http://www.croatia.org/crown en-us http://www.croatia.org/crown N/A nenad@nenadbach.com Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:42:45 -0700 20 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9627/1/Mark-Begich-for-US-Senate-to-be-the-first-Croatian-American-in-the-US-Senate.html I met with Mayor Begich last night in Washington, DC and was very impressed with his wit, intelligence and commitment to bring reform and an energy expertise to the U.S. Senate. He acknowledged how pleased his dad was with all the support he received from Croatian Americans when he was starting his first campaign and did get elected to the U.S. Congress in 1970. It's our time now to help elect for the first time ever - a  Croatian American in the U.S. Senate letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9599/1/Marko-Vuketiae-Burgendland-Croat-Austrian-ambassador-in-Ukraine.html His Excellency Mr. Marko Vuketiæ was recently appointed as Austrian ambassador in Ukraine. He belongs to Croatian branch in Austria known under the name of Burgendland Croats, or Gradi¹æanski Hrvati, living there since the 16th century. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9568/1/NFCA-Needs-Your-Action.html Congressman Elton Gallegly (R-CA) has just introduced H. Res. 1266 congratulating Croatia and Albania on their recent invitation to join NATO.  The NFCA needs you to contact your district U. S. Representative, especially if they are Members of the Croatian Caucus, and request that they support H. Res. 1266 by becoming a cosponsor of the bill. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9553/1/NFCA-to-hold-assembly-of-delegates-in-Gaithersburg-Maryland-June-6-8-2008.html The 15th annual Assembly of Delegates of the National Federation of Croatian Americans (NFCA) will be held in the Gaithersburg Hilton Hotel from Friday evening, June 6, through Sunday, June 8. foleycoinc@earthlink.net (Joe Foley) Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9518/1/Croatia-Has-a-NATO-Invitation---A-Historical-Day-for-Croatia-April-2nd-2008.html The fact that an invitation was sent is also a result of a process that began with Croatia’s  hard road to independence via the Croatian War of Independence in which 15,000 people gave their lives. Besides NATO, it is expected that Croatia receives an invitation for the EU soon. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9499/1/US-Senate-Resolution-Regarding-NATO-Member-Invitations.html The National Federation of Croatian Americans (NFCA) commends U.S. Senators Richard Lugar of Indiana and George Voinovich of Ohio for their leadership in introducing S. Res. 459 calling for NATO membership for the Republic of Albania, the Republic of Croatia, and the Republic of Macedonia. foleycoinc@earthlink.net (Joe Foley) Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9483/1/Kosovo-Declares-Independence-on-February-17-2008.html Kosovo's parliament declared the disputed territory a nation on Sunday, February 17, 2008, mounting a historic bid to become an "independent and democratic state" backed by the U.S. and European allies. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 17 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9480/1/Croatia-and-Japans-Cooperation-Excellent.html "Croatia and Japan have realised excellent cooperation and have no open issues, but unfortunately we have not used the potentials of either country," said Croatian President Stjepan Mesiæ (left), after Koto Shakuhacki Quintet's concert of traditional Japanese music, marking the 15th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Croatia and Japan. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9399/1/The-actual-historic-facts-must-be-recognized-once-and-for-all.html In a recent letter to the International Herald Tribune, Hilda Marija Foley (left) writes "In your article 'EU proposal lays out steps on Kosovo independence' by Dan Bilefsky and Stephen Castle Dec 12, 2007 the commentators make the often quoted but erroneous statement when writing that the early recognition of an independent Croatia accelerated the breakup of Yugoslavia." hmfgsf@juno.com (Hilda Marija Foley) Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9391/1/Sean-Penn-endorses-Croatian-American-presidential-candidate---Its-Kucinich-Time.html   Dennis Kucinich is from the West Side of Cleveland, half Croat, half Irish. He was dirt poor and knew it. He now not only sits in the House of Representatives, with a big fancy office in the Rayburn Building in Washington, D.C., but also believes that he will be elected president in 2008. mspudic@aol.com (Michael Spudiæ) Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9382/1/The-West-and-the-UN-were-complicit-in-the-genocide-in-Bosnia.html Marko Attila Hoare (left) writes that the Western powers and the UN were undoubtedly complicit in the genocide in Bosnia, and nothing that they have done since 1995 has delivered justice to the victims. brigall@yahoo.co.uk (Brian Gallagher) Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9310/1/Croatia-Wins-Vote-for-UN-Security-Council-Seat-Political-and-diplomatic-influence.html Should be good news for the further recognition of the region's new political and diplomatic influence on a range of issues where not only Croatia, but Bosnia & Herzegovina could impact a progressive influence. The UN Security Council offers such an opportunity. The influence of Croatia's Diaspora aconvenientgenocide@mac.com (Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey) Thu, 18 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9307/1/Croatia-proud-at-becoming-UN-Security-Council-member-on-Jan-1st-2008.html Croatia on Wednesday relished its election into the U.N. Security Council, and officials said it proved that a country considered a trouble spot just 15 years ago could now be accepted as part of the West. President Stipe Mesic said the election was an "exceptional recognition of Croatia and its foreign policy." letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 17 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9305/1/Croatian-American-Dennis-Kucinich-on-Colbert-Report-TONIGHT-Oct-15-16-2007.html Stephen Colbert talked about Dennis Kucinich on his show - made Dennis sound smart and funny and dedicated, which of course he is. Colbert challenged Dennis to appear on his show. Dennis accepts challenge tonight... I can't wait!  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 15 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9282/1/A-Diplomatic-quotHunting-Partyquot---part-2-and-3.html On the plane, Holbrook from the outset began to pressure that we abandon or trade Gorazde. It struck me as rather strange at that time why Holbrooke had placed the emphasis of this conversation on "us" giving up Gorazde, the first hour of a 90 minute conversation. aconvenientgenocide@mac.com (Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey) Sun, 30 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9266/1/Ante-Simonic-at-the-Universal-Peace-Federation-2007-in-New-York.html   Providing Vision and Leadership at a Time of Global Crisis.  Feature presentations by a number of current and former heads of state, many of whom will be in New York for the United Nations' "Climate Change" conference letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 20 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9261/1/A-Diplomatic-quotHunting-Partyquot---facts-never-published-before-by-Ms-Hartmann---part-1.html     Muhamed Sacirbey, Florence Hartmann and Sylvie Matton speak out. Ms. Hartmann makes damning revelations about the betrayal of justice in her new book "Peace & Punishment.". Were the Big Powers in complicity to ethnic cleansing? Twist of fiction and reality. Film "The Hunting Party" with Richard Gere talks about the same subject in the same manner...as fiction. The book "Peace and Punishment" talks about the same subject in the same manner...as reality with documents. And they came out at the same time. Coincidence, hard reality or historical materialism ? Hartmann, Matton and Sacirbey speak of the evidence and the consequences  for BiH, Croatia, the region and the victims. CROWN reports, you decide. aconvenientgenocide@mac.com (Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey) Sun, 16 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9257/1/Croatian-President-Croatia-needs-highly-moral-people-that-will-solve-problems.html People who will keep saying everything is alright must not be in key positions, so that existing problems cannot be solved. Croatia needs people who will solve problems and enable faster development. Experts and highly moral people need to run the country. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 12 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9253/1/Betrayal-of-Justice---Will-New-Revelations-from-Within-The-ICTY-Bring-Consequences.html   Will the Region receive a new opportunity at unfiltered justice? Will Officials from the Leading Powers be held to Account for their Complicity with Milosevic and Betrayal of our Western Values? Are we that boring or just inept at protecting our rights and interests? ...in discussion with Ambassador Mo Sacirbey letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 09 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9213/1/Muhamed-Sacirbey-Civilization-where-religion-is-no-longer-denigrated.html   Defending the rights and access of the faithful, as well as the institutions of faith and spiritualism, is the obligation of all Bosnians and Herzegovinians, indeed the shared responsibility of civilization where religion is no longer denigrated, whether it is yours or your neighbors. aconvenientgenocide@mac.com (Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey) Tue, 14 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9191/1/Diaspora-Disenfranchised---The-Ethnic-Cleansing-of-the-8220Diaspora-Entity8221.html   Diaspora is called upon to invest or just spend and send money for BiH, the Government of BiH and the Office of the High Representative have exhibited no priority in addressing the needs and rights of the Diaspora community. By Prof. Ramic, Ing. Vrljicak & Ambassador Sacirbey aconvenientgenocide@mac.com (Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey) Wed, 08 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9181/1/Stolen-Croatian-Lipizzaner-horses-starving-in-Serbia.html   In October 1991, the largest Lipizzaner horse-farm in Croatia, situated near the town of Lipik, was bombed with napalm bombs. Out of 117 horses 27 of them were killed, and more than 80 taken away to Serbia, where they are also today. Believe it or not, the Serbs are trying to SELL stolen Croatian Lipizzaners to Croatia! From reliable sources we know that some of them have been already sold in Italy. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 03 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9176/1/Who-wants-to-close-the-Embassy-of-Bosnia-Herzegovina-in-Buenos-Aires-.html   About the Bosnia-Herzegovina Embassy in Buenos Aires. A news item published in the Banja Luka Nezavisne Novine states that the Bosnia-Herzegovina embassies in Argentina and South Africa, as well as the general consulate in Bonn are going to be closed... a note by Joza Vrljicak. joza@velocom.com.ar (Joza Vrljièak) Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9174/1/Kosovo-needs-a-conclusion-not-a-new-beginning.html    foleycoinc@earthlink.net (Joe Foley) Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9162/1/Mottaki-stresses-expansion-of-Iran---Croatia-ties.html Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said here Monday that expansion of all -out ties with Croatia enjoys priority in Iran's foreign diplomacy.   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9161/1/Croatia-demands-10-billion-dollars-from-Serbia-just-for-military-assets-of-YU.html     letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 29 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9154/1/Croatian-Foreign-Minister-Meets-US-Congress-Delegates.html  Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration  Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic (left) received the delegates of the U.S. Congress led by Congresswoman Melissa Bean on Monday. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 24 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9146/1/BiH-Croatia-and-Iran-according-to-Ambassador-Sacirbey.html     aconvenientgenocide@mac.com (Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey) Sat, 21 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 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 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9139/1/Congressman-Chris-Smith-history-of-sincere-support-for-victims--BiH.html  Congressman Chris Smith (left) has been consistent in his efforts on behalf of justice and a genuine peace and multi ethnic society in Bosnia & Herzegovina. aconvenientgenocide@mac.com (Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey) Fri, 13 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9130/1/OSCE-Chairman-says-he-supports-closing-mission-to-Croatia-by-the-end-of-the-year.html OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos (left), said yesterday he favours closing the OSCE Mission to Croatia by the end of 2007.  