (kao instrumenta provedbe Strategije), Savjeta Vlade i Ureda Vlade za Hrvate izvan RH (operativnog tijela), izvjescuje za CROWN Dr. Ivan Bagariæ (lijevo), Predsjednik Odbora Za Hrvate Izvan Republike Hrvatske. Strategy for the relations between the Republic of Croatia and the Croatians outside the Republic of Croatia. ivan.bagaric@zg.tel.hr (Dr. Ivan Bagaric) Thu, 19 May 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10082/1/Ivan-Dragicevic-Returns-to-Australia-with-Medjugorje8217s-Message.html In June 1981, six children witnessed the apparition of the Virgin Mary on  Podbrdo Hill, in the parish of Medjugorje in western Herzegovina. Ivan Dragicevic (left) was one of these children; he was 16 years old then. Years after coming to terms with the holy role that has unwittingly evolved for him, Ivan has been traveling to the four corners of the world to share his experience and spread the messages from the Virgin Mary. violicalvert@optusnet.com.au (Violi Calvert) Wed, 23 Feb 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9987/1/CroExpress-newspaper-for-Croatians-in-Germany-Austria-and-Switzerland.html In 2009 a team of Croatian and German journalists jointly produced a concept for the CroExpress, the new newspaper for Croatians in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, directed by Marina Stojak on the photo. This monthly describes the life of Croatians living in Europe and on the other side of the Atlantic to promote Croatian language, old-Croatian tradition and culture. It is a free newspaper. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 12 Jul 2010 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9986/1/Drago-Stambuk-Croatian-ambassador-in-Japan-writes-about-a-beautiful-friendship.html This year a wonderful example of “friendship building” has been set in motion between our two countries, Japan and Croatia. Accumulated efforts of Japanese and Croatian people have resulted in the project of “Japan - Croatia Friendship House” in Tokamachi, Niigata. Written by Dr. Drago ©tambuk, ambassador of Croatia in Japan. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Fri, 09 Jul 2010 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9974/1/Sensational-Croatian-electric-car-launched-at-the-Geneva-Motor-Show-2010.html Dok-Ing is the Croatian producer of high-tech robots, primarily for the US military. It has recently launched an attractive electric mini-car with vertical-opening doors. It can achieve 130km/h, acceleration of 0-100km/h in 7.7s. After 8 hours connected to a 220V network it gets a full charge of its lithium-phosphate, and can travel up to 250km without having to plug it. Director Vjekoslav Majetiæ on the photo and design by Igor Juriæ. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 29 May 2010 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9826/1/James-B-Foley-is-new-US-Ambassador-to-Croatia.html US President Barack Obama will nominate James B. Foley (left) as new US ambassador to Croatia. Foley's nomination must be approved by the US Senate. Foley, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, will succeed Robert Bradtke, who is leaving in July. Bradtke has been ambassador since 2006. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9713/1/Davor-Pavuna-Croatian-Physicist-in-Obama8217s-Science-Team-chosen-by-Steven-Chu.html  Steven Chu, Nobel Prize winner and Obama’s energy minister, has named Croatian physicist prof. dr. Davor Pavuna as one of the reviewers of projects at the U.S. Department of Energy. Reviewing projects for the DOE will be an enormous challenge because it will focus on avant-garde research that, among other things, includes new materials, high-temperature superconductivity, so-called green energy and green technologies. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 31 Jan 2009 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9699/1/Galesnjak---Croatian-Isle-of-Love---on-ABC-and-HRT-TV-becoming-a-world-sensation.html  Croatian Island of Love is becoming a world sensation. Hrvatski otok Galesnjak postaje svjetska senzacija. slaven1947@gmail.com (Prof.Dr. Slaven Letica) Tue, 13 Jan 2009 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9685/1/U-Hrvatskom-Saboru-utemeljen-Odbor-za-Hrvate-izvan-Republike-Hrvatske.html Sa zadovoljstvom vas obavje¹æujemo da je odnedavno u najvi¹em zakonodavnom i predstavnièkom tijelu Hrvatske, Hrvatskom Saboru, utemeljen Odbor za Hrvate izvan Republike Hrvatske.  Kako biste se mogli bolje upoznati s radom odbora, u prilogu vam ¹aljemo podrobniji prikaz njegovog sastava, ovlasti i uloge. ivan.bagaric@zg.tel.hr (Dr. Ivan Bagaric) Thu, 01 Jan 2009 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9659/1/Mark-Begich-the-first-Croatian-American-US-Senator-Begich-wins-in-Alaska.html Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich (D) increased his lead over convicted Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) to 3,724 votes on Tuesday with almost all of the remaining ballots counted, and the Associated Press has now called the race for the Democrat. Smile of relief, so well deserved. Croatians all over the world are celebrating tonight, a historic race. Mark is entering Senate at the right moment in history as a critical democratic Senator. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9521/1/Pandoracom-The-Music-Genome-Project-plays-Nenad-Bach-music-from-March-28th.html We set out to capture the essence of music at the most fundamental level. We ended up assembling literally hundreds of musical attributes or "genes" into a very large Music Genome. Everything from melody, harmony and rhythm, to instrumentation, orchestration, arrangement, lyrics, and of course the rich world of singing and vocal harmony. It's not about "looks" or "genre". letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 07 Apr 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9406/1/Abortion-in-Croatia-is-Down-90-Since-1989.html Croatia has experienced a very dramatic drop in the abortion rate from 1989 when the nation's 51,289 abortions were nearly equal to the number of live births. The latest statistics, from 2005, indicate there were 4,563 abortions - a drop of nearly 90% since 1989.  Significantly the law on abortion has not changed. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 21 Dec 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9269/1/9000-NATO-Commandos-In-Adriatic-Operation.html   From 1 to 12 October 2007 Croatia will be the scene of Noble Midas 07, the largest and most important international military manoeuvre to be held in Croatia since its independence. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 20 Sep 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9259/1/PYRAMID-on-top-of-the-Pyramid---Monumental-success-of-Croatian-TV.html   The Pyramid is a unique combination of talk show and game show. Europroducciones has already optioned the format for Spain, Italy and Portugal, as has Gestion Avanti Cine Video for French speaking Canada. (photo) Dubravko Merlic and Zeljka Ogresta letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 12 Sep 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9246/1/Day-of-Mourning-in-Croatia.html In the aftermath of the deaths of firemen on Kornati, the Croatian government declared Monday, September 3, Day of Mourning.   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 02 Sep 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9158/1/Ana-Maruiae-MD-PhD-President-of-Council-of-Science-Editors.html     letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 27 Jul 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9157/1/Croatian-Medical-Journals-Receive-International-Recognition.html   Two Croatian medical journals, "Croatian Medical Journal" and "Lijecnicke novine", received important international recognition, which was not given much attention in Croatian media. mmarusic@mef.hr (Prof. Dr. Matko Maru�i�) Fri, 27 Jul 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9145/1/Petition-for-the-Embassy-of-BiH-in-Buenos-Aires-to-remain-open.html Molimo da se ne zatvori Ambasada BiH u Buenos Airesu. We petition for the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Buenos Aires to remain open. Pedimos que no se cierre la Embajada de Bosnia y Herzegovina en Buenos Aires. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 21 Jul 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9142/1/Croatia-Citizen-journalists-to-play-a-big-role-in-cross-platform.html Europapress Holding has plans to launch "the New Medium" a revolutionary news project that will integrate a daily newspaper, a web portal, television shows, and mobile communications.   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 14 Jul 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8984/1/NFCA-Press-Release-The-NATO-Freedom-Consolidation-Act-of-2007.html     foleycoinc@earthlink.net (Joe Foley) Mon, 12 Mar 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8982/1/Genocides-most-wanted-Countries-and-people-shouldnt-be-allowed-to-get-away-with-genocide.html     rullid@yahoo.com (Dino Rulli, Ph.D.) Mon, 12 Mar 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8954/1/Croatia-to-Compete-in-2007-Bacardi-Cup.html   The Bacardi Cup Star Class Regatta expands its reach drawing Croatia for the first time in its 80 - year history. Registrants include Olympic Medalists from 19 countries.  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 21 Feb 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8945/1/Top-US-Universities-did-begin-to-post-FREE-courses-on-the-web-open-to-all.html   Universities are posting online everything from lecture notes to sample tests, and even making audio and video franjo@adnc.com (Franjo Rado�evi�) Fri, 16 Feb 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8934/1/Croatia8217s-Quality-of-Life-Ranks-18th-in-the-World.html   International Living Magazine recently announced its top choice countries in terms of quality of life, with Croatia placing 18th out of the 193 countries officially recognized. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Fri, 09 Feb 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8933/1/Svecano-proslavljena-Festa-Svetog-Vlaha-u-Los-Angelesu-3-veljace-2007.html U subotu 03. veljace 2007., veliki Hrvatski centar Sv. Ante u Los Angelesu bio je premalen kako bi primio sve dubrovkinje, dubrovcane, sve Hrvate koji su tako daleko od Domovine dosli odati pocast nasem Parcu i dostojno proslaviti festu Svetog Vlaha.   Dubrovnik5@aol.com (Niko Hazdovac) Fri, 09 Feb 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8932/1/Austrian-Grants-for-Croatian-PhDs-under-35-years---1000-Euros-a-month.html  Call for Applicants / Expression of interest. We would like to encourage in particular applicants from Southeastern Europe for PhD students and PhDs under 35 years stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Fri, 09 Feb 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8931/1/Dogs-life-Brightens-up-with-new-Centre-in-Croatia.html Only a few years ago, Neven Silvestar Kovacevic's idea of a day-care centre for dogs met with dismissive smirks in his native Croatia. Today, his Nesi daycare centre for dogs is proof that innovative entrepreneurship is taking root in this European Union candidate country.  stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Fri, 09 Feb 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8926/1/Croatia-India-Sign-Co-operation-Agreement.html  Croatian Minister of Science Dragan Primorac and his visiting Indian counterpart, Kapil Sibal, signed a declaration on strengthening bilateral scientific and technological co-operation. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Wed, 07 Feb 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8924/1/Job-Posting-for-Lawyer-in-Croatia.html   International law firm seeks Partner for their Zagreb office to serve a roster of both domestic and multi-national clients. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Tue, 06 Feb 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8919/1/Le-Meridien-Lav-Opens-First-Hotel-In-Split-Croatia.html   Le Méridien Lav is taking over the resort previously known as the Hotel Lav, giving it a $150 million renovation. The resort has 364 guestrooms with 17 suites and a Presidential Suite. The beach-front resort has seven bars and dining areas, tennis academy, private yacht marina, a casino and indoor and outdoor pools. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Tue, 30 Jan 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8915/1/Croatia-Advances-to-Quarterfinals-in-2007-Handball-World-Championships.html   Croatia continue to look to be the team to beat in the World Championships as they defeated previously unbeaten Hungary 25-18. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Thu, 25 Jan 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8905/1/Amateur-Radio-Club-Koprivnica-Celebrates-60-Years.html    stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Thu, 18 Jan 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8904/1/Ambassador-to-Croatia-Visits-Pittsburgh.html  Robert Bradtke (left), the United States ambassador to Croatia, lived in the Pittsburgh area just a short time.But he remembers those few years fondly, he said during a recent visit to the Croatian Fraternal Union of America in Wilkins. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Thu, 18 Jan 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8888/1/Croatia-would-soon-be-calling-for-bids-to-privatise-five-of-its-largest-shipyards.html     letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 09 Jan 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8883/1/Last-month-on-a-frosty-night-in-Zagreb-Croatia-they-draped-the-shimmering-cape-on-the-shoulders-of-James-Brown-for-the-last-time.html   As the crowd cheered, the "Hardest Working Man in Show Business," whose career had begun six decades and a world away as a child dancing for coins along the Savannah River, walked away from the microphone. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 26 Dec 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8862/1/Web-stranica-wwwlijepanasadomovinahrvatskacom-ponovo-se-nalazi-na-internetu.html     i.grgic@comcast.net (Ivica Grgi�) Sat, 09 Dec 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8849/1/Brian-Gallagher-analyzes-The-Trial-of-Domagoj-Margetic.html     brigall@yahoo.co.uk (Brian Gallagher) Tue, 05 Dec 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8847/1/Croatian-World-Congress-Invites-You-to-Participate-at-the-UN-COMMISSION-ON-STATUS-OF-WOMEN.html The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) will hold its 51st session from 26 February to 9 March 2007, at United Nations Headquarters, New York. The Commission will focus on the thematic issue entitled The elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against the girl child.   MViscovich@aol.com (Prof. Dr. Mario Viscovich) Tue, 05 Dec 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8846/1/Poziv-na-sudjelovanje-pri-UN-Komisiji-o-polozaju-zena-Rok-prijave-22-prosinca-2006.html     MViscovich@aol.com (Prof. Dr. Mario Viscovich) Tue, 05 Dec 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8844/1/The-dead-sexy-Tesla-delivers-on-its-promise-100--Electric-car-No-more-excuses.html     c.mateo@verizon.net (Martin Cvjetkovi�) Thu, 30 Nov 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8798/1/Predavanja-akademika-Ante-Stamaca-quotGibanja-u-suvremenom-hrvatskom-jezikuquot.html     dalmatinac99@vip.hr (Ante Katalinic) Fri, 10 Nov 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8791/1/Croatian-Hall-in-Biloxi-MS-to-be-Rebuilt.html The Slavonian Lodge, in Biloxi, MS was the gathering place for Croatians in the area. In 2005 it was destroyed during Hurricane Katrina. The American and Croatian flags fly over its remains. The local Croatians have committed themselves to rebuilding their lodge. Read more&   stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Tue, 07 Nov 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8738/1/Great-escape-by-Bhupathi-Ancic.html Mahesh Bhupathi , left, of India and Mario Ancic of Croatia, right, pose with the winners' check and the trophies after defeating the Indian duo of Rohan Bopanna and Mustafa Ghouse in the doubles finals match of the Kingfisher Open Tennis in Mumbai, India, Monday, Oct. 2, 2006. Bhupathi and Ancic defeated Bopanna-Ghouse 6-4, 6-7, 10-8 to win the doubles' title.   dalmatinac99@vip.hr (Ante Katalinic) Sat, 07 Oct 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8737/1/-Ljubicic-wins-second-place-at-Thailand-Open.html American James Blake dominated top-seeded Croatian Ivan Ljubicic 6-3, 6-1 Sunday, Oct. 1, 2006 to win the Thailand Open final. Third-seeded Blake controlled the match from the start with superior ground strokes, wrapping up his fourth title of the year in less than an hour.   dalmatinac99@vip.hr (Ante Katalinic) Sat, 07 Oct 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8736/1/Lord-of-the-DNA-ring.html Zagreb, Croatia. The study was completed in cooperation between the Croatian research institute Rudjer Boskovic and the Paris-based Necker Institute. Ksenija Zahradka, a leading researcher in the study, told a news conference. "It is an extremely fascinating phenomenon to see how a cell itself can repair its fairly destroyed DNA." Croatian scientist Miroslav Radman supervised the experimental part of the study. October 3rd 2006. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 04 Oct 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8735/1/Croatians-Show-the-Way-to-Immortality.html ZAGREB - Croatian scientists have worked out how a radiation-resistant bacterium that can exist in extreme conditions repairs damage to itself, a discovery which could provide clues about diseases such as cancer. "Through evolution, the bacteria have developed a mechanism to precisely reconstruct its DNA. Until now this has been a scientific riddle," Ksenija Zahradka, a leading researcher in the study, told a news conference.   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 04 Oct 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8732/1/GORBACHEV-IN-PRIMOSTEN.html   Croatian President Stipe Mesic, right, looks at former Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev as he speaks at a conference marking his 75th birthday and 20th anniversary of his Perestroika reforms in Primosten, Croatia, Saturday Sept. 30, 2006. dalmatinac99@vip.hr (Ante Katalinic) Wed, 04 Oct 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8720/1/Oakland-Intl-FF-BEYOND-THE-CALL-screening-this-Friday-Sept-22-6pm-at-the-Grand-Lake-Theater.html   Hello Bay Area Friends, I am excited to announce and invite you and your friends to a screening of BEYOND THE CALL in the beautiful Grand Lake Theater in Oakland (http://cinematreasures.org/theater/414/) as part of the Oakland International Film Festival (http://oaklandfilmsociety.org). Wadirum1@aol.com (Adrian Beli�) Fri, 22 Sep 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8701/1/Returning-to-a-Cuntry-in-Transition-is-Both-Challenging-and-Rewarding.html Returning home to Croatia after working as a postdoctoral fellow in the United States took preparation and patience. I had enjoyed my three years studying insulin resistance at two prominent US centres. Although I disliked the poor career prospects for postdocs and the lack of professional development, I loved my colleagues' competitive spirit and the generous funding of the laboratory. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Fri, 15 Sep 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8698/1/Ljubicic-Leads-Croatia-Charge-in-China.html Top seed Ivan Ljubicic (right) led a trio of Croatians into the second round of the China Open with a comfortable 6-4 6-2 victory over Japan's Go Soeda on Tuesday.  stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Thu, 14 Sep 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8697/1/Kukoc-Calls-a-Halt-to-NBA-Career.html Toni Kukoc, who played on the last three of Chicago's Michael-Jordan led title-winning teams is to quit the NBA.  stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Thu, 14 Sep 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8696/1/Croatia-Knots-Worlds-Biggest-Tie.html  Croatia tied the world's biggest tie after placing red thread round its 4,000 kilometres (2,480 miles) of borders to promote the country's cultural heritage and identity. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Thu, 14 Sep 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8692/1/Pismo-Ministrice-Ministarstvo-Vanjskih-Poslova-i-Europskih-Integracija.html ®elim vam dobrodo¹licu na web stranice Ministarstva vanjskih poslova i europskih integracija namijenjene informiranju pripadnika hrvatskog naroda koji ¾ive izvan granica Republike Hrvatske.   stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Mon, 11 Sep 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8691/1/Mirjana-Bohanec-8211-Vidoviae-promovirana-novom-pomoaenicom-ministrice-u-Upravi-za-hrvatske-manjine-iseljenitvo-i-useljenitvo.html   Obavje¹tavamo sve hrvatske udruge u iseljeni¹tvu da je 25. kolovoza 2006. godine novom pomoænicom ministrice u Upravi za hrvatske manjine, iseljeni¹tvo i useljeni¹tvo imenovana gospoða Mirjana Bohanec - Vidoviæ. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Pulji�) Mon, 11 Sep 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8553/1/E-Croatia-abolishes-prison-sentences-for-defamation.html Croatia abolishes prison sentences for defamation 03/July/2006 Croatia is now the third Southeast European country to abolish criminal punishment for defamation in the past year, following Serbia and Macedonia. There were several Croatian journalists convicted for defamation in 2004 and 2005. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe negotiated with the government to change the law, by moving defamation from the criminal code to the civil code. Miklos Haraszti, the OSCE media freedom representative, said the move was an important step toward freer media. ÀœThis change will boost the self-confidence of the press and also improve its professionalism," Haraszti said. OSCE: http://www.osce.org/item/19716.html. Reporters Without Borders: http://www.rsf.org/country-53.php3?id_mot=505&Valider=OK.  http://www.ijnet.org/Director.aspx?P=Article&ID=305196 OSCE media watchdog praises Croatia's abolition of prison sentences for defamation Subscribe to e-mail service Print version VIENNA, 29 June 2006 - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti, today commended the Croatian Parliament for adopting amendments to the Criminal Code that abolish imprisonment as a sanction for defamation. "I welcome Croatia's move to liberate the country's journalists from the fear of imprisonment for their words," Mr Haraszti said. "This will boost the self-confidence of the press, and also improve its professionalism. "Journalistic ethics can only mature in an environment that allows for an uninhibited and free press. The amendments to the law will also help journalists to contribute to greater transparency in public life." Both the Representative and the OSCE Mission to Croatia have continuously advocated the decriminalization of defamation. Their co-operation with the Government on defamation and libel has intensified following several convictions of journalists for defamation in 2004 and 2005. After Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Croatia is the third state since last September to abolish imprisonment as a punishment under its criminal libel law. "I am pleased that these countries are taking the lead in removing criminal libel laws from their penal codes and letting the civil courts deal with these offences. I hope that all OSCE participating States will follow their example," Mr. Haraszti said. http://www.osce.org/item/19716.html letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 04 Jul 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8554/1/E-New-US-Ambassador-Robert-A-Bradtke-To-Be-Sworn-in-on-July-3rd.html New U.S. Ambassador Robert A. Bradtke To Be Sworn-in on July 3rd National Federation of Croatian Americans Press Release   from left to right: NFCA Government Affairs Director Joe Foley, NFCA President Ed Andrus, Ambassador Designate Robert A. Bradtke, NFCA Vice President Steve Rukavina, NFCA National Treasurer Zvonko Labas) For Immediate Release À“ June 28, 2006 ÀœNew U.S. Ambassador Robert A. Bradtke To Be Sworn-in on July 3rdÀ (Washington, D.C.) A National Federation of Croatian Americans (NFCA) delegation visited the U.S. State Department on Wednesday, June 21, to meet the newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to The Republic of Croatia Robert Bradtke and Croatia Desk Officer Bradford Bell. The group led by NFCA President Ed Andrus, Eastern Vice President Steve Rukavina, National Treasurer Zvonko Labas, and Government and Public Affairs Director Joe Foley had a very substantive 100 minute working lunch meeting with the American diplomat. Ambassador Bradtke will be sworn in during a July 3rd U.S. State Department ceremony headed by Secretary of State Condolezza Rice. This meeting was an ideal opportunity for the Ambassador Designate to become better acquainted with the activities of the National Federation of Croatian Americans, the Croatian Fraternal Union, and to hear more detailed specifics about the activities, accomplishments, and many dimensions of the Croatian American community. Ambassador Bradtke has been in the U.S. Foreign Service for thirty three years. He was based in the Zagreb Consul during the 1976-1980 time period and later worked for and visited Croatia with Secretary of State Warren Christopher in 1996. The meeting was centered on the topic of NATO membership for Croatia as the key discussion subject. Ambassador Bradtke feels Croatia has made much progress in its pursuit of membership in this Euro-Atlantic alliance. The diplomat was quick to point out that the upcoming NATO Summit in Riga, Latvia is not the enlargement meeting. Enlargement would most likely occur at the 2008 NATO Summit. Ambassador Bradtke as a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State was intricately involved in the 2002 NATO Enlargement process. This American diplomat with all his NATO experience will be a great addition to the American diplomatic corp working directly with Croatian government officials over the next few years. Ambassador Bradtke believes the Croatian Defense Minister understands all he needs to know about some necessary requirements and reforms needed to better ensure NATO membership. The new Ambassador is clearly committed to discussing the benefits and requirements of NATO membership during his term in Croatia. He hopes that the Croatian citizenry will better appreciate the significance of NATO Article 5, which clearly states that an attack against any NATO member is an attack against all of them. The Ambassador believes that the Croatian public, like the Slovenes about four years ago, will clearly favor NATO membership as debate continues through the next 12 to 18 months regarding the long term security benefits of membership in this alliance. Ambassador Bradtke was very impressed with the role of the NFCA in the creation of the Congressional Croatian Caucus. He believes that this type of bi-partisan political leverage will be instrumental when it comes time for the U.S. Senate to vote on NATO enlargement in 2008. He was also pleased to hear how the NFCA has worked positively with the AmCham in Zagreb, the U.S. State Department with the Brcko project, Eastern Slavonia re-integration, economic development initiatives, de-mining fundraising, hosting Croatian visitors to the U.S., investor organizing, and sponsoring many Croatian-related educational symposia. Also, the Ambassador thought the involvement of Croatian American individuals and community in the development of Croatia's democracy and free market could be very instrumental over the years ahead. Ambassador Bradtke mentioned that he will be very busy in his first month. He will attend an early July Dubrovnik symposia with a NATO focus, participate in a Nikola Tesla 150 year birthday salute, and will also visit Vukovar within his first 30 days to pay his respects to the Croatians who lost their lives during the recent war in the Homeland. The Ambassador Designate mentioned that he had a very productive meeting and lunch with Croatian Ambassador Nevin Jurica on Thursday, June 15. The diplomat was openly very excited about his appointment and confirmation to be the next Ambassador to The Republic of Croatia. The diplomat feels strongly that the next few years for Croatia are crucial in its evolution to be a model democracy and force for stability in Southeast Europe. Ed Andrus spoke for all NFCA members when he congratulated Ambassador Bradtke, wished him well, and offered NFCA support for his diplomatic efforts to help with Croatia's pursuit of NATO membership. NFCA representatives will attend his swearing-in ceremony on July 3rd. The NFCA is a national umbrella organization of Croatian American groups that collectively represents approximately 130,000 members. For additional public affairs information, please call Mr. Joe Foley, NFCA Government and Public Affairs Director, at (301) 294-0937, or Mr. Ed Andrus, NFCA  President, at NFCA Headquarters at (301) 208-6650, or by email at NFCAhdq@verizon.net . For recent NFCA newsletters, important NFCA membership and chapter information, and other Croatian American news please visit the NFCAÀ™s Web Site at WWW.NFCAONLINE.COM . National Federation of Croatian Americans (NFCA) 2401 Research Blvd, Suite 115 Rockville, MD 20850 PHONE: (301) 208-6650 FAX: (301) 208-6659 E-MAIL: nfcahdq@verizon.net WEB SITE: www.nfcaonline.com  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 28 Jun 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8551/1/E-Soros-out-of-Croatia.html Soros out of Croatia As of June 1, 2006, Open Society Institute closed its offices in Zagreb, Croatia. OSI Croatia was active for 14 years spending $55 millions on development of civil society, education, public health, media, art, culture, and judiciary. OSI Croatia board of directors chairperson, Slavica Singer, affirmed OSI board's belief that Croatia's civil society is capable and self-sustainable within parameters of European democratic standards letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 14 Jun 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8552/1/E-Soross-Open-Society-Institute-in-Croatia-Closes-Shop.html Open Society Institute in Croatia Closes Shop   Tomislav Domes 02 June 2006 The Open Society Institute Croatia announced, in a public release of Wednesday that it concluded its 14-year work in Croatia on May 31. OSI Croatia was established in 1992, as support to the democratic development of Croatian Society. After the initial phase during which it concentrated on providing humanitarian assistance to the country at war, the Institute donated more than 55 million US Dollars as support for numerous initiative in the fields of education, media, art, culture, public health, law and economy, and greatly contributed to emergence and development of civil society in Croatia. During the 1990s, OSI Croatia often worked in an environment that was not very inclined towards it, and contributed actively to the criticism of dominant political and social models, presenting an alternative to the authoritarian and nationalist beliefs and actions, thus helping the political changes and institutional reform. After 14 years of systemic support to the democratization, in the context of CroatiaÀ™s progress towards the EU integration, the people at the Institute are convinced that the civil society in Croatia reached the level of self-sustainability, necessary to function in accordance with European democratic standards. We would like to use this opportunity to express our gratitude to all our collaborators, members of the Managing Board and programme boards, as well as the employees of the OSI Croatia, the state, cultural and scientific institutions, the media, as well as numerous partners and users of our programmes for their activism, enthusiasm and dedicated work on democratization and development of Croatian societyÀ, said OSI in a public statement. http://see.oneworld.net/article/view/134055/1/ letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 01 Jun 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6871/1/E-Croatian-Chronicle-Croatian-President-Stipe-Mesic-visits-San-Francisco.html ÂMan on a MissionCroatian President Stipe Mesic visits San Francisco to attract U.S. investment, meets with local Croatian American community and finds time for some gardeningPresident Mesic and Mike Grgich planted a vine commemorating Roots of Peace efforts in Croatia - a campaign to replace mines with vinesIn a bid to promote joint economic ventures between his country and U.S. investors, and entice Americans to visit Croatia, President Stjepan Mesic traveled to California April 8-10, 2006. Mesic's trip to the West Coast also included meeting with some of the 50,000 Croatians in the San Francisco Bay area at a reception at the Croatian-American Cultural Center to inform them of the latest developments in Croatia's efforts towards EU and NATO membership. During his visit Mesic expressed his satisfaction with the level and quality of Croatian-U.S. cooperation. The President's itinerary also included speaking before the World Affairs Council in San Francisco on the role of small nations on the 21st century international political scene, an interview for the San Francisco Chronicle and a meeting with former U.S. Secretary of State George Schultz. One of the highlights of Mesic's visit was a meeting with famed Napa Valley winemaker Miljenko "Mike" Grgich on April 9, 2006, with whom he planted a vine commemorating Roots of Peace efforts in Croatia - a campaign to replace mines with vines - in front of Grgich Hills Cellar in Rutherford, CA. Not only is Grgich one of United States' best-known winemakers, he is a Croatian who is equally well known in his homeland for winemaking and for his support of Roots of Peace - a humanitarian non-profit organization dedicated to the eradication of landmines by returning de-mined land to productive agricultural use. Heidi Kuhn, President of Roots of Peace, attended the vine planting at Grgich Hills Cellar. Kuhn had just returned from New York City where she joined Mrs. Kofi Annan at the United Nations for the inaugural UN Landmine Awareness Day on April 4, 2006. Grgich also owns a winery in Croatia called Grgic Vina and was instrumental in establishing that the origins of Zinfandel can be traced back to the Croatian grape variety Crljenak. "I'm honored that the president came to my vineyard to show his support for Roots of Peace," said Grgich. "We had an overcast sky but the sun broke through the clouds just long enough for us to plant the vine. I think that is a blessing from heaven on our efforts." Echoing the president's invitation for Americans to visit his homeland, Grgich added, "Croatia is a beautiful country that is perfect for a vacation. In fact, my daughter, Violet, is leading a tour that's taking a spectacular cruise along the Dalmatian Coast in August."  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 25 Apr 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6873/1/E-011385-web-stranica.html Â13. veljaca 06. TV Z1 - Urednik i utemeljitelj Ivica Grgicvideo - Nenad Bach na TV Z1 13.09.2005 - promocija klapske glazbe posjetitewww.nenadbach.com iwww.croatianworld.net13. veljaca 06. HRVATSKA SVJETSKA UDRUGA - audio - INTERVJU SA VESNOM BALENOVIC - Intervju vodio Domagoj Margetić. Malverzacije i kriminal u INI , povezanost duznosnika (kriminalaca) iz vladajucih struktura i pravosudja sa duznosnicima(kriminalcima) iz INE. Madjarsko poduzece koje je kupilo INU otpustilo je te iste koje optuzuje gospodja Balenovic....Program je snimljen pod pokroviteljstvom Croatian Worldwide Association.Âposjetitehttp://www.domagojmargetic.com13. veljaca 06. HRVATSKA SVJETSKA UDRUGA - audio - INTERVJU SA AKADEMIKOM JOSIPOM PEČARIĆEM - SaÂakademikom Josipom PečarićemÂrazgovarao je Domagoj Margetić. Program je snimljen pod pokroviteljstvomCroatian Worldwide Association.