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 09 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9127/1/Europes-New-Southis.html  NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (left), recently gave a speech at the Croatia Summit, regarding the region and its future. Click to read more. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 09 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9119/1/Dr-Joyce-Neu-Pursuing-Justice-in-the-Midst-of-War----Institute-of-Peace--invites-you.html   How do international tribunals operating during war to secure justice affect the work of peacemakers?   Do they help bring parties to the peace table, or do they hinder the prospects for peace?   Please join us as Senior Fellow Joyce Neu discusses her research. Thursday, July 5, 2007. aconvenientgenocide@mac.com (Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey) Wed, 04 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9118/1/Mo-Sacirbey-A-Convenient-Genocide-in-a-fishbowl.html   They preach but do not confess. They demand forgetfulness but ask for no forgiveness. Perhaps they believe that by preaching to the victims, they will then avoid accountability for their own failings. Their sermons cannot go unchallenged. These are efforts at rewriting history. aconvenientgenocide@mac.com (Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey) Wed, 04 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9102/1/Croatia-Leaps-Past-Turkey-on-Road-to-EU-Membership.html  Croatia leapt past Turkey on the road to European Union membership, opening negotiations in six EU policy areas and staying on course to join as soon as the end of the decade. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 27 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9095/1/Putin-in-Croatia---A-confirmation-of-Croatias-international-authority.html   Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in the Croatian capital city of Zagreb to attend the Southeast European country's Energy Summit. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 24 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9088/1/Michael-Kaufman-Power-Values-and-Reform-Through-the-EU-Accession-Process.html   The EU's efforts to promote democratic development are at odds with the incentives created by the accession process itself, where the EU gives priority to efficiency over legitimacy, which leads to questions about the potential of the EU to export its own democratic deficit...with a specific reference to Croatia. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 22 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9082/1/Croatia-Today---May-2007.html     : presscro@yahoo.com (Josip Babiæ) Wed, 20 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9073/1/NFCA-Press-Release--14th-Annual-Delegates-Assembly.html The National Federation of Croatian Americans (NFCA) completed a very successful 2007 Annual Assembly of Delegates held in Philadelphia at the Sheraton Society Hill Hotel.   foleycoinc@earthlink.net (Joe Foley) Tue, 12 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9068/1/Croatian---American-Dennis-Kucinich-runs-to-be-the-USA-president-in-2008.html   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 11 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9037/1/91-Of-Croatian-Citizens-Say-Croatia-Should-Sue-Serbia.html Hina Centre for the market research conducted a survey on the representative sample of 1000 citizens about their attitudes regarding the war damage and genocide. On the question should Croatia sue Serbia for the genocide 91 percent of citizens answered it should. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9035/1/Shimon-Peres-visits-Croatia-Croatia-And-Israel-Will-Enter-A-New-Age.html The vice president of the Israeli government, and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Shimon Peres (pictured, right), ended his two day visit to Croatia, on Friday, with a visit to Split and a lecture.   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 28 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9029/1/NATO-Bill-Signed-into-Law---NFCA-press-release---Croatia-in-2008.html   NFCA congratulates the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives on passage of the most recent bill, S. 494, in support of full membership - at the earliest opportunity - for the Republic of Croatia. This piece of legislation continues the Congressional and Executive Branch support for the next expansion of NATO in 2008. foleycoinc@earthlink.net (Joe Foley) Mon, 23 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8716/1/ProfDr-Ante-Simoniae-Umjesto-zakljueka.html Èovjek industrijaliziranog dru¹tva postaje na ¾alost sve pohlepniji potro¹aè. Stvari koje zgrèe najèe¹æe ne slu¾e usavr¹avanju ljudi veæ postajemo robovi tih stvari, bilo da ih proizvodimo ili kupujemo.   ante@medri.hr (Prof.Dr. Ante Simoniæ) Wed, 14 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0700 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 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8955/1/How-The-UN-Violated-Human-Rights-In-Bosnia-And-Herzegovina.html How the UN violated human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and why nothing has been done to correct it. A series of reports compiled by CROWN's Brian Gallagher.   brigall@yahoo.co.uk (Brian Gallagher) Wed, 21 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8715/1/ProfDr-Ante-Simoniae-Uvjet-da-bi-se-bilo-intelektualcem-nije-samo-biti-struenjakom.html ...intelektualci èine duhovnu elitu koja znaèajno utjeèe na svekoliko ozraèje odreðenog doba i prostora. Ali, uvjet da bi se bilo intelektualcem nije samo biti struènjakom. ante@medri.hr (Prof.Dr. Ante Simoniæ) Wed, 21 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8714/1/ProfDr-Ante-Simoniae-Promicanje-tradicije-kulture-i-vjere.html Dr¾eæi da tradicija, kultura, umjetnost i vjera nisu ni¹ta manje va¾ni od gospodarstva, politike, trgovine, tehnike, znanosti, sigurnosti, novca...   ante@medri.hr (Prof.Dr. Ante Simoniæ) Tue, 30 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8897/1/January-15th-Croatia8217s-International-Day-of-Recognition.html   The new Baska Tablet was introduced on the set of a special edition of HRT on January 15, 1992 for the day that Croatia was internationally recognized by 30 countries in Europe and the world. boris@studio-international.com (Boris Ljubièiæ, Akademski Slikar) Sun, 14 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8713/1/ProfDr-Ante-Simoniae-O-promicanju-zdravlja-i-populacijske-politike.html  Mnogi su nezadovoljni zdravstvenim sustavom u RH. Od pacijenata do medicinskih sestara i lijeènika, od pronalazaèa, proizvoðaèa i trgovaca lijekovima, preko financijera i osiguravajuæih institucija do lokalnih i dr¾avnih zdravstvenih vlasti.   ante@medri.hr (Prof.Dr. Ante Simoniæ) Tue, 09 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8717/1/ProfDr-Ante-Simoniae-O-promicanju-odgoja-obrazovanja-znanosti-i-tehnologije.html   Preduvjet kvalitetnom razvoju svakog pojedinca su dobar odgoj i dobra edukacija koji omoguæavaju njegovu sustavnu izgradnju, te mu u pravom trenutku na adekvatan naèin nude optimalne sadr¾aje. ante@medri.hr (Prof.Dr. Ante Simoniæ) Wed, 20 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0800 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 00:00:00 -0800 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 00:00:00 -0800 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 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8712/1/ProfDr-Ante-Simoniae-Borba-protiv-zagadenja-i-upravljanje-krizom-te-odrivi-razvoj.html   Porast znanja i poveæanje tehnièke moæi Homo sapiensa, mno¹tvu ljudi ne donosi oèekivani boljitak... stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Wed, 29 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8821/1/DR-TOMISLAV-SUNIAE---The-Political-Cesspool-travels-to-Croatia--Live-Radio-Nov-17th-2006.html     tomislav.sunic@zg.t-com.hr (Prof.Dr. Tomislav Suniæ) Fri, 17 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8711/1/ProfDr-Ante-Simoniae-Rastronost-budi-nemir.html  U dana¹nje doba su evidentne fascinantne moguænosti proizvodnje, relativno velika plate¾na moæ kupaca u razvijenim zemljama, visoko organizirana dostupnost raznovrsnih proizvoda, uèinkovita marketin¹ka aktivnost, svjetonazor koji potièe tro¹enje...   stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Wed, 08 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8776/1/Tony-Peraica-in-race-for-Cook-County-Board-president-Who-is-Tony-Peraica.html   Born 49 years ago in Croatia, Tony came to America at the age of 13, after losing both of his parents, unable to speak a word of English. Despite his circumstances, Tony persevered and went on to earn his B.A. in Political Science form the University of Illinois at Chicago and J.D. from The John Marshall Law School. Tony was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1984. Over the ensuing 20 years, Tony built a thriving law practice. www.votetony06.com letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 31 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8789/1/Connor-Vlakancic-running-to-be-first-Croatian-American-US-Senator.html Connor Vlakancic has consistently been working to change federal politics since 1994.  He constantly travels to WDC as an active motivator of Croatian-American issues.  As author of California Constitutional Initiatives, Connor Vlakancic has developed and documented the only comprehensive solution to America's 'illegal immigrant' problem which is critical in California.  He is the non-partisan Independent candidate.  www.connorvlakancic.com   elect@connorvlakancic.com (Connor Vlakancic) Mon, 30 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8772/1/Prime-Minister-on-Visit-to-Washington.html   President Bush Gives Sanader Firm Date of 2008 for NATO Membership. "It's a historic day in the bilateral relationship of the United States and Croatia," Sanader told well over 200 guests on October 17 assembled for evening reception held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel vmiocic@croatianchronicle.com (Visnja Mioèiæ) Mon, 30 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8767/1/NFCA-Newsletter-October-20th-2006.html   PM Sanader had met with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice the day before, and had a meeting with President George Bush and Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, that afternoon. He was also scheduled to meet with Vice-President Cheney on Wednesday EAAndrus@comcast.net (Edward Andrus) Sat, 28 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8761/1/Treba-hitro-energieno-jasno-nedvosmisleno-i-glasno-argumentirano-i-nesvadalaeki-pokrenuti-iroku-akciju-za-proglaenje-gospodarskog-pojasa.html Podrazumijevamo neprihvatljivim, bilo kakvo trgovanje nacionalanim teritorijem ili mlitavo (ne)branjenje dr¾avnih granica, te rasprodaju vitalnih nacionalnih bogatstava ili njihovo ne¹tiæenje. U Europu (i druge asocijacije) se ulazi glavom (i argumentima koji ¹tite interse RH) a ne na koljenima dodvornièki. ante@medri.hr (Prof.Dr. Ante Simoniæ) Thu, 26 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8710/1/ProfDr-Ante-Simoniae-Poljoprivreda-te-genetski-modificirana-hrana.html   Kako se ne prisjetiti izjave velikana hrvatske agronomije prof. Frange¹a iz 1930. da je poljoprivreda "vremenski prvo, a po va¾nosti najodliènije zanimanje tj. podloga svih drugih zanimanja, podloga kulture i civilizacije." ante@medri.hr (Prof.Dr. Ante Simoniæ) Wed, 25 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0700 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 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8709/1/ProfDr-Ante-Simoniae-HSS-slavi-euva-i-potiee-rad-i--stvaralatvo.html    ante@medri.hr (Prof.Dr. Ante Simoniæ) Wed, 04 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8708/1/ProfDr-Ante-Simoniae-Politika-i-borba-za-opaee-dobro.html   Ostvarenje emancipacije èesto oznaèava dobivanje onoga ¹to mislimo da smo ¾eljeli. Voljeli bi da to ne znaèi da smo se oslobodili od onoga ¹to nismo ¾eljeli kako bismo postali robovi stvari do kojih nam je stalo.   stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Wed, 20 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8705/1/Don-Zuboviae-Vas-poziva-na-sastanak-s-Predsjednikom-Mesiaeem-i-Premierom-Sanaderom.html POZIVAM VAS  NA SUSRET S PREDSJEDNIKOM STJEPANOM MESIÆEM I PREMIEROM IVOM SANADEROM U ÈETVRTAK 21. RUJNA U 5:15 pm U ©KOLSKOM AUDITORIUMU (SCHOOL AUDITORIUM) U ASTORIJI, NEW YORK   DON ROBERT ZUBOVIC CONTACT: RZubovic@aol.com letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 20 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8704/1/A-talk-by-Dr-Ivo-Sanader-Prime-Minister-of-the-Republic-of-Croatia-followed-by-a-question-and-answer-session-with-the-audience.html You are invited to attend Columbia University's World Leaders Forum program: Wednesday, September 20, 2006, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Low Memorial Library at Columbia University, 116th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam, New York City "Croatia and Euro-Atlantic Integration in Southeastern Europe" A talk by Dr. Ivo Sanader, Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, followed by a question and answer session with the audience.   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 19 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8671/1/State-Councilor-Tang-meets-Croatian-leaders-on-ties.html Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan held talks in Zagreb with Croatian President Stjepan Mesic and Prime Minister Ivo Sanader separately, with both sides pledging to further boost bilateral ties. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Tue, 05 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8658/1/ProfDr-Ante-Simoniae-Mudrost-iskustva-hrabrost-mladosti-promiljenost-obrazovanih.html ...mudrost iskustva, hrabrost mladosti, promi¹ljenost obrazovanih, domoljublje, tradicija, po¹tenje i radi¹nost poduzetnih... politièka vizija prof.dr. Ante Simoniæa i HSSa. U 12 nastavaka   ante@medri.hr (Prof.Dr. Ante Simoniæ) Mon, 04 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8672/1/Croatia-China-seek-to-Boost-Economic-Ties.html Croatian Deputy Prime Minister Damir Polancec, seen here in May 2005, said officials from Croatia and China held talks on boosting economic ties between the two countries and signed a deal on agricultural cooperation.   stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Sat, 02 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8629/1/Maltas-Prime-Minister-Lawrence-Gonzi-on-his-official-visit-to-Croatia.html  VALLETTA, Malta (di-ve news) August 25, 2006. Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has on Wednesday met his Croatian counterpart Ivo Sander as part of his official visit to Croatia. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 25 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8564/1/E-The-Swearing-in-Ceremony-for-Robert-A-Bradtke-at-the-US-State-Department.html The Swearing-in Ceremony of the new United States Ambassador to the Republic of Croatia, Robert A. Bradtke, at the US State Department   Dear Crown readers,I want to share with you that this past Monday, July 3, the NFCA was honored to attend the Swearing-in Ceremony of the new United States Ambassador to the Republic of Croatia, Robert A. Bradtke, at the US State Department. Steve Rukavina, Zvonko Labas, and I were invited by Mr. Bradtke himself, whom we had met with just last month to discuss the role of the NFCA in US-Croatia relations. Notably, officiating at this ceremony was US Secretary of State, Condolezza Rice, who was very positive about her trust in the new Ambassador. Also in attendance were Croatian Ambassador to the United States, Neven Jurica, and several key members of his staff.While Mr. Bradtke's wife was not able to attend due to her own official US duties, his family did accompany him, including his 93 year-old father who was proud to hold the Bible on which his son took the oath of office. In his acceptance speech, Mr. Bradtke took time to address Ambassador Jurica in the Croatian language, one of several which he speaks. The ceremony took place in the Treaty Room adjacent to Secretary Rice's office. The limited number of  invited guests were then able to join a receiving line to congratulate Mr. Bradtke and wish him well in his new assignment.Ambassador Bradtke reaffirmed to us the important role he sees the NFCA and the Croatian American community performing on behalf of Croatia as she proceeds in joining Trans-Atlantic institutions. This was a historic event during our own American Independence celebration period and the three of us were pleased to represent all of you at this special time.Sincerely, Ed Andrus, President/NFCA   www.nfcaonline.com EAAndrus@comcast.net (Edward Andrus) Thu, 13 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8563/1/E-Scheffer-Says-Croatia-Makes-Great-Progress-On-Path-To-NATO.html Scheffer Says Croatia Makes Great Progress On Path To NATO 2006-07-07 16:32:18 Croatia has made great progress on the path to NATO membership and for that it deserves a high assessment and it can hope to receive positive signals at a summit in Riga, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said in Zagreb on Thursday after talks with Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader. Joining NATO is based on efficiency and not on a summit or an invitation, Scheffer said. When it comes to efficiency Croatia can only be positively assessed, Scheffer stressed. The summit in Riga at the end of November will not be about enlargement nor will invitations be distributed to new countries, but I am certain that NATO member-countries will give Croatia and the region a positive signal regarding membership of the alliance, Scheffer said. He added there was still work that needed to be done, primarily in the strengthening of Croatia's public support regarding the country's joining NATO and the continuation of reforms and fight against corruption. PM Sanader reiterated that Croatia's two priorities in foreign policy were joining NATO and the EU. "For us, NATO represents a community that defends the same values as the EU. That is the community of countries that Croatia wants to and must be in," Sanader said. He said talks with Scheffer were very open, adding that later today the NATO secretary general would inform him of the content of the coming NATO summit in Riga. "We are aware that the summit will not be about enlargement and that invitations will not be distributed, but the meeting is very important for us because we will able to see from the declaration text how is NATO sending a message to Croatia and other countries," the Croatian PM said. Sanader informed Scheffer of efforts Croatia was making to advance cooperation in the region, notably through the transformation of CEFTA and its presidency of the SEECP, as well as the country's participation in NATO's trust fund for the reintegration of defence personnel in Bosnia-Herzegovina into civil society. He also announced a conference on security issues that will be held at the beginning of next week in the southern Adriatic town of Dubrovnik. The conference will be attended by Sheffer's deputy. NATO Secretary general said the alliance highly appreciated Croatia's leading role in the region, stressing that Croatia also gave its contribution to security by participating the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Mission in Afghanistan. Commenting on a reporter's question, Scheffer said it was entirely untrue that NATO could ask new candidate countries to increase the number of soldiers in NATO missions in return for membership. Asked to comment on information that there would be no NATO enlargement in 2008 wither, Scheffer said he also read that, adding that one should not believe such reports. The Croatian PM told reporters that the reason for a lower public support to Croatia's membership of NATO was the fact that the alliance was equated with the intervention in Iraq. It is primarily the duty of the government, as well as of all political leaders in the country to explain to the public that this is not the case and to inform them of the importance of NATO membership, Sanader said. He expressed conviction Croatia would achieve this goal, stressing that a positive signal from Riga was necessary. Source: Hina www.seeurope.net http://www.seeurope.net/en/Story.php?StoryID=61569&LangID=1 nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 08 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8562/1/E-NFCA-Meets-With-American-Officials-To-Discuss-Issues.html NFCA Meets With American Officials To Discuss IssuesS NFCANational Federation of Croatian Americans2401 Research Blvd, Suite 115Rockville, MD 20850----------------------------------Tel: (301) 208-6650Fax: (301) 208-6659 NFCA MEETS WITH AMERICAN GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS ISSUES AFFECTINGTHE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA For Immediate Release (Washington, DC - May 31, 2006) On Monday, May 22, 2006, Mr. Ed Andrus, thePresident of the National Federation of Croatian Americans (NFCA), led adelegation of NFCA officers in meetings with Mr. Bert Braun, the Directorfor Southern European Affairs for the National Security Council at the WhiteHouse, Mr. Kurt Volker, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Statefor European and Eurasian Affairs, and Mr. Daniel Sainz, Principal DeputyDirector of the Office of South Central European Affairs at the StateDepartment. The meetings were held as part of the NFCA's long-standing efforts to buildsupport for Croatia's entry into NATO and other Western institutions withMembers of the Bush Administration as well as with Members of Congress. In addition to Mr. Andrus, the delegation consisted of Mr. Steve Rukavina,the Vice President of the NFCA, Mr. Zvonko Labas, the Treasurer of the NFCA,Mr. John Kraljic, the Past President of the NFCA, and Mr. Joseph Foley, theNFCA's Government and Public Relations Director. Mr. Andrus opened both meetings with a brief statement to position thediscussions. He noted that Croatia has met all hurdles that had been placedon its path toward NATO membership. He pointed to the continuingdevelopment of democratic institutions and the partnership agreementsCroatia has made with its neighbors, which have allowed it to become theleader in the region. Other members of the delegation reinforced Mr. Andrus' statements through anengaging and constructive interchange. It was noted, among other pluses,that the addition of Croatia to NATO will bring stability to Bosnia andHerzegovina. Emphasis was also placed on the positive contributions thatCroatia will make to the Alliance as a full NATO member. Mr. Andrus stated that the meetings with Mr. Braun and Mr. Volker generallywere very positive. "In the fifteen years that we and our members have beenengaged in lobbying in Washington, these meetings represented two of themost positive we have had with Executive branch policy officials," Mr.Andrus noted. "Of course," Mr. Andrus continued, "Croatia is close to NATO membership, buta number of obstacles remain. Some of these are of a technical naturedealing with the further professionalization of the Croatian Army. However,what we uniformly heard was a concern expressed with popular opinion polls that show that Croatians currently have a relatively low level ofsupport for NATO membership. We noted that such poll numbers cannot beviewed as being determinative. Practically all political parties in Croatia- whether on the left, right, or center - support NATO membership as one ofthe most important foreign policy goals of Croatia. Moreover, such pollnumbers are reflective of the negative policies adopted by the United Statesand the EU towards Croatia over the past 5 years when, despite havingsatisfied 626 of the 627 demands of the ICTY, Croatia continued to beunfairly labeled for not cooperating with the ICTY as a result of onefugitive who was not even in the country." Mr. Andrus further recognizes that some of the anti-NATO sentiment inCroatia may be tied to a general concern with current American foreignpolicies, especially in Iraq which is unpopular with many Europeans. "It isimportant to remember that NATO was not involved in the invasion of Iraq,though of course certain NATO members were. NATO is involved in therebuilding efforts in Afghanistan, but certainly most Croatians canappreciate that the war in Afghanistan was targeted at a nest of terroristbent on worldwide destruction. It is also worth noting that NATO belongs tothe countries of the Alliance, most of whom are European, and that allmembers have enjoyed peace and prosperity for over sixty years under theprotection of NATO. I believe that when these facts are presented to theCroatian people by their political leaders, the poll numbers will almostcertainly show a dramatic positive change." The NFCA delegation did not limit its discussions to NATO. Issues were alsoraised regarding Bosnia and Herzegovina and the NFCA's concern with respectto the status of the Croatian community there; the appointment of Mr.Robert Bradtke as the new U. S. Ambassador to the Republic of Croatia; VicePresident Cheney's recent trip to Dubrovnik where he underlined U.S. supportfor Croatia; and, support for the defense of General Gotovina and otherindicted Croatian military and political officials at the ICTY. Mr. Andrus stated following the meetings that issues related to NATO andother matters of concern to Croatian Americans will continue to be the focusof the NFCA's efforts. "In addition to our meetings with Administrationofficials, we will work with our friends in the Congressional CroatianCaucus to build further support for all initiatives which will be beneficialto Croatia and Croats." These issues will no doubt be further explored at the NFCA's Annual Assemblyof Delegates to be held on June 3, 2006 in Kansas City, Missouri, whererepresentatives from throughout the United States will participate. The NFCA is a national umbrella organization of Croatian American groupsthat collectively represents approximately 130,000 members. For additionalpublic affairs information or information concerning the Annual Assembly ofDelegates, please call Mr. Joe Foley, NFCA Government and Public AffairsDirector, at 301-294-0937, or Mr. Ed Andrus, NFCA President, at the NFCAHeadquarters at (301) 208-6650, or by email at NFCAhdq@verizon.net. For recent NFCA newsletters, important NFCA membership and chapterinformation, and other Croatian-American news please visit the NFCA's website at www.nfcaonline.com. EAAndrus@comcast.net (Edward Andrus) Fri, 02 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7179/1/E-Interview-with-an-American-Ambassador-Okun.html  Interview with American Ambassador Okun Interview by Jadranka Juresko-Kero in the Vecernji List, Zagreb April 15, 2006translated from Vecernji List by Hilda M. FoleyAmerican Ambassador Herbert S. Okun speaks about Milosevic, Tudjman, the war, the negotiations ...Ambassador Herbert S. Okun has spent a full thirty six years in the service of the State Department and American diplomacy. Born in New York 76 years ago to a immigrant Russian Jewish family, he did not continue his father's successful tradition in the food supply branch, the manufacture and distribution of food, but instead received his education at the prestigious American universities Stanford and Harvard and from his 25th year on devoted his life completely to diplomacy. He spent his first time in Croatia in 1957 as a tourist. He was immediately impressed by the beauty of Hvar and Dubrovnik. He returned to Croatia in 1990, first as the executive director of a nonprofit financial group that offered help in the establishment of a free market in the post-communist countries of the eastern block. Soon after, he exchanged his voluntary role with one of official duty as the deputy of Cyrus Vance, the special emissary of the United Nations' Secretary General Boutros Boutros Ghali., actively spending time in the areas of former Yugoslavia from 1991-1993. Today he lectures international relations at Yale and John Hopkins. Interviewer: Once you commented that you already realized during the first meeting with Milosevic that one is dealing with a man of bad character, capable of anything!- Yes, I met Milosevic in Belgrade on Dec. 12, 1990. I arrived with a group of business people and Cyrus Vance and I had a private meeting with Milosevic. Observing how he talked and acted I could not come to any other conclusion than Milosevic being a common gangster. You know, those types from Mafia movies with cigars in their mouths, who try to express themselves very theatrically but in reality are selling fog. The American ambassador at that time in Belgrade, Warren Zimmerman, spoke of Milosevic as a charming person. I was shocked. I said to him: "Don't you see that he is a gangster?" Unfortunately I was right, because it was soon apparent that the war and all the crimes were initiated by Milosevic, that he was a liar and a politician who did not honor agreements nor his signature. Interviewer: You were the vice-chairman of the International Conference for former Yugoslavia in the negotiations regarding the arrival of UNPROFOR in Croatia. Could the war had been prevented in Croatia if the West had intervened in time? - When I was in Belgrade in 1990 I asked everyone - from Milosevic to ordinary people, taxi drivers, waiters - do they think it will come to war, they all answered, can you imagine, that this is not possible. My experience told me that this was not correct, that war was coming because I did not trust Milosevic. I asked him for instance on the eve of elections in Serbia if the JNA (Yugoslav National Army) has a considerable role in the country. He answered that it does not. "Mr. Okun", he said, "we are building democracy". The next day a saw his picture with the JNA generals in the Politika (newspaper).I warned that one cannot trust him. But Milosevic knew how to manipulate the foreign media and politicians. He constantly kept repeating that "Croatians are making necklaces from fingers of Serb children". Just imagine such statements! The West tried to stop the war more than is known or deduced in public, but Milosevic did not want it. Lord Carrington and Cyrus Vance offered a plan for the so-called peaceful separation of all sides in Yugoslavia, but while Croats accepted discourse plans, were signing everything and showing that they want peace, in Belgrade everything was the opposite. Interviewer: What were your impressions of President Tudjman?- I can say openly that I liked Tudjman because he was a serious politician who kept his word. True, he had a rigid style of behavior which many falsely interpreted, especially western journalists, but all my experiences with Tudjman are positive. After all, Tudjman, who led his country in war, with an imposed arms embargo, could not act like Gandhi. He was cooperative, wanted peace and actively participated in negotiations in the Haag, Geneva and Zagreb. They resented that he changed street names from the communist times and while he was doing that, Milosevic was killing Croatians in eastern Slavonia. I was with Tudjman when the exodus of Croatians from Ilok began. He said to me: "Mr. Ambassador,do something, it is terrible what my people are experiencing". then Vance called Milosevic but he answered that he does not know what he is talking about, that he has nothing to do with Ilok. That man never spoke the truth. Tudjman was intelligent, he knew history, and speaking openly, with his leadership Croatians through Operation Storm and other military actions saved Bosnia Herzegovina. At a meeting in Sarajevo in 1991 Izetbegovic told me that he will demand of the JNA to leave BiH and I asked him: "Where is your army, who will defend you if the JNA does not comply?" I quickly realized that in Bosnia only the Croats offered organized defense and saved it from downfall, something often kept quiet by the media as well as politicians. Interviewer: You created the Vance plan which stopped the war in Croatia. Did you have difficulties in the realization of the plan? - After some fifteen armistices pronounced by the EC which no one honored, we turned to a different logic, and that was that the armistice is not declared by us but by the opposing sides. At that time the Serbs were already prepared for the Bosnia campaign and had therefore relatively quickly accepted the armistice. When I presented the contents of the plan to Tudjman, he immediately asked several questions, such as the status of the police which had warned about the vulnerability in the plan. Later on, these questions were shown to be correct, as the Serb side used it to evade their obligations. Interviewer: How much do Americans know about Croatia and why don't they invest more into the economy?- Let us be realistic. Croatia is for Americans far away, but it is more and more attractive for tourism. It is important for Croatia to have an economy office in Washington, a strong diplomacy which will keep good ties with Condoleezza Rice. Holding international conferences in Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, to which are invited American and world leaders is the right way, because once someone is acquainted with Croatia it is not easily forgotten. Croatia needs to develop its economy, needs to keep its people in the country, that they don't emigrate worldwide. Be patient, because with the blossoming of the economy come jobs and a better life. Croatia is a very beautiful country, don't forget that its geographical position is strategically important and you have the Adriatic coast, outlet to the sea - and what a sea, one of the most beautiful in the world.   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 17 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7182/1/E-The-Death-of-Slobodan-Milosevic---15-years-too-late.html THE DEATH OF SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC - 15 YEARS TOO LATEBy John Peter KraljicThe death of Slobodan Milosevic brought the expected platitudes concerning his trial. Though the amateurishness of the ICTY and its prosecutor dwarfs anything we saw in the O.J. Simpson trial, we heard many lament about how Milosevic's trial ended so close to a verdict. Carla del Ponte herself pontificated about how the proceedings would have ended within the next few months. Most reporters accepted her claim at face value.But such acceptance is inexcusable in light of del Ponte's lack of credibility. This is the same person who claimed that General Ante Gotovina had been hiding in Croatian monasteries and had been assisted by the Vatican, claims proved false once Spanish authorities arrested the General and discovered his passport. Del Ponte has also continuously predicted at various times that the turn over of Karadzic and Mladic to the ICTY was imminent, prognostications which have always proven wrong.May be the bookmakers in Las Vegas will start taking bets on whether a prediction made by del Ponte will prove to be right. The odds would definitely favor the house.We should not mourn the fact that Milosevic had not been subject to a verdict. What would should mourn is the fact that he died 15 years too late.Even in jail Milosevic continued to be a dangerous man. As we saw in the expressions of sympathy emanating from Belgrade prior to and during his funeral, Milosevic remained a lightning rod for the same forces which supported his rise to power, forces which continue to publicly call for the annexation of Croatian and Bosnian territories into a Greater Serbia.With Milosevic off the stage, these forces will not disappear, just as they did not disappear with the defeat of the Chetniks and Draza Mihailovic at the end of World War II. However, without a living martyr in The Hague, modern-day Chetniks can only rely on fast fading memories of their hero rather than on a stream of statements, accusations and lies that would have come from Milosevic's jail cell.A number of victims of Milosevic's military campaigns appeared on our TV screens bemoaning Milosevic's early death and the lack of a verdict. I certainly understand such need for some people. Had Milosevic suddenly died a decade ago, I would have shared the same sentiment.However, the ICTY has taught us that the outcomes of its proceedings are completely irrelevant. Indeed, while Croatian journalists reported on the Milosevic trial, it remained, for the most part, not front page news. This has proven to be the case not just with Milosevic but with every other Serb indictee.An analysis made by Vitomir Miles Raguz in his recent book, Da nije bilo Oluje - Who Saved Bosnia, offers some insight as to why the ICTY's proceedings have been so anti-climatic for Croats and probably for Bosniaks and Albanians as well. Raguz writes that the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina have been structured in such a manner as to result in the alienation of Croats from that state and its future.A similar analysis can be applied to the ICTY. Proceedings at the ICTY are exclusively controlled by persons who have no "stake" in the outcome of any trial, other than as a means to advance their own professional careers. The Croats, Bosniaks and Albanians play no visible role at the ICTY other than as witnesses (and sometimes as defendants and defense counsel).Moreover, the ICTY has had little visible effect on the main perpetrators of the crimes, the Serbs. To the contrary, Greater Serbian nationalism remains politically potent.If Milosevic's demise proves anything, it is that the ICTY is a bankrupt institution. Whatever importance the small caste of international bureaucrats attach to its proceedings, the ICTY has neither provided a sense of justice to victims nor assisted in the de-Chetnikization of Serbian society.Serbia today is a defeated nation but it has not suffered the defeat and renaissance of post-World War II Germany, Italy and Japan. Instead, the Serbia of today is akin to the defeated Germany after World War I, Weimer Germany. The extreme right in Serbia, as in Weimer Germany, remains strong. The death of the "Butcher of the Balkans" will hopefully strengthen those forces in Serbia which seek to live in peace with their neighbors at the expense of those wanting more war. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 22 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7183/1/E-Croatia-at-odds-with-EU-over-fishing-policy.html  Croatia at odds with Brussels over fishing policy  21/03/2006Croatia's plan to modernise its fishing fleet has run afoul of EU officials, who say it conflicts with rules governing fishing in the Adriatic.By Kristina Cuk for Southeast European Times in Zagreb-- 21/03/06The Croatian government is planning to build 26 fishing boats to help the struggling fishing industry. However, the idea has run afoul of EU officials, who say it is a bid to compete with neighbouring Italy, which currently enjoys a near-monopoly over fishing in the Adriatic. With its vast fleet, Italy now catches around 90 per cent of fish in the area, while Croatia catches around 7 per cent. Mutual fishing policy bars an increase in the Croatian fleet. Money from the EU budget assigned for the fishing industry is to be used solely for education and modernisation -- or for converting fishing boats into vessels for tourism. However, Zagreb argues that the building of new boats amounts to reconstruction and modernisation of its antiquated fleet, not an addition per se. Moreoever, Croatian officials say, the ships would be used for fishing of small bluefish, which are not endangered in the Adriatic, and thus the project does not conflict with the EU's environmental criteria. Strengthening Croatian fishing is a part of the Sanader administration's stated goal of strengthening the maritime component of the country's economy. At the same time, however, the government has made a pledge to observe EU principles. Once it becomes an EU member, Croatian fishermen will be subject to regulations from Brussels that stipulate the type and quantity of fish they may catch. The main thrust of the EU's policy is to protect the fishing industry from depletion, especially in the North Sea. Some 270,000 families on EU territory make a living from fishing, and vanishing stocks threaten their livelihood, as well as endangering biodiversity. However, the policy has repeatedly come under fire by conservationists and other opponents -- who say it continues to set unsustainable quotas and is used by some countries to protect their interests at the expense of others. Objections to the EU policy have been voiced in Croatia, with some saying it puts the country's fishing sector in a poor position. However, a working group tasked with studying the problem concluded that the country could move ahead with modernising its fleet up until the time of its entry into the bloc. http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2006/03/21/feature-03  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 21 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7181/1/E-The-Future-of-Bosnia-and-Herzegovina-Conference-Declaration.html  The Future of Bosnia and Herzegovina Conference Declaration  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 20 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7180/1/H-Upucen-poziv-za-povlacenje-potpisa-sa-Daytona.html  CHICAGO-Sa skupa hrvatske i bošnjačke zajednice u AmericiUpućen poziv za povlačenje potpisa saDaytonaNa prvoj zajedničkoj skupštini održanoj poslije 1992. godine,predstavnici hrvatske i bošnjačke dijaspore u Americi i Kanadi zauzeli su stavda je Daytonski ustav neadekvatan za moderno europsko uređenje BiH, te daga treba ukinuti i zamijeniti novimPiše Rudi TomićU hotelu Crowne Plaza, Chicago održana je 4. ožujka zajedničkaSkupštinapredstavnika hrvatske i bošnjačke zajednice u Americi i Kanadi, nakojem su bilinazočni čelnici gotovo svih vjerskih i društvenihorganizacija. OrganizatoriSkupa bili su Bećir Tanović, predsjednik bošnjačkogameričkog koordinacionogodbora i dr. Ante Čuvalo, predsjednik Saveza Hrvata BiH u Americi iKanadi. Na prvoj zajedničkoj skupštini poslije 1992. godine, predstavnicihrvatske ibošnjačke dijaspore u Americi i Kanadi zauzeli su stav da jeDaytonski ustavneadekvatan za moderno europsko uređenje BiH, te da ga treba ukinuti izamijeniti novim. Čuli su se i zahtjevi za ukidanje entiteta jer onipredstavljaju glavnu kočnicu za preustroj ove zemlje i njenokonačno prerastanjeu funkcionalnu europsku državu. Skup su na početku pozdravili vjerski dostojanstvenici Fra MarkoPuljić,kustos Hrvatske franjevačke kustodije za SAD i Kanadu, te dr.Senad ef. Agić,imam Islamskog centra za Chicago i okolicu, s prikladnim uvodnimriječima odanašnjoj situaciji u Bosni i Hercegovini, gdje se tamošnjim narodimaponovonameće Daytonski koncept demokracije. Pročitane sučestitke i podrške političkihi vjerskih predstavnika iz domovine i dijaspore. Iako pozvani,dužnosnici StateDepartmenta nisu se pojavili na konferenciji. Na skupu je pročitano pismo asistenticepomoćnice državnog tajnika.Ipak, organizatori konferencije pozvani su u američko Državnotajništvo narazgovore o ustavnim promjenama u BiH. Također je važno naglasitida je na ovomSkupu bila otvorena mogućnost i predstavnicima trećeg entiteta- Srbima, da ioni uzmu učešće na sastanku, ali se nisu odazvali pozivu. No,organizatori sunaglasili kako im je ostavljena otvorena mogućnost za sudjelovanjena budućimsastancima sličnih sadržaja.Tijekom održavanja skupa razvila se živa i zanimljiva diskusija, gdje susudionici uskladili nacionalna i vjerska stajališta, uz potpuno poštivanjeposebnosti svakog naroda. Da je tome tako najbolje potvrđuječinjenica da sudelegati jednoglasno usvojili obe Rezolucije, koje su bile predstavljeneSkupu.Uz neke tehničke ili gramatičke ispravke, postignuta jesuglasnost, te su ta dva,najznačajnija dokumenta, usvojena i potpisana. U sljedećihtjedan dana,organizatori planiraju poslati pročišćeni tekst konsenzusom usvojenih dviju rezolucija na adresu StateDepartmenta, ali iu sjedište UN-a i Europskoj uniji. U rezolucijama se traži ukidanjeDaytonskogustava i entitetske podjele BiH na tri dijela, uključujući Brčko distrikt. Rezolucija ćetakođer biti uručena ipredstavnicima međunarodnih institucija i ustanova, koje su na bilokoji načinvezane uz sudbinu naroda koji žive u Bosni i Hercegovini.S pouzdanjem je očekivati da će ove Rezolucije rasvijetlitineka pitanja koja sudugo bila potiskivana, s nakanom kako bi se zadržao sadašnji oblikvladavine uzneke manje nužne izmjene. Međutim, svi oni koji budu zaduženi zaoblikovanjemoderne i demokratski uređene države Bosne i Hercegovine, nećemoći zaobićiiznesene činjenice, koje su naglašene u ovim dokumentima i koje suizrazslobodne volje predstavnika dvaju naroda u dijaspori, kao što su biliizraženi ureferendumu 1. ožujka 1992. godine.U Chicagu je dogovoreno, između ostaloga, da će predstavniciBošnjaka i Hrvatautemeljiti jedno koordinacijsko tijelo, kao savjetodavnu udrugu, koja bivodilaračuna da se među ovdašnjim zajednicama promiče idejameđusobnog prihvaćanja isuradnje, što bi imalo stanoviti utjecaj i na dužnosnike u BiH. Potrebnoje,nakon toliko godina rata i nedaća, da se politika usmjeri premabudućnosti, a neustrajno potenciranje prošlosti, koja je imala tragične posljediceza sve narodena tim prostorima, rečeno je. Na ovoj konferenciji u Chicagu je sudjelovao i bivši ministar vanjskihposlovaBiH i njen prvi veleposlanik u UN-u Muhamed Šaćirbej, koji je tomprilikomizjavio da želi povući svoj potpis sa Daytonskog mirovnog sporazumajer gaposlije toliko godina počinje osjećati kao moralno ipolitičko breme: "Pozivam iostale potpisnike iz BiH, Harisa Silajdžića, Ivu Komšića, MiruLazovića, tepotpisnike iz Hrvatske, Srbije i ostalih zemalja koji su stavili svojepotpisena Daytonski sporazum, da razmisle o tome", poručio jeŠaćirbej. Sudionici Skupa:Bošnjačke udruge: Bosnian-American Cultural Association, SDAChicago USA forB&H, Bosnian American Information Center, I.A.B.N.A., IslamicCultural Center ofGreater Chicago, ICC Women's Group, BACA Women's Group, Congress ofBosniaks ofNorth America, Bosnian Islamic Cultural Center. Hrvatske udruge: Alliance of Croats of Bosnia and Herzegovina, CroatianFranciscan Custody in USA and Canada, Croatian Fraternal Union of America,Croatian Catholic Union of USA, Croatian Academy of America CroatianAmericanAssociation, National Federation of Croatian Americans, Association forCroatianStudies, Croatian Cultural Association "Napredak". nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 19 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7184/1/E-W-Balkans-countries-to-join-CEFTA-Croatia-won-its-case.html  W. Balkans countries to join CEFTA, Croatia won its case 09/03/2006(Brussels, DTT-NET.COM)-The dispute between Croatia and the EU is expected to be resolved soon as all countries of the Western Balkans region are expected to join Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA), a European body charged for regional cooperation said on Thursday.Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe ( SP for SEE), said in a statement today that authorities of Western Balkan countries and Moldova together with existing members of CEFTA and Bulgaria, Moldova and Romania are to meet in April and give a political boost to the new upgraded CEFTA agreement.“On 6 April, one of the Stability Pact’s long-standing objectives the creation of a single FTA in South Eastern Europe (SEE) –will receive a strong political boost. The Prime Ministers of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro and The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and representatives of UNMIK (representing Kosovo) will meet in Bucharest at the invitation of the Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu and the Special The Special Co-ordinator of the SP for SEE Erhard Busek to politically launch the negotiations to achieve the single FTA through the simultaneous enlargement and amendment of CEFTA, “ a statement of SP for SEE said.European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, will also attend the meeting.The interest shown by other countries of the region to join CEFTA followed strong lobbing of Croatia in the regional capitals, amid Zagreb refusal in January to the European Commission suggestion that Western Balkan countries should establish a new free trade zone, and incorporate 31 bilateral agreements into single one. Croatia rejected the call of EC and argues that countries should join existing free trade agreement of CEFTA and avoid creating a new one.The strong rejections by Croatia have made the EU’s executive body and some of its member states to show flexibility and consider the CEFTA as an option for Western Balkan nations.EU officials have said that the 25 nation bloc has nothing against Western Balkans countries joining the CEFTA, but called for membership criteria to be softened as countries from the region are not members of World Trade Organisation. Croatian government (which chairs the CEFTA currently) has also called on Ukraine and Moldova to join the organisation and both countries have positively responded to Zagreb’s offer.Macedonia signed the membership agreement on 27 February.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.Current discussions between EC, SP for SEE and countries are focused on the changes necessary to be made at CEFTA related to accession of W. Balkans countries.“CEFTA membership originally stipulated that a member of CEFTA has to be a member of the World Trade Organisation and that it must have institutionalised relations with the EU. This would have ruled out several SEE countries/territories. This issue was resolved following the CEFTA meeting of Prime Ministers in November last year. Membership criteria are now inclusive but still demand high standards of trade policy.” reads the statement of SP for SEE.It also said that the procedures required to accede to CEFTA must be changed (simplify the procedures) so that there could be a simultaneous group enlargement and immediate amendment of the text in the course of 2006 (to meet the ministerial request). http://www.dtt-net.com/en/index.php?page=view-article&article=1192&CMSSESSID=d04c2671108e0dcdf120f15107a3912a  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 08 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7185/1/E-Connor-Vlakancic-launched-campaign-for-the-US-Senator.html  Connor Vlakancic, launched campaign www.connorvlakancic.com www.connorvlakancic.com nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 13 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7188/1/E-Almost-Joint-Declaration-Signed-on-Adriatic-Euroregion-Launch.html  Croatia: Almost Joint Declaration Signed on Adriatic Euroregion Launch 14:54 - 07 February 2006 - Representatives of local authorities from six Adriatic countries signed in Venice a declaration on the launching of the Adriatic Euroregion aiming to strengthen economic development, security, social cohesion, and environmental protection in a region populated by 22 million people, Hina News Line agency reports. Representatives from Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro and Albania attended the conference. The Adriatic Euroregion will be formally launched after the six states' regional representatives adopt the Euroregion's statute estimated the procedure to be finalised in July. Ivan Jakovcic, head of the northern Croatian Adriatic County of Istria, was elected president of the Euroregion, which will be based in Pula, Croatia, but will also have an office in Brussels. Speaking of the significance of the declaration, Council of Europe Secretary-General Terry Davis said the Adriatic was rich in terms of history, culture, and natural resources, but had been burdened with wars throughout history adding that this was the reason it was necessary to draw lessons from that and build a better and safer future, notably through interregional cooperation. Jakovcic stated that without the Adriatic's east coast there was no real or integral Europe. Slovenia did not sign the declaration because authorized representatives of its maritime municipalities did not attend the conference. The Adriatic Euroregion's objectives include preservation of the stability of its regions, strengthening of social and economic cohesion, sustainable development, the advancement of agriculture, fisheries and tourism, and environmental protection. The Adriatic Euroregion will unite seven Italian regions, three Slovene maritime municipalities, seven Croatian counties, Bosnia's Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, Montenegro, and seven Albanian provinces. http://www.reporter.gr/fulltext_eng.cfm?id=60207145420   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 12 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7186/1/E-Croatia-needs-thousands-of-immigrants-daily-says.html  Croatia needs thousands of immigrants, daily says.  (Op-ed: Is that so? How come that Croatian Diaspora is not aware of it? NB) 04.02.2006 Croatia needs 15,000 immigrants annually to preserve the present number of its population and the government is working hard on its plans to attract citizens of Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgarian newspaper Sega reports. The front page article entitled "Croatia Seeks Immigrants from Bulgaria" says that immigrants Croatia is interested in, should be aged below 40 and be well educated, referring to Yakov Gelo, member of the Croatian government’s Demographic Policy Council. The average salary in the country is 700 dollars, the newspaper adds.Source: AXIS INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS (AIA) http://www.southeasteurope.org/subpage.php?sub_site=2&id=16291&head=hl   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 06 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7187/1/E-Croatia-Delivers-Protest-Note-Over-Assault-On-Diplomats-In-Belgrade.html  Croatia Delivers Protest Note Over Assault On Diplomats In Belgrade Croatia delivered a protest note to Serbia and Montenegro on Thursday over a physical assault on two of its diplomats in Belgrade last night, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration said in a press release.Assistant Minister Damir Kusen handed the note to Ambassador Radivoje Cveticanin in which the Croatian side harshly protested against the assault and demanded a complete report on what was being done.Croatia said in the note it expected the perpetrators to be found and punished as soon as possible and wanted guarantees for the safety of the Croatian Embassy staff in Belgrade.Cveticanin expressed regret over the incident, voicing conviction that everything would be done to find and punish the culprits.The two diplomats were physically assaulted on Wednesday evening in the Senjak neighbourhood, where the residences of a number of diplomats are located, Serbian Interior Ministry spokeswoman Dragana Kajganic told Hina today.Deputy Ambassador Branislav Loncar and first secretary Boris Herceg were attacked as they were sitting in a car with diplomatic licence plates. Four persons lunged at the vehicle, with one of them smashing a window and hitting Herceg, who was in the driver's seat and sustained light injuries.Police arrived shortly after the incident but the attackers had fled, said Kajganic, adding that an intensive search for them was under way.Speaking to the press in Budapest after a session of the Croatian and Hungarian governments, Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said he assumed this was an isolated incident which had no other political implications.Friday , 27 January 2006http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=25157   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 27 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7189/1/H-Postavite-pitanje-odvjetniku-Ivanovicu.html  Gostovanje M. Ivanovica odvjetnika Ante Gotovine na www.hrvati-amac.com http://p078.ezboard.com/fhrvatiamacforumfrm51.showMessage?topicID=538.topicgdje mozete postavljati pitanja. darko.belovic@inet.hr nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7190/1/E-NFCA-Press-Release-on-H-Res-529.html  National Federation of Croatian Americans (NFCA) in Final Stage of H. Res. 529 CampaignPress Release December 9, 2005, Washington, DC:The National Federation of Croatian Americans (NFCA) is pressing forward with what will hopefully be the final stage of its campaign for approval of H. Res. 529. This Resolution is a “Sense of Congressâ€? Resolution commending the Republic of Croatia for the progress it has made since the end of its victorious war for independence ten years ago, and the Resolution recommends she be given full membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) at the earliest possible date. H. Res. 529 was introduced by Congressman Elton Gallegly (R-CA), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe and Emerging Threats. It is co-sponsored by 34 Members of the House of Representatives, including Congressional Croatian Caucus Co-Chairs Representatives George Radanovich (R-CA) and Peter Visclosky (D-IN). Caucus Co-Chairs Radanovich and Visclosky were prime co-sponsors of H. Res. 529.Having been approved by unanimous consent in the House International Relations Committee (HIRC) on November 16, 2005, H. Res. 529 was moved to the House floor and had been tentatively scheduled for a vote this week, but it was deferred to next week due to scheduling considerations. In the interim, Croatian General Ante Gotovina was found in the Canary Islands by Spanish agents. This event necessitates a change in some of the language in H. Res. 529, and those amendments are currently being worked on in the Congress. In addition, the NFCA has been told that the U.S. State Department has informed the HIRC that it is dropping its opposition to H. Res. 529 due to the apprehension of the General.NFCA President Ed Andrus said today: "The finding of General Gotovina inSpain confirms the credibility of the Croatian government regarding theirpersistent assertions that he was not in the Republic of Croatia. The NFCAhas in the past and will continue to strongly question the factual and legalbasis for the indictment against him. We urge the entire Croatian andCroatian American communities to continue to work together to support hisdefense."The NFCA’s Andrus continued and noted that “after complying with 626 demands of the International Crimes Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), the Republic of Croatia deserves better treatment from the world community including the United States. The strong support for Croatia expressed by the U.S. Congress within H. Res. 529 should be just the beginning. NATO will find an excellent partner for peace and stability in South East Europe with the Republic of Croatia as a full member. She has shown great leadership among her neighbors in this potentially volatile region through her implementation of individual freedoms, democracy, and the rule of law.â€?The next order of business is to get H. Res. 529 approved by the full U.S. House of Representatives. It is expected to be scheduled for a House vote on Wednesday, December 14, 2005. “The NFCA, which has been at the forefront of this bill since its inception, must now pull out all the stops and re-energize our members and the entire Croatian American community to support this Resolution.â€? Andrus further requested: “All Croatian Americans should continue to help build the momentum that the NFCA has helped create on this Resolution. Please have your friends and families make contact with your Representatives in the Congress and let them know how much we want them to support this all-important H. Res. 529. We need all Congressional Members on board for a big win next week!â€?NFCA Headquarters: 1329 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20036. Telephone: 202-331-2830. Web page address: www.nfcaonline.com . NFCA Government Relations Director Joe Foley can be contacted on 301-294-0937. NFCA Development Director Erik Milman can be reached at the NFCA Washington Office and via email:nfcahdq@verizon.net .   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 22 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7191/1/E-Zagreb-to-Host-EU-Enlargement-Conference.html  University of Zagreb to host EU Enlargement ConferenceThe Faculty of Law at the University of Zagreb,Croatia, will host a conference on EU enlargement fromMonday to Wednesday, Sept. 5-7. 2005The conference titled “The European Union: Past andFuture Enlargements” is being organized by theUniversity Association for Contemporary EuropeanStudies, based in the United Kingdom.A pre-conference day trip and welcome reception willbe held on Sunday, Sept. 4.A sizable portion of the conference will focus onCroatia’s and the rest of Southeastern Europe’s EUaspirations.Featured speakers include Erhard Busek (SpecialCoordinator, Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe);Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic (Croatian Minister of ForeignAffairs and European Integration); Samuel Issacharoff(Columbia Law School); and Boris Vujcic (CroatianNational Bank, Zagreb).For more information, visit www.uaces.org/zagreb.htm .   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 15 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7192/1/E-Connor-Vlakancic-Candidate-for-US-Senat.html  Connor Vlakancic Candidate for US Senatwww.ConnorVlakancic.com Greetings to Croatian-Americans,Since my previous communications, I have gathered solid achievements in forwarding my deliverable to be elected the first Croatian-American US Senator. And from California too, as this is very appropriate given the many similar characteristics between The Republic of Croatia and the Republic of California. There is now an introduction to my campaign at:www.connorvlakancic.com  .The singular imperative is now to emphasize that my election is attainable, and that my election will be achieved with the resultant focused recognition for Croatian objectives. For those people who would think such an accomplishment, to unseat the current Senator Diane Feinstein is impossible, here is a progress report of many of my activities and achievements, with the implications, to validate the conclusion of my elect-ability. The content is of such length so as to include the many Croatian-American events that I have attended, as I desire to confirm my appreciation for such considerable support as has been shown to me. However, perhaps you will just desire to only read those paragraphs that are most relevant to your own conclusion that I can and will achieve election as the first Croatian-American US Senator.I am now a Trustee at the Committee for Economic Developmentwww.ced.org  . CED is the highly regarded non-partisan U.S. national policy think-tank (located in WDC). I was installed on 13 May in New York during the annual CED event. A part of my agenda is to forward an official relationship with an appropriate national policy think-tank in Croatia. I also have my own specific agenda to closely network together the 24 CED Trustees in California to establish a business purpose compatible media news distribution channel in support of my controversial California initiative-proposition for Licensed Alcoholic Beverages.During this mid May visit to New York, I developed a close personal relationship with Nenad Bach who has earned considerable Croatian recognition. Nenad attended the CED event as a reporter to all Croatian media outlets. We are now collaborating to communicate my U.S. campaign directly to the Croatian community through his CROWN web site www.croatianworld.net  or www.croatia.org , and effectively express Croatian issues to the general media as my campaign activities are implemented.Additionally during May, I visited at length with Consul General Marica Matkovic in Chicago and Consul General Petar Ljubicic in New York. Also Vedran Matosic from the Tourist Board of Split and Nena Komarica from the Croatian National Tourist Office. In each meeting establishing a personal level of rapport and support for news distribution of my candidacy throughout the Croatian American community. I also met with Jeanne Oliver of Lonely Planet who produced the Croatia Traveler Guide Book at her promotion event in