Âposjetitehttp://www.domagojmargetic.com12. veljaca 06. Radio HTV - audio - 09. veljače 2006. godine - Prvi program hrvatskog radija u emisiji "Prva crta" o tome kako su započeli, kako rade i tko sve radi na prikupljanju građe iz Domovinskog rata.Prisutnost odgovornih srpskih duznosnika iz vremena Domovinskog rata na raznim visokim duznostima u Hrvatskoj i odnos hrvatskih vlasti prema njima. Gosti su: Ante Beljo, Ivica Pandža - Orkan i Ratko Dragović - Klek.....http://www.domovinskirat.com/12. veljaca 06. Večernji list - tekst- Srbima u Hrvatskoj vratiti status naroda kao 1990 - astupnici SiCG u Parlamentarnoj skupÅtini Vijeća Europe, na čelu s potpredsjednikom Srpske radikalne stranke Tomislavom Nikolićem, inicirali su donoÅenje rezolucije u kojoj se od Hrvatske traži da Srbe proglasi konstitutivnim narodom u RH, dakle jednakima Hrvatima....12. veljaca 06. Hina - tekst- Hrvati u Vojvodini na udaru Åovinista - SUBOTICA - Na zidovima pet objekata koje pripadaju hrvatskim udrugama, tvrtkama ili osobama hrvatske nacionalnosti u ponedjeljak su, kako prenosi list, osvanule za Hrvate uvredljive poruke.....12. veljaca 06. Hina - tekst- Predsjednik Savjeta Hrvatskog zvona Zdravko Tomac ocijenio je kako je plan međunarodne zajednice da se Hrvatsku gurne u tzv. zonu slobodne trgovine Zapadnog Balkana pokazao da početak pregovora s EU ne znači odlazak s Balkana, već nove pritiske na Hrvatsku za balkansko regionalno udruživanje....12. veljaca 06. Slobodna Dalmacija -tekst - Josip JOVIĆ - Utemeljenje Zaklade za istinu o Domovinskom ratu, koja se joÅ zove i zakladom za obranu A. Gotovine, popraćeno je neuobičajenom nervozom, kritikama i napadima.....Kritičarima Zaklade, a čini se i HaaÅkom sudu, pa i nekima u Europskoj uniji, smeta to Åto ona izmiče izvan okvira željenog ideologijskog sklopa. Zato se za nju kaže kako okuplja protueuropske snage, kako joj cilj nije obrana Gotovine, nego ideologije, itd.....09. veljaca 06. HGU Split - tekst- PROSVJED HRVATSKIH GLAZBENIKA - Poznati pjevači, skladatelji, aranžeri i organizatori objavili javni prosvjed protiv SUSTAVNOG UNIÅTAVANJA HRVATSKE GLAZBE - ...MiÅljenja smo da to namjerno radi grupa ljudi raspoređena u većini medija (TV, radio postajama i novinama) u dogovoru s nekim poslovnim krugovima. Posebno su na udaru najpopularnije - hrvatska zabavna i hrvatska narodna glazba....09. veljaca 06.Radio Split - audio -Matko Jelavic o prosvjedu glazbenika - ...Za razliku od razgovora na Radio Dalmaciji, ovaj je jednosatni "dvoboj" proÅao sa puno viÅe nervoze.....posjetitehttp://www.matkojelavic.com/intervju preporucio Nenad Bachhttp://www.croatianworld.net09. veljaca 06.Radio Dalmacija - audio -Matko Jelavic o prosvjedu glazbenika - Vrlo zanimljiv razgovor na splitskoj radio Dalmaciji posvećen sadržaju prosvjednog pisma glazbenika.Ovo je prvi put u samostalnoj Hrvatskoj da se o problemima glazbene pozornice ovako temeljito i javno razgovara....posjetitehttp://www.matkojelavic.com/intervju preporucio Nenad Bach http://www.croatianworld.net09. veljaca 06.Andjelko Galic-audio - odvjetnik iz Chicaga , urednik i sponzor hrvatskog radija "Lijepa nasa" - kriticki odnos prema vladajucim strukturama ( bivsim i sadasnjim ) , rad haaskog suda...... 09. veljaca 06. HRVATSKA SVJETSKA UDRUGA - tekst- PISMO HRVATSKE SVJETSKE UDRUGE (CROATIAN WORLDWIDE ASSOCIATION) VISOKOM POVJERENIKU ZA BiH: ZAUSTAVITE NOVE OPTUŽNICE PROTIV HRVATA U BiH - .....PiÅemo Vam kako bi Vam ukazali na članak objavljen 6. veljače 2006. godine, na portalu www.index.hr, a koji Vam i prilažemo na kraju ovoga pisma. Članak piÅe o tome kako se priprema 300 optužnica protiv Hrvata u Bosni i Hercegovini za navodno počinjene ratne zločine.....- tekst - CROATIAN WORLDWIDE ASSOCIATION - ...We write in regards to an article which appeared February 6, 2005 on www.index.hr and posted for your reference at the end of this letter. ÂThe article reports there are 300 indictments about to be issued against Croatians in Bosnia-Herzegovina for âwar crimesâ€? allegedly committed.Â...posjetite http://www.croatianworldwideassociation.com07. veljaca 06. Croatian Herald -tekst - MELBOURNE - Daniel Kraljević iz Melbournea želi dokazati kako Andrew Bogut nije jedini hrvatski Australac koji zna igrati koÅarku. On će predstavljati australsku hrvatsku zajednicu na prvim Hrvatskim svjetskim igrama u Zadru, od 15. do 21. lipnja 2006. godine. Daniel je sa svojih nekoliko prijatelja odlučio prijaviti koÅarkaÅku momčad i natjecati se s Hrvatima iz cijelog svijeta.Da bismo otkrili koji su točno Danijelovi planovi, porazgovarali smo s njim proÅlog tjedna.....posjetitehttp://www.croatianherald.com/tekst preporucio Jure Strikahttp://www.zadar2006.com07. veljaca 06. Jeffrey Lesser - tekst - Up Close and Personal with Newest Croatian Tennis Sensation Marin Cilic.........article recomended by Katarina Tepesh 07. veljaca 06. Domagoj Margetic - tekst - MESIC JE BIO SURADNIK UDB-e - Prvi hrvatski zabranjeni web portal www.domagojmargetic.com objavio je faksimile dokumentacije jugoslavenske tajne milicije UDB-e i SDB-a, koji dokazuju vezu i suradnju Stjepana Mesica sa jugoslavenskim tajnim sluzbama od 1958. godine, pa sve do demokratskih promjena 1990.....-tekst - Godinama skrivani dokument: Tajna predstavka Nikole Domjanovica o jugoslavenskom obavjestajnom i kriminalnom podzemlju u sustavu MUP-a, obavjestajnim sluzbama i Hrvatskoj vojsci - KAKO SU UDB-a I KOS UBACILI SVOJE LJUDE U HRVATSKE OBAVJESTAJNE SLUZBE, POLICIJU I VOJSKU......posjetite http://www.domagojmargetic.com07. veljaca 06. INDEX - tekst- Uskoro optuznice protiv 300 Hrvata iz Hercegovine? - SUDOVI u Sarajevu i Mostaru uskoro bi trebali zaprimiti tristotinjak optuznica protiv Hrvata iz Hercegovine koje se sumnjici da supocinili ratne zlocine u ratu u BiH, doznaje bosansko-hercegovackiDnevni list, a prenosi portal bljesak.info. Kako doznaje list, drzavno tuziteljstvo BiH provodi tri istrage u vezi sa ratnim zlocinima pocinjenim u Hercegovacko-neretvanskoj zupaniji...........05. veljaca 06.Croatian worldwide association -audio - snimak razgovora sa gen Antom Rosom kojeg je vodio Domagoj Margeticposjetite http://www.domagojmargetic.comhttp://www.domagojmargetic.com/media/audio/ROSO.WMAhttp://www.croatianworldwideassociation.com 04. veljaca 06. Nova TV - video- Istraga - Mira Dujmović - Dana 03. veljače 2006. ove godine Nova TV (www.novatv.hr) u emisiji Istraga, prikazan je prilog o Hrvatici Miri Dujmović koja je u okupiranom selu JoÅevica pored Gline skrivala hrvatskog branitelja Mirka KreÅtalicu Âriskirajući time svoj život.Nakon Åto su ih uhapsili sudac u takozvanoj krajini Nikola Carić osudio ju je na 15 godina robije uz optužbu da su ustaÅki Åpijuni.Mira i Mirko razmijenjeni su nakon 9 mjeseci zarobljeniÅtva zahvaljujući crvenome križu.....04. veljaca 06. Nova TV - video- Istraga - Mladen Brleković - Dana 03. veljače 2006. ove godine Nova TV (www.novatv.hr) u emisiji Istraga, prikazan je prilog o Mladenu Brlekoviću. Dana 27. siječnja 2006. godine na redakciju Nove tv pristigao je e-mail iz Srbije u kojoj Petrinjac koji je nakon oluje otiÅao u Srbiju nudi svjedočenja kako je Srpska paravojska počinila zlodjela na okupiranoj Banovini......04. veljaca 06. Vecernji list -tekst - Åokantno haaÅko svjedočenje britanske novinarke - 'Bin Laden 1994. bio u uredu Izetbegovićaâ....clanak preporucio Mario Profacahttp://mprofaca.cro.net/04. veljaca 06. Katarina Tepesh - tekst- CROATIAN BOOK CLUB OF NEW YORK - In honor of Valentineâs Day, our monthly selection is one the greatest Croatian love story recorded to date, Goodbye Dear Old Homeland â The true story of a young refugee coupleâs flight from Croatia and their journey to freedom04. veljaca 06. Slobodna Dalmacija - tekst- BivÅa kolumnistica Večernjega lista Dunja Ujević posvjedočila je kako je Josip Manolić, u to vrijeme predsjednik Županijskoga doma Sabora, reagirao kad mu je postavila pitanje o 200 civila koje su partizani ubili, bez suda, u Bjelovaru......04. veljaca 06. Domagoj Margetic - tekst - ,,Apel 215" protiv prijedloga za osnivanje zone slobodne trgovine na podrucju tzv. Zapadnog Balkana - Svjesni svoje odgovornosti za buducnost nase drzave, a u skladu sa Ustavom Republike Hrvatske (Clanak 141.), odlucno odbacujemo ideju Europske unije o stvaranju zone slobodne trgovine na podrucju tzv. Zapadnog Balkana. Podsjecamo da se po Ustavu zabranjuje pokretanje postupka udruzivanja Republike Hrvatske u saveze sa drugim drzavama......posjetite stranicewww.domagojmargetic.com04. veljaca 06.www.nemacenzure.com - tekst- General Rahim Ademi želi natrag u Haag! Nije sam tražio da mu se suđenje prebaci u Hrvatsku, pa će zahtijevati povratak u Haag ako mu država ne omogući kvalitetnu obranu u Hrvatskoj i ako ne nadoknadi stare troÅkove procesa u Haagu, doznajemo iz krugova bliskih optuženome Ademiju, do kojega novinari ne mogu osobno doći jer poÅtuje pravilo HaÅkoga suda da ne smije istupati u javnosti.....clanak preporucio Mario Profacahttp://mprofaca.cro.net/04. veljaca 06. Vecernji list - tekst- Tri hrvatska sina - Autor Milan IvkoÅic - Kad je prije nekoliko godina jedan ugledni americki odvjetnik Ivici Racanu ponudio pomoc u obrani generala Ante Gotovine, Racan ga je s gnuÅanjem odbio. Jer, on je sin poznatog ustaÅkog dužnosnika Andrije Artukovica.....04. veljaca 06. - Za mjesec sijecanj imali smo 1 732 549 hits-a . Zahvaljujem svima na suradnji 02. veljaca 06. Domagoj Margetic -audio - Audio zapisi tajno snimanih razgovora srpskih ratnih zlocinaca Radovana Karadžica, Ratka Mladica, Slobodana MiloÅevica, Milana Babica i drugih. Na tajno snimanim razgovorima doticni razgovaraju o agresiji na Hrvatsku i Bosnu i Hercegovinu, odnosno o planovima napada na hrvatske i bosansko-hercegovacko gradove.Iste audio snimke bile su dostupne i haÅkim istražiteljima, ali ih ICTY dosad nije koristio u procescima protiv srpskih haÅkih optuženika.02. veljaca 06.Hrvatski intormativni radio- Canada -audio - snimak razgovora sa Domagojem Margeticem 29.01.2006 - posjetite http://www.domagojmargetic.com - audio - snimak razgovora sa Jurom Strikom 22.01.2006 - posjetitehttp://www.zadar2006.com/Razgovor vodila Veronika Topicslusajte "Hrvatski informativni program" svake nedjelje u 9pm (EST) , 03:00 sati (ujutro) po hrvatskom vremenu na AM530http://www.am530.ca diljem svijeta letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 13 Feb 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6872/1/H-PROSVJED-HRVATSKIH-GLAZBENIKA.html ÂPROSVJED HRVATSKIH GLAZBENIKA Poznati pjevači, skladatelji, aranzeri i organizatori objavili javni prosvjed protiv SUSTAVNOG UNISTAVANJA HRVATSKE GLAZBEÂSvoj komentar mozete ostaviti na:http://www.matkojelavic.com/dojmovi.php Misljenja smo da to namjerno radi grupa ljudi rasporedjena u većini medija (TV, radio postajama i novinama) u dogovoru s nekim poslovnim krugovima. Posebno su na udaru najpopularnije - hrvatska zabavna i hrvatska narodna glazba.Dugogodisnje nametanje tudje i nerazumljive glazbe (pod krinkom 'urbane'), poticanje samo jednog, glazbenog ukusa manjine i zabrana pristupa ostalima, prijezir prema pojmu zabave, urodile su suprotnim i nezeljenim: gotovo paničnim okretanjem većeg dijela publike (naročito mlade) glazbi nasih istočnih susjeda i naglasenom nezainteresiranoću za domaću. Vrijedjanje svih koji se ne uklapaju u opisani 'preodgoj', javno se predstavlja kao 'sloboda medija'.Zabrane i 'crne liste' izvodjača u medijima, neprihvatljive su za demokratska drustva.Predvodnik takvog ponasanja je Hrvatska televizija, kojoj pripada i najveća odgovornost za nastalu stetu.Podsjećamo, zabavna je glazba izvoran i prepoznatljiv hrvatski proizvod kojeg sudesetljećima uspjesno stvarale generacije vrsnih autora i glazbenika. Kod narodne glazbe, radi se o stoljećima.Ta se tradicija zadnjih godina silom gusi!Unistena je domaća diskografija, a javna mjesta za zabavu gube svoj smisao i nestaju.Planirano suzbijanje nase glazbe i običaja se posebno tesko odrazilo na hrvatsko iseljenistvo sirom svijeta.Upozoravamo, ovo sve vodi ukidanju cjelokupne hrvatske glazbe.Misljenja smo da u programima elektronskih medija treba uravnoteziti omjer domaće i strane glazbe, postujući volju i ukus naseg naroda.Zatvaranje i samodovoljnost nikako nije nasa namjera.â Prosvjedujemo i ogorčeni smo iskrivljavanjem hrvatskog jezika, sto se potiče iz istih medija.â Prosvjedujemo protiv neaktivnosti nadleznih institucija koje sve ovo mirno promatraju.Znakovito je sto su sva nasa nastojanja da se javno razgovara o ovomproblemu, u posljednjih desetak godina uvijek nailazila na zid sutnje.Zasto se javni ukus mijenja nasilno i tajno?Apeliramo na drzavna ministarstva i ostale drzavne institucije, odgovorne u medijima, strukovne udruge (Hrvatska glazbena unija, Hrvatsko drustvo skladatelja, Institut za glazbu itd.) da naprave ono zbog čega medju ostalim postoje â zastite domaću glazbu od očitog progona u vlastitoj zemlji.GLAZBENICI HRVATSKE:(potpisali do 2.veljače 2006.)Miso KovačKrunoslav Kićo SlabinacVinko CoceMatko JelavićJasna ZlokićMladen GrdovićDrazen ZečićBARUNIgrupa MAGAZINJasmin Stavrossima JovanovacTRIO GUsTVladimir Kočis ZecZlatko PejakovićMarina TomasevićDrazen zankoSLAVONSKE LOLENenad VilovićMilo HrnićMate BulićVlado Kalembergrupa DALMATINOEmilija KokićMucaloDusko KulisAlen Nizetićdjordji PeruzovićDusko JeličićPero PanjkovićPATRIAIvo AmulićMirela MeićZdravko skenderZrinkaIvica Čović PipoNenad siskovBotrić Eduardgrupa NEVERAKRISTALIDamir Mihanović Čubigrupa ČUVARI SVIRALAStjepan Jersek - stefPRIDRUzENI (organizatori)Ivica BubaloBranko PaićDragan HamovićNapomena:Zbog iskrivljavanja navoda iz ovog prosvjednog pisma od strane pojedinih medija, prisiljeni smo ga objaviti prije nego su prikupljeni svi potpisi. Ipak, potpisivanje se nastavlja u podruznicama Hrvatske glazbene unije sirom Hrvatske.Mislimo da su navedena imena i vise nego dovoljan poticaj za početak javne rasprave o ovom problemu.http://www.matkojelavic.com/novosti.php?p=34ÂSvoj komentar mozete ostaviti na:http://www.matkojelavic.com/dojmovi.php  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 13 Feb 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6874/1/E-Croatia-Begins-EU-Talks.html ÂCroatia Begins EU Talks 2006-02-07 18:08:12 Croatia's team led by Sinisa Petrovic and European Commission officials on Monday began the explanatory stage of screening the level of adjustment of Croatian legislation governing intellectual property protection to the European Union's acquis communautaire. "There is a high level of adjustment of the Croatian laws to the acquis, but the key issue is implementation," Petrovic said. In 2003 Croatia overhauled the legislation regulating intellectual property protection. In the coming period Zagreb should strengthen its capacities for the implementation of relevant laws, notably in the fight against piracy and forgery. On Wednesday, Croatia and the EC will start the explanatory stage of negotiations on social welfare and employment. (Brussels/Zagreb, DTT-NET.COM)- Croatia’s government is gaining ground on its calls that Western Balkans countries should join existing free trade agreement of Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) and avoid creating a new one as suggested last week by European Commission. Officials from EU presidency and Stability Pact (SP) for South-East Europe told DTT-NET.COM on Friday that countries from Western Balkans are not obliged but are free to choose whether they want to join Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania at CEFTA organization created in 1992 or negotiate a new agreement for free trade zone in the region. A spokesperson of EU presidency- the Austrian government- said that nations of the European bloc have nothing against the possibility of enlarging CEFTA. “If the countries from the Balkans want to join CEFTA then that’s OK for us” the spokesperson said. Same reactions had also officials from SP charged since 2001 by the EU to help the regional countries on technical aspects of free 31 bilateral trade agreements signed so far. “It’s up to the countries to decide”, Dragan Barbutovski the spokesperson of SP told DTT-NET.COM. However both officials said that CEFTA 15 year’s old regulations on trade should be upgraded and also criteria of the membership should be changed in order Balkans countries can join. Countries to join CEFTA must be members of World Trade Organisation (WTO) and have institutional relations with EU. Austrian spokesperson of EU presidency and Barbutovski said that “CEFTA should ease and smooth its procedures to accept Balkan countries”. Croatian government have already proposed the same in order to open the CEFTA door to its neighbours (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro and Macedonia). Macedonia last year has completed negotiations for membership at CEFTA and is expected to join soon. Croatian government on Thursday said that Ukraine should also join the organisation. The EC said last week that the new regional FTA agreement is expected to be concluded by mid-2006 and enter into force 2007, but following Croatia’s rejections; it’s most likely that plans are to be put on stand by until countries from the region and EC have not agreed between CEFTA and new regional free trade zone. European Commissioner in charge of EU enlargements Olli Rehn last week called on Western Balkan countries to speed up efforts to create a new single trade area in the region, in order as it says, to better promote trade and economic development. EC said in a statement that current 31 bilateral free trade agreements between the countries of the area are insufficient and they should be transformed in a single regional agreement. But following the strong rejection of the proposal by Croatian government, Rehn then said that the EC is keeping options opened and CEFTA could be the alternative to his proposal. “We are still considering whether it should be based on CEFTA or something else. I think that CEFTA is a possibility which we are considering carefully,” Olli Rehn told Croatian National TV on Tuesday. Croatia’s government argued that there is no need for duplication of existing organization. Croatian public reacted harshly to the proposal fearing that the it has political connotations and eventual plans by Brussels to create a new family between countries based on former Yugoslavia model, a claim which was dismissed by EC and also by officials of Stability Pact for South-East Europe. CEFTA is a multilateral agreement for creation of a free - trade zone by a gradual removal of duties for industrial goods, liberalization of trade for agricultural products, and free competition on the territories of the countries - members. As Bulgaria and Romania are to join the EU in January next year or at latest in January 2008, they are to walk out of the trade network with Balkan region and also from CEFTA. Earlier members of the organisation: Poland; Czech Republic, Slovakia; Hungary and Slovenia left as they joined the EU in May 2004. www.seeurope.net http://www.seeurope.net/en/Story.php?StoryID=57160&LangID=1  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 10 Feb 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6875/1/H-U-prodaji-29-broj-Hrvatske-kronike.html ÂU prodaji je novi broj najčitanije hrvatskenovine u Americi - Hrvatske kronike!Novi broj Hrvatske kronike donosi; Razgovor s Gordanom Giričekom - košarkašem Utah Jazz-a; Pročitajte što ponajbolji hrvatski košarkaš misli o svom NBA iskustvu, zašto ne vjeruje hrvatskim medijima i zbog čega želi jednog dana živjeti u Španjolskoj a ne u Hrvatskoj Reportažu o hrvatskom restoranu Drago's u New Orleansu; Kako je restoran obitelji Cvitanović prehranio tisuće i tisuće bekućnika nakon tragičnog uragana Katrina. Hrvatska kronika istražuje; Koliko Amerikanci mogu saznati o Hrvatima i Hrvatskoj u jednoj prosječnoj američkoj knjižari. Rezultati poražavajući: U američkim knjižarama nema knjiga o Hrvatskoj!Čitajte; zašto je Janica jedina Hrvatska kraljica!?Što je osam stotina Hrvata poručilo generalu Anti Gotovini iz Vancouvera? Skup potpore uhićenom hrvatskom generalu u Vancouveru najmasovnije okupljanje Hrvata od Domovinskog rata naovamo. Sve to i još puno drugih zanimljivih vijesti pročitajte u novom broju Hrvatske kronike!Pretplatite se na svoj primjerak najpopularnijeg hrvatskog glasnika Sjeverne Amerike!Tel. 718 278 5760Fax. 718 278 4311Pretplata moguća i putem kreditne kartice na internetu: www.croatianchronicle.com letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 23 Jan 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6876/1/E-Croatian-Chronicle-every-two-weeks.html ÂFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:CONTACT: Contact Person: Visnja MiocicCompany Name: NY Media LinkVoice Phone Number: (718) 278 5760FAX Number: (718) 228 4311Email Address: info@croatianchronicle.comWebsite: www.croatianchronicle.comNew York, October 28, 2005Croatian Chronicle to Become Bi-Weekly PublicationIt is our great pleasure to announce the launch of the first bi-weekly edition of the Croatian Chronicle on November 7, 2005! The most popular and widely read Croatian American publication will now be available twice a month!Each month, up to 20,000 people throughout North America read the Croatian Chronicle for news and information from the Croatian community. Community support for and interest in the newspaper have grown drastically in the last two years and has convinced us of the need to expand the Chronicle's circulation.Readers who subscribe today for the Croatian Chronicle are automatically entered in our annual Christmas Sweepstakes for a chance to win one of a number of fabulous prizes. By filling out the enclosed subscription form, customers can also take advantage of our exclusive Christmas offer to give the gift of a subscription to someone special this holiday season!The Croatian Chronicle would like to thank its readers for their continued support and looks forward to embarking on this new endeavor to better inform Croatians about news and events in their communities.For more information about Croatian Chronicle, please visit us at our Web site www.croatianchronicle.com or send an e-mail to info@croatianchronicle.com.- END - letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 14 Nov 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6878/1/E-Olli-Rehn-on-business-and-pleasure-trip-to-Croatia.html ÂOlli in ZagrebÂCroatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader (L) and EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn smile during their meeting in Zagreb October 8, 2005. Rehn is on a two-day visit to Zagreb where he will meet Croatian officials and attend a soccer match between Croatia and Sweeden in World Cup qualifying. REUTERS/Nikola Solic ÂCroatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, right, and European Union Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, left, depart from the press conference following their meeting in Zagreb, Croatia, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2005. Rhen is on an official one day visit to Croatia. (AP Photo/Filip Horvat)  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 09 Oct 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6877/1/E-Croatia-and-Turkey-become-EU-candidates.html ÂCroatia and Turkey become EU candidatesBy Ann Cahill, Europe CorrespondentTURKEY and Croatia officially became the latest European Union candidate countries late last night after a day of knife-edge diplomacy. Following more than 30 hours of torturous negotiations and phone calls from US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Ankara, the way was finally cleared for what should be the first EU member with a Muslim majority. But for Turkey and its population of 70 million it will be a long and winding road with final rejection always a possible outcome while Croatia is almost certain to become the EU’s 28th member by 2010. Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern said it was a good day for the union. 'It’s important to have Turkey in for the stability and security of Europe and that part of the world,' he said. http://www.examiner.ie/pport/web/world/Full_Story/did-sgt8m983t4-Fg.asp letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 09 Oct 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6879/1/E-Mirjana-Mladineo-UN-Representative-of-the-Republic-of-Croatia.html ÂNEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF CROATIA PRESENTS CREDENTIALS ÂThe new Permanent Representative of the Republic of Croatia, Mirjana Mladineo, presented her credentials to United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today. (I-Newswire) - Ms. Mladineo has some 30 years of diplomatic and government service. Most recently -- from September 2003 to the present -- she served as Head of the Croatian Mission to the European Union. From 2000 to 2003, Ms. Mladineo served as Croatiaâs Deputy Minister for European Integration, and from 1999 to 2000, she was her countryâs Head of the Office for European Integration.Between 1997 and 1999, Ms. Mladineo was Croatiaâs National Coordinator for the Central European Initiative and prior to that -- from 1992 to 1997 -- she was the Minister Counsellor at Croatiaâs Permanent Mission to the United Nations.Ms. Mladineo served as Counsellor and Personal Secretary to the Chief of Staff for the Republic of Croatiaâs Office of the President from 1991 to 1992. In 1984, Ms. Mladineo was named Head of Department, Assistant Director, at the Republic Administration for Scientific and Technical International Cooperation, a post she held until 1991. From 1977 to 1984, she served as Counsellor to the Republic Committee for Education, Culture, Technical Culture and Sports. Throughout her career, she has been a member of Croatian delegations at numerous international multilateral events and bilateral negotiations. Ms. Mladineo holds an advanced degree in English, Russian languages and culture from the Philosophy Faculty of the University of Zagreb, and she has taken a number of specialized courses in international relations and European integration. Born on 15 February 1946 in Zagreb, Ms. Mladineo is married and has one daughter. http://i-newswire.com/pr36525.html  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 18 Jul 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6880/1/E-Digital-terrestrial-TV-trials-begin-in-Zagreb-and-Rijeka.html ÂDigital terrestrial TV trials begin in Zagreb and RijekaÂMedia MonitorCroatia: DTT trials begin in Zagreb and RijekaJun 21, 2005, 8:25 GMTprinter friendly email this article Croatia has begun digital terrestrial TV (DTT) broadcasts in the capital Zagreb and the coastal town of Rijeka, the Broadband TV News website reports. In Zagreb, the broadcasts come from two transmitters - HRT Dom (UHF 56) and Sljeme (UHF 27) - while in Rijeka the Ucka (UHF 28) transmitter is being used.The transmissions from Sljeme can be received in parts of neighbouring Slovenia, while those from Ucka cover the Adriatic and Italian region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. A fourth transmitter will soon be activated in the eastern town of Osijek (UHF 33) and will cover parts of neighbouring Serbia. The DVB-T multiplex currently carries Croatia's four main channels - HRT1, HRT2, Nova TV and RTL Televizija - and can be received with set-top boxes costing around 200 euro. Source: BBC Monitoring research 21 Jun 05http://news.monstersandcritics.com/mediamonitor/article_1017882.php/Croatia_DTT_trials_begin_in_Zagreb_and_Rijeka  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 21 Jun 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6882/1/E-The-three-year-old-Croatian-died-in-Tsunami.html ÂFears grow for missing thousandsÂDecember 31, 2004Foreigners killed Families across Europe await news of family and friends, but the death toll is expected to rise.European leaders prepared their citizens for the worst as hopes dimmed for nearly 5000 tourists, half of them Swedes and Germans, still missing four days after a tsunami tore through some of Asia's most popular beach resorts.Officially, only 212 foreign tourists have been reported killed by their home countries, but Thailand alone has said that at least 435 foreigners had died there. Thousands more are still unaccounted for.This is the latest country-by-country breakdown, excluding Australia:Austria: Five Austrians confirmed dead, 55 are missing. At least 1500 Austrians were in the affected area.Belgium: Four Belgians, including two babies, have been killed. About 20 are still missing.Britain: Twenty-six Britons have died. On Monday, officials said 50 teachers in Sri Lanka were unaccounted for.Croatia: The three-year-old daughter of a Croatian-Dutch couple was killed in Thailand. Nine Croatian nationals are unaccounted for.Denmark: Three Danish citizens - a man, 71, a man, 63, and a 10-year-old boy - are reported dead in Phuket. Thirteen Danes still listed as missing around Phuket are presumed dead.Finland: Two Finns have died. About 2000 are believed to have been in the affected areas.France: At least 20 French nationals are confirmed dead. Hundreds are unaccounted for.Germany: At least 26 Germans are confirmed dead and about 1000 are missing. At least 4000 Germans are believed to have been on holiday in the region when the quake struck.Greece: About 20 are still unaccounted for.Hungary: About two dozen are unaccounted for in Thailand.Ireland: Dozens are unaccounted for across the region.Italy: At least 14 Italians have been killed. About 100 are missing.The Netherlands: At least five Dutch nationals have died.Norway: Thirteen people are dead and 446 unaccounted for in Thailand.Poland: One man has been killed and 56 are missing.Portugal: Eight Portuguese are missing, including a baby who was swept out of her mother's arms.Romania: Two on Phuket earlier reported missing were found safe at their hotel.Russia: A 33-year-old Moscow woman and her six-year-old son were killed on Phuket. About 50 other Russians are missing.Spain: One person is missing, presumed dead, after being swept away. Others are missing.Sweden: About 1000 tourists are still unaccounted for. Six are confirmed dead.Switzerland: At least 11 have been killed. About 2200 are believed to have been holidaying in the region.Turkey: Seventy-five people remain unaccounted for.http://www.theage.com.au/news/Asia-tsunami/Fears-grow-for-Europes-missing-thousands/2004/12/30/1104344924938.html?oneclick=true letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 02 Jan 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6883/1/E-Mayor-Bloomberg-to-travel-to-Croatia-in-Olympic-bid.html ÂMayor Michael Bloomberg to travel to Croatia in Olympic bidNovember 29, 2004, 1:41 PM ESTNEW YORK (AP) _ Mayor Michael Bloomberg will travel to Croatia on Friday to present the city's bid for the 2012 Olympics to a group of European Olympic committees. Bloomberg said Monday he will travel with a group of advisers to the Croatian city of Dubrovnik, site of a meeting of the 48-nation European National Olympic Committees. Representatives of candidate cities are allowed to meet with members of the International Olympic Committee at the conference. The IOC will announce which nation will host the 2012 Games on July 6. Besides New York, four European capitals _ London, Paris, Madrid and Moscow _ are bidding for 2012. Copyright  2004, The Associated Press Subscribe to Newsday home deliveryhttp://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ny--nyc2012-bloomberg1129nov29,0,1643123.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 28 Nov 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6884/1/E-Croatian-Soldiers-to-Join-Peacekeeping-Mission-in-Afghanistan.html ÂCroatian Soldiers to Join Peacekeeping Mission in Afghanistan ÂTroy Record - International - Aug 03 6:49 AMExcerpt from report by Croatian news agency HINA Zagreb, 3 August: The deputy chief of the Armed Forces General Staff, Gen-Col Slavko Baric, visited today the fourth national military contingent which will join a peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan at the end of August.  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 08 Aug 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6885/1/E-275-of-whole-population-in-Croatia---Internet-users.html Â27.5% Of the whole population in Croatia uses InternetÂAccording to the research conducted by Croatian subsidiary of IDC, number of Internet users in Croatia is expected to reach 1.197.500 until the end of this year. This means that the number of Internet users will be 27.5% of whole population in Croatia. Dial-up connection prevails among the others. Croatian citizens and companies have paid over $92.000.000 for Internet access. Just to compare, number of Internet users in Macedonia is only 4% of whole population. Like in Croatia, dial-up connection prevails, but there is no information about the Internet providers' profit.  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 05 Aug 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6887/1/E-Croatian-jobless-rate-falls-again.html Croatian jobless rate falls again Date: Wednesday, July 28, 2004 6:12:37 AM ESTZAGREB, Croatia, July 28 (UPI) -- Croatia's unemployment rate fell again in June, dropping to 17.4 percent from 18 percent in May, the Croatian statistical office said Wednesday.The statistical office also said real, after-tax wages were up 2.5 percent in May and 3.9 percent in the first five months of 2004, in year-on-year terms.Falling unemployment and rising wages represent good news for Croatia, which hopes to join the European Union in 2007 or 2008 along with Bulgaria and Romania. Economists say progress in economic reform will be a key precondition for Croatia's bid to join the European Union.The wider economy has shown signs of picking up steam in recent months. Gross domestic product was up 4.2 percent in the first quarter of the year compared with year-on-year growth of 3.3 percent in the last quarter of 2003.--Copyright 2004 by United Press International.All rights reserved.http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?StoryId=CqqCKWeidy3jVyxrPys11BMvTCgXVEw1LBNq letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 28 Jul 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6886/1/E-One-Quarter-of-the-Population-of-Croatia-Uses-Internet.html One Quarter of the Population of Croatia Uses InternetThe prognosis based on the results of the results of The Internet Access Market in Croatia 2003-2008 study, conducted by the regional offices of IDC state that it is possible to expect 1,197,500 Internet users in Croatia by the end of 2004.In comparison with 2003, when the internet was used by approximately 1,047,000 citizens, the numbers for 2004 represents an increase of 14.4%. It would mean that the percentage of Internet users in Croatia would grow from 24 to 27.5 percent. Source: http://see.oneworld.net/article/view/90797/1/  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 28 Jul 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6888/1/H-TRECI-HRVATSKI-ZRTVOSLOVNI-KONGRES.html ÂTRECI HRVATSKI ZRTVOSLOVNI KONGRES Hotel Sheraton u Zagrebu od 18. do 20. lipnja Svecano otvorenje u petak 18. lipnja u 17.00 sati glavni referati, kulturni program, dodjele priznanja i domjenakUlaz slobodanPredsjednik Hrvatskog zrtvoslovnog kongresa Dr. Zvonimir Separovic  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 14 Jun 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6881/1/E-Croatia-to-host-2006-Meeting-of-Mediterranean-Journalists.html   Croatia to host 2006 Meeting of Mediterranean JournalistsMalta to host 2007 Meeting of Mediterranean Journalists by di-ve.com Saturday, 14 May, 2005 Malta is to host the 2007 Meeting of Mediterranean Journalists under the auspices of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). The decision was taken at the 1st Meeting of Mediterranean Journalists held recently in Almeria, Spain. Next year the meeting will be held in Croatia. At the opening session of the meeting in Almeria, the General Secretary of the IFJ, Aidan White, attacked the governments who manipulate the media for their own political ends, "as we saw in Spain a few days before the last election and in Britain when the BBC was attacked by the government for its independent reporting of the war in Iraq, as well as those governments around the Mediterranean, such as Turkey, Slovenia, Italy, Algeria, Tunisia and Israel, when their approach threatens media independence and pluralism." We must unite to send a strong message to all governments that they must keep their hands off the controls of media and information, continued Mr White. He also criticised the US government over its failure to end speculation over targeted killings of journalists and media staff in Iraq. Last year more than 130 journalists and media staff were killed. It was the worst year ever. Up to today some 73 journalists and media staff have been killed in the Iraq conflict alone, said Mr White. "The IFJ recognises that most targeted journalists are the victims of cruel extremists with whom it is impossible to make a moral compact. We condemn unreservedly those attacks and the people behind the current wave of hostage taking which has seen the kidnapping of colleagues. We must be unequivocal about our condemnation of terrorism. I say this because sometimes there is confusion caused by those who justify extreme violence on the basis of ideas of 'legitimate resistance' to occupation, continued Mr White. Mr White joined those who criticise much of the media coverage. "We do need to do better. We do need to avoid the language of intolerance and we do need to avoid being manipulated by political and military spin doctors. The answer to bad journalism is good journalism. When journalists provide accurate, reliable, quality information in context and in an ethical and independent manner people are properly informed about the causes of tension," concluded Mr White. The Institute of Maltese Journalists was represented at the Almeria Meeting by Secretary Joe A. Vella and Council Member Roderick J. Agius. http://www.di-ve.com/dive/portal/portal.jhtml?id=182709&pid=1    letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 14 May 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6890/1/E-Jerko-Jerry-Zovko-Michael-Teague-and-Scott-Helvenston.html Â3 former military men among those killed in FallujahBy Connie MabinThe Associated PressWILLOUGHBY, Ohio - Two Army veterans and a former Navy SEAL were among four American contractors killed in Fallujah, Iraq, their bodies mutilated and dragged through the streets.Family members and a spokesperson said Thursday that Jerko "Jerry" Zovko, 32, Michael Teague, 38, and Scott Helvenston, 38, died with another civilian Wednesday after they were hit by rocket-propelled grenades in a rebel ambush. The victims worked for Blackwater Security Consulting, one of five subsidiaries of North Carolina-based Blackwater USA.Zovko's mother said she and her husband had suspected their son might be among the dead, but their fears were confirmed Thursday morning when the president of Blackwater USA knocked on their door."It was the hardest day of my life," Donna Zovko said in her suburban Cleveland home."Jerry was a man with a principle, an idea," she said. "He loved people. He wanted the world to be without borders, for everybody to be free and safe."Zovko's family wouldn't say whether he was married or had children."My brother was an exceptional individual," Tom Zovko said. "He did what he thought was right."Jerry Zovko was 19 when he joined the Army in 1991. He spoke five languages fluently -- English, Croatian, Spanish, Russian and Arabic. He served with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Tom Zovko said.Teague of Clarksville, Tenn., was a 12-year Army veteran who earned a Bronze Star for service in Afghanistan and served in Panama and Grenada, his wife, Rhonda, said in a statement. She called her husband a "proud father, soldier and American.""I, his son Brandon and his friends and family will miss him without measure," her statement said.Teague had worked in the security business since he left the Army six years ago, but he joined Blackwater Security only two months ago, WTVF-TV of Nashville reported.Helvenston was identified by a family spokesperson who said the family would comment today. Helvenston lived in Leesburg, Fla., before joining the Navy when he was 17.He served with the Navy SEALs for 12 years and later worked as a fitness promoter, starting a company called Amphibian Athletics. He also was an actor and stunt man for movies including G.I. Jane, according to a company Web site.The names of the four victims were not officially released because all family members had yet to be notified, U.S. officials said.http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/special_packages/iraq/8338325.htm?1c  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 02 Apr 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6889/1/E-Croatian-Ex-SEAL-Among-Four-Killed-in-Iraq.html ÂCroatian American, Ex-SEAL Among Four Killed in IraqDonna Zovko holds a photo of her son Jerry. ÂWILLOUGHBY, Ohio (April 2) - Two Army veterans and a former Navy SEAL were among four American contractors killed in Iraq, their bodies mutilated and dragged through the streets.Family members and a spokeswoman said Thursday that Jerko 'Jerry' Zovko, 32, Michael Teague, 38, and Scott Helvenston, 38, died with another civilian Wednesday after they were hit by rocket-propelled grenades in a rebel ambush. The victims worked for Blackwater Security Consulting, one of five subsidiaries of Blackwater USA based in North Carolina.Zovko's mother said she and her husband had suspected their son might be among the dead, but their fears were confirmed Thursday morning when the president of Blackwater USA knocked on their door."It was the hardest day of my life," Donna Zovko said during an interview in her suburban Cleveland home."Jerry was a man with a principle, an idea," his mother said. "He loved people. He wanted the world to be without borders, for everybody to be free and safe."Zovko's family wouldn't say whether he was married or had children."My brother was an exceptional individual," Tom Zovko said. "He did what he thought was right."Jerry Zovko joined the Army in 1991 at age 19. He spoke five languages fluently - English, Croatian, Spanish, Russian and Arabic. He was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Tom Zovko said.Teague, of Clarksville, Tenn., was a 12-year Army veteran who earned a Bronze Star for service in Afghanistan and also served in Panama and Grenada, his wife, Rhonda, said in a statement.She called her husband a "proud father, soldier and American. ... I, his son Brandon and his friends and family will miss him without measure."Teague had worked in the security business since he left the Army six years ago, but he joined Blackwater Security only two months ago, WTVF-TV of Nashville reported. A friend, Sgt. John Ratliff, told CBS' ''The Early Show'' that Teague ''told me to promise to take care of his wife and his son ... He knew it was rough over there.''''In my opinion, Mike was caught in a situation to where he couldn't do anything for himself or his counterparts,'' Ratliff said. He said he knew his friend ''would have done anything in his power'' to save himself and the other three if it had been possible.A third victim was identified as Helvenston by a family spokeswoman who said the family would comment further on Friday.Helvenston lived in Leesburg, Fla., before joining the Navy when he was 17. He served with the Navy SEALs for 12 years and later worked as a fitness promoter, starting a company called Amphibian Athletics. He also was an actor and stunt man.He helped prepare actress Demi Moore for her role as the first woman to join the Navy SEALs in ''G.I. Jane,'' and appeared on two reality series: ''Man vs. Beast'' and ''Combat Missions.''But after years out of the service, friends said they weren't surprised to learn the former SEAL had left the comfort of his life in California behind him and headed for Iraq.''That's what, in a time of need, true American warriors like Scott would do,'' said Mark Burnett, producer of the 2002 reality series "Combat Missions."Helvenston's fitness company, Amphibian Athletics, promised to bring a Navy SEAL-style workout to his customers. His wife, Tricia, appeared in some of the company's workout videos.Fred Atkinson, a neighbor of Helvenston's in Oceanside, said he was a devoted father to his children, Kyle and Kelsey, and often took them camping or surfing.On the day of the killings, jubilant Iraqi residents dragged two of the charred corpses through the streets and strung them up on a bridge, acts the U.S. government denounced as "horrific."The identity of the fourth victim was not immediately known. The names of the victims were not officially released because all family members had yet to be notified, U.S. officials said Thursday.Blackwater Security, based in Moyock, N.C., provides security training and guard services to customers around the world. President Gary Jackson and two other company leaders are former Navy SEAL commandos.A statement on the company's Web site said officials were grieving for the employees.''Our tasks are dangerous, and while we feel sadness for our fallen colleagues, we also feel pride and satisfaction that we are making a difference for the people of Iraq.''04/02/04 08:04 ESTCopyright 2004 The Associated Press letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 02 Apr 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6891/1/E-New-York---Zagreb-in-45-minutes-.html ÂNASA's 5,000-MPH Jet Makes First FlightBy ROBERT JABLON, APLOS ANGELES (March 28) - Three years after its first test flight ended in an explosion, NASA on Saturday successfully launched an experimental jet that the agency believes reached a record-setting speed of about 5,000 mph.ÂOp-edWouldn't it be nice to reach Zagreb from New York in 45 minutes? They say in 16- 20 years, possible.NBÂNASA's B-52 mother ship carries the X-43A, perched atop its booster rocket, lower right The unpiloted X-43A made an 11-second powered flight, then went through some twists and turns during a six-minute glide before plunging into the Pacific Ocean about 400 miles off the California coast.``It was fun all the way to Mach 7,'' said Joel Sitz, project manager at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center.Flight engineer Lawrence Huebner said preliminary data indicated the needle-nosed jet reached a maximum speed of slightly over seven times the speed of sound, or about 5,000 mph, after a rocket boosted it to about 3,500 mph.Huebner said it was the first time an ``air-breathing'' jet had ever traveled so fast. The rocket-powered X-15 reached Mach 6.7 in 1967.``It's a great way to end, certainly all the sweeter because of the challenges we've had to step up to and overcome through the life of this project,'' said Griffin Corpening, Dryden's chief engineer on the project.The first X-43A flight ended in failure June 2, 2001, after the modified Pegasus rocket used to accelerate the plane veered off course and was detonated. An investigation board found preflight analyses failed to predict how the rocket would perform, leaving its control system unable to maintain stable flight.NASA built the X-43A under a $250 million program to develop and test an exotic type of engine called a supersonic-combustion ramjet, or scramjet.In theory, the air-breathing engine could propel an airplane to speeds of Mach 7 or faster, enabling around-the-world flights that would take several hours. The Department of Defense also is working on the technology, which it's eyeing for use in bombers that quickly could reach targets anywhere on the globe.The 12-foot-long, 2,800-pound X-43A was mounted on a Pegasus rocket booster and carried to an altitude of 40,000 feet by a modified B-52 bomber, which took off from Edwards Air Force Base in the high desert.A few seconds after the craft was dropped, the rocket flared, sending the jet skyward on a streak of flame and light. At about 100,000 feet, the rocket dropped away.The scramjet took over, using up about two pounds of gaseous hydrogen fuel before gliding. Applause rang out in the control center at Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards.Technological hurdles mean it will be decades before such a plane could enter service. And NASA's role in developing the technology remains in doubt, as the agency recently cut funding for more advanced versions of the X-43A.Engineers have pursued scramjet technology because it could allow rocket-speed travel but with considerable savings in weight. Rockets must carry their own oxygen to combust the fuel they carry aboard; scramjets can scoop it out of the atmosphere.In scramjets, oxygen is rammed into a combustion chamber where it mixes with fuel and spontaneously ignites. To work, the engine must be traveling at about five times the speed of sound - requiring an initial boost that only a rocket can provide.A third X-43A could fly as early as the fall.http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20040327134609990001&_mpc=news%2e6 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 26 Mar 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6892/1/E-Wife-of-Cellphone-pioneer-is-from-B-H.html ÂCellphone Pioneer, Wife to Give USC $52 MillionBy Peter Y. HongTimes Staff WriterMarch 1, 2004Andrew J. Viterbi, a renowned engineer and wireless communicationsmagnate, and his wife, Erna, will donate $52 millionto the University of Southern California, which will name itsengineering school for the couple.A co-founder of San Diego-based Qualcomm Inc., Viterbi pioneeredtechnology used in cellular telephones throughout theworld. He earned his doctorate in electrical engineering at USC in 1962.The gift enhances USC's effort to be considered among the nation's topengineering schools, along with such institutions asCaltech, MIT, Stanford and UC Berkeley. The one-time cash gift, whichwill be announced Tuesday in a ceremony oncampus, will go to the engineering school's endowment, which now standsat $120 million.Just as important as the boost to the school's endowment is the cachetof Viterbi's name, said C.L. Max Nikias, dean of theengineering school. "The name raises our visibility and reputationinstantly. Viterbi is a big name in both academic circlesand industry."In 1967, Viterbi published the Viterbi algorithm, which allows the rapiddecoding of overlapping signals. In one of its mostsuccessful commercial applications, the algorithm enables numerouscellular phones to communicate without interfering witheach other. The algorithm is employed in hundreds of millions ofcellular phones today.Erna Viterbi recalled in an interview with USC officials that herhusband came up with the algorithm in the midst of acelebration of the Jewish holiday Purim. Their children had just takenfirst-prize in a costume contest, but Andrew wasfixated on a scrap of paper on which he had been scribbling."I'd made them the costumes and I really had to try to get him out ofthis thing he was working on," she said, but herhusband remained focused on his work. "And I said, 'So, did you come upwith something really?' "Andrew, she said, replied, "Yeah, but I thought about it, it's reallynothing major."The algorithm and other scientific achievements earned Viterbi numeroushonors including membership in the NationalAcademy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering and theAmerican Academy of Arts and Sciences.Before co-founding Qualcomm in 1985 with Irwin M. Jacobs (for whom UCSan Diego's engineering school is named),Viterbi was an engineering professor at UCLA and UC San Diego.He credited much of his success to his teaching experience. "The bestresearch often comes out when you're thinking aboutwhat you're going to teach your graduate students," he said.Both Andrew and Erna Viterbi came to the United States as refugees; hefrom Italy, she from Bosnia-Herzegovina.Andrew Viterbi arrived at age 4 with his parents in New York. His fathersoon opened an ophthalmology practice inBoston, where Viterbi glimpsed the campus of the Massachusetts Instituteof Technology across the Charles River inCambridge, and decided at age 10 he would attend the school.After graduating from Boston Latin School, a storied public high schoolfounded in 1635, Viterbi enrolled at MIT. Hebegan work at Raytheon while an MIT student, and earned bachelor's andmaster's degrees from the school.After finishing at MIT in 1957, Viterbi took a job as an engineer at theJet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena. Viterbi hadhoped to study for a doctorate at Caltech, but that institution wouldhave required him to enroll full time, he said. USCallowed him to enroll in its doctoral program and continue to work fulltime at JPL.Viterbi fondly recalled those years as a kind of Golden Age forengineering in Southern California.The thriving aerospace industry "recruited the best talent, encouragedthem and treated them professionally," he said.Andrew also met Erna in Los Angeles through one of her cousins; thecouple's first date was at the Coconut Grovenightclub.The Viterbis also are active supporters of MIT and the Technion-IsraelInstitute of Technology in Haifa, Israel.In San Diego, they have contributed generously to private schoolsattended by their grandchildren, but have kept theirnames off buildings to spare the children any awkwardness. Viterbi saidhe had no such reservations about the engineeringschool taking the family name. "I'm not that shy," he said.Andrew Viterbi said that MIT is "recognized pretty generally as No. 1"but that USC's current momentum as a rising Top10 school means the couple's gift "will do more to further engineeringand engineering education — goals we havesupported through our entire 48-year marriage — than anywhere else."http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-usc1mar01,1,2176819.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 04 Mar 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6893/1/E-Troops-form-Croatia-in-Iraq.html ÂCroatian Troops in IraqA convoy of Japanese troops crosses the border from Kuwait into southern Iraq (news - web sites) Monday Jan. 19, 2004. An advance team of 35 Japanese made way to their new base in the southern Iraqi town of Samawa. Greeting them, in background, are troops form Croatia. (AP Photo/Nabeel al-Jurani) letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 18 Jan 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6895/1/E-Dirty-Thousand-and-Two.html ÂDirty Thousand and Twohttp://www.theherald.co.uk/news/7699.html How to win a war where the enemy refuses to play by the rules? Find a soldier who does not give a damn about them either.The US is training 1000 Serb elite paramilitary troops, who were last time engaged in ethnic cleansing operations in Kosovo in 1999, for anti-terrorist duties in Afghanistan. While the use of ostensibly anti-Muslim fighters in a Muslim country could be seen as a provocation, Afghans are not behaving friendly to any foreign soldiers.Interestingly, to avoid compunctions about ICC, thousand Serbs are not going to be under NATO command in Kabul, but directly under the US command.ivoÂA 25 year old Swedish man of Serbian birth has admitted the murder ofSwedish Foreign Minister Anna Lind in a Stockhom department store in2003. ZDF Television, quoting Swedish media, reported in its NachtMagazin that Mihajl Mihajlovic held a grudge against the ministerfollowing her outspoken support for NATO's actions against Serbia in1999. Mihajlovic's lawyer claims his client is mentally disturbed.This is an important reminder that terrorism and despair are not just a province of Arab Muslim extremists. And that there always is some socio-political background to any act of political violence.ivohttp://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/nation/7467176.htmZivota Konstantinovic, former Serbian soldier who admittedly participated in ethnic cleansing of Croatians, is arrested in Miami and awaiting deportation. Not clear where is he going to be deported to, though. Shouldn't he face charges for his alleged involvement in torture and related offenses?ivo ---------------------------------------------------------Ivo Skoricivo@balkansnet.org letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 11 Jan 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6896/1/E-US-Green-Card-Lotterey-File-by-Dec-30-2003.html ÂUS Green Card Lotterey File Electronically by Dec-30-2003ÂState Department DV Lottery 2005 Ends December 30. FTCIssues Alert The State Department has issued information and questionsand answers on the criteria and procedures for applying forthe FREE Diversity Visa Lottery for 2005. NOTE: Not allnationalities are eligible to apply. The registrationperiod is November 1 through December 30, 2003. Allapplications must be filed electronically, directly to theState Department. The FTC issued a fraud alert concerning anon-governmental website Instructions:http://www.travel.state.gov/dv2005.html General:http://uscis.gov/graphics/index.htm Overview:http://uscis.gov/graphics/services/residency/divvisa.htm How to Participate:http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/divlott.htm letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 28 Dec 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6897/1/E-Nomination-of-Croatian-group-and-Heather-Mills-McCartney.html ÂNomination of Heather Mills McCartney for her generous support toCroatian peopleAn international organization called the "Women's eNews" is an independent daily news source covering issues of particular concern to women which they distribute daily via e-mail and post on their Web site. Every year they invite their readers to nominate individuals whose work for women has not received sufficient recognition. This year's nomination, called "21 Leaders for the 21st Century" has been submitted by me nominating the Croatian Women's Human Rights Group called "B.a.B.e." Specifically, I named Nevenka Sudar who works for B.a.B.e. www.babe.hr/eng Read about their latest work from Croatia in the article "16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women". The second person I nominated is Heather Mills McCartney for her generous support to Croatian people and other needy countries with her work at "Adopt-A-Minefield" organization www.landmines.org Among thousands of nominations, the final selections will be announced on December 31 on their Web site and e-mail news www.womensnews.org Katarina Tepesh tepeshk@aol.com 16 days of activism against violence against women Nov. 25th - December 10th 2003PHOTO ALBUM of ACTION in ZAGREB PHOTO ALBUM of ACTION IN SPLIT Reports about Campaign from various Croatian townsCroatian Women's Network celebrated November 25th as The International Day Against Violence Against Women and the beginning of the international campaign "16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women". 20 silhouettes of women killed by their spouses and partners in the course of the past year and a half were placed at main squares in Zagreb in order to show the seriousness of the problem of domestic violence and the necessity for the state and the society as a whole to treat this problem systematically and efficiently. With questions: Why are they silent? Why are they not among us? we ask ourselves and all of us what has been done in order to prevent these crimes. The question Who is next? warns us and demands urgent action. The laws, no matter how imperfect they might be, exist, but the willingness to implement them on daily basis is still lacking. Social care centers, police, health care employees, courts have not succeeded in prevention of domestic violence. Without cooperation, long-term planning and agreements, there will be no substantial improvement. Croatian Women's Network produced and shot a video named "Violence Against Women is a CRIME, what is the PUNISHMENT?" which will be broadcast on Croatian public television during 16 days. 2000 posters and 2000 postcards have also been printed and distributed. 20 silhouettes made from plywood were placed at public squares of various Croatian towns (Slavonski Brod, Zagreb, Karlovac, Virovitica, Pula, Zadar, Split, Virovitica, Vukovar and Osijek) as silent witnesses of murdered women. Nobody builds monuments for women victims of violence, they do not receive medals for bravery. We can't let them be forgotten and at least for a day, for an hour, we shall make the citizens of Croatia think about the reasons why so many women and children have been deprived of the safety of their own homes, why do they have to live in it in violence until one day they are murdered because the society can not protect them. This year the Campaign 16 days is coordinated simultaneously in 20 countries of the region. The project has been made possible thanks to the financial support of the Open Society Budapest and the Croatian Office for Human Rights and the Committee for Gender Equality. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 18 Dec 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6899/1/E-Andy-Jezics-New-Book-Has-Been-Published.html ÂAndy Jezic:A Comprehensive Look at State and Federal Confession Standards All in One Title Dear Friends, FYI Andy's book has been published, please join me in congratulating him -- avjezic@aol.com All the best,Steve RukavinaFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Press Contact : Brant Skogrand, APR November 13, 2003 (651) 848-8578 West Announces the Release of Maryland Law of Confessions A Comprehensive Look at State and Federal Confession Standards All in One TitleEAGAN, Minn. West, a Thomson business (NYSE:TOC; TSX: TOC) today announced the release of Maryland Law of Confessions, an essential resource for any attorney or law enforcement official that deals with criminal confessions and interrogation. This new book contains more than 900 pages of comprehensive coverage of Maryland's standards regarding voluntary confessions, the right to silence and the right to counsel.Providing state and federal standards all in one title, Maryland Law of Confessions clearly, carefully and concisely addresses every conceivable aspect of the topic ever discussed in the Maryland appellate courts. Issues examined in detail include: The implications of the recent Williams opinion on prompt presentment Custody, waiver, invocation, re-interrogation and surreptitious questioning The right to silence not directly related to interrogations Under-utilized rules pertaining to the Sixth Amendment Ethical considerations for prosecutors "Maryland Law of Confessions is the most complete book on confession law available to the Maryland legal community," says Andrew Jezic, author of Maryland Law of Confessions. "It examines or cites nearly every Maryland and Supreme Court case on confession law and draws observations from well over 100 law review articles. For attorneys or law enforcement officials looking for a quick reference to basic rules, the book provides practice pointers at the end of each chapter."Timesavers included in Maryland Law of Confessions are practice tips, checklists of key elements of commonly litigated issues, an index of descriptive words and phrases, and a table of cases, statute and rules.A softbound copy of Maryland Law of Confessions is available for $70.00. For more information or to order, call (800) 344-5009 or visit west.thomson.com.Editors who would like a copy for review can contact Caitlin Sullivan at (800) 778-8090, ext. 85985, or caitlin.sullivan@thomson.com .About WestHeadquartered in Eagan, Minn., West is the foremost provider of integrated information solutions to the U.S. legal market. West is a business within The Thomson Corporation (NYSE: TOC; TSX:TOC) and was formed when West Publishing and Thomson Legal Publishing merged in June 1996. For more information, please visit the West Web site at west.thomson.com.About The Thomson CorporationThe Thomson Corporation (www.thomson.com), with 2002 revenues from continuing operations of $7.5 billion, is a global leader in providing integrated information solutions to business and professional customers. Thomson provides value-added information, software tools and applications to more than 20 million users in the fields of law, tax, accounting, financial services, higher education, reference information, corporate training and assessment, scientific research and healthcare. With operational headquarters in Stamford, Conn., Thomson has approximately 43,000 employees and provides services in approximately 130 countries. The Corporation's common shares are listed on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC). letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 09 Dec 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6898/1/E-First-issue-of-the-Croatian-Chronicle.html ÂCroatian ChronicleA new Croatian-American monthly newspaperDear Nenad,It is with our outmost excitement that we would like to announce the release of the first issue of Croatian Chronicle, the new Croatian-American monthly newspaper. We will send you a copy first thing in the morning!In this first issue, our readers can find articles on the latest parliamentary elections in Croatia, with a detailed analysis of the Diaspora votes, the celebration of the ninetieth anniversary of the Croatian parish in New York, the Croatian-American Golf Outing fundraiser, as well as many other news from Croatian communities all over the North America.We would like to extend our thanks to many individuals, including numerous CROWN readers, who have supported Croatian Chronicle in so many ways. We hope you will enjoy reading it. For all those interested in subscribing to Croatian Chronicle, please send your checks in the amount of $22 for a yearly subscription of twelve issues (or $12 for a six-month subscription of six issues) to the following address:NY MEDIA LINK INC.CROATIAN CHRONICLEP.O. BOX 3531ASTORIA, NY 11103For newspaper sales locations near you, please contact us at: (718) 278-5760 orinfo@croatianchronicle.comÂOur warmest regards,Visnja, Sanja and Katarina letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 07 Dec 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6900/1/E-Cell-number-yours-to-keep---NEWS.html Â"Tutorial" on new FCC rule:Your cell number, yours to keep Your cell number, yours to keep Coming Nov. 24 for cell phone users: better stuff, better prices, better service, better terms.November 5, 2003: 4:12 PM EST By Sarah Max, CNN/Money Staff Writer BEND, Ore. (CNN/Money) ? If the hassle of changing your cell phone number is the only reason you've stuck with your wireless carrier, you might want to start shopping for a better deal. On Nov. 24, the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) "local number portability" rule goes into effect in much of the country, giving cell phone customers the option of keeping their number when they switch carriers within the same geographic region. Consumers have waited more than four years for the rule, which has been delayed several times since its initial 1999 deadline. This time, however, the change seems certain. "The only thing that could stop it now is action in Congress," said Consumers Union policy analyst Adam Goldberg. "When I wake up on Nov. 24 and it actually happens I'm going to feel really good," he added, while admitting that he won't really believe it until he sees it. Telephone customers should also feel good. Not only will cell phone users get to keep their phone numbers, they may very well see better rates, terms and service as wireless carriers scramble to compete. At the same time, customers of old-fashioned wireline phones could also see their rates come down. In certain cases, the rule will allow wireline customers to transfer their numbers to wireless phones, and vice versa. What's the big deal?As cell phone customers know too well, you can't take your phone number with you when you switch wireless carriers. Rather than deal with changing phone numbers, many customers stick with their carriers even if the cost is high and the service is sub par. That may soon change, thanks to portability. The plan's proponents expect these and other benefits to emerge: Better stuff. New phones, with advanced features and lower prices, are sure to keep coming. Superior gadgetry -- think picture phones -- is an ever-popular enticement. "We think the market will change quite a bit," said Bill Hardekopf, CEO of CellUpdate.com, a site that compares cell phone plans. Better prices. Free months or banked minutes may be waved in front of both new and existing customers, along with other financial enticements yet to be invented. "Come the end of the month you might see some nice incentives for carriers who want current customers to extend their contracts," said Hardekopf. Better terms. Contracts with steep termination fees are another barrier to dumping a carrier. Carriers could initially roll out longer contracts with higher termination fees, but may compete over the long run by offering fewer binding contracts. "It's going to be hard for carriers to stick with a system that punishes consumers," Goldberg said. "Consumers just won't accept that." Better service. The Management Network Group (TMNG) estimates that the turnover of personal cell phone users will jump from about 3 to 20 percent in the next 12 months as a result of portability. To stem that churn, companies will have to be, well, nicer. Still, cautions Goldberg, "it may take some time for carriers to really understand the new competitive environment." Cutting the cord at homePortability could be a boon for all telephone customers. That's because the rule will also give wireline customers the option of moving their home phone number to a wireless phone, depending on where the wireless carrier is located. "Right now the FCC is clarifying the limits on wireline-to-wireless portability," said Chris Murray, legislative counsel for the Consumers Union, adding that a decision should come next week. "What I'm expecting is that they'll define the scope to be about the size of an area code." Once people have the option of switching their home number to a wireless phone (and vice versa), local carriers may have no choice but to lower rates. "Wireless is the only competitor for local phone monopolies," added Murray. "If the FCC makes it easier for customers to cut the cord, that's our best hope for a competitive local market." Please "port" my numberWhile they've been fighting the portability rule, wireless carriers have also been taking steps to comply with the changes. "The carriers have been very focused on being ready," said Cathy McMahon, an executive for wireless portability at Telcordia, a software company that is handling number switching for seven of the eight largest carriers. Beginning Nov. 24, consumers in the 100 largest metropolitan statistical areas can request that a new cell carrier "port" their current number. (The deadline for carriers serving the rest of the country is May 26.) The new carrier will need to validate information with the old carrier and notify a centralized system, but all told, the process could take less than three hours, according McMahon. Wireline-to-wireless transfers, however, could take several business days. Though Telcordia has been testing the system for more than a year, potential glitches could arise if, for example, customers give inaccurate information about their old plans. "It's a complex process with lots of systems interfacing with other systems," said McMahon. "There are places where things could go wrong." What will it cost you? Wireless customers have actually been paying for the change for nearly two years in the form of a local number portability surcharge, typically around $1, levied on their bills. The FCC has said that carriers can also charge a fee to departing customers who want to port their numbers, though it's likely that new carriers will offer to cover the cost of switching as long-distance carriers often do. © 2003 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 30 Nov 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6901/1/EH-The-Croatian-American-Chronicle---Novina-americkih-Hrvata.html ÂThe Croatian-American Chronicle - Novina americkih HrvataDear CROWN Readers,It is with great joy that we announce to you the birth of a monthly Croatian-American newspaper targeted solely at the activities and interests of Croatian-Americans and their communities. The first issue of the Croatian Chronicle will be out in early December and will feature stories such as the results of the Croatian parliamentary elections with a special focus and commentaries on the Diaspora vote, the celebration of the 90th Anniversary of the Croatian Parish in New York, an overview of the upcoming New York Children and Youth Festivals, including a list of songs and performers, a returnee's story about moving back to Croatia, a review and background of famous Croatians athletes in America, news about Croatian-American clubs and communities and much more.Therefore, we are asking all Croatian-Americans to support this effort as all of us are well aware that such a publication is greatly needed in our communities. The best way to ensure the Croatian Chronicle will have a long and prosperous life is to send us your submissions about important events happening in your life and in your communities no matter where in North America you reside, as well as your classifieds which will be published free of charge. Digital photos are also welcome. There is still time to send in these submissions to our contacts listed below, so we encourage everyone to do so by Sunday NOVEMBER 30, 2003. Additionally, your yearly subscription and business advertisements will provide the necessary financial support. Please contact us for our competitive rates. As the Christmas season is approaching, please consider giving a Croatian Chronicle subscription to your loved ones! For only $22.00 they will enjoy a full year (12 issues) of this informative publication.We would like to take this opportunity to extend our gratitude to all those who have helped us so far, including Nenad Bach and all the people at CROWN.Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year,Sanja, Visnja and KatarinaPlease contact us for sale locations near you and for subscriptions, advertising as well as for your submissions at:NY MEDIA LINK INC.CROATIAN CHRONICLEP.O. BOX 3531ASTORIA, NY 11103(718) 278-5760 info@croatianchronicle.com Dragi citatelji CROWN-a,Veliko nam je zadovoljstvo obavjestiti vas o izlasku novih hrvatsko-americkih novina, koje ce u potpunosti biti posvecene aktivnostima i interesima americkih Hrvata. Prvi broj Croatian Chronicle-a izlazi pocetkom prosinca ove godine i donosi mnogo zanimljivih tekstova. Izmedu ostaloga u prvom broju mozete citati sve o parlamentarnim izborima u Hrvatskoj s posebnim osvrtom i komentarima na glasovanje dijaspore, o proslavi devedesete obljetnice Hrvatske zupe u New York-u, o pripremama Djecjeg festivala i Festivala mladih u New Yorku, mozete citati povratnicke price iz Hrvatske, price o uspjesnim hrvatskim sportasima u Americi, vijesti iz hrvatskih klubova i zajednica.. Iskreno se nadamo da ce mnogi medu Vama prepoznati potrebu postojanje ovakvog glasila, i podrzati napore koji se ulazu u realizaciju i postojanje ovog projekta. Ako zelite i sami pomoci da Croatian Chronicle uspjesno zazivi i pozivi dug i produktivan zivot, slobodno nam se obratite; ovo je Vasa novina koja ce pisati o Vama! Obavijestite nas o dogadajima u Vasim zivotima i zivotima Vasih zajednica bez obzira u kojem dijelu Sjeverne Amerike zivite. Digitalne fotografije su takoder dobrodosle! Ostalo je jos malo vremena za dostavljanje Vasih priloga, koji moraju stici na nas e-mail najkasnije do nedjelje, 30. STUDENOG, 2003, kako bi bilo objevljeni u prvom broju. Godisnja pretplata na novinu ili reklama za Vas biznis takoder su dobar nacin da iskazete svoju podrsku i pruzite nam potrebnu financijsku potporu, kako bi novine mogla kontinuirano izlaziti. Isto tako, mozete naruciti godisnju pretplatu kao bozicni poklon za Vase najmilije. Za samo 22 dolara (12 brojeva) pruzite im sansu da cijelu godinu uzivaju u ovoj informativnoj, zanimljivoj novini.Ovom prilikom zelimo se zahvaliti svima koji su vjerovali u nas i koji su nam na bilo koji nacin pomogli i pruzili nam podrsku tijekom napornih priprema za pokretanje Croatian Chronicle-a, ukljucujuci i gospodina Nenada Bacha i cijeli CROWN tim. Zelimo Vam svima blagoslovljen Bozic i sretnu Novu godinu,Sanja, Visnja i KatarinaAko zelite saznati mjesta na kojima ce se novina prodavati ili ako se zelite pretplatiti, poslati reklamu za Vas biznis ili poslati Vase priloge, obratite nam se na sljedecu adresu: NY MEDIA LINK INCCROATIAN CHRONICLEP.O. BOX 3531ASTORIA, NY 11103(718) 278-5760 info@croatianchronicle.com Sanja Floricic-Bogovic, Visnja Miocic, Katarina Deletis letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 22 Nov 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6902/1/E-Croatia-claims-new-big-breakfast-record.html ÂCroatia claims new big breakfast recordCroatian Guinness Book of World Records19 Oct 2003 13:45:54 GMTZAGREB, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Some 38,000 Croatians ate corn mush, yoghurt and anapple on Sunday in a big breakfast attempt to enter the record books for the most people sitting down to their first meal of the day at one time.At least 38,665 people took part in the breakfast that was staged simultaneously on more than 200 locations in a dozen Croatian cities, organizers said.The current breakfast record in the Guinness Book of World Records was set onOctober 13, 2001 in Taiwan when 23,291 people consumed 5,670 liters of milk and 1,920 kilograms of bread."According to the first preliminary results, at least 38,665 participated in this action," said Lidija Tomljenovic on behalf of the main organizer, the Zagreb School for Public Health.The official results will be known in two days, she added.The "Biggest Breakfast-Croatian Breakfast" lasted an hour on Sunday morning and participants had to consume corn mush, a yoghurt and an apple. Only thosewho ate full breakfast could be registered for the record."Our aim was to set a record to make people happy. But what matters more is for people to realize how important it is to eat healthy food and never to skipa breakfast," organizer Stipe Oreskovic told Reuters.Organizers said they would now send all necessary documentation and witness reports to the Guinness Book of Records headquarters in London for confirmationof the results.ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) -- Thousands of Croats took part Sunday in a mass, nationwide breakfast in hopes of breaking a Guinness world record held by Taiwan. Croatian officials said 38,660 Croats ate polenta, yogurt and apple during an hourlong breakfast than began at 9 a.m. in 11 cities -- more than 15,000 more than in Taiwan in 2001. The authorities of the Guinness Book of Records have yet to issue a ruling. "We have to promote our country any way we can," said 49-year-old Olga Caldarevic, who ate with her husband and two children in a tent set up at the Zagreb's main square. "Besides, it's good food." Croatia, an agricultural and tourist country of 4.5 million people, also aimed to promote healthy and local foods and to stress the importance of breakfast for a healthy lifestyle, said Stipe Oreskovic, the head of the state-run institution for promotion of health which organized the event. Private sponsors and local governments paid for the event, estimated to cost up to 4 million kuna ($615,000.) letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 20 Oct 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6903/1/E-Skabrnje-War-Crimes---Zorana-Banic-arrested-in-Switzerland.html ÂWar-crimes suspect extradited to CroatiaNovember 16, 2001 Posted: 3:23 PM EST (2023 GMT)ZAGREB, Croatia -- An ethnic Serb convicted in absentia and sentenced to 20 years in prison for wartime atrocities has been extradited to Croatia. Zorana Banic, 49, was arrested by Swiss authorities at Zurich airport earlier this month on an Interpol warrant issued by Croatia in 1998. At the time, a local court in the coastal city of Zadar found Banic guilty of taking part in a 1991 massacre of 43 Croatian civilians in the village of Skabrnje, just outside Zadar. The massacre came in the early days of Croatia's war for independence, when Serb paramilitary units emerged to challenge the republic's decision to split from Yugoslavia. The victims, mostly elderly men, women and children, were shot to death. Some of the survivors recently testified on state-run television of Banic's "particular cruelty" and said she was a member of a Serb paramilitary unit. The massacre shocked Croatia and has remained, for many, a symbol of Serb rebels' cruelty against Croats. Banic, a Croatian citizen, arrived in Zagreb on a regular Croatian Airlines flight from Zurich on Friday, accompanied by Interpol officers and was to be transferred to Zadar's prison. Because she was convicted in absentia, she has a right to a new trial. Hungarian authorities recently extradited another ethnic Serb convicted in absentia for the Skabrnje killings. Momcilo Draca was arrested in Hungary earlier this year. http://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/11/16/croatia.extradict/index.html letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 15 Aug 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6905/1/E-Female-and-Male-equal-in-Croatia.html  Female and Male equal in CroatiaÂEqual In Smoking The World in Stats - Female smokersBy Simon BriscoeIn the UK, the proportion of women smokers is far greater than in most other countries - one in four compared to one in 10 worldwide. In fact, the UK is one of the few countries where the women match the men - Croatia, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden are the others. Meanwhile, the UK's men are near the bottom - at 27 per cent, barely half the world average. In the past 30 years, the proportion of Britons who smoke has fallen. But the level is edging up in some groups, such as young women. And smoking starts early - while only one in 100 English 11- year-olds smokes regularly, one in five 15-year-olds does.None the less, despite 70 per cent of smokers saying that they want to give up, few succeed. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 03 Aug 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6904/1/E-Flash-Mob.html ÂFlash Mob - empowers citizens"these same tools that used to push us apart, are now bringing us back together"CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (Aug. 5) - About 200 people, mostly in their 20s and 30s, crowd into the card section of the Harvard Coop bookstore, pretending to look for a card for ``Bill.''On cue, they burst into spontaneous applause.It's another "flash mob'' strike, wherein a crowd, organized by e-mail lists and Web sites, converges in pre-arranged location and performs a wacky, harmless stunt for a few minutes in public.The crowd then abruptly disappears, leaving bystanders befuddled.Some participants consider these acts of swarming to be art. Others fancy them social revolution. But for many it's just irreverent, silly fun.The phenomenon, called smart flocking by some, is spreading across the globe along with the portable digital devices that enable it.After the original flash mob coalesced in Manhattan less than two months ago, similar 21st century be-ins were staged from Minneapolis to Tokyo to Vienna.In June, flash-mobbers crowded into a Manhattan Macy's and surrounded a large oriental rug, telling puzzled salespeople they all lived together and wanted the $10,000 ``Love Rug.''In Rome, hundreds flooded a bookstore, asking employees for imaginary books and authors.In San Francisco, a flock crossed a busy downtown crosswalk back and forth, waving their arms in the air and spinning in circles, as tourists stared agape.The Cambridge crowd fascinated Melissa Krodman, a 24-year-old mobber.``But to get the joke, you had to look at the woman there behind the counter, the expression on her face'' when the crowd materialized out of nowhere, Krodman said.A flash mob is a lighthearted variation of the ``smart mob'' - people who use digital technology to hastily mobilize, as activists did to protest the U.S. invasion of Iraq or cell phone-equipped teenagers simply do to organize their evening on the spur of the moment.Futurist Howard Rheingold unwittingly inspired the flash-mobbers, with his 2002 book ``Smart Mobs: The Next Social Revolution,'' which examines how technology redefines social interaction.Often, anonymous flash mob organizers send out e-mails and post on online ``blogs'' specifying a date and time for swarming. Word spreads quickly. And before you know it, hundreds are in New York's Central Park, making bird sounds.What inspires participants?``Everything makes a lot of sense nowadays, a bit too much sense. Then, for 10 minutes, you get to do something completely nonsensical. You get to be a kid for a few minutes,'' said a 30-year-old organizer of the San Francisco mob, who wanted to be known only as ``The Governor.''Even friends who got his mob ``summonses'' didn't know he was the organizer, he says - and that secrecy is part of what has people hooked.Only organizers know the details. Participants are told to synchronize their watches and gather in nearby bars, organized in clusters according to their birth month.Volunteers, who get cues only minutes prior by cell phone, hand out slips of paper with instructions - the precise minute when the mob should appear and disappear.The slips must be hidden after memorizing instructions and everyone must disperse no later than two minutes after it ends.``It's all very 'spy novel,' very hush-hush,'' said 34-year-old New York City flash-mobber Fred Hoysted.Numerous web logs (blogs), chat rooms and Yahoo group lists are devoted to the movement.As soon as San Francisco blogger Sean Savage started recording flash mob events on his Web site - www.cheesebikini.com - traffic skyrocketed from 350 visitors a day to more than 9,000, he said.A recent mention on the popular techie site, Slashdot.org, brought even more traffic, crashing Savage's server.Savage, 31, says the phenomenon empowers citizens in a world controlled by ``Big Government and Big Corporation.''``This interests people - even if it's frivolous, totally for fun, and doesn't have a label attached to it - because they see something can still happen from the grassroots without any help from the government and corporations,'' said Savage, a computer system designer and analyst at Stanford University.Rob Zazueta, who is creating an online meeting place - FlockSmart.com - for organizers and wannabe participants, says the practice turns on its head arguments that evolving digital communications tools like text messaging or e-mail are depersonalizing.``With smart mobs, these same tools that used to push us apart, are now bringing us back together,'' he said.Zazueta, 28, hopes to see more instant physical gatherings - not of anonymous pranksters but rather of like minds. They could be at a coffee shop to discuss anything from technology, to music to politics.``It takes the concept of chat rooms,'' he said, ``and brings it into the real world.''08/05/03 01:16 EDTCopyright 2003 The Associated Press. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 01 Aug 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6907/1/E-Marko-Ivancevic-Wins-WS-Moore-Young-Investigator-Award.html ÂMarko Ivancevic Wins W.S. Moore Young Investigator AwardISMRM 2003 - Toronto, Canada, 10-16 July 2003ÂISMRM 2003 winds downNewsflash 16/7/03, by Michael StecknerThe booths are closed, posters are rapidly vanishing,the crowds are thinning out, suits are disappearing,brains are overloaded and the conferenceis winding down on its final half day.While a successful conference, I would estimatethat one poster in 10-20 was missing and onespeaker in 10-20 was not present. (Most unfortunately,very few people attending their posters duringthe appointed time.) But on the plus side, lots ofpeople visited our booth and the message was"you have the best image quality".For anyone who saw the unbelievably bad imagesshown from the experimental 32 channel GE systemat Beth Israel during the GE lunchtime symposium,that image quality statement was especiallyeasy to understand. (Huge ripples down the side ofthe coronal images, subcutaneous bright body faton the axial slices with black lines cutting through,significant signal intensity variations within the bladderfrom through the axial slices, and reports of analiased kidney where there ain't supposed to bekidney. While the equipment was installed just daysbefore ISMRM, I would not have expected suchartifacts just because there are more channels.)As well, we at Philips should celebrate the awardingof the W.S. Moore Young Investigator Award forbest Scientific Paper to Marko Ivancevic at theGeneva University Hospital for his work on"Correction of the Inflow Effect on Fast GRE MRSequence for Perfusion Imaging" and co-authoredby our own David Foxall.But on to Wednesday's events. I attended theemerging body applications presentations, forwhich both moderators were absent... Our Dr.Takehara gave an interesting presentation on hissmall/large research demonstrating bowel motilityanalysis (similar to his Antwerp Radiology NetworkMeeting presentation) followed by Dr. Lauenstein(Siemens equipment) who filled in for Dr. Debatinand gave an interesting presentation on his virtualcolonography work.He discussed the merits and challenges of bright vsdark lumen colonography techniques and how hisemerging work on the application of truefisp, whichreduces motion artifacts and eliminates the needfor contrast agents, results in a cheaper and betterexaminations.Dr. Lauenstein also showed the results of hispatient surveys to determine what phases of thecolonography process were least tolerated. Aswould be expected, it's the preparation process thatcauses the most problems. Once the actuallycolonoscopy or colonography examination starts,patient acceptance is reasonable and at comparable levels.Hence, the continued search by Dr. Lauenstein andother presenters at the conference for meal preparationmethods that ease the preparation phase forthe patient. Unfortunately, our Dr. Kuhl was not ableto give her Breast presentation. Too bad they didnot re-schedule her earlier in the week while shewas still at the conference.The final plenary session, devoted to the tumourmicroenvironment, was up to the high standards ofthe earlier plenary sessions.Dr. Dewhirst gave a presentation on tumour pathophysiologymechanism, concentrating on the role ofhypoxia. Hypoxia makes the tumour more resistantto treatment, is an indicator of outcome, and caneven play a role in gene modification which in turnmodifies tumour behaviour. Part of the scientificchallenge arises from the fact that hypoxia levels ina tumour can very rapidly. Now if only we could figureout ways to image PO2.Dr. Giles followed by giving a presentation on hisMRI, MRS studies of tumour pathophysiology, concentratingon the role of glucose metabolism andthus tying in why PET studies are important andhow glucose studies are enjoying a renaissance asa result of booming PET/CT sales.Dr. Giles also spoke briefly about how flourineimaging can also be used to image oxygenationlevels directly, thus addressing the wish of the firstpresentation. He also spoke about the challengesof perfusion measurements in tumours and howregional variations within a single tumour can besignificant. He also discussed the role of pH withinthe tumour environment and how low pH stimulatestumour growth and how alkalization of tumours cancause shrinkage.The plenary session was completed with a presentationby Dr. Gallez on EPR studies of tumour oxygenation,and how it is possible to image oxygenlevel through changes in T2, thus also tying into thewishes of the first speaker.Compliments to the ISMRM committees for overcomingthe significant obstacles and hosting anexcellent conference.ÂThe International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) a non-profit professionalassociation devoted to furthering the development and application of magnetic resonance techniques inmedicine and biology. The Society holds annual scientific meetings and sponsors other major educationaland scientific workshops.Marko Ivancevicimarko@freesurf.ch letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 28 Jul 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6906/1/E-Croatian-Troops-to-Iraq-Stir-Controversy.html  Croatian Troops to Iraq Stir ControversyÂCalin Neacsu  Agence France Presse, Arab NewsZAGREB, 28 July 2003 - The decision by Croatia's government to contribute troops to an international peacekeeping operation in Iraq, widely seen as taken to boost the Balkan country's chances of joining NATO, has stirred controversy at home.The decision earlier this month to send a special forces unit of some 60 troops to Iraq has proved deeply unpopular among Croatians, prompted religious authorities to speak out, and even threatened to split the government coalition. At a recent meeting the heads of Croatia's religious communities issued an appeal that "Croatia should not be involved in conflicts but rather give its constructive contribution to establishment of a peaceful and just world order."The head of the country's minority Muslim community, Sevko Omerbasic, voiced concern over a possible terrorist "answer" against Croatia, and questioned why the government wants to send a special forces unit that would participate in dangerous missions rather than in humanitarian actions. The dispatch of the troops is deeply unpopular among Croatians, as was the case with the war in Iraq.Over 93 percent of 1,000 people surveyed opposed sending the troops to Iraq, mostly arguing that they "should not risk their lives for someone else's goals," showed an opinion poll published Saturday by Jutarnji List independent daily.Even within the ruling coalition there are disagreements over the issue, with the second-largest party, the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS), opposing it. Party officials say the memory of the 20,000 lives lost in the 1991-95 conflict with Serbs are still fresh. "We cannot even imagine that such things (could) happen to our soldiers in Iraq," said HSS spokeswoman Mirjana Petir stressing that the deployment was "unacceptable" for her party.The largest party in the coalition, the Social Democratic Party, has argued that sending the troops would boost the country's chances to join NATO. "Croatia's participation (in Iraq) would give strong impulse not only to enter NATO but also other integrations," stressed deputy parliamentary speaker Mato Arlovic, an SDP official.Source: http://www.aljazeerah.info/News%20archives/2003%20News%20archives/July%20/28%20n/Croatian%20Troops%20to%20Iraq%20Stir%20Controversy.htm letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 28 Jul 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6908/1/E-Eating-in-two-countries-at-once.html   Eating in two countries at once  By Marko Kovac BBC, Bregana Eat lunch in Croatia, then freshen up in SloveniaThere is one thing that probably makes Restaurant Kalin unique. Not its renowned mushroom steak, nor its dining hall hung with hunting trophies - but its location bang on an international border.  At the family-run restaurant in the village of Bregana, you eat your meal in one country - Croatia - and cross into another - Slovenia - to visit the toilet. Both countries used to be part of Yugoslavia, a country with six constituent republics, where internal borders didn't matter much. Now, eight years after the country's bloody disintegration, Croatian and Slovenian diplomats are still trying to settle a host of arguments, including border delimitation. Restaurant owner Blazenka Kalin rolls her eyes at the mention of the border dispute. The restaurant's cash till is on the Slovenian side of the border, so her company has to be registered in Slovenia. This means she's also forced to follow strict Slovenian inspection regulations. Plainclothes guards She is bitter about what she regards as "political wrangling" over the border, and says she has lost hope of a diplomatic solution.  Ironically, many of the politicians she talks about are among her customers - Kalin is popular with movers and shakers in both Zagreb and Ljubljana. When I step outside Kalin into Slovenia, I cannot see anything to stop me walking over a bridge into Croatia. Piran Bay is the site of another border disputeThere are no visible guards, no ramps, no passport control, and no clear markings. But, as I approach the invisible borderline, two men in dark glasses approach me - Slovenian policemen in civilian clothes. They suspiciously check my documents and warn me not to cross the border without a special pass, introduced to make life easier for those who migrate across every day.  Back in the busy centre of Zagreb, I meet a Croatian Government border expert, who wishes to remain anonymous. He says there is no political will to resolve the dispute. "Diplomatic teams can not negotiate if heads of state refuse to compromise", he says. The problem with the land border is linked to another one regarding sea border in the disputed Adriatic bay of Piran. On this point politicians in both countries have refused to budge for years. EU pressure International relations analyst Davor Gjenero says diplomats should look to European models of trans-border co-operation between regions for a solution. Ivana has an unusual school runSlovenia will most probably join the European Union next year, while Croatia eagerly awaits the start of negotiations for membership. Brussels expects issues like this to be resolved as soon as possible. When I return to Kalin's border crossing, it is business as usual. The red Volkswagen used by the Slovenian police still emits walkie-talkie sounds as policemen stop Croatia-born Ivana Grgic. She is crossing the border to Slovenia from Croatia, where her son is attending school. Only after police have checked her pass is she free to go.  "When we lived in Yugoslavia, there was no need for this kind of nonsense", she says, shaking her head while showing me her special border documents. The dispute continues, with no sign of resolution. Source:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2987376.stm letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 16 Jul 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6909/1/E-Fortune-smiles-on-unluckiest-Croatian-man.html ÂFortune smiles on unluckiestCroatianmanÂALLAN HALL IN BERLINÂAFTER being almost drowned in a train accident, nearly burnt alive in a car explosion and thrown out of an aircraft, it was about time Frane Selak's luck changed.ÂYesterday, the man widely acknowledged to be Croatia's, if not the world's, unluckiest was celebrating a £600,000 win in the nation's lottery.ÂMr Selak, 74, a former music teacher, first realised "demons" were after him in 1962, when the train he was travelling on from Sarajevo to Dubrovnik jumped the rails and plunged into an icy river. Seventeen people drowned and he barely made it to the bank, suffering from hypothermia.ÂAccident number two came a year later, when he was thrown into mid-air from a plane just before it crashed, landing in a haystack. Three years later, a bus he was on lurched into a river, killing four people. Mr Selak managed to swim to safety. "By this time my friends had stopped visiting me," he said.ÂIn 1970, his car caught fire as he drove along a motorway, but he managed to get out before the fuel tank exploded. Three years later, he was driving another car when it caught fire.ÂEight years ago, he was knocked down by a bus in Zagreb but sustained only minor injuries. The following year, in his final brush with death, he managed to leap out of his car as it hurtled downhill following a near miss with a United Nations lorry.ÂBut on Monday, two days after his birthday, came news he had won the lottery. Now the four-times married pensioner is buying a house, a car and a speedboat, and is planning to marry his girlfriend. "I feel my life is just beginning," he said.http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/international.cfm?id=670382003 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 17 Jun 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6910/1/E-Seven-Croatian-Seamen-Safe.html ÂSeven CroatianSeamen SafeEVENING NEWS 7.6.2003.Ship Benty Leaves Monrovia - All Crew Members FineThe merchant ship Benty that has seven Croatian seamen aboardis sailing for the Canary Islands after it had left the Liberiancapital of Monrovia last night as it got in cross-fire betweenthe government and rebel forces. The ship is now sailing forLas Palmas where it should be in nine days time. All crewmembersare alive and well, although somewhat undernourished due tolack of food.HNS Presents a Justice System Reform ProgramThe HNS party has presented in Zagreb its Justice system reformprogram entitled Better, Faster Justice. This is a program itwill showcase at the next parliamentary elections. The programhas been drawn up by lawyer Anto Nobilo. Among other elements,the program envisages a sharp rise in the fees needed to bepaid for a court proceeding to begin.Sibenik is Declared A City of Culture of the Republic of CroatiaAt a ceremony held in Sibenik on Saturday, the town was declaredby the Culture Minister a city of culture of the Republic ofCroatia, following an initiative of the town of Sibenik lastmonth. This has come about due to Sibenik's hefty investmentsin culture, the cultural heritage and monuments and historicalheritage. This is the first such town in Croatia. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 08 Jun 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6911/1/ES-Croatian-Poised-to-be-Argentinas-Next-President.html  Néstor KirchnerThe following article in today's NY Times discusses the next likelypresident of Argentina, Nestor Kirchner, whose mother was a Croatianborn in Chile.*****************************May 16, 2003Argentina's Backwoods Leader-to-BeBy LARRY ROHTERUENOS AIRES, May 15 - Néstor Kirchner's friends admit that when heannounced late last year that he would seek to become president ofArgentina, he had no expectation of winning. As the governor of a remoteand sparsely populated province in Patagonia - "the man nobody knows,"in the words of one newsmagazine here - he aimed merely to make himselfknown to the rest of the country and then try again in four years.Instead, Mr. Kirchner, 53, is poised to become Argentina's 49thpresident. A solid performance as one of three Peronist candidates inthe first round of the election last month, followed on Wednesday by thestartling withdrawal of his opponent, former president Carlos Menem,means that there will be no runoff vote on Sunday and that Mr. Kirchnerwill take office on May 25.Once in power, though, his smooth ride is certain to end. He will be thesixth president in less than 18 months, taking office without thebenefit of the landslide victory at the polls he had counted on to givea fast start to his mandate. He will also inherit an economy that, as heput it on Wednesday, has been "devastated, pressured and extorted" by adebt default, four years of recession and the collapse of the bankingsystem and the peso.But Mr. Kirchner clearly relishes his sudden leap onto the nationalstage, even though his administrative experience has been limited togoverning fewer than 200,000 people with all the advantages that anoil-based economy can bring. In his first remarks as president-designatehe was brimming with both confidence and toughness."I haven't come this far to make deals with the past," he vowed in aWednesday speech that coincided with Mr. Menem's withdrawal andcontained several traditional populist Peronist flourishes. Argentinescan be certain, he promised, that he has "decided to turn the page ofhistory" and "start to build a new country with you."Néstor Carlos Kirchner was born in Río Gallegos, the capital of SantaCruz, the southernmost of Argentina's mainland provinces, on Feb. 25,1950. His father was a post office bookkeeper and his mother ahousewife; the couple had three children, of whom Mr. Kirchner is theonly son.The first Argentine president to be born in Patagonia, Mr. Kirchner isdescended from the Central European immigrants who flocked to thatremote and wind-swept region as pioneers a century ago. "My grandmotherwas Swiss and my grandfather German," he said at a recent newsconference with foreign correspondents here. "My mother is Croatian,born in Chile."People who knew Mr. Kirchner as a child described him as an inquisitivestudent from a tightknit family that read widely and supported Gen. JuanDomingo Perón. As a tall and somewhat gawky adolescent, with apronounced lisp that he retains today, he distinguished himself less inthe classroom than by joining the basketball team to play forward, hiscoach, Emilio García Pacheco, recalled in Río Gallegos this week."Kirchner was a mediocre player, but he had a lot of dedication, driveand persistence," Mr. García Pacheco said. "He has calmed down with ageand responsibility, but back then he was hotblooded, prone to get angryeasily and to fight a lot with the referees."As is traditional among Peronist party leaders, Mr. Kirchner has a wife,Cristina Fernández, who is a formidable political figure in her ownright. She is an influential senator from Santa Cruz Province and formany years before that was Mr. Kirchner's law partner.The couple, who have a son, 26, and a daughter, 13, met during theircollege years in La Plata in the mid-1970's. When a military coupoverthrew María Estela Perón in March 1976, they took refuge in Mr.Kirchner's hometown, anticipating but hoping to evade the roundup ofstudents, Peronists and other perceived "subversives" that wouldeventually result in the disappearance of as many as 30,000 people.Nevertheless, Mr. Kirchner was taken into custody twice in the earlydays of the dictatorship, "once for more or less a month and then forjust a few days," his sister, Alicia Margarita Kirchner, recalled in aninterview in his hometown last week.During the presidential campaign, Mr. Menem repeatedly accused Mr.Kirchner of belonging to the Montonero left-wing guerrillas, the mainadversary of the military during the country's "dirty war." Mr. Kirchnerhas denied that affiliation, but the Peronist youth group to which hebelonged was known to have clandestine ties to the guerrillas, and afriend said recently that "he of course sympathized with their aims, asdid all of us in those days."In what amounted to an inaugural address on Wednesday, Mr. Kirchnersaid: "I belong to a generation that did not buckle under persecution orin the face of the disappearance of friends as part of the greatestsystem of repression ever created in our country. We have the strengthof those who got into politics because we thought this country couldchange."During the remainder of the dictatorship, the Kirchners focused on theirlaw practice and became wealthy.In 1987, four years after the return of democracy to Argentina, Mr.Kirchner was elected mayor of Río Gallegos. Four years later, he ran forgovernor, winning a narrow victory, and then, after changing theConstitution so he could run again, winning re-election by broadermargins in 1995 and 1999 despite an opposition that criticizes hisconduct as imperious and inflexible.Here in the capital there have been suggestions that Mr. Kirchner isboth colorless and something of a country bumpkin who will be easilyoutwitted by the Peronist party establishment. But his sister Alicia,who is minister of social affairs in his provincial government, warnsnot to judge him by appearances or to underestimate him."Some worry whether Néstor is charismatic or not, but those who know himknow that he is someone who is single-minded, who gets an idea in hishead and goes with it," she said. "That has made him both friends andenemies."ÂNéstor kirchner"EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ARGENTINOS".ÂNo es el hombre carismático, que los argentinos siempre estuvieron acostumbrados a votar, pero es quien supo ganar una posición respetable en el electorado, con una selectiva interpretación del estado de animo que la ciudadanía sufre desde hace varios años sin saber que rumbo tomar, y estos entre elegir a Menem optaron por volcar el voto en un hombre que aparentemente, no sufre del mal que lo aqueja al riojano, de haber tenido una gestión corrupta, y descargar sobre sus espaldas hecho lamentables que fueron sucediendo a lo largo de los díez años del gobierno de Carlos Menem. "Arto de soportar las locuras del menemismo, el electorado no le permite volver a Menem y su clan". Dejándolo en una posición embarazosa, porque después de la derrota, le será difícil reponerse.¿PORQUÉ PERDIÓ MENEM EN CHACABUCO? En esta ciudad, primó la mezquindad personal de algunos referentes por encima de la candidatura del ex presidente, como así también se fueron dando una serie de factores como, "Algunas caras que producen repulsión a la hora de emitir el voto", la individualidad de los referentes de la lista 133, hizo que creciera y sacara buen caudal de votos la lista Nº 20 liderada por los Dres. Antonio Miori y Daniel Tissieres Ortiz. "Otro factor fue la falta de fiscales que tuvo el menemismo, sin haber podido cubrir la totalidad de las mesas""Por más que quiera vestir la mona de seda, mona queda", es la versión recogida en esta ciudad con respecto al golpe de timón que quiso reflejar el ex presidente después de haber tenido un fallido festejo, en el hotel presidente el 27 por la noche, creando más irritación entre el electorado argentino, al ver en ese hotel -caras- de la nefasta gestión menemista de los años 90, acá más que el entorno, la elección la pierde el propio riojano, al equivocarse en la estrategia, y falta desinteligencia porque él nunca hubiera entrado en el juego de Kirchner "Calentarse y perder los estribos, en más de una oportunidad", mientras que el santacruceño, capitalizaba votos, el ex presidente, salía por todos los medios lanzando criticas y amenazas de fraude, que nunca llevo a la justicia, ni tampoco presentó pruebas.EDUARDO DUHALDE?...Fue el creador de la estrategia contundente para ser derrotado CARLOS MENEM, primero le hizo la jugada del siglo, no dandolé pelea en el campo interno, después lo deja muy comprometido con el triunfo del 27 de abril, donde el riojano queda en una situación muy difícil de dirimir, que fue seguir o bajarse, sabiendo que cuanto más lo venga a torear el actual presidente, esto fortalece la convicción de Menem para seguir en carrera, aun sabiendo que es derrotado por amplio margen en favor de KIRCHNER. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 16 May 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6912/1/E-Croatia-pension-deal-sealed-with-Australia.html ÂCroatia pension dealsealed with AustraliaÂ14may03PEOPLE living in Australia who have worked in Croatia could be eligible to receive a Croatian pension under a new agreement between the two nations.Australia and Croatia signed the social security deal in Zagreb overnight." Thisagreement represents an important extension of the social security safety net helping people in Australia, who have worked in Croatia, to receive a Croatian pension," Family and Community Services Minister Amanda Vanstonesaid." Similarly, it will enable people to claim an Australian pension by counting periods of insurance in Croatia towards Australia's residencerequirements." The deal also contains provisions covering Australia's superannuation guarantee scheme, eliminating the need for double contributions when Australians work temporarily in Croatia or when Croatian workers are sent temporarily to Australia. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 15 May 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6913/1/E-More-tourist-then-expected---1923-Renault-wwooden-wheels.html ÂMORE GUESTS ON KVARNER THAN EXPECTEDHIC newsÂMORE GUESTS ON KVARNER THAN EXPECTEDAccording to estimates there were more tourists spending EasterÂon the Kvarner this year than expected. Some 13,500 touristsÂwere registered this weekend in the Primorje and Gorski kotarÂCounty.