New York where there was keen media attention for Croatia.I subsequently flew to attend the Young America’s Foundation (YAF)www.freedomfest.com  youth leadership training event in Las Vegas, NE. I meet with Ron Robinson, President of YAF and the many youth leaders that continually refresh the President Ronald Reagan conservative legacy to all Americans. President Reagan and I were both born in conservative Northern Illinois, within fifty miles of each other (different year). I was invited to encourage Croatian-American youth to seek attendance to the West Coast Leadership Conference in Santa Barbara, CA in November 2005. (See 1994 details at:http://www.yaf.org/conferences/regional/conference.asp )I also enjoyed the Las Vegas Croatian-American picnic. Zoran Sova described my introduction to the picnic revelers in a Croatian Chronicle newspaper story. I won a bottle of Maraska Slivovica in the raffle whereupon the only logical action was to open it and share it all around with much lively “Ziviliâ€?.Returning to New York in late June, I visited the new office of The Croatian Chronicle newspaper and enjoyed a meeting with Visnja Miocic and Vanessa Lucin that resulted in a comprehensive profile in the June issue. While the story says: “hopes to become … Senatorâ€?, “hopeâ€? is not in my vocabulary. I am determined to achieve this result and I have now (on 11 July) captured the California infrastructure support to assure my position on California’s November 2006 General Election ballot.Following my CC interview, I spent a week in WDC meeting with CED and other strategic organizations and with 15 congressional members and Chief of Staff on Capital Hill. While it was a challenge to explain to the entrenched career-politician mindset how a controversial, but thoroughly logical, California initiative-proposition will capture the independent minded rancor of California’s electorate to accomplish my election, I did in fact accomplish this objective. This fact was demonstrated by serious questions and many genuine requests for follow-up details.Also, as a new National Federation of Croatian Americans Delegate, nominated by Ed Andrus, President, I had several personal conversations with Croatian Ambassador Jurica in Omaha, NE during this annual meeting of NFCA Delegates on 5 June 2005. Ambassador Jurica requested my attendance to the Croatian Independence celebration on 22 June at the embassy. This event was an outrageously excellent reception, with Chef Ivo Svircic in command of the repast such that you could believe you were at a party in Zagreb.Ambassador Jurica and I solidified our relationship and specific goals in support for my election campaign that I subsequently discussed at length with Marijan Gubic, Deputy Chief of Mission. I previously had the pleasure of meeting Marijan in Varazdin on 5 October 2002 when he coordinated a conference with The Institute of World Politics that included the honorable Thomas Patrick Melady, (previous U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican).I had also just previously attended the Croatian Independence celebration on 16 June in Los Angeles that was organized by Consul General Sanja Juraga. Sanja introduced me to the audience as the future first Croatian-American US Senator. This being particularly valuable as this was an entirely California event. Then on the following Sunday was the annual St. Anthony Festival Picnic on Father’s Day, with delightful weather, in the Sierra Madre foothills. Now on Sunday 10 July, I attended the Dalmatian-American Club picnic in San Pedro. Responding in a loud cheer to my question: Anybody here live in California?, I explained the significance of my California initiative, they all “got itâ€?.I should note that during most of these multiple Croatian community functions and picnics, that wherever Ambassador Jurica could not attend himself, his most splendid second and his charming wife (the same person), Dunja Jurica, was in attendance and fully engaging with everyone. She is truly an Ambassador in her own right.Now of utmost consequence, on 11 July, in meetings in Los Angeles, I established the definitive support required to achieve my critical campaign objective of being on the November 2006 General Election ballot as the new Independent candidate for US Senator from California to replace Senator Diane Feinstein. I have joined “Californians for Fair Redistrictingâ€? in united actions with Bill Mundell (Chief Mission Director) as he has dramatically accomplished qualifying the initiative-proposition (with 951,766 voter signatures) that provides a new redistricting process of California’s 53 U.S. Congressional, 40 State Senator and 80 State Assembly Districts by an impartial panel of retired judges. This legislation will terminate the entrenched career politician’s power to create gerrymandered districts that isolates themselves from electorate reprimand. I will immediately take an active role in promoting ongoing Northern California media attention to the developing political issues.Bill and his team have the proven expertise, the financial lure and the effective infrastructure to gather the 156,000 (even times ten) voter signatures to qualify my position on the November 2006 ballot based on Californian’s popular acclaim of my controversial initiative-proposition which will therefore also be on the November 2006 ballot. Furthermore, I met with Douglas Johnson, Fellow, at The Rose Institute (Claremont McKenna College) that has also been driving California’s reapportionment effort for over twelve years. I am attending a graduate level political leadership program at the Rose Institute during this coming September. The president of Claremont McKenna College, Pamela Gann, is also an active Trustee of CED. Such positive implications abound with many of the CED Trustees located in California.My controversial California initiative-proposition for Licensed Alcoholic Beverages will create a formal education program of all sociological, physiological and legal issues of alcoholic beverage consumption. Graduates of this training and certification will be awarded legal authorization to consume licensed beverages in California in public. A stellar value in this program will be their substantial youth mentor competencies to reduce to elimination “Power Hourâ€? alcohol consumption amongst the “just turned 21â€? population and new sources of tuition funding to students who have graduated with certification in recognition of their demonstrable risk reduction. Additionally, this legislation will eliminate the current California statutes that presume it a crime for parents to share alcoholic beverages, often of ethnic character, with their children at home. (In San Pedro, they all “got itâ€?). Seewww.generation18-20.com  for a brief description of a proposed wine beverage college course syllabus.The current campaign imperative is to further expand distribution of news of my candidacy. Your willingness to inform your substantial network of contacts will be significant in building recognition for the election of the first Croatian-American US Senator. Lastly, but of a critical imperative, my business is importing and distributing Zigante Tartufi (truffle infused olive oil) from Istria, Croatia. I request your introduction of 5 STAR Truffle Affair product availability to the gourmet restaurants of Croatian owners/chefs (however they may be disguised in name) in support of a lively sales distribution that finances all objectives and activities. In the world of politics, such Croatian gourmet food and fine wines, are in themselves also a valuable election campaign tool to my becoming the first Croatian-American US Senator.Thanking you in advance for your interest and support, Sincerely,Connor Vlakancicconnorv@gmail.com   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 22 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7193/1/E-Ivo-Sanader-at-the-Council-on-Foreign-Relations-in-Washington.html  Dr. Ivo Sanader in Washington DC Croatia's Prime Minister Ivo Sanader speaks to the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, Wednesday, July 20, 2005. Sanader spoke about Croatia and the new Euro-Atlantic integration agenda. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 20 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7195/1/E-Mediterranean-Quarterly-Croatia-in-the-New-Millennium.html  Croatia in the New Millennium:Toward EU and NATO MembershipPrime Minister Dr. Ivo SanaderMediterranean Quarterly, Vol. 16, No. 1, Winter 2005Croatia has come a long way since independence in advancing social, democratic, institutional, and economic reforms at home and pursuing the goal of joining the Euro-Atlantic community. The strategic objectives of our foreign policy are to join the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The Croatian government is working diligently on preparing Croatia for the challenges of membership by adopting key policy measures aimed at improving the business environment and attracting foreign investment and know-how. Croatia is also working toward reforming its judiciary and public administration and protecting the environment to preserve Croatia’s natural assets so that generations to come can enjoy the splendor and the azure calm of the Adriatic Sea and the magic of its thousand islands.I was privileged to be in Dublin on 1 May 2004 to witness the historic enlargement of the EU. It was one of those rare moments when one genuinely senses an irrevocable, historic step forward, a long-time dream of many generations becoming a reality. As the prime minister of Croatia, being present at the expansion of the EU from fifteen to twenty-five members reinforced my commitment to ensure that Croatia is part of the next wave of enlargement and that we, too, take our place at the heart of a growing union.I believe that this historic enlargement process has a continuous, inclusive, and irreversible character. The EU stands for economic prosperity and cooperation; it means stability and security. Above all it is the shared values of the members that stand out so strongly. The new enlargement has inspired a common vision of a better tomorrow stemming from the same values, the same principles, and the same dedication to European integration. I believe no European nation that shares and is committed to this vision and the fundamental values of parliamentary democracy, the free market economy, the rule of law, and human rights should be left behind. Croatia is also convinced that enlargement contributes directly to the strengthening of the EU. The frontiers of Europe’s values are expanding, and each new country adds to united Europe’s capacity to fulfill its global role. Believing that the true potential of the European project will not be realized until the countries of southeastern Europe join the EU, I warmly welcomed the EU decisions in spring 2003 in Thessalonica to open real EU perspectives for all the countries of this part of Europe.Croatia has worked hard to move closer toward membership in the EU. A major step forward in achieving this important strategic objective was taken on 18 June 2004, when our country was officially granted the status of a candidate country, thus joining Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey in this select club. The accession negotiations are expected to commence in early 2005, and I have no doubt in their successful outcome. Croatia has already demonstrated its reform-making and decision-taking capabilities through the fulfillment of the Copenhagen Criteria required for candidate status. This achievement is a milestone in Croatia’s integration process into Europe. The start of accession negotiations will enhance future reforms and economic policies conducive to advancing structural reforms in the legal, regulatory, and judicial areas and will achieve harmonization with the EU.Croatians harbor no illusions about the challenges that candidate and associated countries face along the long and demanding road to accession to the EU. In Croatia, support for European integration has been consistently high. Our citizens are aware of the benefits and the costs of entering the EU. My government and I are also acutely aware that integration in the EU will not be an easy process for some segments of the population, and that we have to do everything in our power to mitigate negative aspects of integration. That is why we have embarked on a number of reformsâ€"no matter how painfulâ€"that will prepare the country for the challenges and opportunities of membership. It is abundantly clear that postponing reforms only makes their implementation more difficult in the future. I have no doubt that the Croatian government and people have the strength, knowledge, and determination to bring about positive change. After all, the hard work and reform-oriented policy are the best possible investments in a country’s future.To succeed abroad, we have to do our work at home. Achieving