ÂALMOST 25,000 TOURISTS SPEND EASTER IN ISTRIAAccording to the tourist board of the Istria County thereÂwere 29,960 guests spending Easter in this northern CroatianÂcounty. The largest number of tourists were registered on theÂPorec Riviera, Pula and Medulin and some 15 camps were openÂfor the holiday.SOME 2,300 TOURISTS SPEND EASTER IN MAKARSKASome 2,300 guests spent Easter in hotels on the Makarska riviera,Âwhich was 10 percent more than last year. In Makarska thereÂwere 650 guests, in Brela 305, in Baska Voda 320, in TucepiÂ460 and hotels in Podgora, Igran and Zivogosce also saw a riseÂin guests.OLD-TIMERS PARADE THROUGH NASICEThe eastern Croatian town of Nasice on Monday hosted the thirdÂinternational old-timer show. About a hundred old-timers, rangingÂfrom vehicles, motorcycles to tractors, as well as spare partsÂwere exhibited on the main square of Nasice. The oldest exhibitsÂwere a 1923 Renault with wooden wheels and tractor manufacturedÂthe same year. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 24 Apr 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6914/1/E-Are-Baby-Elephants-coming-to-Croatia-.html ÂBaby Elephant to Croatia?Jumbo offerings for power gainsÂBy Risidra MendisÂDespite strong protests by animal rights activists on the release of elephants from the Pinnawela elephant orphanage, five animals are to be released subsequent to cabinet approval this year. On the requests of five politicians, five male elephants are to leave their home in Pinnawela within the next few months.ÂAlready two of the five - gifted without a cent paid - are with the new owners.ÂThe Sunday Leader learns that these five ministers are offering the elephants in fulfilment of vows made before the general election in 2001. Minister Karunasena Kodituwakku offered a male elephant to the Ran Kaduwa Devale on March 5, 2003, while Minister Imthiaz Bakeer Markar offered a female elephant to the Aluthgama Kande Vihara on March 23, 2003 in the presence of Minister Kodituwakku.ÂQuestions are now being raised by animal rights activists as to how a female six-year-old baby elephant named Kumari was offered to the temple when the authorisation was given for the release of a male.ÂKumari together with Mihindu wasÂgifted by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to the children of Japan as a gift from the children of Sri Lanka. This presentation was made to the visiting Japanese parliamentary delegation on April 29, 2002 at Temple Trees. The Japanese delegation were then to present the two elephants to Croatia to replace the only Asian elephant in that country.ÂHowever a protest staged by prominent animal rights activists in Sri Lanka days before the elephants were to be sent, ended with the animals remaining in the country.ÂSpecial requestÂAccording to a ministry official, when Minister Markar visited the Vihare having won the elections, the Chief Priest, Batuwanhene Buddha Rakkhitha Thero requested the Minister to donate an elephant to the temple. The chief priest had also requested for a female elephant.ÂAccording to reliable sources a request was then made by Minister Markar to release Kumari. Having obtained permission from the Japanese Embassy, the Minister had the necessary papers prepared by the Environment and Natural Resources Ministry, which in turn asked Director , National Zoo, Brigadier H. A. N. T. Perera to release Kumari.ÂWhile Brigadier Perera confirmed that two elephants (including Kumari) were released on cabinet approval three more are to be released soon. The Director also confirmed that Kumari was handed over to the Kande Vihare.ÂQuestions are being raised as to why temples are requesting young female elephants. There are allegations that some of the gifted elephants are used for hard labour during off-season. Male elephants cannot be worked for four to five months during the time of musk.ÂKumari could have at least produced four to five baby elephants during her life time if she was kept at the orphanage.ÂTo make matters worse, Kande Vihara has a Thai Tusker, who if bred with Kumari could lead to a mixed elephant species in Sri Lanka.ÂAccording to Penny Jayewardene, an animal rights activist in Sri Lanka, once an elephant is released to a private owner, nobody takes the initiative to check on how the animal is being treated. "The animal laws in the country mean nothing these days. Therefore the exploitation of animals takes place," Jayewardene said.ÂCommenting on elephants being released from Pinnawela to temples for participation in peraheras Jayewardene said all animals should remain in their natural habitat.ÂAccording to her elephants should not be used in peraheras as this is an exploitation of the animal. "Why can't there be a perahera without the participation of an elephant? If you love this animal you should protect it. Our culture does not ask for the exploitation of the elephant," Jayewardene said.ÂAccording to reports three elephants were released from Pinnawela last year under the UNF government. Minister Rukman Senanayake and Minister Markar could not be contacted for comment.Âhttp://www.thesundayleader.lk/20030330/news.htm letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 30 Mar 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6915/1/E-Kids-Today.html ÂTwo CroatianKidsFlash KidMon Mar 3, 2:28 PM ETBy Rich Karlgaard Sean John sold more than $200 million of clothing last year. Now, if you are older than 40 and don't have any teenagers, you might pause here, shake your head, let out a whistle, form a capital T with your liver-spotted fingers and ask: What the heck is a â Sean John? Answer: It's the clothing label of P.Diddy. You know, the rap singer.Oh sure, of course. The economy stinks. But a rap singer yanks down two hundred megabucks a year.Natch. From clothes. From a line that didn't exist five years ago. Understood. Don't blow an artery, readers. P. Diddy is not our story today. No, our story is even weirder. It's the story of the guy who designed the ultrahip SeanJohn.com Web site. This designer, MaxOshman, well, he's a bit of a nerd who lives with his parents in uncool Montclair, N.J. Actually, it's cool that Max lives with his parents. He is 17 years old. Super Samurai In Palestine, 17-year-olds strap bombs to their chests and board buses. In America, a high school junior named Max Oshman pulled in $400,000 for his Web design work in only three months. Okay, it wasn't just Max. It was Max and 11 fellow geeks--a virtual team of 12. According to Max, "Some of them live in the U.K., two inCroatia, two in Sweden and the rest are scattered around in southern California, New York, Texas and Amsterdam." The leaders of this e-gang--they call themselves pLotdev Multimedia DevelopersLLC--are Max and Yves Darbouze, a 30-year-old Miami geezer. The e-gang's average age is 23. Max has never met any of his partners in person. A first-ever meeting in New York with partner Yves was in the works when Max and I talked. One supposes it's difficult for a 17-year-old to take business trips while keeping up a 4.0 average at Solomon Schechter School, playing point guard on the basketball team and laying out the school yearbook. How, then, does the pLotdev team communicate? "Mostly," says Max, "by e-mail. When we have a big project, we communicate via phone. We also have group talks using MSN Messenger." Max and Yves hooked up (by e-mail) after Max completed his first book, Macromedia Flash: Super Samurai--at age 15. Max's coauthor introduced him to Yves, who needed some Web design work done, thinking Max would be good for the job. "We spoke about the industry and where it was going, and we shared many of the same beliefs," says Max. "We decided that we would start a company." At the time Yves had no idea Max was 17. Max and Yves agree that a pair of Macromediasoftware programs will change the world. One is Flash, a 3-D graphics program; the other isColdFusion, which lets people update Web sites without a programmer. As Max described this software to me, I thought: Yes, makes perfect sense. Such cheap, off-the-rack software will indeed open up Web design to artists, the way Adobe opened up page design 15 years ago. Max, of course, would have missed my analogy altogether. Fifteen years ago Max was 2. No Face Time--YetÂMax looks like any straight-A kid from suburban New Jersey. Don't be fooled. He speaks like a Madison Avenue mogul. About pLotdev he says, "We geared toward the entertainment industry--creative, very upbeat designs with a lot of motion and user interaction. We call this style high-impact design. Extremely engaging to the user." Do any of pLotdev's Hollywood clients balk on meeting a consultant four years away from a legal beer? "None of my clients has ever asked my age," says Max cheerfully. He pauses, then continues more guardedly. "Whenever there are face-to-face meetings, Yves goes. I take part in the phone meetings. We want to make sure clients base their decisions on our skills, not on fears that some 17-year-old kid is going to screw up their Web presence." Now Max buoys up. "In the next few months, however, I do intend to start going to meetings." For now, Max stays at home, batting out code on his HP Pavilion zt1130, Dell Dimension 4300 and newiMac. Old-Fashioned Hustle How does this young team ever manage to get in the client's door and pitch work? Pure old-fashioned hustle. "Sean John and [previous clients] Motown and Universal were recruited byYes," says Max. "He called, wrote and nagged people to death just asking to give us a chance. He wrote a ton of proposals. We wrote free demos to show them our work." These days pLotdev is reeling in the work. Current clients include Microsoft and P. Diddy's record label, Bad Boy Records. Visit Rich Karlgaard's home page atwww.forbes.com/karlgaard or e-mail him at publisher@forbes.com.ÂÂÂEdited for CROWN by Ivo Bach letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 06 Mar 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6917/1/E-Croatia-Prepares-for-Popes-Third-Visit.html ÂCroatia Prepares for Pope's Third VisitZAGREB, Croatia - Croatia will plan carefully to ensure that the third pilgrimage of Pope John Paul II goes smoothly, Prime Minister Ivica Racan said Tuesday. The government would use "all resources at hand to ensure that the Holy Father's visit is realized in the best possible manner," Racan told Vatican officials visiting the capital. The Vatican last month announced that the pontiff planned to visit the Croatian cities of Dubrovnik, Rijeka, Zadar and Djakovo this spring. A date was not supplied, but Croatian media, citing anonymous sources close to the Vatican, reported the visit would take place June 5-8. The pope is expected to beatify Maria Di Gesu Crocifisso Petkovic and Ivan Merz during his tour, Vatican officials said. The pilgrimage was originally planned for last year, but was delayed because the beatification cases were not completed, Vatican officials said. The pope has previously visited the capital, Zagreb, and the seaside city of Split. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 26 Feb 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6916/1/E-Croatian-Night-with-the-Chicago-Bulls.html  Croatian Night with the Chicago Bulls ÂSaturday April 5It's Croatian Night at the United Center, as Toni Kukoc and the MilwaukeeBucks square off against Dalibor Bagaric and the Chicago Bulls! As part ofthis special night, members of the Croatian community can purchase ticketsfor this game at discounted prices. Tickets regularly priced $42, $32, and$26 are available for $32, $22 and $16. Whoever submits an order with thegreatest number of seats will receive V.I.P. floor passes to watch pre-gamewarm-ups beginning at 6:00 p.m. All members of the Croatian community willbe seated together so everybody can enjoy the game as a group. There will bea post-game party at the Croatian Cultural Center, located at 2845 W. DevonAve. There are a limited number of tickets available and they are beingoffered on a first-come, first-serve basis. For a copy of the order form in.pdf format, and instructions on where to submit your order, download it athttp://www.midwest-croatians.org/croatia.pdf. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 26 Feb 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6918/1/E-Premier-Zhu-Meets-Croatian-Deputy-Prime-Minister.html  Premier Zhu Meets Croatian Deputy Prime Minister ÂChinese Premier Zhu Rongji said the Chinese government had always valued progress in Sino-Croatianties and would work with Croatia to make bilateral relations a model for reciprocal cooperation between countries with different national conditions. http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200302/19/eng20030219_111875.shtml letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 23 Feb 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6919/1/EH-Petition-for-Diocletians-palace.html Distributed by CroatianWorld  Petition for Diocletian's palace  http://www.lerotic.de/urbicid SUPPORT URBAN PLANNING, OPPOSE COMMERCIALISM! The Palace of Diocletian in the southern Croatian port of Split is an UNESCO-protected world heritage monument. It was built as a villa for the abdicated Roman emperor 17 centuries ago, and in the course of time developed into what is now the historic core of the city of Split. Architectural historians consider it one of the best preserved late Roman villas, but also cherish the elements of the medieval city as well as the layers of the subsequent historical styles found in the eclectic makeup of the Split city core. Urban planning and construction in such an environment obviously require utmost carefulness. However, Split City Hall and City Council have recently made legal a plan, initiated by the local monument conservation authority, according to which potential building sites in the city core should be offered for commercial exploitation to the best bidder. According to the plan, the funds obtained by selling sites to the developers should be reinvested into monument preservation. However, the plan does not include precise guidelines as to the nature of the potential construction, nor stipulates an architectural competition as a method of obtaining the best (i.e. least intrusive) solutions in this highly sensitive cultural context. We, the undersigned, strongly oppose such a plan and demand that there be a wide public, professional and scholarly discussion before it is implemented. You can support this initiative arguing against commercialization endangering cultural heritage of the highest order, by sending a mail with your name and professional designation to the following e-mail address: petition@net.hr. Please forward this mail to potentially interested persons. Photographs of the current state of the parts of the Palace can be viewed at: http://www.arhitektura.info/ARHIT/prilozi/palaca1.htm . The plan adopted by the Split City Hall, as well as the photographs of some previously planned new buildings, can be viewed at: http://www.arhitektura.info/~split/urbs/bastina/06%20SEkvadrant/cursus_sonorum.htm . PODRZIMO URBANIZAM, SUPROTSTAVIMO SE KOMERCIJALIZACIJI! Dioklecijanova palaca u Splitu spomenik je kulturne bastine pod zastitom UNESCO-a. Sagradjena je kao vila rimskog imperatora prije 17 stoljeca i tijekom vremena se razvila u danasnju povijesnu jezgru grada Splita. Povjesnicari arhitekture smatraju je jednom od najbolje ocuvanih kasnoantickih vila, a naglasavaju i vrijednost elemenata srednjovjekovnog grada i slojeva kasnijih povijesnih stilova nazocnih u arhitektonski eklekticnoj splitskoj gradskoj jezgri. Urbanisticko planiranje i gradnja u takvom okolisu ocigledno zahtijevaju skrajnju obazrivost. Medjutim, splitsko Gradsko poglavarstvo i Gradsko vijece nedavno su ozakonili plan, koji su pokrenule lokalne sluzbe za zastitu spomenika, prema kojemu mjesta na kojima je moguca gradnja u staroj gradskoj jezgri valja ponuditi za komercijalnu eksploataciju ponudjivacu najbolje cijene. Prema ovom planu, sredstva pribavljena prodajom terena gradjevinskim poduzetnicima ulozila bi se u zastitu spomenika. Medjutim, predlozeni plan ne ukljucuje precizne smjernice o prirodi gradnje moguce na ovom prostoru, niti predvidja arhitektonske natjecaje kao metodu za pribavljanje naboljih (tj. najmanje intruzivnih) rjesenja u ovom kulturno vrlo osjetljivom kontekstu. Mi, nize potpisani, snazno se protivimo takvom planu i trazimo da se povede siroka javna, strukovna i znanstvena rasprava prije nego sto se on pocne primjenjivati. Ovu incijativu, koja se suprotstavlja bezobzirnoj komercijalizaciji sto ugrozava kulturnu bastinu najviseg reda, mozete podrzati slanjem e-mail poruke s vasim imenom i zanimanjem na sljedecu adresu: petition@net.hr. Molimo ovaj mail proslijediti i drugim potencijalno zainteresiranim osobama. Fotografije trenutnog stanja dijelova Palace mogu se pogledati na: http://www.arhitektura.info/ARHIT/prilozi/palaca1.htm . Plan koji je usvojilo splitsko Gradsko poglavarstvo i ranije prijedloge za gradnju na spornim podrucjima moze se pogledati na: http://www.arhitektura.info/~split/urbs/bastina/06%20SEkvadrant/cursus_sonorum.htm . letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 16 Feb 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6920/1/E-The-free-zone-of-Kukuljanovo-in-the-industrial-zone-of-Bakar.html  The free zone of Kukuljanovo in the industrial zone of Bakar?ÂAnalysis: Processing the export zones by Sam VakninSKOPJE, Macedonia, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma last week told an assembly of senior customs service officials that "it is necessary to put an end to (Ukraine's 11 free economic and nine priority) zones (and) liquidate them completely. (They) have become semi-criminal zones, and this refers not only to the Donetsk zone. You pull the meat that Europe doesn't want to eat into these zones and sell it there without (paying) taxes".According to UNIAN, the Ukrainian news agency, Kuchma was fuming at the mighty and unaccountable oligarchs situated in the country's eastern coal-mining center and their collaborators in the Ukrainian Security Service and other law enforcement agencies. The zones dismally failed to attract foreign direct investment, or foster economic growth, he bitterly observed.The International Monetary Fund concurs, as does the European Union. The future status of special economic zones is hotly contested in the accession negotiations with the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Malta.Nor is the criminalization of such zones a Ukrainian deviation. Russia's Deputy Interior Minister, Vladimir Vasiliev, admitted last year that Russia's Mafia focuses its unwelcome attentions on its ubiquitous free economic zones.Yet, the proliferation of these fiscal monstrosities -- tax-free, low customs, export-processing, flexible labor delimited regions -- is likely to continue. Even bastions of free trade make profligate use of them as do all the countries of the rich world.According to a November 2002 report titled "Employment and Social Policy in Respect of Export Processing Zones," published by the United Nations' International Labor Organization, the number of countries with export processing zones surged from 25 in 1975 to 116 last year. The number of such havens jumped to 3,000 from a mere 79.A January 2002 amendment to Estonia's value-added tax law allows its fishermen to export to Russia more than $100 million worth of catch via tax-free enclaves. Virtually all the countries of central, east and southeast Europe (the Balkans) either toyed with the idea or established such zones, the first being Russia, Poland and Bulgaria.Even hidebound and xenophobic Belarus founded in 2000 four Free Economic Zones, located in Brest, Minsk, Gomel-Raton and Vitebsk, to, in its words, "attract foreign investment, promote high-tech manufacturing and increase economic diversification." The zones, authorities claim, have been a success. The Brest one drew more than $120 million in investments and has created 5,000 jobs.Multilateral lenders and international trade partners are unhappy.Exemptions from taxes and customs duties amount to overt export subventions. The goods thus subsidized often end up in the local market, unfairly competing with indigenous producers and importers.Responding to such pressures, Kyrgyzstan requires enterprises located within the free economic zone to pay customs and other taxes on goods they sell domestically. Both the European Union and the United States expressed extreme displeasure at the formation of Macedonia's Taiwan-financed free zone in Bunardzik in 1999.It has since flopped and was leased last September for 30 years to Ital Mak Furnir, an improbable German-Italian-Macedonian partnership. The only occupant of the sole building constructed in the zone by the Taiwanese is rented to the NATO mission in Macedonia -- hardly a business enterprise.The free economic zone of the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, formed in 1992 and revamped in 1996 and again in 1997, under the new law on Free Economic Zones, has met a similar fate.Lithuania's industrial parks are not successful either.The free zone of Kukuljanovo in the industrial zone of Bakar, not far from the Port of Rijeka Free Zone in Croatia, actually serves as a trans-shipment and off-shore area, rather than a classic export processing district. It is one of 13 such fiscal havens.Tax-free, customs and export-processing territories, though they might enhance employment, as they did in China, for example, distort the economic decisions of investors, manufacturers, importers and exporters. Budget revenues are adversely affected.The zones attract shady "industrialists" and "financiers" who set up fronts for illicit activities, such as smuggling, unauthorized assembly of consumer goods, or piracy of intellectual property.These extraterritorial hubs are major centers of money laundering, parallel imports of shoddy or counterfeit goods and forbidden re-importation of merchandise originally sold to poor, developing countries at substantial discounts, or provided as international aid.Ukrainian Vice-Premier Leonid Kozachenko estimated, last May, that one fifth of all meat sold in Ukraine was smuggled through the special zones, reported UkInform. Most of it is unfit for human consumption. The impoverished country lost $56 million in customs duties on these products in 2001 alone. In the meantime, the local meat industry is "choking," in the words of Yuri Melnik, Deputy State Secretary for the Ministry of Agrarian Policy.Yet, the undermining of local production is not the only impact on oft-struggling host economies. According to the ILO, throughput from special zones accounts for 80 percent of all the merchandise exports of the Czech Republic and Hungary. But very little of this abundance trickles down."Legal restrictions on trade union rights in a few export processing zone operating countries, the lack of enforcement of labor legislation and the absence of workers' organizations representation were among the factors noted as undermining the ability of zones to upgrade skills, improve working conditions and productivity and thereby to become more dynamic and internationally competitive platforms," it said.And the contribution of these zones to economic growth and subsequent prosperity? Dubious, at best. The ILO concludes:"(There is a) lack of reliable ... statistics regarding the costs and benefits of zones. While some data exist relating to the amount of investment, exports and employment in zones, there is very little ... on the quality, cost and duration of those jobs, on the degree of skill and technology transfer and on the opportunity cost of the fiscal incentives and infrastructure costs."(We don't know) why EPZs have failed to take off in some countries. While political stability and investment in the basic infrastructure in ports, airports, roads, water, sanitation and power supply are necessary conditions for EPZs, they are not sufficient on their own to attract FDI. Macroeconomic conditions such as extreme inflation and high interest rates (are important) ... "Research suggests that zones are most effective when they form part of an integrated economic strategy that includes fiscal incentives, investments in infrastructure, technology and human capital, and the creation of linkages into the local economy. It is important for EPZs to upgrade their activities to higher value-added products and services (requiring a more skilled workforce) and find their niche in the international production network ... (EPZs strategies must, therefore, be) continually adapt(ed)."The countries of Eastern Europe and the Balkans lack the skills and experience to upgrade their EPZs and the money needed to hire international consultants to monitor and modify the zones' performance and characteristics.Hence the hitherto abysmal performance of these contraptions -- and the emerging trend to disassemble them.Sam Vaknin participated in the design and implementation of the Free Economic Zone of Macedonia in 1999-2000. Send your comments to: svaknin@upi.com. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 10 Feb 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6921/1/E-Croatia-Orders-Another-Bombardier-415-Amphibious-Aircraft.html ÂCroatia Orders Another Bombardier 415 Amphibious Aircraft ÂMONTREAL, QUEBEC, Feb 7, 2003 (CCNMatthews via COMTEX) -- Bombardier Aerospace announced today that the Ministry of Defence of Croatia has signed a contract for the purchase of a fourth Bombardier 415* amphibious aircraft and has taken delivery of the aircraft. The contract also contains an option for an additional aircraft. The order brings the Croatian fleet to four Bombardier 415. "We are very pleased that Croatia is continuing to modernize its fleet of Bombardier firefighting aircraft," said Michel Bourgeois, president, Bombardier Amphibious Aircraft. "Croatian firefighters have to protect a mountainous coastline where it is difficult to access fires. In such an environment the Bombardier 415 amphibious aircraft delivers outstanding results. This is a clear vote of confidence in Bombardier amphibious aircraft." Since the first delivery in 1994, Bombardier Aerospace has sold 57 Bombardier 415 aircraft, which have been delivered to firefighting agencies in Italy, France, Greece, Quebec, Ontario and Croatia. There are over 70 Bombardier CL-215*, the predecessor to the Bombardier 415 and the world's first aircraft specifically developed to fight forest fires, still in operation worldwide. The Bombardier 415 is the world's most advanced waterbomber. It has a maximum speed of 375 km/h (235 mph). In an average mission of 11 kilometres (six nautical miles) distance from water to fire, it can complete nine drops within an hour, delivering 55,260 litres (14,600 U.S. gallons) of water or foam fire suppressant. It is also being offered in a new multi-purpose version (Bombardier 415MP) for search and rescue, maritime patrol and environmental protection with certification expected later this year. One Bombardier 415 aircraft is under a contract with the United States National Guard for a five-month evaluation program. Bombardier Aerospace, a unit of Bombardier Inc., is a world leader in the design, and manufacture of innovative aviation products and provides services for the regional, business and amphibious aircraft markets. It also offers Bombardier Flexjet(R) fractional ownership, aircraft charter and management, technical services, aircraft maintenance and pilot training for business, regional airline and military customers. Bombardier Inc., a diversified manufacturing and services company, is a world-leading manufacturer of business jets, regional aircraft, rail transportation equipment and motorized recreational products. It also provides financial services and asset management in business areas aligned with its core expertise. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, the Corporation has a workforce of some 80,000 people in 24 countries throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2002 stood at $21.6 billion Cdn. Bombardier trades on the Toronto, Brussels and Frankfurt stock exchanges (BBD, BOM and BBDd.F). (R) Registered trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries. * Trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries. Note to Editors: Images of the Bombardier 415 amphibious aircraft are available on our Web site photo gallery at: www.aero.bombardier.com/htmen/F14.jsp Bombardier AerospaceStephane LeroyMontreal: (514) 855-7820orBombardier AerospaceSylvie GauthierMontreal: (514) 855-7983NEWS RELEASE TRANSMITTED BY CCNMatthews http://www.aero.bombardier.comCopyright (C) 2003, CCNMatthews. All rights reserved.Source: http://www.stockhouse.ca/news/news.asp?tick=BBD.A&newsid=1511416 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 07 Feb 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6923/1/E-Croatia-United-States-sign-agreement-on-preventing-.html ÂCroatia, United States sign agreement on preventing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction  ZAGREB, Croatia - A senior U.S. Defense Ministry official on Tuesday described Croatia as a "valued partner" in the war on terror. Mira Ricardel, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Eurasia, visited Croatia to sign an agreement on cooperation in preventing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Croatia aspires to join NATO (news - web sites). The agreement signed Tuesday by Ricardel and Croatia's Defense Minister, Zeljka Antunovic, was the first tangible sign that the Croatian pro-Western government is siding with the United States in its war on terror. The deal, which still has to be ratified by the U.S. Congress and the Croatian parliament, would provide Croatia with knowledge and equipment needed to fight the spread of weapons of mass destruction, Antunovic said. The agreement was not linked to the possible war in Iraq, she said, adding it covered a period of seven years. She offered no other details. Ricardel said the deal would deepen partnership between the two countries. "Croatia is a valued partner of the United States, a valued partner in the war on terror," she said. Ricardel also said Croatia was "a serious candidate" for NATO membership because "its leadership is taking very decisive and difficult steps in reforming" its armed forces. Croatia, a nation of 4.5 million that gained independence in 1992 and ended a war with Serb rebels in 1995, is reforming its military to conform to NATO standards, hoping to become an alliance member. The country has been a member of NATO's auxiliary program Partnership for Peace since 1997, but it is not among the front-runners for alliance letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 04 Feb 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6922/1/E-Hy-wire-AND-HydroGen3-Receive-Prestigious-Awards-in-Croatia.html ÂHy-wire & HydroGen3 Receive Prestigious Awards in Croatia ÂThe Croatian Association of Automotive Journalists recently presented two Golden Steering Wheel awards to GM and Opel for their fuel cell innovations. The 31-member jury recognized GM's Hy-Wire as the "most refined and advanced technical innovation in 2002," and the Opel HydroGen3 as "the most ecological vehicle." Bozo Kovacevic, Croatian minister of Environment, (shown left in the photo), presented Andy Dunstan, operations manager for Opel Southeast Europe, with one of the two Golden Steering Wheel awards presented to GM and Opel at an awards ceremony on January 31, 2003. The Croatian Association of Automotive Journalists said they appreciated that GM provided the media with a chance to drive these vehicles, while gaining first hand experience both on the vehicles capabilities and the technologies behind them. Five journalists from Croatia attended the Monaco Ride and Drive featuring the Hy-wire and Hydrogen 3 in early December. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 04 Feb 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6924/1/E-Croatia-demands-15-billion-euros-war-damages-from-Yugoslavia.html Distributed by CroatianWorldÂCroatia demands 15 billion euros war damages from YugoslaviaÂOp-edI am talking about War Reparations for cca 10 years. I startedto do this during the war. Most of the answers were, that this is impossible.Not that it is possible, but it is IMPERATIVE. First estimates seems to be verylow. I am not an expert on the subject, but the common sense would assume atleast quadruple amount.Nenad BachEditor- in-ChiefBANJA LUKA -- Friday - Croatia is demanding 15 billion euros of war damages compensation from Yugoslavia according to first estimates.This is the latest from Croatian President Stjepan Mesic.Â"Croatia was a victim of Yugoslavia's, that is Serbia's, aggression and must answer for what happened here", he said."First off we need to talk about the damage, how it will be paid, and by when. We must reach inter-state agreements", said Mesic.Â"It is obvious that we have been the victims…if volunteers were rounded up in Serbia and began attacking and destroying Croatian cities together with the Yugoslav Army, and killing Croatian citizens, then Serbia cannot say that it did not know about it" Mesic said in an interview with the Banja Luka daily Nezavisnenovine. He added that it is logical that the former Serbian President Milan Milutinovic went to The Hague.Â"It is reasonable that he appear before the Tribunal because the crimes in Kosovo were committed during his presidency. It is up to The Hague to determine how responsible is for the crimes committed by his country" he concluded. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 25 Jan 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6928/1/E-Caulerpa-taxifolia.html Distributed by CroatianWorldÂEuropeans provide ideas for destroyingresilient algaeCalifornia joins global assault on killer seaweedÂEuropeans provide ideas for destroying resilient algaeÂMonday, January 20, 2003ÂHvar, Croatia -- Beneath the surface of Starigrad Bay, the finger-shaped inlet that serves as this Adriatic island's main harbor, the invasion is well under way.ÂJust off the main ferry landing, the seafloor is carpeted in luxuriant green foliage, a thick meadow of beautiful seaweed stretching uninterrupted as far as the eye can see. The delicate, bright green plants have covered rocks, sand, mud and virtually everything else in their path.ÂBefore 1995, nobody in Croatia had ever seen this voracious tropical interloper, which is toxic to most marine animals and rapidly replaces other sea-bottom ecosystems. In the future, researchers fear, those diving off its Adriatic coast may see little else.ÂOthers fear California could be next.ÂDubbed the "killer algae" by European scientists, Caulerpa taxifolia seems to know no bounds. Prized by aquarium owners as an ornamental plant, the seaweed has been unwittingly spread from its home in the tropical Pacific to Europe, Australia and, most recently, Southern California, where authorities are trying to snuff it out before it takes over everything.Â"If, God forbid, Caulerpa comes to San Francisco Bay on somebody's boat anchor or (discarded home) aquarium water, there are areas that are probably warm enough to support it," says Susan Williams, director of UC Davis' Bodega Marine Laboratory in Bodega Bay.ÂPLANT MUTATED IN CAPTIVITYCaulerpa taxifolia normally grows in small, discreet clusters in tropical Pacific waters, dying if the water temperature drops below 70 degrees. But something happened after specimens of the plant were imported in the 1970s by the Wilhelmina Zoo in Stuttgart, Germany, which displayed the plant in its tropical aquarium.ÂSomehow, the normally timid plant mutated in captivity, producing a strain capable of surviving for months in waters as cold as 50 degrees. The mutated strain also grows several times larger than its normal tropical size and spreads much faster, capable of colonizing most bottom types.ÂThe Wilhelmina Zoo gave samples of the pretty weed to other institutions throughout Europe. In 1984, an employee of the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco discovered a single square-meter patch of the alien seaweed growing in the sea beneath the museum. Scientists dismissed the escaped seaweed as an amusing curiosity and expected the plants to die over the winter.ÂInstead, Caulerpa spread far and wide, hitching rides from port to port on boat anchors and fishing gear. Today, it covers 32,000 acres of the Mediterranean seafloor, replacing diverse native bottom habitat from Tunisia to Croatia to Spain.Â"For the Mediterranean Sea, it is too late. It can never be eradicated," says Alexander Meinesz, professor of biology at the University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis in France, who first alerted the scientific community to the seaweed's threat. "All of the (near-shore) areas of the Mediterranean will be more or less invaded by this species," he says.ÂALGAE 'SPREADS LIKE CANCER'Caulerpa was carried hundreds of miles across the sea to the Adriatic island of Hvar on the anchor of a passing yacht seven years ago. Now, it covers almost 100 acres of sea bottom and continues to spread.Â"It gets bigger every year," laments Ante Zuljevic of the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries in nearby Split, whose efforts to eradicate the invasive seaweed merely slow its expansion. "Caulerpa spreads like cancer in a human being. Our hope is that we can keep it in check until somebody finds a way to stop it."ÂLike some B-grade science-fiction alien, Caulerpa has gone global, showing up in bays and estuaries around Sydney and Adelaide in Australia. It also was found growing in a saltwater lagoon in Carlsbad, 20 miles north of San Diego, in July 2000. It has since been discovered in Huntington Harbor in Orange County, 50 miles north of the first site.ÂU.S. scientists and authorities have advantages over their colleagues in the Mediterranean: They can draw from the painful lessons Europe has learned during its 14-year struggle with the renegade algae.ÂEuropeans have discovered that once Caulerpa gets established in a particular area, it is very difficult to eradicate. Since 1991, French scientists and authorities have tried many methods: smothering the plants with salt, sucking them up with vacuum hoses, uprooting them by hand, and smothering them under tarps. In each case, the algae quickly bounced back.ÂFortunately, eradication efforts in Southern California started early. Because both of the affected sites are located in nearly enclosed lagoons, scientists hope the seaweed can be completely wiped out before it spreads to the open ocean and beyond.Â"If Caulerpa had to invade, at least these lagoons present a manageable situation," says Williams, the UC Davis scientist who has been closely watching the project. "We're very concerned that they will get out of these lagoons."ÂCOMPANY MAKING HEADWAY IN STATEKeith Merkel, head of Merkel & Associates, the company that is trying to get rid of the Caulerpa, says the firm made eradication its top priority early on. European scientists told them, "Don't mess with this stuff. Your single focus should be to kill it."ÂThe San Diego company covers Caulerpa stands with tarps, then kills them by applying chlorine underneath the covering. Rachel Woodfield, the head of the eradication program, says the method appears to be working. In her last underwater surveys of the Carlsbad infestation site, she found only a 4-square- foot area of Caulerpa, down from 11,000 square feet initially.Â"The battle is by no means won," Woodfield says, noting that all it takes is a single Caulerpa fragment to spark an infestation. "We want to find no Caulerpa at all for several years before we can declare victory."ÂSusan Ellis, invasive species coordinator at the California Department of Fish and Game, says that preventing new introductions will require the cooperation of aquarium hobbyists and the businesses that sell marine plants to them.Â"It's clear from the type of strain that this Caulerpa came from the aquarium trade," she says.ÂCaulerpa taxifolia and other members of the Caulerpa genus are extremely popular among aquarium hobbyists, who use them as an ornamental plant. As recently as 2001, the invasive Mediterranean strain of Caulerpa was being sold by 10 percent of Southern California's saltwater aquarium stores, according to a survey by biologists Steven Murray and Susan Frisch of California State University at Fullerton.Â"In many of the stores we visited, 'Caulerpa' was used as a synonym for seaweed," Murray says. More than half the stores sold some variety of the Caulerpa genus, and 95 percent stocked "live rock," pieces of stone containing live marine organisms, including seaweed fragments.ÂBut aquarium hobbyists are passionate about the Caulerpa genus, which comprises 73 species, many of which are difficult to tell apart, even for experts like Murray and Williams. When state legislators proposed a bill banning possession or sale of the entire genus, they were swamped with hundreds of letters,Âe-mails, and phone calls from angry aquarium owners.Â"We had a nationwide outcry," recalls David Weaver, a legislative assistant to Assemblyman Tom Harman, R-Huntington Beach (Orange County), who introduced the bill. "Their message was that banning the entire genus would have dire effects on aquarium owners."ÂIn the end, legislators banned only nine Caulerpa species: three known to be invasive and six look-alikes. Williams is concerned that the law will be unworkable because of the difficulty of telling Caulerpa species apart. "There is a scientific consensus that all Caulerpas should be banned from the aquarium trade," she says. "The risk is just too great."ÂWoodfield, speaking on a cell phone from a boat on the infested Carlsbad lagoon, urged aquarium hobbyists not to release plants and animals into nature,Âespecially Caulerpa. "If you have caulerpa, get rid of it," she says. "Get it out of your tank, put it in a plastic bag and freeze it, and throw it away." letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 22 Jan 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6927/1/E-Croatians-in-Canada-since-1996.html Distributed by CroatianWorldÂBuilding our mosaicÂRecent immigrants to region boost minorities to 10% of populationÂWednesday January 22, 2003JEFF OUTHITRECORD STAFFÂImmigration Since 1996Jonah Fong is a recent immigrant to Canada from Taiwan. He has also lived in Germany.WATERLOO REGION -- Jonah Fong is making our community a more colorful place.ÂThe Taiwan native is among 14,305 people who have immigrated to Waterloo Region since 1996.ÂHis arrival has helped boost the number of visible minorities who live here to a high of 10 per cent.ÂBut the region remains a long way from the ethnic diversity of other communities, according to 2001 census findings released yesterday.ÂVisible minorities now make up 13 per cent of Canada's population and 19 per cent of Ontario's population -- the latter is almost twice the local rate.ÂFong came to Canada in 2000 after living a few years in Germany, in part, seeking a more tolerant community for a mixed-race couple.ÂHe is married to a German woman. They found they were not easily accepted as a couple in either of their native lands. Not so in Canada.Â"The country is more tolerant to different cultures," says Fong.ÂStill, there have been headaches. "It's not easy. It's a struggle for immigrants," says Fong.ÂHis struggles to improve his English have helped keep Fong from resuming his career as a physiotherapist, after his training in Taiwan.ÂInstead, he delivers newspapers and works as a personal trainer, while doggedly pursuing the Canadian licensing he needs to work again in health care.ÂHis wife, Melanie, has found work in the insurance industry, but has yet to be persuaded that Canada is the best country for her.ÂThey were surprised it was hard to find a family doctor. Fong remains irked that they are charged higher car insurance and could not immediately borrow money, because their foreign driving records and credit histories were discounted.ÂThe couple has had to relocate twice to find pleasant, safe and affordable housing. But they have now purchased a new Cambridge townhouse that's bigger than they could have secured in overpopulated Taiwan.ÂAnd Fong says Canada has met his expectations of tolerance.Â"I don't feel like I'm being treated differently here, which is really good," he says. "This is something I'm really happy about."ÂThe census found that the region's largest visible minority group is 11,355 South Asians. Blacks are the next largest visible minority at 7,390, followed by Chinese (5,935) and Southeast Asians (5,530).ÂEastern Europe has supplied the biggest bloc of immigrants since 1996, the census found.ÂAlmost a third of all recent immigrants to the region -- 4,400 people -- hail from Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Poland orCroatia. China, India and Pakistan have supplied the next largest groups.ÂGermany, the country that helped populate much of the region, has sent only 285 immigrants since 1996, two per cent of the total.ÂThe census found that 22 per cent of the region's population is foreign-born, virtually unchanged from 1991.ÂThis is the fifth-highest percentage among 27 urban areas in Canada.ÂEnglish, German, Scottish and Irish are the region's four largest ethnic origins, after Canadian.Âjouthit@therecord.comÂÂhttp://www.therecord.com/topstory_03012271141.html letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 22 Jan 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6926/1/E-INA-in-Kosova.html Distributed by CroatianWorld Our companies have property in Kosovo Kosovo commends Croatia's involvement,Âespecially in the economy sectorEVENING NEWS 21.1.2003. Croatian TelevisionPresident Mesic Meets With UN Representatives to KosovoPacifying the situation in Kosovo and the entire region isÂin the interest of Croatia, which has economic interests inÂthis area, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic said after a meetingÂwith representatives of the UN Mission to Kosovo in Zagreb Tuesday.Â"We want a peaceful situation in the region which will allowÂfor better cooperation. This includes Kosovo where we want theÂlaw-based state to function because we have economic interestsÂthere. Our companies have property in Kosovo," Mesic said. TheÂmeeting was attended by representatives of Croatia's oil companyÂINA, which, apart from having property in the Yugoslav province,Âis interested in embarking upon new enterprises there. "CroatiaÂis a friendly nation which follows the development of eventsÂwhich are difficult in Kosovo. Kosovo commends Croatia's involvement,Âespecially in the economy sector," UN Mission chief MichaelÂSteiner said after the meeting. Commenting on the talks, SteinerÂsaid both Croatia's and Kosovo's mutual interests had been presentedÂ- the wish for re-kindling of economic cooperation. He stressedÂthat the Croatian president had accepted his invitation to visitÂKosovo, which would help in additionally stimulate economicÂcooperation. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 22 Jan 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6925/1/H-Sedam-hrvatskih-obitelji-u-Canberri-ostalo-bez-kuca.html Distributed by CroatianWorldÂSedam hrvatskih obitelji u Canberri ostalo bez kucaZAGREB, 21. sijecnja - Vjetar koji puše brzinom od 65 kilometara na sat i temperature više od 35 stupnjeva i dalje pogoduju širenju najveceg požara u povijesti Australije. Vatra je vec došla u krug od osam kilometara od australskog glavnog grada, a u Canberri je izvanredno stanje na granici kaosa. Ljudi krajnjim snagama gase požarišta, a panika se širi bez obzira na pozive gradanima da ne ocajavaju.»Prema našim informacijama do sada je izgorjelo oko 450 kuca, a više od 2500 ljudi je evakuirano«, izjavio je u utorak Mladen Ibler, hrvatski veleposlanik u Camberri. »Hrvatsko je veleposlanstvo tri kilometara od požarišta i zasad nije ugroženo. Cijelim se gradom širi dim i smog. Slike su zaista strašne«, kaže Ibler.Do sada je sedam hrvatskih obitelji, od oko 4000 Hrvata koji žive u glavnom gradu Australije, ostalo bez krova nad glavom. Na srecu nitko nije stradao, iako je mnogima izgorjela imovina i - što posebno pogada naše ljude - nenadoknadive uspomene poput obiteljskih fotografija i sl. Požar je progutao i vrijedne biblioteke, umjetnicka djela koja su iseljenici, kolekcionari godinama prikupljali.ÂHrvati su nakon subotnjeg najstrašnijeg dana koji je odnio i cetiri ljudska života, pokrenuli inicijativu da se organizirano ukljuce u akcije pomoci nastradalima. Organiziran je sastanak hrvatske zajednice u Canberri, a slijedit ce prikupljanje pomoci za one kojima je sada potrebna.Solidarnost se osjeca u cijeloj Australiji i svijetu. Svakodnevno stižu zrakoplovi koji prevoze sve ono što je nastradalima ovaj trenutak najpotrebnije. Apeli da se ne panicari iz minute u minute se emitiraju putem svih medija, a u nekim dijelovima grada vatrogasci samo bespomocno gledaju kako vatra i dalje hara. Zapovjednik vatrogasaca Peter Lucas-Smith i sam izjavljuje da osam kilometara nije daleko u teškim uvjetima, visokih temperatura i snažnog vjetra.Nitko u ovom casu ne može prognozirati daljnji razvoj dogadaja. Upucen je apel svim stanovnicima Canberre da brane svoje kuce i da se evakuiraju tek onda kada takva naredba stigne.ÂJ. Körbler letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 22 Jan 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6894/1/E-Nevera-Rough-seas-hit-Croatia.html ÂNEVERARough seas hit a seaside road on the island of Prvic in Croatia's Dalmatia region early Saturday morning, Jan. 17, 2004. The heavy weather conditions caused many problems, disrupted traffic and sinking numerous fishing boats along the Croatian Adriatic coast. (AP Photo/Filip Horvat) letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 18 Jan 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6929/1/E-Heavy-snowfall-in-Croatia.html Distributed by CroatianWorld Heavy snowfallÂA cemetery worker pushes an empty trolley used for funerals through a snow covered path, in Zagreb's Mirogoj cemetery, Tuesday, Jan 7, 2003. Heavy snowfall snarled traffic in northern Croatian cities while gale-force winds cut off Croatia's Adriatic islands from the mainland. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic) letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 08 Jan 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6933/1/E-Croatia-Prepares-for-Popes-Third-Visit.html ÂCroatia Prepares for Pope's Third VisitÂZAGREB, Croatia - Croatia will plan carefully to ensure that the third pilgrimage of Pope John Paul II goes smoothly, Prime Minister Ivica Racan said Tuesday. The government would use "all resources at hand to ensure that the Holy Father's visit is realized in the best possible manner," Racan told Vatican officials visiting the capital. The Vatican last month announced that the pontiff planned to visit the Croatian cities of Dubrovnik, Rijeka, Zadar and Djakovo this spring. A date was not supplied, but Croatian media, citing anonymous sources close to the Vatican, reported the visit would take place June 5-8. The pope is expected to beatify Maria Di Gesu Crocifisso Petkovic and Ivan Merz during his tour, Vatican officials said. The pilgrimage was originally planned for last year, but was delayed because the beatification cases were not completed, Vatican officials said. The pope has previously visited the capital, Zagreb, and the seaside city of Split. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 07 Jan 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6932/1/E-Croatias-GDP-Per-Capita-Is-Three-Times-The-Other-Countries.html ÂThe curious inclusion of CroatiaÂThe Balkans viewed from Brussels By Sam VakninUPI Senior Business CorrespondentSKOPJE, Macedonia, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- The denizens of the Balkan peninsula have always accused the Western media of ignorance, bias and worse. Reports from Eastern Europe are often written by fly-by-night freelancers with little or no acquaintance with the region.Even The Economist -- usually a fount of objective erudition -- blundered last week. It made a distinction between "wily" Albanian "rebels" and "moderate" Albanian "nationalists" in the ruling Macedonian coalition. Alas, these two groups are one and the same: the "wily rebels" simply established a party and joined the government.The European Commission -- which maintains bloated and exorbitant missions in all the capitals of the Balkans -- should be held to higher standards of reporting, though. Last month it published the second issue of "The West Balkan in Transition". Alas, it is informed not by facts but by the official party line of Brussels: all is well in the Balkans and it is largely thanks to us, the international community.The report's numerical analyses are heavily warped by the curious inclusion of Croatia whose gross domestic product per capita is three times the other countries'. Even with this distorting statistical influence, the regional picture is mixed. Inflation has undoubtedly been tamed -- down from 36 percent in 2000 to 6 percent last year. But the trade deficit, up 25 percent on last year, is an ominous $10 billion, or an unsustainable one-fifth of the region's combined gross domestic product.About 70 percent of the shortfall is with the European Union and it has grown by a whopping 40 percent in the last 12 months. This gap is the outcome of the EU's protectionist policies. The Balkans' economic mainstays are agriculture, mining and textiles. The European Union has erected an elaborate edifice of non-tariff barriers and production and export subsidies that make it inordinately difficult to penetrate its markets and render the prices of its own produce irresistible.This debilitating and destabilizing trade discrimination is, of course, not mentioned anywhere in the report, though it sings the praises of utterly inadequate trade measures unilaterally adopted by the European Union in 2000. The sad and terrifying truth is that the region survives on private remittances and handouts. The European Union has done very little to alleviate this dependence by tackling its structural roots.As assets depreciated in the dilapidated region, foreign direct investment -- mainly by Greeks, Germans, Slovenes and Austrians -- has inevitably picked up, though surprisingly little. At $100 per capita, it is one of the lowest in the world.The region's GDP is still well below 1991. The "growth" recorded since 1999 merely reflects a very gradual recovery from the devastation wrought on the region by the United States and its European allies in the Kosovo crisis. This, needless to add, also goes unmentioned.The report's data are sometimes questionable. Consider Macedonia, for instance: its trade deficit last year was $800 million, or 24 percent of GDP -- not 11.4 percent, as the report curiously stipulates. Foreign direct investment in 2001 was heavily skewed by the proceeds from the sale of the national telecoms company, most of which may not qualify as FDI at all. The figures for the inflation and budget deficits in 2002 are, in all probability, wrong. One could do better by simply surfing the Internet.The report relies clubily on information provided by the International Monetary Fund -- and openly espouses the controversial "Washington Consensus." Thus, it attributes "economic stability" (what is this?)and "price stability" to the use of "external anchors," namely exchange rate pegs.Yet, there is a good reason to believe that rigid, multi-annual pegs have contributed to burgeoning trade deficits, the crumbling of the manufacturing sector, double digit unemployment (one-third of the workforce in hapless Macedonia and twice that in Kosovo) and the region's dependence on foreign aid and credits. Macedonia's last devaluation was in 1997. Cumulative inflation since then has amounted to almost 20 percent, rendering the currency overvalued and the terms of trade hopelessly unfavorable.At times, the report reads like outright propaganda. Trade ministers in the region would be astounded to learn that the numerous bilateral free trade agreements they have signed were sponsored by the much-derided Stability Pact. The Stabilization and Association process, crow the authors, "considerably improved the political outlook in the region". Tell that to the Macedonians whose country was torn by a vicious civil war in 2001, after it had signed just such a agreement with the European Union.To say that donor funding "finances investments and supports reform" is to be unusually economical with the truth. Most of it is sucked by the recipient countries' insatiable balance of payments deficits and gaping budgetary chasms. Donor money encourages inefficiency and corruption, conspicuous consumption and imports. Luckily, international financial institutions, such as the IMF, are increasingly replacing such charity with credits conditioned on structural reforms.The section of the report which deals with "fiscal consolidation" astonishingly ignores the informal sector of the region's economies. With the exception of Croatia, the "gray economy" is thought to equal at least one half the formal part. More than one tenth of the workforce are employed by underground enterprises.International trade, tax revenues, internal investments and even FDI are all affected by the penumbral entrepreneurship of the black economy, comprised of both illicit businesses and tax evading but legitimate ones. It renders fiscal policy less potent than in other European countries.Predictably, the report also fails to note the contradictory nature of Western economic prescriptions.Thus, wage compression in the public sector -- touted by the IMF and the World Bank -- leads to a decrease in the remuneration of civil servants and, thus, encourages corruption. Yet, the very same multilateral institutions also exhort the countries of the Balkans to battle venality and cronyism. These goals are manifestly incompatible.Contractionary austerity measures and enhanced tax collection reduce the purchasing power of the population and its ability to save and to invest. This is not conducive to the emergence of a private sector. It also hampers counter-cyclical intervention -- whether planned or through automatic stabilizers -- by the government. This demonetization is further aggravated by restrictive monetary policies, absence of foreign financing and investment and the pervasive dysfunction of all financial intermediaries and monetary transmission mechanisms.The report ignores completely -- at least on the regional level -- crucial issues such as banking reform, inter-enterprise debt, competition policy, liberalization, deregulation, protection of minority shareholders and foreign investments, openness to foreign trade, research and development outlays, higher education, brain drain, intellectual property rights, and the quality of infrastructure. These matters determine the economic fate of emerging economies far more than their budget deficits. Yet, shockingly, they are nowhere to be found in the 62 pages of "The West Balkans in Transition".It is disappointing that an organization of the caliber of the European Commission is unable to offer anything better than regurgitated formulas and half-baked observations lifted off IMF draft reports. The narrow focus on a few structural reforms and the analysis of a limited set of economic aspects is intellectually lazy and detrimental to a full-bodied comprehension of the region. Little wonder that more than a decade of such "insightful expertise" has led to only mass poverty, rampant unemployment and inter-ethnic strife.Send your comments to: svaknin@upi.comSam Vaknin served as economic adviser to governments in the region.Copyright © 2001-2003 United Press Internationalhttp://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20030107-121917-8287rhttp://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=17982 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 07 Jan 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6931/1/E-Croatian-Mercenaries-in-the-Ivory-Coast.html ÂCroatian Mercenaries in the Ivory CoastÂFrance goes on the offensive in Ivory CoastBy John FarmerFrench Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin concluded his visit to the former French colony of Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) at the weekend, following two days of talks with the government and the northern rebel group, the Ivory Coast Patriotic Movement (MPCI), who are involved in an increasingly bloody civil war.Villepin said that France was mobilising to end what he described as "a dangerous spiral". His visit was yet a further attempt to impose a cease-fire in the four-month-old conflict. He has called on the government, political parties and the MPCI to attend a summit meeting in Paris later this month.Villepin's visit was in response to Ivory Coast's President Laurent Gbagbo sending in a helicopter, manned by mercenaries, to attack the fishing village of Menakro, 40 miles west of the city of Bouake, the MPCI's stronghold. French army spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Angel-Antoine Leccia said the helicopter raid, in which 12 civilians were killed, was "inadmissible and intolerable". French troops reported that the villagers were shot down "like rabbits".The French foreign minister reportedly instructed Gbagbo to expel foreign mercenaries and stop aerial bombings and in a separate meeting with the MPCI sought to persuade them not to retaliate. By carrying out the massacre behind the rebel's lines, Gbagbo not only breached the previous cease-fire but was attempting to provoke the MPCI to march through the cease-fire line manned by French troops southward towards the government's base in Abidjan.Villepin's talks did not include the two newly formed rebel groups in the west of Ivory Coast, the Movement for Justice and Peace (MJP) and the Ivorian Popular Movement for the Great West (MPIGO). Their leaders have apparently indicated they are willing to attend the Paris summit. They were not a party to the previous cease-fire and are presently involved in skirmishes with well-armed French troops.In the last weeks France has moved towards an open military occupation of the country. On December 28 French troop reinforcements and military hardware landed in Abidjan after a 10-day voyage from France, unloading trucks, jeeps and more than 30 light armoured vehicles. France now has about 2,500 military personnel in Ivory Coast in "Operation Unicorn".Though at first saying they were present only to defend French civilians, and then to impose a cease-fire, it is increasingly obvious that without their presence the rebel forces would sweep the country and probably defeat Gbagbo, who depends heavily on mercenary forces from South Africa, Croatia and France. The rebels already control over half the country, including the coffee growing areas that are the source of Ivory Coast's wealth.Since France is not willing to hand over its most important dependent economy in West Africa to the rebels - the MPCI are a group of dissident soldiers said to be backed by northern businessmen and the MJP and MPIGO may well be backed by Liberia - Villepin's commitment to get "everyone around the table" at the Paris summit will be a means by which France imposes a more direct form of rule.France has in the area of $3 billion in investments in the Ivory Coast and most of the lucrative sell-offs of public utilities, under the Structural Adjustment Programme, have ended up in the hands of French international companies. Ivory Coast is the world's largest cocoa producer and cocoa prices have reached their highest point in 11 weeks, with growing anxiety about disruptions to supplies. The country is also the economic hub and sea access for a number of surrounding African countries. Although it has no oil of its own, the US has taken a greater interest in the area since large deposits of oil have been discovered on the west coast of Africa.In addition to committing some of its own troops, France has also attempted to cobble together a peacekeeping force from West African countries to intervene in the Ivory Coast. Such a force would give some "international" credibility to France's intervention, but there has been a marked reluctance on the part of African regimes to get involved in the unstable situation. On January 3 the first West African troops arrived - an advance party of a mere 49 peacekeepers from four West African nations. Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade told the BBC that the rest of the Senegalese peacekeepers would only deploy once the sides had reached a political accord.The US seems prepared to allow France, its economic rival in the region, to impose some stability in the Ivory Coast. It is apparently not prepared to support peacekeeping forces, however, and Nigeria in particular has refused to take part.In France there is clearly some nervousness in ruling circles about the military involvement. Under a headline "France caught in a trap", the Liberation newspaper drew parallels with the US war in Vietnam and accused the French government of imprudence.There is clearly some distaste for France's involvement with Gbagbo, although the turn of the Abidjan elite to ethnic chauvinism and attacks on opponents began under previous leaders who were also supported by France -Conan Bedie and General Gue. Le Monde's correspondent commented: - Operation Unicorn is thus likely to appear as a safety curtain where war criminals can shelter and as the guard for the current regime's treasury, since the charges levied on the export of cocoa constitute the main resource for Laurent Gbagbo's power and which enable him to go on paying his civil servants' salaries and to buy arms.How well the present cease-fire will hold, especially in the western region, is open to doubt. Over the last week the MJP and MPIGO opened a new front south of the cease-fire line, apparently coming in over the Liberian border. They are now about 120 miles from the key port of San Pedro on the south coast. French troops have been deployed at the strategically important crossroads of Duékoué to stop the rebels advancing on San Pedro, important for cocoa exports and home to 20,000 French citizens.France will be keen to assemble some kind of multinational coalition to maintain control over the Ivory Coast as events of the past weeks have underlined widespread hostility towards the former colonial power. When Villepin arrived in Abidjan he was held up for an hour by a crowd of several hundred wearing nationalist T-shirts chanting slogans accusing the French minister of supporting the rebels. In the northern region support for the rebels has been bolstered as it became clear French troops were being used to protect government forces. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 07 Jan 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6930/1/E-Guardian-Finally-The-Truth.html  Guardian: Finally, The TruthÂIn November 1995 Bill Clinton leaned across a desk at an air force base at Dayton, Ohio and handed a Cuban cigar to Slobodan Milosevic. Not much more than three years later Clinton sent bombers to drive the Serb leader out of Kosovo. The two events bookend the grandeur of Milosevic's epic fall from grace and his descent into self-destruction. The first of these two episodes is still the odder. When it took place Milosevic was already known to have planned, orchestrated, financed and prosecuted three wars against his neighbours. He had added a new and groteque term to the lexicon of aggression - "ethnic cleansing". He had destroyed the Serbian middle class, robbed them of their material wealth, plundered their bank accounts and handed the Serbian economy over to criminal gangs who had thanked him by sending their private paramilitary forces into neighbouring Croatia and Bosnia to burn and murder and rape. Most of the crimes for which Milosevic now stands in the dock at the Hague were committed before he shared his Cuban smoke with the President of the United States. For in 1995, in order to bring the war in Bosnia to an end, the leaders of the western world had chosen in a quite calculated way to turn the principal architect of war into the principal bestower of peace. What a price there was to pay for it. Less than a year later, the Kosovo Albanians drew the obvious lesson from the moral shambles of the Dayton Agreement and it was this: in the real world only force will get you what you want. They had been challenging Milosevic peacefully for a decade and had suffered defeat after defeat. Dayton taught them to take up arms. They started to kill Serbian policemen and civilians. The strategy was to provoke the massive and brutal retaliation that they knew Milosevic to be capable of. The cold calculus of it was known and articulated at the time - manipulate the Serbs into killing Albanian civilians and, by so doing, draw Nato into war against Belgrade. It worked more quickly than even the most optimistic Albanians had dared to believe possible. Why did western leaders act so decisively in Kosovo when they had dithered so long and so disastrously in Bosnia? I spent the best part of three years screaming down a telephone line from Sarajevo and elsewhere in Bosnia, covering the conflict for the BBC. The dynamic of the conflict seemed obvious to most of us who sepnt any time there: the war was coming from Belgrade, Milosevic needed conflict to stay in power and had hijacked the Yugoslav People's Army to do it. I would come back to London after prolonged assignments to find the political classes in Britain assessing a conflict I simply didn't recognise. I thought they were talking about a different war altogether - and in a sense they were. Seen from London the war was about "ancient ethnic hatreds"; there was somethig inevitable (and therefore unstoppable) about it; and, above all, it was "horribly complicated". It was, of course, nothing of the sort. It was very simple and straightforward. There was a war in former Yugoslavia because a criminalised elite in Belgrade, that had jumped from the sinking ship of communism onto the life raft of nationalism had chosen to have one. Until 1995 it was hard to argue this in Britain (although important voices including Paddy Ashdown and Margaret Thatcher did). Among the journalists, those of us who took this view (and most of us did) were accused of taking sides, of being "anti-Serb" (we were not) and of being "lap-top bombadiers". This caused real problems in reporting the Bosnian war - how to explain to the reading and listening and viewing public what was going on without appeariing to have abandonned impartiality, objectivity and neutrality. I argued passionately and frequently with editors who worried that I was losing the plot. After 1995, it all changed. By the time Kosovo exploded onto our television screens it was, suddenly, respectable mainstream stuff to say that Milosevic was a megalomaniac dictator for whom conflict had become a power base. It was no longer hard to argue this position; it was, on the contrary, ludicrous to believe otherwise. I am convinced that one reason for this remarkable sea change in international public opinion was a documentary television series that painstakingly, forensically and compellingly chronicled the Milosevic phenomemenon. It was called Death of Yugoslavia, had cost a fortune to make and hit our screens in late 1995. Before Death of Yugoslavia, the causes of the Yugoslavia war were "complicated" - lost somewhere in the exotic nature of the Balkans. After Death of Yugoslavia the causes were blindingly clear and were seldom argued about again. The series, unwittingly, itself became a part of the Yugoslav story. I have watched tapes of it in both Belgrade and Sarajevo in the company of Serbian and Bosnian friends and colleagues. It is a shaming, sombre experience. The whole thing unfolds before you as a deliberate, calculated criminal enterprise while a conscious stricken western world looks on and talks about ancient enmity and unstoppable passions. Now we have the long awaited sequel from the makers of the original series Norma Percy and Brian Lapping. The difference this time is that the story they are chronicling is so well known, so documented (not least because of their own success last time round), that it hard to see how they can be as breath-takingly revealing as they were in the first series. But they have pulled off another television coup. Here is Richard Holbrooke, the US envoy, admitting that, yes, at a secret meeting with the KLA in 1998, he did indeed tell them that Kosovo independence was an option, and the clear implication in the film that this actively encouraged the KLA to step up their campaign of terror against Serb policemen and civilians. Here too is Holbrooke being hoodwinked by the KLA into having his photograph taken sitting rubbing shoulders (literally) with a bearded gunman from an organisation most of the world still considered terrorist and then, in the next moment, Jacques Chirac describing his reaction when the photograph was published on front pages around the world then next day: "I was astonished. I telephoned Bill Clinton and told him this was unacceptable". It is universally acknowledged that the event that tipped the world into war was the massacre at Racak in January 1999, when more than forty Albanian men were killed in circumstances that have never been explained. Three years ago, I was part of a BBC team that spent seven months trying to pin down what really took place at Racak. At that time, Belgrade was off-limits to us. Milosevic was still in power and no-one in Serbia dared speak. Percy and Lapping have found the major who commanded the Racak operation and persuaded him to tell his story. "We killed the men guarding the trenches" he says, matter-of-factly. "And then there was a gun battle". Much of what the western leaders say in this second series they have said before. What is new is what the programme makers have dug up in Serbia and - to a lesser extent - in Russia. Milosevic's own inner circle - hidden behind an impenetrable wall of silence until now - are talking at last. These include Milan Milutinovic who, when he steps down as president of Serbia this week, will lose his immunity from prosecution and will almost certainly join his old boss in the dock at the Hague. These old Milosevic hands - many of them, in their own ways, guilty men - have so much to reveal. This series strikes me as as powerful, and meticulously sourced as its predecessor. And, by doing what its predecessor did - by the patient, careful assembly of evidence - it kills stone dead the Balkan myths that prevented the world from acting in Bosnia. By revealing who chose violence, when, where and how they did it, it quietly, unsensationally lays the blame squarely where it belongs. · The Fall of Milosevic continues on Sunday, 7.30pm, BBC2 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 06 Jan 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6934/1/H-SEDAM-OSUMNJICENIH-ZA-UBOJSTVO-HRVATSKE-OBITELJI.html ÂSEDAM OSUMNJICENIH ZA UBOJSTVO HRVATSKE OBITELJI KOD KONJICAOp-edWhere is the outcry? Where is this news in the major newspapers of the world?No TV? Is our government so impotent or do they simply have no understanding ofthe event and what are the implications? How can such a crime be unnoticed? Arewe giving up on Bosnia-Herzegovina? Our families need protection. Obviously !What is Dayton all about anyway? Does crime pay off?Where are the human rights organizations now? Did anybody inform them, notthat they shouldn't know on their own? Where is the structure of information dissemination?What is Croatian Government doing at this moment? Does anybody have nerves toanswer these questions.?You are the government of the people FOR the people. It is very disappointingthat you put us in the position to ask such questions. Every single Croatianthat lives on this planet is so devoted to Our Beautiful. Every breath we takeis connected with our homeland. By your actions, it looks that you are sodisconnected with the reality that it is difficult to even comprehend such anignorance.Nenad BachEditor-in-Chiefletters@CroatianWorld.netCROWNHINA - http://www.hina.hr/ÂSARAJEVO, 25. prosinca (Hina) - Policija Federacije Bosne i Hercegovine traga za sedam osoba za koje se sumnja da su upletene u ubojstvo tri clana hrvatske obitelji Andjelic iz sela Kostajnica kod Konjica u Hercegovini, izjavio je u srijedu u Sarajevu federalni ministar unutarnjih poslova Ramo Maslesa. Na izvanrednoj konferenciji za novinstvo sazvanoj kako bi pojasnio okolnosti teskog zlocina pocinjenog na Badnju vecer koji je ozbiljo uznemirio javnost u BiH, ministar Maslesa kazao je kako za sada nema indicija da su ubojstva pocinjena iz nacionalnih pobuda te da su osumnjicene osobe razlicitih nacionalnosti koje su i ranije bile upletene u teska kaznena djela."U ovom trenutku apsolutno ne mozemo govoriti o ubojstvu iz nacionalnih pobuda", kazao je Maslesa novinarima. On je istaknuo kako, bez obzira na tu cinjenicu, policija ovaj zlocin uzima veoma ozbiljno i poduzima sve raspolozive mjere ne bi li se pocinitelji sto prije otkrili. Istragu vodi posebni tim sto ga je sastavio ravnatelj federalne policije Zlatko Miletic a potporu osigurava veliki broj policajaca iz Sarajevske i Hercegovacko-neretvanske zupanije. Prema dostupnim podacima do kojih su dosli istrazitelji, za sada neidentificirani muskarac na Badnju je vecer oko 22 sata i 15 minuta upao u kucu u kojoj je bilo sedam clanova obitelji Andjelic okupljenih kako bi proslavili Bozic. Maskirani muskarac bio je naoruzan vojnickom poluautomatskom puskom (PAP) iz koje je nakon krace prepirke ustrijelio i na mjestu ubio oca Andjelka (1935.) te njegovu kcerku Maru (1955.). Druga kcerka Zorka (1973.) u pucnjavi je zadobila teske ozljede od kojih je nesto kasnije preminula u konjickoj bolnici. Sin Marinko (1972.) takodjer je ozljedjen no njegov je zivot izvan opasnosti. Ministar je kazao kako ovaj zlocin mora biti istrazen do kraja jer je sigurnosna situacija u Kostajnici do sada bila iznimno povoljna a povratak Hrvata na to podrucje tekao je bez ikakvih zapreka. (Hina) rm rb--------------------------------------------Note:ÂThe Croatian World Congress CWC, functions on all continents and in all countries of the world where there exist Croatian communities. The Croatian World Congress (CWC) is a non-profit, non-governmental and non-party international organization that enjoys advisory status as a NGO member of the United Nations.The Croatian World Congress CWC, although a young institution, unites numerous Croatian associations world-wide as no other Croatian body has succeeded nor attempted to achieve to date (4.5 million Croats and people of Croatian heritage live outside of the Republic of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina).ÂCroatian World Congress H.S.K.ÂNGO Member of the United Nationshttp://www.crowc.org/ letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 29 Dec 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6935/1/E-Christmas-Message-by-Dr-Mate-Granic.html Op-edI want to emphasize that CROWN is not supporting any particular politicalparty in Croatia. We want intellectual bridge and transfer of ideas and respectto flow over the oceans and continents that divide us. Continue to talk to eachother and keep the dialog opened and learn from each other.Nenad BachEditor-in-chiefÂDear Readers of the CROWN:From our beautiful and beloved homeland I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year - Sretan Bozic i Nova Godina. For the twelfth year we rejoice to celebrate these great holydays as citizens of a sovereign, independent country. Your contribution to that wonderful fact will never be forgotten.I am, however, also sad that Croatia and the Croatian people have not fully realized their potential. As you probably know, the country is undergoing a crisis - political, economic, moral - a crisis of leadership. Yet, we at the DC - "Democratic Center - the Croatian Center Party" look forward to future with confidence. This is to a great extent because of people like you. For thanks to you, our sisters and brothers all around the world, the Croatian community, the Croatian people, is much stronger than it may seem. We know that the way to a secure and prosperous future for Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Croatian people lies in true integration and cooperation of Croatian communities all around the world. The CROWN has been one of the key instruments of that process.DC has taken concrete steps toward that noble goal. It fully realizes that Croatian diaspora is a complex body of people emigrating for over 200 years, and that we must be able to reach and communicate with every segment of that large group. DC will never discriminate among the Croatian communities abroad, nor will it ever try to politically divide them. In that we are in a total agreement with the practices of the CROWN. We are aware of the importance of diaspora's presence in every sector of Croatian life, and we will be proposing concrete measures to have Croatian diaspora represented in relevant offices, ministries, and committees at home. We are proposing a High Office for the Diaspora Affairs, a non-partisan, efficient, and flexible body to keep in touch with the Croatian World Community - the Global Croatia - on a daily basis. DC has also appointed a Special Advisor on Diaspora Affairs. Your comments and suggestions are more than welcome.Croatia is a beautiful and potentially very rich country. Believe me, its cultural and natural resources are still about 90% unspoiled. We, at DC, believe that it should remain so. We believe in a strong, modern Croatia, open to the world, but maintaining its traditional values and virtues, a Croatia which may join the world community as a proud individual subject, not an object. We know that we can count on you in pursuing those noble goals.With this in mind I again wish the CROWN, its contributors, and readers all the best in the name of the DC members, and my own.Dr. Mate Granic, President,DC - Demokratski centar - Hrvatska stranka centraDC - Democratic Center - Croatian Center Party.Âdemokratski-centar@demokratski-centar.hr letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 20 Dec 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6937/1/E-Babic-revealed-his-identity-in-order-to-counter-allegations.html ÂBabic, witness C-061, revealed his identityMilosevic mystery witness namedFriday, December 6, 2002 Posted: 1203 GMTBabic revealed his identity in order to counter allegations made against him by Milosevic.ÂTHE HAGUE, Netherlands (Reuters) -- Judges at Slobodan Milosevic's war crimes trial took the unprecedentedstep of revealing the identity of a key witness testifying against the former Yugoslav president.ÂThe witness, ex-rebel Croatian Serb leader Milan Babic, was a central figure in the break-away Krajina Serbrepublic (RSK) in the 1990s. He had testified until Friday behind a screen and was referred to only as witnessC-061.Â"This morning presiding judge (Richard) May has said that hence forth the witness will be addressed by his fullname Mr Babic and that the protective measures have been lifted," tribunal spokesman Christian Chartier saidon Friday.ÂBabic was already known to be witness C-061 in the Balkans, his lawyer Peter Michail Muller told the UnitedNations court. He said Babic wanted the chance to counter allegations made against him by Milosevic and to help reconciliationÂin the former Yugoslavia. Babic has been named by U.N. prosecutors at the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia(ICTY) as a suspected member of a "joint criminal enterprise" led by Milosevic.Babic, dressed in a dark jacket and grey jumper, crossed swords with Milosevic during cross-examination inopen court for the first time on Friday. His image had previously been scrambled on court room closed-circuittelevision monitors.ÂMilosevic has been on trial since February in The Hague charged with ethnic cleansing in the Balkans in the1990s. The charges against him include crimes against humanity in Croatia after Zagreb declared independencefrom Yugoslavia in 1991. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 06 Dec 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6936/1/E-Earthquake-Shakes-Northern-Croatia-Dec-6-2002.html  3.9 earthquake jolted northern Croatia earlyFridayÂZAGREB, Croatia (AP) - An magnitude 3.9 earthquake (news - web sites) jolted northern Croatia early Friday,Âbut there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.ÂThe quake hit 45 miles northeast of the capital Zagreb, near the town of Koprivnica, at 2:25 a.m., the NationalÂSeismological Institute said.ÂThe quake was followed by two minor quakes with a magnitude of 3.5 about two hours later. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 06 Dec 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6938/1/E-Authorities-uncover-dozens-of-bodies-in-western-Serbia.html Authorities uncover dozens of bodies in western Serbia ÂTue Dec 3,10:24 AM ET BELGRADE, Yugoslavia - Serbian authorities have exhumed 42 bodies of people believed killed during the wars in neighboring Bosnia and Croatia in the 1990s, a court official said Tuesday. During 10 days of exhumations that ended Tuesday at a cemetery near the city of Sabac, 50 kilometers (30 miles) west of Belgrade, forensic experts uncovered corpses which they hope to identify through DNA analysis, an investigative judge involved in the case, Ljubomir Sljukic, said. The bodies were found from 1991-1996 floating in the nearby Sava and Drina rivers, which separate Croatia and Bosnia from Serbia, the dominant Yugoslav republic. At the time, they were buried in individual graves without being identified. Sljukic said that the identification process "could clarify the fate of some of civilians and soldiers still accounted missing." He also announced that forensic experts plan to soon exhume another nine bodies in the neighboring municipalities of Loznica and Mali Zvornik. Those efforts have intensified following the ouster in 2000 of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic (news - web sites), who is now on trial for war crimes and genocide at the U.N. war crimes tribunal in The Hague (news - web sites), Netherlands. The former Yugoslav began breaking apart in 1991 in a series of bloody wars. Croatia saw fighting in 1991 and 1995, and in Bosnia, war raged from 1992-1995, killing about 200,000 people. More than 20,000 people remain missing from the Bosnian war. Croatian and Bosnian authorities were also present at the exhumations in Serbia. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20021203/ap_wo_en_po/eu_gen_yugoslavia_exhumation_1 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 03 Dec 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6939/1/E-Caulerpa-now-affects-the-waters-off-the-coasts-of-Croatia.html Caulerpa now affects the waters off the coasts of Spain, France, Italy andCroatia , and is spreading to parts of Northern Africa and Australia. ... ÂWednesday, November 27, 2002 - 10:01:09 AM MST Bay Area scientists combating seaweed invasionResearchers scour local shores for non-native plant often used as packing materialBy Amelia Hansen, STAFF WRITERREDWOOD CITY -- The word "seaweed" doesn't usually strike feelings of fear or dread in the hearts of Bay Area residents, but it might if you knew what Natalie Cosentino-Manning knows. Cosentino-Manning, a marine ecologist with the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, is part of a team of scientists who have recently identified and begun to remove a non-native form of seaweed known as "Ascophyllum" -- or rockweed -- from inlets near the Seaport Conference Center in Redwood City. The brown plant looks innocent enough, lying in between rocks and among the shoreside weeds -- and it has actually been floating around pockets of the Bay for the last 25 years or so. But Cosentino-Manning says the plant is moving into intertidal areas in larger numbers than she's seen before. "It's never been seen colonizing like this," she said, standing in a pair of mud-covered waders. "And if you wait until it becomes significant, you've waited too long." The seaweed is native to the East Coast and is believed to have made its way West by way of the packing trade. Ascophyllum is commonly used to pack restaurant-grade lobsters and fishing bait -- and which, presumably, is then thrown into the water or into sewer systems that make their way to the water. Cosentino-Manning and Whitman Miller, a marine ecologist from the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Maryland, say the Bay is home to over 260 non-native species, many of which are not "invasive," or threatening to existing ecosystems. While it's still unclear just how pervasive -- and potentially threatening -- the Ascophyllum may be, there's one word that keeps scientists like Manning and Miller on high alert: Caulerpa. In the mid-1980s, an insidious seaweed known as "Caulerpa taxifolia" began to spread up and down the Mediterranean coastline. In 2000, it hit San Diego and Orange counties in Southern California. A beautiful but highly aggressive form of weed that can travel on ship anchors and is often sold to private aquarium owners, Caulerpa is capable of taking over marine ecosystems by driving out native grasses and the fish that feed on them. "It's like Astroturf that can cover the entire sea floor," said Bob Hoffman, the Southern California Environmental Coordinator for NOAA. In June of 2000, officials in Southern California identified the seaweed and began an aggressive eradication campaign a couple of weeks later. So far they have spent approximately $3 million toward eradicating the weed. While scientists say the Caulerpa is not entirely gone, it has diminished drastically and is being monitored constantly. European authorities were not so lucky. Caulerpa now affects the waters off the coasts of Spain, France, Italy and Croatia, and is spreading to parts of Northern Africa and Australia. While Caulerpa has not shown up in the Bay Area, Cosentino-Manning says it could still happen. "California got lucky," she said. "If we got Caulerpa up here, I'm pretty sure it would take off. Unchecked, it could take over." Cosentino-Manning, of course, has the same concern about Ascophyllum. Paul Silva, a research botanist at University of California, Berkeley, who has been studying algae (the scientific name for seaweed) since 1941, was called in to make the final identification of the Ascophyllum in Redwood City. In his opinion, it's unlikely the brown seaweed could take over to the extent that Caulerpa has. "I don't think it's as robust," he said. But Silva is also confused by Ascophyllum's development. In 1979, Silva wrote a paper in which he stated there was a high probability of Ascophyllum becoming an established species in the Bay. But after watching the plant come and go since then, he concluded it was not a highly invasive species. Still, he is intrigued by the number of plants Cosentino-Manning and Miller have been finding in Redwood City. "I'm amazed there's that much out there," he said. Even if the brown seaweed turns out to be less invasive or threatening than Caulerpa, Silva says Ascophyllum will continue to be a problem as long as restaurants and fishermen dump it into the water or don't dispose of it properly. "In principle, I just don't think it's a good idea to ever dump something when you don't know what it is," said Silva. According to Whitman Miller, whenever a non-native species is introduced to a new environment, it has the potential to bring a multitude of other organisms in with it. He takes a wet clump of Ascophyllum in his hand and points out the small creatures -- tiny worms and snails -- attached to it. "This stuff floats," said Miller. "If it's getting dumped into the water, it may float somewhere else and colonize. It may raft out to the outer coast." The problem is that many people don't realize the potential problems associated with throwing a foreign seaweed into the water. This, says Cosentino-Manning, is where education comes in. Bill Paznokas, an environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Game, was active in educating the public and the fishing community in Southern California in the aftermath of the Caulerpa epidemic. Along with Hoffman and other officials at NOAA, Paznokas produced a pamphlet that explained what Caulerpa is, what to do if you find it and why you shouldn't buy it. Paznokas says they now will begin the process of setting up an educational program in this area. "Education is key," said Paznokas. "First we have to determine how much is out there and try to get it out of the system. Then we have to start the educational process, get the word out that this is a threat to the Bay. A large-scale public campaign helped contribute to the containment of Caulerpa in San Diego. San Diego City Councilman Scott Peters led a local movement designed to get Caulerpa banned in San Diego and the state. Targeting Caulerpa as the "evil weed," and "killer algae," Peters and his troops sent out letters to pet stores, aquarium owners and sea-going locals in an attempt to create awareness about the problem. A former environmental lawyer and current member of the California Coastal Commission, Peters said their efforts resulted in San Diego being the first municipality to enact a ban on the sale of Caulerpa. Back on the shores of Redwood City, Natalie Cosentino-Manning and Whitman Miller and two volunteers continue to comb for Ascophyllum as the fall sunlight fades. "We need to educate people not to dump any seaweed into the water or the sewer system," said Cosentino-Manning. Miller added he would like to see warning labels placed on boxes containing Ascophyllum. "Whatever it takes," said Miller, "we need to break the pathway of travel between the Atlantic and the Pacific."Staff writer Ameila Hansen can be reached at 348-4301 or by e-mail at ahansen@angnewspapers.comÂhttp://www.theargusonline.com/Stories/0,1413,83%257E1971%257E1016035,00.html letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 27 Nov 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6940/1/E-Dog-rescued-after-year-down-30ft-pit.html ÂDog rescued after year down 30ft pitÂNov 12 2002A dog has been rescued after being trapped down a deep pit in Croatia for more than a year.The dog was probably thrown into the 30 ft deep pit with a litter of puppies, the Zagreb newspaper Jutarnji reported.Dinko Novosel, a member of an animal protection group, abseiled into the pit and rescued the dog.The mongrel had survived by drinking rain water and eating dead animals, Novosel said. Locals use the pit, located on outskirts of a forest in central Croatia, as a dump for dead pets.Novosel said the dog was given sedatives in food before it was rescued."Our first attempt to save the dog was without much luck as it was too startled and just scrambled into a small side crevice," he saidThe dog was taken to a veterinary clinic in the capital Zagreb after the rescue. Novosel said that several dog lovers had already contacted him offering a home for the animal.http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0700world/page.cfm?objectid=12357641&method=full&siteid=50082 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 18 Nov 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6941/1/E-Croatian-Club--DePaul-University.html  Croatian Club atDePaul UniversityI wanted to announce that this is the first time there is a Croatian Club atDePaul University & we especially need people to join the club to help showappreciation and recognition on campus for our culture. If anyone attendsDePaul University & is interested in joining, please contact me(Claudia) orDavor at CroatianDePaul@hotmail.comÂ. To be an official member you must bea DePaul student, however, you don't have to be Croatian. If you areinterested in knowing more about this club, but don't attend DePaul, pleasefeel free to contact us.Hope to here from all of you soon !!Thanks >> Claudia / Davor letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 13 Nov 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6942/1/E-Croatian-Killed-at-Hebrew-University.html ÂCroatian Killed at Hebrew UniversityThe following was reported by AP. One of the American citizens killed inthe Hebrew University bombing, David Gritz, is Croatian through his mother'sside. John KraljicAmericans Die in Jerusalem BombingBy THE ASSOCIATED PRESSFiled at 7:47 a.m. ETSAN DIEGO (AP) -- Marla Bennett knew that every day she stayed in Jerusalem,the simple choice of whether to turn left or right each morning could makethe difference between life or death.``This question may seem inconsequential, but the events of the past fewmonths in Israel have led me to believe that each small decision I make --by which route to walk to school, whether or not to go out to dinner -- mayhave life-threatening consequences,'' Bennett wrote in a May 10 column in anewspaper in her hometown of San Diego.Bennett, 24, was one of five Americans killed Wednesday when a bomb rippedthrough a cafeteria at Jerusalem's Hebrew University. Two Israelis werekilled and four other Americans were wounded.Bennett had been doing joint graduate work at Pardes Institute and HebrewUniversity in Judaic Studies. She was due to return home on Friday, saidfamily spokesman Norman Greene.``Marla was incredibly bright, top of her class. She was extremely outgoing,bubbling young lady, very seriously involved in investigating her Judaism.She was interested in human beings, and finding a peaceful resolution to theArab-Israeli conflict,'' Greene said.Also among the dead was Benjamin Blutstein, 25, of Susquehanna Township,Pa., who was on a two-year study program to be a teacher of Jewish studies.He had planned to return to Pennsylvania on Thursday.``We are shocked and deeply saddened to hear this news,'' said TedBernstein, president of the United Jewish Community of Greater Harrisburg.``His life was taken for an inexplicable reason.''Another victim, Janis Ruth Coulter, 36, was an assistant director ofgraduate studies for the university's Rothberg International School in NewYork. She had been escorting American students when the attack occurred.``Janis Ruth was a wonderful, loving, caring person,'' said Harry King, afamily spokesman. ``We, her family, are devastated. Her death is such apointless thing to have happened.''A fourth victim, David Gritz, 24, of Peru, Mass., held dual American-Frenchcitizenship.The son of a Croatian mother and an American father, Gritz grew up in Paris,but spent his summers at his parents' house in the small town of Peru in theBerkshires. Family friends said he was to begin a graduate course in Jewishthought.``It's a very sad thing,'' said longtime family friend Nancy Kreger. ``Hewas a great kid. He wasn't even supposed to be there. His classes didn'tstart until tomorrow (Thursday).''A fifth person with Israeli and American citizenship was not identified.Bennett was in the second year of a three-year master's program in JudaicStudies, and had been at the university to take a final exam in her soleHebrew University class of the semester, Hebrew language.Bennett had long rejected pleas from friends and family to leave thecountry, spelling out her love for Israel in a column for the weekly SanDiego Jewish Press-Heritage.``My friends and family in San Diego are right when they call and ask me tocome home -- it is dangerous here,'' she wrote. ``I appreciate theirconcern. But there is nowhere else in the world I would rather be right now.``I have a front-row seat for the history of the Jewish people. I am a partof the struggle for Israel's survival. Paying for my groceries is the sameas contributing money to my favorite cause.''The explosion occurred at the university's Mount Scopus campus, a Jewishenclave surrounded by Palestinian neighborhoods in the eastern part of thecity. The university said 23,000 students attend the school, about 5,000 ofthem Arabs and 1,500 from abroad.Spencer Dew, 26, an American student from Owensboro, Ky., was lightlywounded by flying glass. He said he had worried about such attacks inIsrael, ``but it didn't deter me from coming. I assume I'll come back nextyear.'' letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 01 Aug 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6943/1/E-789000-CROATIANS-TO-USE-INTERNET-BY-THE-END-OF-2002.html ÂÂ789,000 CROATIANS TO USE INTERNET BY END OF THIS YEARÂÂZAGREB, Croatia, June 22 (Hina) - The number of Internet users in CroatiaÂwill climb by 52.3 percent to 789,000 by the end of this year, according toÂthe latest report of IDC "The Internet Market in Croatia 2001-2006"Âconsulting firm.ÂÂAt the end of last year, 518,000 Croatians used the Internet.ÂÂBy the end of this year, 489,000 Croatians will have access to the InternetÂfrom their homes, and they will account for 62 percent of all the InternetÂusers in the country.ÂÂThe IDS branch in Croatia predicts that the number of Croatians who use theÂInternet will rise by 22.9 percent annually by the end of 2006.ÂÂAt the end of 2001, there were 620,000 personal computers registered inÂCroatia, and 60 percent of them offered access to the Web.ÂÂLast year, the eCommerce transactions in Croatia were worth approximatelyÂ21.5 million dollars, and Business-to-Consumer (B2C) segment made up 1.94Âmillion of it.ÂÂCroNetwork: The Croatian-American Organization for Young Professionals. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 24 Jun 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6944/1/E-Home-Sweet-Home-in-a-Galaxy-far-far-away.html ÂBy Deborah ZabarenkoReutersWASHINGTON (June 13) - After 15 years of searching, astronomers said Thursday they have foundÂan alien planetary system that reminds them a lot of home.This is the first time planet-hunters have detected what they believe is a Jupiter-like gas ballÂorbiting a star much like our Sun, at a distance that allows for the possibility of an unseenÂEarth-type rocky planet orbiting in between.In the last decade and a half, scientists have found more than 90 so-called extrasolar planets aroundÂstars outside our solar system. But none of these earlier discoveries has held the same potential toÂanswer an essential question: Might there be other planets like Earth in the universe?''We have a (planetary) system that is maybe not a sibling of the solar system ... it might be moreÂaccurately classified as a first cousin,'' Paul Butler of the Carnegie Institution of Washington toldÂreporters at NASA headquarters.This ''cousin'' was one of 15 extrasolar planets whose discovery was announced Thursday by theÂplanet-hunters.Butler and fellow planet-hunter Geoffrey Marcy of the University of California-Berkeley noted thatÂthe newly discovered Jupiter-type planet is the third thought to orbit 55 Cancri, a star in theÂconstellation Cancer that can be seen from Earth without telescopes or even binoculars.It is about as old -- 5 billion years or so -- and about the same size as our Sun. The newly discoveredÂplanet moves in an orbit similar to Jupiter's, rather than the elongated, eccentric orbits that areÂmore typical of extrasolar planets.Aside from its known planets, the new system has a tantalizing gap between the new JovianÂdiscovery and two other big gas planets orbiting very close to the star, Marcy said.ROOM FOR AN UNSEEN EARTH?''There's a huge region centered at about Earth-Sun distance, and in that gap ... an Earth-massÂplanet could exist ... and such a planet would be stable,'' he said.''It could persist there for billions of years, so it's conceivable that this system has rocky planets likeÂMars, Venus or Earth and we simply can't detect them,'' Marcy said.The planet-hunters shared their data with Greg Laughlin at the University of California-SantaÂCruz, whose calculations showed that an Earth-sized planet could survive in a stable orbit in thisÂgap.Marcy and Butler pioneered the technique of detecting possible planets around other stars byÂexamining the distinctive wobble their gravitational pull produces in the stars they orbit. None ofÂthese giant planets has been seen directly, and the presence of an Earth-like planet has never evenÂbeen inferred by this method.However, this is the first time that there has been a candidate system so similar to our own, ButlerÂsaid.At a distance of 41 light-years from Earth, 55 Cancri and its planets are near neighbors in the MilkyÂWay. A light-year is about 6 trillion miles, the distance light travels in a year.This proximity means ''it's plausible and quite likely that we will be able to image, to actually get aÂdirect picture of this planet,'' said David Spergel, an astrophysicist at Princeton University whoÂcommented on the discovery. He said such a picture could be possible in the next 10 years.Marcy, Butler and their team are looking for extrasolar planets around Sun-like stars at distancesÂup to 150 light-years from Earth, and there are 1,200 such stars being surveyed.Thursday's announcement culminates 15 years of observing with the 118-inch telescope at LickÂObservatory in California. The research was supported by the National Aeronautics and SpaceÂAdministration and the National Science Foundation.Images can be seen online at http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/newplanets.ÂCopyright 2002 Reuters Limited. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 19 Jun 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6946/1/E-Trafficking-in-Women-and-Children.html Press Briefing NotesFriday 14 June 2002International Organization for MigrationCROATIA - Trafficking in Women and Children for Sexual Exploitation - A newÂIOM report on trafficking of women and children in Croatia sheds light onÂthe extent of this practice and underlines the need for the authorities toÂtake appropriate action to counter this phenomenon.The report, published by IOM with the Center for Transition and CivilÂSociety Research, suggests that trafficking in Croatia is more serious thanÂfragmentary and incomplete official data indicates.Statistics on illegal crossings into Croatia show a constant increase overÂthe last five years, with no attempt made to distinguish smuggled fromÂtrafficked persons. Despite this, Croatia is generally considered to be aÂtransit country for trafficked women on their way to Western Europe.According to data from the Croatian Ministry of Interior (MOI), theÂpercentage of trafficked women and children is very small compared to otherÂtypes of criminal activity.From 1998 to 2000, only five criminal offences were reported relating toÂArticle 175 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Croatia (EstablishmentÂof Slavery and the Transport of Slaves) and 21 offences relating to ArticleÂ178 (International Prostitution). These cases involved 24 female victims ofÂtrafficking: 22 adults (10 from Hungary, 7 from Ukraine, 3 from Romania, 1Âfrom Bulgaria and 1 from Slovakia) and two minors from Romania. ButÂunofficial police estimates suggest that the number of victims ofÂtrafficking could be 10 times higher than those officially recorded.The data indicates that Italy is the main country of destination for femaleÂvictims of trafficking after they leave Croatia.The report notes that from January 1998 until December 2000, the MOI issuedÂwork permits to 296 foreign women who requested permission to stay inÂCroatia. Some 34% were from Bosnia and Herzegovina, 22% from Slovenia,Â11.5% Ukraine, some 10% from Romania, and the remainder from the FederalÂRepublic of Yugoslavia (FRY), Hungary, the Former Yugoslav Republic ofÂMacedonia, Bulgaria, Moldova and Albania.The report reveals that victims of trafficking from Moldova, Romania andÂUkraine are sold to Croatian traffickers at "collecting centres" located inÂSerbia and Bosnia Herzegovina. One such centre is the "Arizona market"; aÂhuge unregulated market situated near the border between Croatia and FRY. AÂsimilar market also exists in Bihac, near Bosanski Petrovac.Trafficking in Croatia has changed significantly during the last decadeIn the first half of the 90s, trafficking was concentrated in Zagreb andÂits surroundings. The main and possibly the sole trafficking route was fromÂHungary to Zagreb. Trafficked women were mainly employed in nightclubs andÂbars on the outskirts of the capital. This first phase was abruptly endedÂby a series of raids in 1996-1997.In the later half of the 90s, several routes from Bosnia and HerzegovinaÂreplaced the Hungarian connection. Trafficking networks also became moreÂgeographically dispersed. The business spread to tourist towns and placesÂfrequented by military personnel.The most recent trend seems to be seasonal or temporary employment of womenÂtrafficked from Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as wider international sexÂtourism.No single official strategy or response to traffickingInterviews with police officers revealed that some tended to ignore orÂminimise the extent of the problem whilst others did not recogniseÂtrafficking as a serious issue. All said corruption, lack of training andÂresources, and the absence of a clear and decisive plan of action hinderedÂany policing attempt.The report recommends a policy change based on efficient policing and onÂproviding assistance to trafficked individuals. This can be achieved through:· Special training and additional resources for the police force,Âincluding border officers;· Regional coordination/sharing of information and intelligence onÂorganized crime, trafficking routes, etc.