the central pillars of our reforms hinges on improving social and economic conditions as well as on strengthening our institution-building capacity. Croatia’s economic policy rests on measures aimed at improving competitiveness, raising exports, and enhancing the business environment for domestic and direct foreign investment. Croatia is also establishing a transparent business environment aimed at reducing the bureaucratic barriers to investment, fighting corruption, and improving the legal framework.A key factor of Croatia’s economic policy is to encourage the development of the private sector, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises that will spur job creation and increase exports. In recent years, Croatia has worked intensively to implement key reforms, harmonizing numerous laws, regulations, and practices with the acquis communautaire in order to achieve full compatibility with EU standards. And now we are prepared and deter mined to embark on this process with full commitmentâ€"not only the government but also the citizens and the public in general.Croatia is preparing a nine-point program to spur economic growth and job creation that will increase the country’s competitiveness and boost exports. This economic plan aims to bolster small and medium-sized enterprises and attract greenfield and brownfield investments. The program encompasses the following measures:1. improving the business climate,2. restructuring and rehabilitating public enterprises,3. accelerating privatization,4. removing administrative barriers and red tape,5. ensuring legal security and acceleration of procedures,6. introducing tax reforms,7. reducing the gray economy,8. introducing fiscal discipline, and9. supporting small and medium-sized enterprises.In addition, the Croatian government has taken steps to create a new agency to facilitate inward investment through a one-stop-shop approachâ€"the CROATIAINVEST initiative. The economy has been robust: Croatia has a record of solid growth and low inflation over the past decade and real gross domestic product growth has averaged about 4.5 percent, with inflation in the low single digits. In this context, Croatia’s performance is comparable to many of the EU members.Croatia is fully committed to sparing no effort to strengthen democratic values and principles, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the development of an adequate framework for the full enjoyment of these rights and values by all its citizens. The Croatian government has clearly proven in practice its unequivocal commitment to protect the rights of all individuals belonging to national minorities. The validity of this policy is confirmed by the support of the representatives of national minorities that my government enjoys in the parliament.Furthermore, the Croatian government has also made an important contribution to the creation of adequate conditions for and has undertaken necessary measuresâ€"including the allocation of significant financial resourcesâ€"in support of a process for the return of refugees, restitution of property rights, and the reconstruction of property damaged as a result of the war. All these steps have had an impact on the creation of a climate of tolerance, confidence, and prosperity throughout the country. Along with paying tribute to the tremendous dedication and persistence demonstrated by the Croatian people during the difficult war years, the Croatian government wishes to turn a new page, look toward the future, and offer all Croatian citizens a better life, unburdened of the national disputes and wrangling of the past.Croatia is fully committed to continuing its full cooperation with the Inter national Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). This cooperation has evolved significantly and has been positively assessed by the inter national community, including the tribunal itself and the chief prosecutor. In addition, Croatia is prosecuting war crimes cases through its own judicial system and stands ready to take over some of the cases from the ICTY.Croatia’s relations with neighboring countries are based on the principles that regional and crossborder cooperation are indispensable components of regional security, democratic stability, prosperity, and economic development. Croatia today as a candidate country for membership in the EU stands ready to assume another important responsibilityâ€"to serve as a model country in southeastern Europe, encouraging and assisting its eastern neighbors to achieve their Euro-Atlantic ambitions. The prospect of EU membership has proved to be the best incentive for countries in Central and southeastern Europe to implement comprehensive political, economic, institutional, and democratic reforms. This formula, which has worked well so far, needs to be applied throughout southeastern Europe.The progress that Croatia has made with respect to achieving candidate status for membership in the EU represents an incentive rather than a barrier to others in the region as the affirmation of a clear European perspective for all. Our first-hand experience can well serve those who are following us along the difficult path we are traveling toward Brussels.Croatia’s determination to be part of the EU is inseparable from friend ship and partnership with the United States. We firmly believe in the enduring values, principles, and interests that bind the transatlantic community. Croatia is committed to joining Euro-Atlantic institutions not only because of the economic, security, and democratic benefits but also because there is no alternative to a robust European and American relationship. The Atlantic bridges Europe and America rather than divides them. Croatia refuses to choose between the EU and the United States; it is in the strategic interest of Croatia to be part of the former and to be as reliable a partner as possible with the latter.In terms of national security, membership in NATO is Croatia’s main objective. In a rapidly changing and increasingly turbulent and unpredictable global environment, we believe that our security will be best served collectively within NATO. In addition, membership in NATO will enable Croatia to assume a more active role within a community of nations that share the same values, principles, and interests.The threats we face today are profoundly different from the very visible and powerful adversary of yesterday. They are unpredictable and difficult to detect, but two of them clearly stand outâ€"terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. If synergized they could bring upon mankind devastation on an unforeseeable scale. A regional crisis, if neglected and mishandled, can also grow into a major threat to global security. In order to adequately prepare for all these threats, NATO is transforming and modernizing itself. It has accepted new members that provide Europe and the world with more stability. No country can do it alone, no matter how big and powerful it is. For that reason, good bilateral relations, crossborder and regional cooperation, constructive multilateralism, and Euro-Atlantic integration remain the bedrock of Croatia’s foreign policy.NATO is arguably the most successful political and military alliance in history and it is quickly adapting to new challenges in an ever-changing and complex world. Through its elaborated structures and effective missions, NATO has become a key player in shaping cooperative security in the postâ€" Cold War Europe. The admission of seven new members represents a historic moment for the alliance and marks the end of the division of Europe in more ways than one. However, the epic process of unifying Europe and making it whole, free, and stable is still not complete, and the NATO enlargement process, as much as the EU’s similar process, must continue with the same momentum.Croatia has actively worked as a partner with NATO allies through the Partnership for Peace and will seek out opportunities to further contribute to the evolution and efficiency of the alliance. We presented our first Annual National Program shortly after the November 2002 Prague summit as a key precondition to joining NATO. Having completed the second Membership Action Plan cycle, Croatia made an important additional step toward full membership and has proven to be a stable and fully functioning democracy with a vibrant market economy. To achieve full membership in NATO, Croatia has embarked on key reforms, including efforts in the judiciary and defense, that are designed to prepare the country for future tasks as a member of the alliance. My country is no longer a consumer of security but rather has become a major generator of stability in the wider region. We are already contributing to various NATO missions and expect to be invited as a full member at the next enlargement summit.Though Croatia has been a recipient of international security operations by hosting a number of United Nations peacekeeping missions on its territory, it is now a net provider of security. Croatian officers and soldiers are presently active in seven UN peacekeeping operations throughout the world as well as in the NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan. Croatia recently signed a joint agreement with Germany on sending civilian administrators to Afghanistan to help that country rebuild its civil infrastructure, accordingly expanding the scope and substance of its activities in this immensely important mission.Croatia has worked intensively with its partners on forging security in the region of southeastern Europe through the US-Adriatic Charter of Partner ship. This initiative brings to the same table the United States, Croatia, Albania, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. It sends a powerful message of our commitment to regional cooperation and promotes the core values of the Euro-Atlantic partnership: freedom, peace, good neighborly relations, stability, and prosperity. Through the US-Adriatic Charter, we are working with our partners to ensure that the region builds strong democracies, both working individually and sharing best practices on reforming economic, military, and political institutions. Croatia appreciates and values the support the United States has provided us under the auspices of the US- Adriatic Charter. It certainly represents another milestone toward the goal of a Europe whole and free, stretching from the Baltic to the Adriatic Sea, from the North Sea all the way to the Black.Croatia in the twenty-first century sees itself firmly anchored in the Euro- Atlantic community. Our determination to be part of united Europe is inseparable from our commitment to forge a long-lasting partnership and close cooperation with the United States. Our membership in the EU and NATO will undoubtedly bring benefits to the citizens of Croatia, but this is not the only inspiration that guides us. We believe that Croatia’s geographic position at the crossroads of Central Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Balkans represents a unique added value both to the EU and NATO. On the way for ward in this process of our integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions, Croatia wants to be judged on its own merits and ability to contribute to the collective interest, security, and shared values. I know that we can do what has to be done. And I remain convinced that for Croatia the best is yet to come. http://www.croatiaemb.org/in%20the%20spotlight/Mediterranean%20Quarterly%20Essay.htm  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 18 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7194/1/E-Yushchenko-meets-with-the-president-of-Croatia.html  Yushchenko meets with the president of Croatia  The meeting of presidents of Ukraine and Croatia, Victor Yushchenko and Stjepan Mesić, is held in Kiev. The Ukrainian side is represented by the state secretary Alexander Zinchenko, the minister for foreign affairs Boris Tarasyuk, the minister of defence Anatoly Gritsenko, the ambassador of Ukraine to Croatia Victor Kirik and other officials.After the tête-à-tête meeting the presidents intend to join the official delegations and to continue negotiations. It is planned to sign bilateral Ukrainian-Croatian documents, in particular, joint presidents’ communiqué, agreement between Ukraine’s Cabinet and Croatia’s Government about mutual protection of secret information, memorandum about mutual understanding between the open joint-stock company "State export-import bank of Ukraine" and "Croatia bank of reconstruction and development."Having signed the documents the presidents will hold a press-conference for Ukrainian and Croatian Mass-Medias. Later on Mesić will visit the Glory Square and lay flowers on a grave of Unknown Soldier.Mesić's agenda also includes a lunch with the prime minister of Ukraine Julia Timoshenko and a meeting with the deputy chairman of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Adam Martinyuk.Mesi