· The establishment of a counter-trafficking unit with regional offices;· Legal reforms and training programmes for judges and other lawÂenforcement,· The establishment of a safe-house/shelter (including legal andÂpsychological counselling) for trafficked women and children;· The establishment of a protection and assistance programmeÂallowing/encouraging trafficked victims to prosecute their traffickers;· Stronger mass media involvement to ensure trafficked women andÂchildren are perceived as victims, and traffickers as criminals; and· The setting up of a coordinated network of organisations andÂinstitutions including governmental offices, NGOs, internationalÂorganisations and foreign embassies to provide assistance, coordinateÂfund-raising and promote research activities.The reports adds that the general public in Croatia is generally well awareÂof trafficking, with almost two thirds of the respondents saying they hadÂheard of cases of organised prostitution involving foreign women in theÂcountry.Larry Cirignano, Esq.CatholicVote.orgÂÂÂPO Box 70695Washington, DC 20024609-781-0090202-318-0789 fax----------------- letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 17 Jun 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6945/1/H-PROSLAVA-STOTE-OBLJETNICE-NAPRETKA-U-NEW-YORKU.html Podruznica Hrvatskog kulturnog drustva "Napredak" u New York-u je svecano proslavila stotu obljetnicu osnutka ovog kulturnog drustva u nedjelju, dana 26.5.2002 godine. Tom prigodom u velikoj dvorani Hrvatskog centra na Manhattan-u sakupilo se stotinjak clanova i prijatelja. Svojom nazocnoscu sastanak je uvelicao i Generalni konzul Republike Hrvatske u New York-u, gospodin Domagoj Kero. Predsjednik Napretkove p!rodruznice u New York-u, gospodin Josip Knezevic je pozdravio sve nazocne, te se kratko osvrnuo na aktivnosti ove novo osnovane podruznice.Dopredsjednik drustva, Mr. Ognjen Martinovic je u kracem govoru iznjeo znacaj proslave dana Napretka, koji je povezan sa tridesetim travnja, danom pogubljenja Zrinskog i Frankopana. Mr. Martinovic dao je sazetak povjesnih dogadaja vezanih za ovaj dan, a potom je gospodin Kero pozdravio publiku i organizatore proslave.Nakon pozdrava Generalnog konzula, tajnik podruznice Dr. Anton Sertic govorio je o osnutku "Napretka" i njegovom stogodisnjem djelovanju, te stipendiranju talentiranih studenata ciji su uspjesi uvijek bili na diku njihovim zajednicama i narodu iz kojeg su nikli. Dr. Sertic je zavrsio svoje predavanje sa pozivom hrvatskim iseljenicima da se pridruze Napretkovim aktivnostima i na ovaj nacin pomognu bolju i sretniju buducnost hrvatskog naroda.Pocasni gost proslave bio je Dr. Drago Stambuk, bivsi opunomoceni predstavnik Republike Hrvatske u Velikoj Britaniji i veleposlanik RH u Indiji, Egiptu i vecem broju arapskih zemalja. Dr. Stambuk je zapoceo svoje predavanje osvrtom na hrvatsku unutarnju i vanjsku politiku te je govorio o tajni uspjesnog upravljanja drzavom, tocnije nalazenju prave ravnoteze izmedju centripetalnih i centrifugalnih sila drzave, regionalnih i centralistickih aspiracija, te nacionalnih i europskih, odnosno svjetskih interesa. Dr. Stambuk je govorio i o politici koju bi RH trebala voditi prema sestrinskoj republici BiH, te komentirao Daytonski sporazum i negativan uticaj koji postojanje srpskog entiteta u BiH ima na ovu drzavu.Dr. Stambuk je isto tako zborio o temama vezanim za Haski sud, ulasku Republike Hrvatske u NATO i EU, te katastrofalni ishod procesa privatizacije u Hrvatskoj. Svoje predavanje zakljucio je konstatacijom da je duznost svakog svjesnog gradjanina Hrvatske oboruzati se znanjem, principima opceg dobra, predanim radom i nadasve vjerom da vlastitim snagama moramo i mozemo iznijeti Hrvatsku na mjesto koje joj pripada medju naprednim drzavama svijeta.ÂNakon predavanja slijedila su pitanja publike koja su potakla zanimljivu diskusiju. Razgovori su se nastavili uz domijenak i glazbeni program. Proslava je svecano zavrsena otvaranjem prodajne izlozbe hrvatskog akademskog slikara Josipa Zankija.Za sve informacije o "Napretku" i aktivnostima podruznice u New York-u, molimo obratite se gospodinu Knezevicu na telefon 718-353-0069 ili na e-mailkdeletis@excite.com. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 17 Jun 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6947/1/E-Religious-leaders-seek-Adriatic-clean-up.html ÂAdriatic (river Po, northwest)By Benet KolekaDURRES, Albania, June 9 (Reuters) - An inter-faith campaign to reduce pollution in the Adriatic will be formally launched on Monday, when a declaration urging countries bordering the sea to protect the environment will be signed in Venice and the Vatican.In the past six days, organisers have cruised the coasts of Montenegro, Albania and Croatia to inspect some of the worst hazards and assess what can be done to eradicate them."We come from many nations, ethnicities, faiths and professional commitments to join with the people of the Adriatic in the interest of preserving the blessings of the natural world," Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I said in Durres, Albania."We are responsible not only for our actions but for the consequences of our interventions," he told religious leaders, politicians and scientists aboard the craft Festos Palace.Known as the Green Patriarch, Bartholomew is a key figure in the inter-faith campaign to use the influence of religious leaders to protect the environment.Pope John Paul will sign the declaration on Monday in the Vatican, while Bartholomew will endorse it in Venice.What will be known as the Venice Declaration will invite "men and women of goodwill" to look to their environmental ethics.POLLUTION IN ALBANIAThe six-day cruise highlighted shocking pollution on the coast of Albania. A stone's throw from a primary school in Durres, the principal port, yellow heaps of sulphur lay inside the skeleton of an abandoned factory.Lindane, a chemical banned in Europe for a decade, spread its pungent, pervasive smell over an unfenced area in which squatters have made their homes, using contaminated bricks.From this site, a dangerous chromium residue, which is invisible, has found its way into the Adriatic, whose tainted fish bring the chromium back ashore to be sold on the market.The whole area of 300 hectares was declared "one of the worst environmental hot spots in the Balkans" in a 2000 assessment by the United Nations Environment Programme.Experts said an ideal solution would be to build an insulated and impregnable box around the chemicals, along the lines of the sarcophagus that contains the ruined reactors of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine."When it rains, all the Durres field water is drained in the Adriatic, including the waters that carry the pollutants, and this affects the fish," Albanian environmental specialist Romeo Eftimi said."But the people living here do not notice it because this kind of poisoning gives its effects long afterwards."Albania's deputy environment minister Tatjana Hema said the state "was not strong enough" to prevent people from settling there during its first troubled decade of democracy."We are mobilising funds to rehabilitate this hot spot and another one and are working to secure $20 million from donors," she added. The Durres area would need half of that.Experts said Albania would need help from its Adriatic neighbours Greece and Italy to orchestrate a major clean-up.Copyright 2002 Reuters Limited. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 09 Jun 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6949/1/E-Great-Britain-Offers-Five-Million-Pounds-for-efficiency-.html ÂÂÂEVENING NEWS 29.5.2002.ÂGreat Britain Offers Five Million Pounds Support to CroatiaÂAt a press conference in Zagreb Wednesday European IntegrationÂMinister, Neven Mimica, and the Secretary for Southeast EuropeÂat the Foreign Office, Denis MacShane, told reporters GreatÂBritain wished to help Croatia in its approach to the EU andÂthat five million pounds over a period of three years had beenÂearmarked for the purpose.ÂThe money will be used for furthering the efficiency of theÂstate administration in solving issues related to European integration,Âissues related the judiciary branch and internal affairs, especiallyÂthe solution of problems such as crime, corruption, the developmentÂof a market economy, education, employment, the reform of theÂhealth and social welfare systems, refugee return, environmentÂprotection, agriculture and regional growth, the media and theÂcoordination of a joint EU foreign and security policy. MacShaneÂsaid he hoped the plan would encourage Croatia to continue withÂreforms, with the refugee return programme and with its cooperationÂwith the ICTY. He also asked General Gotovina to appear beforeÂthe Tribunal and thus remove the greatest obstacle to normalÂrelations between Croatia and the EU. He also announced thatÂ"Croatia's request for full-fledged EU membership might arriveÂearlier than expected". Croatia officials have confirmed thatÂCroatia might submit a request for EU membership as early as 2003.ÂÂÂDistributed by www.CroatianWorld.net. This message is intended for Croatian Associations/Institutions and their Friends in Croatia and in the World. The opinions/articles expressed on this list do not reflect personal opinions of the moderator. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, please delete or destroy all copies of this communication and please, let us know! letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 30 May 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6948/1/H-Euroregija-Dunav-Drava-Sava.html ÂÂÂOsijek, 22. svibnja 2002.ÂÂNa sjednici clanica Euroregionalne suradnje Dunav-Drava- Sava usvojen je novi Statut i primljene su u clanstvo u statusu promatraca opcine Apatin, Bac, Sombor i Subotica iz SR Jugoslavije, Vojvodine. Ovu Euroregionalnu suradnju osnovale su Zupanije iz istocne Hrvatske, juzne Madjarske i Velezupe iz sjeverne BiH.ÂTisak i u Hrvatskoj i u Jugoslaviji zabiljezio je ovaj dogadjaj u svjetlu "upakiranog incidenta" predsjednika Izvrsnog odbora Skupštine opcine Apatin, koji je predlozio projekt zajednicke regulacije korita Dunava izmedju Jugoslavije i Hrvatske upravo na dionici, na kojoj prema administrativnom razgranicenju izmedju SR Hrvatske i SR Srbije (kao clanica SFRJ) hrvatski teritorij zahvaca podrucje istocno od sredine matice rijeke Dunav.ÂI ovdje se postavlja temeljno pitanje kriterija razgranicenja novonastalih drzava iz SRFJ. Istocno od sredine matice rijeke Dunav nalazi se oko deset puta vece podrucje katarstaski hrvatskog teritorija nega jugoslavenskog zapadno od sredine matice. I ovdje se nazire replika situacije sa Slovenijom i BiH.ÂBez obzira na pitanje razgranicenja, jer je to pitanje na drzavnoj razini, vojvodjanske opcine su zainteresirane za suradnju u ovoj euroregiji.ÂInteres nas Hrvata je u cinjenici da u ovim opcinama zivimo u nelikom broju i ovo bi mogla biti jos jedna spona povezivanja hrvatskih zajednica iz SRJ, BiH i Madjarske s maticnom drzavom Hrvatskom.ÂÂBela TonkovicÂÂÂDistributed by www.CroatianWorld.net. This message is intended for Croatian Associations/Institutions and their Friends in Croatia and in the World. The opinions/articles expressed on this list do not reflect personal opinions of the moderator. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, please delete or destroy all copies of this communication and please, let us know! letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 30 May 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6950/1/E-Through-eyes-of-Croatian-with-love.html Through eyes of Croatian, with love By Andrew Lyons-Stillman Special to the Deseret NewsMonday, May 6, 2002 Ivona Josipovic is a 16-year-old foreign-exchange student from Zagreb, Croatia, currently attending West High in Salt Lake City. Deseret News: Ivona, when did you first come to the United States and why? Ivona Josipovic: In August. I came here as an exchange student to graduate high school and get introduced to American culture before I go to college. I want to study here. DN: What was your initial impression? Ivona: I was surprised. It wasn't the image from all the movies. DN: What image is that? Ivona: That this is the land of opportunity; that everything is fun and entertaining. That there are no rules or restrictions. But guess what - there are! DN: What is your favorite thing about living in America? Ivona: School is pretty good. So many nice people. And shopping! Shopping; I like shopping. I love Banana Republic. DN: What is your overall impression of Utah? Ivona: It is a very traditional community - very family-oriented. Not the European style. DN: What is the European style? Ivona: It is much more free. Teens in Europe are treated as adults. Here, I can't do anything without a legal guardian. But at least I can drive here. DN: When can you drive in Croatia? Ivona: When you are 18. . . . But you can do anything else (as a teen.) In Europe, all industries - food, entertainment, etc. - are oriented around teens. Live entertainment over there is all about us; here it isn't. DN: What do you miss most about Croatia? Ivona: I miss my family and friends, and I miss senior year. (In Croatia), when you're a senior, you don't do much in school. Instead, there are all sorts of social events. Like when you graduate, we have a day where you can do whatever you want without any legal restrictions - graffiti, break things, stuff like that. (Pause.) And I miss the food! DN: What food here do you like? Ivona: Frozen yogurt. We didn't have it in Croatia. But there is too much fast food here . . . it's all artificial. All the apples are the exact same shape and size, all shiny and perfect. DN: A lot of American students don't know anything about Croatia. What is it like? Ivona: Croatia is a former part of Yugoslavia, and it kind of connects with central and southeastern Europe. There is a much more European government and lifestyle (than here). There are beautiful beaches - it is the best country to go for summer vacation! The best country in the world. It is very connected to other European countries. I would like to stay in the U.S. for college, but if I do, I'll go back to Croatia every summer. DN: Where would you like to go to college? Ivona: On the East Coast, in Boston or New York. Boston is beautiful and historic. And there is a big Croatian community in New York. DN: Do you have any advice to give to American teens? Ivona: For an international country, we have a lot to gain. Our culture has so many opportunities that American kids aren't aware of. Be sure to take advantage of them! Andrew Lyons-Stillman is a senior at West High School. If you are a Utah high school student and would like to comment on this article, send an e-mail to pulse@desnews.com or a letter to the Deseret News, attention: Susan Whitney.© 2002 Deseret News Publishing Company letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 18 May 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6951/1/E-Scientists-test-first-human-cyborg.html Op-edI met Christopher Reeve many times. He was always ready to help others. Livesclose to me. We wish him as well as many other unknown to walk one day.NenadOXFORD, England -- A British university professor has been fitted with cyborg technology enabling his nervous system to be linked to a computer.ÂThe ground-breaking surgery on Professor Kevin Warwick effectively makes him the world's first cyborg -- part human, part machine.ÂAlthough a long way from fictional characters The Terminator or the Six Million Dollar Man, it is hoped that readings will be taken from the implant in his arm of electrical impulses coursing through his nerves.ÂThese signals, encoding movements like wiggling fingers and feelings like shock and pain, will be transmitted to a computer and recorded for the first time.ÂSimilar experiments have previously only ever been carried out on cats and monkeys in the United States.ÂSurgeons implanted a silicon square about 3mm wide into an incision in Warwick's left wrist and attached its 100 electrodes, each as thin as a hair, into the median nerve.ÂConnecting wires were fed under the skin of the forearm and out from a skin puncture and the wounds were sewn up.ÂThe wires will be linked to a transmitter/receiver device to relay nerve messages to a computer by radio signal.ÂIt is possible that the procedure could lead to a medical breakthrough for people paralysed by spinal cord damage, such as Superman actor Christopher Reeve.ÂOn Friday, Warwick, 48, denied claims that the surgery, which was carried out at the Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, England, was just a publicity stunt.Â'Change the world'"To go through a two-hour operation I would say is a little bit extreme for a publicity stunt," he told the BBC.Â"To say no you can't do this or this is publicity is absolutely crazy at this stage when we haven't even looked at it."ÂHe said the £500,000 ($715,000) experiment was about "seriously helping people" with spinal injuries.ÂHe added: "This has not been done on a human before so for someone to say this is not going to tell us much ... we don't know.Â"We really don't know but we want to find out what sort of signals we are going to get and what sort of signals we can put in."ÂResearchers at the university's department of cybernetics will carry out experiments on Warwick for about a month.ÂIt is hoped the science could one day help actor Christopher ReeveÂHe said: "What we're doing is historic and momentous. It is going to change the world.Â"Science fiction has predicted this for quite some time. As a scientist, I'm excited about taking a step into the future.Â"But as a human I do share the ethical concerns about what it will mean for humanity."ÂWarwick also hopes to wire himself up to a ultrasonic sensor, used by robots to navigate around objects, to give himself a bat-like sixth sense.ÂHe believes the technique could be developed within a decade to restore movement to a tetraplegic's hand or feeling to a prosthetic leg used by an amputee.Â"For someone like Christopher Reeve, it might not bring back complex movement. But if it could allow him to control a bit of technology to pick up a cup, it would be enormously useful," he said.ÂWarwick has already been a guinea pig for his own experiments.ÂIn 1998 a silicon chip, which turned on lights and opened doors when he walked into his office, was implanted in his arm. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 08 Apr 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6952/1/E-wwwcronetorg-Croatians-in-France.html ÂÂCroatians in France on www.cronet.orgÂHrvati u Francuskoj na www.cronet.orgÂÂTaken from:Âhttp://www.hic.hr/domÂDOM I SVIJET u broju 376 od 4. ozujka 2002.ÂÂÂDistributed by www.CroatianWorld.net. This message is intended for Croatian Associations/Institutions and their Friends in Croatia and in the World. The opinions/articles expressed on this list do not reflect personal opinions of the moderator. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient,Âplease delete or destroy all copies of this communication and please, let us know! letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 07 Mar 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6953/1/E-Story-Re-Reporter-Killed-in-1991-in-Croatia.html ÂThe following appeared in the Cincinnati Enquirer. The story with photosÂcan be seen atÂÂhttp://enquirer.com/editions/2002/02/12/tem_poem_foretold.htmlÂÂPoem foretold reporter's death in CroatiaÂÂ---------------------------------------------ÂÂ'And your name, too, will be killed tomorrow'ÂÂ'To the reporter'ÂÂTake as many notes and shots as you can,Âmy friend.ÂBut do not report to the world that onlyÂa number was killed.ÂIn the golden fields of Slavonia.ÂÂAs no number has any given name orÂany taken future.ÂDo report to the world thatÂit was Johann and WilliamÂand Victor and FrancescoÂThat was killedÂin the heart of SlavoniaÂAnd that Gabriel and GyorgyÂand your name, tooÂWill be killed tomorrowÂÂTake as many notes and shots as you can,Âmy friend.ÂBut do not report to the world that onlyÂa number was killed.ÂIn the bleeding fields of Slavonia.Â-- AnonymousÂÂÂBy Rosemary GoudreauÂThe Cincinnati EnquirerÂÂHis picture hangs by my desk, the portrait of a 40-something newspapermanÂwith graying hair and wire-rim glasses, smiling as I remember him a decade ago.ÂÂEgon Scotland.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂSo, too, is a copy of the poem found in his pocket a year later,Âafter he was ambushed and killed by Serbian guerrillas in the early days ofÂthe conflict in Croatia.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂThe poem was written in English on an old manual typewriter thatÂneeded a new ribbon. Titled To the Reporter, the poem called on my friend toÂtell the world that it wasn't just a number killed in the bleeding fields ofÂSlavonia.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂReport to the world thatÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂit was Johann and William,ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂand Victor and Francesco,ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂThat was killedÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂin the heart of Slavonia.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ"And that Gabriel and Gyorgy,ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂand your name, too,ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂwill be killed tomorrow.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂMy friend Egon Scotland, a reporter for the Munich-based newspaperÂSuddeutsche Zeitung, died doing what reporters do - telling the world what'sÂgoing on so that people can make informed decisions about their governmentsÂand their lives.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂEgon (pronounced A-gon) died nine months after I last saw him inÂWashington, D.C. He and his wife Christiane had just driven in fromÂCalifornia, where we'd spent a year together in a journalism fellowshipÂprogram at Stanford University.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂEgon had driven the back roads across the country, following partsÂof Route 66. Unlike most times we saw one another, he had no car stories toÂtell, probably because he'd rented a car. The year of our fellowship, EgonÂbought a beast of a Buick for $600 and it seemed he spent as much timeÂalongside the road, as on the road.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂWe were among 18 journalists in the John S. Knight fellowship classÂof 1989-90. Twelve of us came from the United States, eight from otherÂcountries.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂFrom the day we met, it was clear my foreign colleagues lived a muchÂdifferent life. Sitting in a circle that first day, we took turnsÂintroducing ourselves.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂThere was Joanna Szczesna from Poland, who spoke a broken EnglishÂshe'd learned in prison. Joanna was jailed by Polish authorities for writingÂarticles about Lech Walesa's upstart Solidarity Movement. Police repeatedlyÂraided her apartment, but Joanna was clever. She hid her notes in the wallÂor sometimes in her baby's diaper.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂThere was Rafael Santos, the managing editor of El Tiempo in Bogota,ÂColombia. Raphael told us he had three bodyguards just in case one wasÂbought off. He carried a gun and took a different route to work each day.ÂRaphael couldn't find someone willing to sell him life insurance. The yearÂof our fellowship, his brother Francisco was kidnapped by Pablo Escobar'sÂMedellin Cartel. Unlike so many other influential people kidnapped inÂColombia, Francisco survived. Noted author Gabriel Garcia Marquez laterÂwrote a book aboutFrancisco's captivity.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂAnd there was Sun Yi, an economics reporter from China. Sun Yi livedÂaround the corner from Tiananmen Square, where the pro-democracy studentÂmovement had been beaten down only four months earlier. Sun Yi didn't wantÂto talk about what happened and never did. She spoke little English, but wasÂquite comfortable with the word "no." She used it frequently. "Want to driveÂto the coast, Sun Yi?" "No." I'm not sure she always understood theÂquestion, but she knew her stock answer would keep her from trouble.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂThe lives of my foreign colleagues looked nothing like mine, a factÂI'm reminded of as we await news of Wall Street Journal reporter DanielÂPearl, kidnapped while reporting a story in Pakistan.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂAt the time of the fellowship, I was the medical writer for TheÂMiami Herald and the worst threats I'd ever faced were a screaming doctor, aÂwoman who spit on me and a few people who promised lawsuits but never filedÂthem.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂEgon was a serious student the year we called - and feared wouldÂremain - the best of our lives.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂA German native, he was a spiritual soul who liked the woods. HeÂdesigned and sewed the vest he so often wore. He studied Balkan history andÂthe Serbo-Croatian language, knowing he wanted to go to the region when theÂyear ended. I remember watching television with him when the Berlin WallÂfell. It was tough for this seasoned political journalist, so well known byÂmembers of the Bavarian parliament, to be away from home at such a momentousÂtime.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂWhen he returned to Germany, Egon wrote us that "the safety ofÂseclusion has gone on both sides of the Iron Curtain. A major part of theÂpolitical discourse now is discoveries - who, in the past, was whose spy,Âagent or secret ally."ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂShortly after that, with Communism crumbling in Eastern Europe, EgonÂwas sent to Croatia, which was one of the first Yugoslav republics to breakÂfrom the Serbian-dominated central government in Belgrade. The ethnicÂconflict later spread to Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ"His reports showed an understanding of the region and its historyÂthat few other correspondents could match," wrote classmate Kathryn Tolbert,Âa Washington Post reporter who visited Christiane in the weeks after Egon'sÂdeath.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ"He was in Turkey and Lebanon and Jordan and in the Kurdish refugeeÂcamps in Iraq, an experience that aged him, Christiane said. But he hadÂbecome a star at the newspaper."ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂEgon hadn't wanted to go to Yugoslavia. He was tired and had beenÂtraveling constantly. "But he would not turn down a request from hisÂnewspaper. The paper asked several other reporters and then came back toÂEgon. So he went," Kathy wrote us.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂThe night before he died, Egon called Christiane around midnight, asÂalways. They didn't talk long because he was due home two days later. EgonÂwas tired, having spent a month in the region. He would have been homeÂalready, but his newspaper asked him to stay just a couple of days longer.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂThe next day, Friday, July 26, 1991, terror broke out.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂThe New York Times reported that Serbian nationalists, whoÂoutnumbered the Croats with whom they'd lived peacefully during the ColdÂWar, began rounding up their neighbors to use as human shields for aÂmethodical march of death. Times reporter Stephen Engelberg filed his reportÂfrom Sisak, in the region of Slavonia, about 15 miles from where Egon died.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂThe report said that Serbs pulled people from their homes thatÂweekend and used them to create "a human wall" as they marched forward,Âsteadily firing a heavy machine gun mounted atop a truck. The assault wasÂpart of a broad offensive to push Croats from their villages and create aÂpure-blood Serbian state.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ"Police defenders were reportedly paralyzed by the sight of theirÂfamilies held hostage and did not return fire," Stephen reported. "TheÂSerbian advance was finally halted when a Croatian policeman jumped atop theÂtruck and detonated grenades he was carrying in what was apparently aÂsuicide mission."ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂAt the end of the uprising's first day, Egon was safe in a camp nearÂGlina. But a friend of his - Susanne Kupke, a young correspondent for theÂGerman Press Agency wire service - had not yet returned.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂAnd so, with a radio reporter colleague behind the wheel, Egon gotÂin a car clearly marked PRESS and went looking for her.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂOn a deserted road, they came upon some stranded cars, doors flungÂopen. Egon's friend brought the car to a stop about the same time bothÂjournalists realized they were facing an ambush. Serb gunmen emerged with aÂhail of gunfire. They shot through the headlights, the surest way into aÂcar's interior. Egon was shot in the abdomen. The radio reporter, unharmed,Âthrew the car into reverse and managed an escape. He drove to the hospitalÂin Sisak, where Egon was pronounced dead. He had bled to death.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂEgon never knew that the young reporter he sought was safe, taken inÂby a peasant family. For more than a day, she remained huddled in the darkÂof their home, windows shuttered, conversations in whispers. Outside, aÂsteady rain of grenades and gunfire was directed at the homes of Croats.Â"Dear God, please help," she heard one woman pray.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂSusanne reported that the gunmen were deliberately firing atÂjournalists. The word among the Serbs, who dominated the Yugoslav Army, wasÂthat reporters favored Croatia.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂEgon is one of 58 journalists killed in the Balkans since 1989, theÂvictim of an ethnic conflict that left hundreds of thousands of people deadÂor homeless.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂToday, the man who stoked the nationalist fervor of the Serbs whoÂkilled him, former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic, faces a war-crimesÂtrial at The Hague, Netherlands. He stands accused of crimes againstÂhumanity - genocide and ethnic cleansing.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂAnd so today, let me, too, tell the world:ÂÂÂIt was Johann and William,ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂVictor and Francesco,ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂGabriel and GyorgyÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ- and Egon, too -ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂwho were killedÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂin the bleeding fields of Slavonia.ÂÂÂDistributed by www.CroatianWorld.net. This message is intended for Croatian Associations/Institutions and their Friends in Croatia and in the World. The opinions/articles expressed on this list do not reflect personal opinions of the moderator. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient,Âplease delete or destroy all copies of this communication and please, let us know! letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 02 Mar 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6955/1/HE-Ministar-Picula-kod-Gradicanskih-Hrvatov.html ÂMinistar Picula kod Gradišcanskih Hrvatov u SlovackojÂMinister Picula Meets with Croats in SlovakiaÂÂSource: http://volksgruppen.orf.at/kroaten/kr/news/news.htmÂÂHrvatski ministar vanjskih poslov Tonino Picula je danas došao na dvodnevniÂpohod u Slovacku. Glavna tema ce biti bilateralna i multilateralna suradnja.ÂPicula ce i pohoditi Devinsko Novo Selo. Razgovarat ce s predsjednikomÂSaveza Hrvatov u Slovackoj, Jurajem Cveckom, i pohoditi tamošnji hrvatskiÂmuzej u gradnji.ÂÂHrvatska i Slovacka imaju 26 potpisanih bilateralnih sporazumov. U prviÂjedanaesteri mjeseci 2001. ljeta je Hrvatska u Slovacku izvozila robe uÂvridnosti 13,8 milijoni dolarov, a u istom razdoblju iz uvozila u vridnostiÂod 47 milijoni dolarov. Lani je Hrvatsku pohodilo 205.000 slovackihÂturistov.ÂÂU Slovackoj živi oko 5000 Hrvatov, i to uglavnom u cetiri seli u okoliciÂPožona - Devinskom Novom Selu, Cunovu, Hrvatskom Grobu i Hrvatskom Jandrofu.ÂStatus nacionalne manjine stekli su 1993. ljeta po osamostaljenju Slovacke.ÂÂÂ-----ÂÂCroatia's Foreign Minister, Tonino Picula arrived today for a two-day visitÂto Slovakia. The main theme of his visit will be bilateral and multilateralÂcooperation. Minister Picula will visitÂDevinska Nova Ves (Cr. Devinsko Novo Selo). He will meet with the presidentÂof the Union of Croats in Slovakia, Juraj Cvecko, and will visit theÂCroatian museum currently under construction.ÂÂCroatia and Slovakia have signed 26 bilateral agreements. In the first 11Âmonths of 2001, Croatia exported goods to Slovakia in the amount of 13.8Âmillion dollars, and imported goods in the amount of 47 million dollars.ÂLast year, some 250,000 Slovak tourists visted Croatia.ÂÂ5,000 Croats live in Slovakia, mostly in four villages around Bratislava;ÂDevinska Nova Ves (Cr. Devinsko Novo Selo), Cunovo, Chorvatsky Grob (Cr.ÂHrvatski Grob) and Jarovce (Cr. Hrvatski Jandrof). They recieved minorityÂstatus in 1993, when Slovakia became independent.ÂÂÂDistributed by www.CroatianWorld.net. This message is intended for Croatian Associations/Institutions and their Friends in Croatia and in the World. The opinions/articles expressed on this list do not reflect personal opinions of the moderator. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient,Âplease delete or destroy all copies of this communication and please, let us know! letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 28 Feb 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6954/1/HE-Hrvati-BiH-Imaju-Novi-Website.html ÂÂHrvati BiH imaju novi website koja se nalazi na: http://www.hercegbosna.orgÂCroatians in Bosnia-Herzegovina have a new website located at:ÂÂhttp://www.hercegbosna.orgÂÂMarko PuljicÂÂDistributed by www.CroatianWorld.net. This message is intended for Croatian Associations/Institutions and their Friends in Croatia and in the World. The opinions/articles expressed on this list do not reflect personal opinions of the moderator. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient,Âplease delete or destroy all copies of this communication and please, let us know! letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 28 Feb 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/6956/1/E-NYC-Firefighter.html ÂStory from the Feb. 5, 2002 edition of New York NewsdayÂabout Lt. Anthony Jovic, a New York City firefighter andÂCroatian American who died in the World Trade Center onÂSept. 11.ÂÂFrank MustacÂÂFrom: http://www.newsday.com/ny-lijovi0205.storyÂÂA Kidder Known for His Sharp MindÂÂBy Elizabeth MooreÂStaff WriterÂÂFebruary 5, 2002ÂÂIn those first weeks after Lt. Anthony Jovic disappearedÂwith other members of Engine Co. 279 at the WorldÂTrade Center, his wife, Cynthia, concentrated on beingÂstrong for his two boys, Matthew, 10, and Peter, 9. SoÂshe had a little psychological trick she played onÂherself to keep going.ÂÂ"I'd say, 'He's working today. He's going to come homeÂtonight,'" she recalled. "That night it would be, 'OK,Âhe's working tonight, he's going to come home tomorrow.'ÂEvery day I'd tell myself the same thing."ÂÂIt was because Cynthia Jovic can't imagine morningÂcoffee without her husband of 16 years, a big kidderÂand hugger-and-kisser who never got through a dayÂwithout several times telling her and the boys he lovedÂthem.ÂÂThe son of a Croatian longshoreman who grew up inÂHell's Kitchen, Jovic, 39, impressed all his friends asÂbeing smart enough to win the big one on "Jeopardy!"ÂThe couple met in Manhattan, when he was working atÂa butcher shop on Ninth Avenue and she, also aÂCroatian immigrant and longshoreman's daughter, wasÂworking at a deli nearby. When a cousin suggested theyÂall go to an Irish pub in New Hyde Park, Jovic drove toÂpick her up in Manhattan in the most formal manner,Âallowing plenty of time to chat first with her mother andÂfather at the house. For her old-fashioned EuropeanÂparents, his wife said, "it was love at first sight."ÂÂFor the couple, too. They married 2 1/2 years later.ÂÂJovic joined the city fire department 12 years ago, aboutÂthe time the family moved from Elmhurst to MassapequaÂPark. He was aiming high, and once he made lieutenant wasÂalready spending every free day he could find to prepareÂfor the captain's exam, which he would have taken inÂOctober. When not working or studying, it was miniatureÂgolf, bowling, and lots of swimming with the family inÂthe backyard pool. They were so close, she could finishÂhis sentences for him.ÂÂ"We were the happiest when we were together," she said.ÂÂCynthia Jovic was watching CNN on Sept. 11; she knew itÂwas bad, because her husband was working with the companyÂin Red Hook, Brooklyn, that day.ÂÂ"When that tower came down, his soul went right throughÂme. I knew it then, he just went through me and I knew heÂwas gone," she said. His burned and mangled shield turnedÂup in the south tower in November, shortly before aÂmemorial service was held, but no remains have beenÂidentified.ÂÂThe memory of that moment has become a source of warmthÂand comfort lately, now that it's no longer possible forÂher to pretend her husband is coming home tonight, orÂtomorrow morning, or the next day. Now, Cynthia JovicÂknows, he's with her and the kids all the time.ÂÂ"He always told me, 'Every time they take an ID picture,ÂI try to look nice, because you never know when theyÂmight be using it for a memorial.' I'll be honest withÂyou, I think he looks wonderful in the picture that theyÂhave of him."ÂÂCopyright © 2002, Newsday, Inc.Âhttp://www.newsday.com/ny-lijovi0205.storyÂÂÂDistributed by www.CroatianWorld.net. This message is intended for Croatian Associations/Institutions and their Friends in Croatia and in the World. The opinions/articles expressed on this list do not reflect personal opinions of the moderator. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient,Âplease delete or destroy all copies of this communication and please, let us know! letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 22 Feb 2002 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8721/1/Guitar-professor-returns-from-teaching-in-Croatia.html Miroslav Loncar, associate professor of guitar and artist-in-residence at William Carey University, recently returned from spending the summer teaching guitar in his home country of Croatia.   dalmatinac99@vip.hr (Ante Katalinic) Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000