http://www.croatia.org/crown en-us http://www.croatia.org/crown N/A letters@croatia.org Sun, 12 Feb 2012 05:13:41 -0700 20 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10232/1/NFCACF-Supports-New-Visa-Waiver-Program-Reform-Legislation-in-US-Congress.html The National Federation of Croatian Americans Cultural Foundation (NFCACF) has announced it's full support for reform of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) which would include Croatia's participation. In a recent letter to the US Senate Judiciary Committee, NFCACF President Bill Vergot cited full support for S. 2046 as another "crucial milestone for the growing relationship between our two countries.  The 'Visa Waiver Program Enhanced Security and Reform Act of 2012’ would enable Croatia to soon join the VWP. foleycoinc@earthlink.net (Joe Foley) Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10215/1/REFERENDUM-AFTER-THE-FINAL-VERDICT-FOR-CROATIAN-GENERALS.html The Geneva convention states that: ”Nothing in this Protocol shall be invoked for the purpose of affecting the sovereignty of a State or the responsibility of the Government, by all legitimate means, to maintain or re-establish law and order in the State or to defend the national unity and territorial integrity of the State.”! In stark contrast to these proclamations, the EU punished Croatia by abolishing the Phare programme on only the second day of the liberating military operation “Storm”, calling upon false accounts of excessive shelling of Knin. Following on from this logic, the prosecution of the ICTY indicted the Croatian Generals and fabricated the legal norm of a “joint criminal enterprise” so that it would be able to charge the entire Croatian civil and military leadership. ... darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko ®ubriniæ) Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10201/1/VUKOVAR-1991---2011-CRIME-WITHOUT-PUNISHMENT---ZLOEIN-BEZ-KAZNE.html Remember Vukovar! darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko ®ubriniæ) Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10184/1/Law-for-cooperation-with-Croats-outside-of-the-Republic-of-Croatia.html The final draft of the law regarding cooperation with Croats outside of Croatia has been published. This new law is a completely new approach in regulating relations between Croatia and Croats outside Croatia in the fields of culture, education, economics, and sports. This new law has yet to be ratified by the Croatian Sabor and is slated to be voted on in the coming weeks. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Sun, 09 Oct 2011 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10178/1/The-EU-Accession-Treaty-for-Croatia-has-been-published.html Polish prime minister Donald Tusk officially delivered Croatia's EU accession treaty text to the head of the Croatian government, prime minister Jadranka Kosor, at a ceremony in Zagreb on September 17 2011. The Croatian government has published the treaty and posted it online. Croatia plans to sign the treaty in December 2011 and it will need to be ratified by the EU members. Croatia would also need to hold a referendum on joining the EU. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Wed, 21 Sep 2011 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10166/1/Badinter-Committee-decided-on-factual-recognition-of-Croatia-on-7-September-1991-.html Robert Badinter is French lawyer, university professor and politician. Badinter’s arbitration commission, established by the European Community, stated that Croatia and Slovenia acquired their sovereignty on 7 September 1991, and from that date Croatia and Slovenia are independent and sovereign states. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Fri, 09 Sep 2011 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10149/1/Visnja-Anics-1991-letters-from-Croatia-to-M-Thatcher-H-D-Genscher-H-Kohl-and-A-Mock.html The letters by Vi¹nja Aniæ, professor of English and German, Zagreb, illustrate some of endeavours of Croatian intellectuals in the defense of Croatia from Serbian aggression that started in 1991. She was then employed at the Foreign Languages School in Zagreb. She is also a talented artist, who introduced the concept of "painting with the sea" with her husband. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko ®ubriniæ) Thu, 04 Aug 2011 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10142/1/PRIJEDLOG-ZAKONA-O-ODNOSIMA-REPUBLIKE-HRVATSKE-S-HRVATIMA-IZVAN-REPUBLIKE-HRVATSKE.html Ustavom Republike Hrvatske utvrðena je ustavna obveza Republike Hrvatske da ¹titi prava i interese svojih dr¾avljana koji ¾ive ili borave u inozemstvu i promièe njihove veze s domovinom. Temeljito proèitajte dokument, pro¹irite ga, po¹aljite prijateljima koji imaju ideje i znaju ih napisati. Predugo smo èekali ovakav dokument da bi pro¹ao samo kao jedna od toèaka na Saborskim sjednicama. Dakle, radi se o dokumentu koji æe se pretoèiti u zakon, i tu smo u prilici sugerirati, savjetovati, tra¾iti i obrazlagati sve ¹to nas ti¹ti, ¹to nam nedostaje, ¹to mozemo pobolj¹ati, pojednostaviti te ubrzati procese sjedinjenja dijaspore i matice domovine. Idejni zaèetnik dokumenta je Dr. Ivan Bagariæ. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 15 Jul 2011 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10141/1/A-Strong-Voice-for-Croatian-Canadians-The-Legislative-Legacy-of-Borys-Wrzesnewskyj.html Outside of this strong legislative record, Wrzesnewskyj delivered several statements on the floor of the House of Commons including: commemorating the anniversary of Boris Cikovic’s death, drawing attention to the need to lift visitor visas for Croatia, urging the recognition and commemoration of the internment of Croats in Canada from 1914 to 1921, and paying tribute to martyred Aloysius Cardinal Stepinac. Over the years, Wrzesnewskyj attended or addressed several Croatian Canadian gatherings in his capacity as Member of Parliament. These have included the annual business awards ceremonies of the Canadian-Croatian Chamber of Commerce, the summer gatherings of Croatian Fraternal Union Lodges, and the special mass celebrated by Josip Cardinal Bozaniæ in Toronto. stangranic@hotmail.com (Stan Granic) Thu, 14 Jul 2011 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10135/1/Dr-Hrvoje-Kacic-The-Hague-Tribunal-omits-establishment-of-the-truth.html Dr. Hrvoje Kaèiæ, distinguished Croatian expert in maritime law, gave two interviews. In the first one he describes the importance of the decision of the Badinter Comission on 7 September 1991 about factual recognition of Croatia. The second interview concludes that the Hague Tribunal does not meet the goals for which it was established. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 27 Jun 2011 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10132/1/The-Croatian-Academy-of-America-Issued-New-Volume-of-the-Journal-of-Croatian-Studies.html The Croatian Academy of America issued volume 44 of the Journal of Croatian Studies, its annual interdisciplinary review. Contributed articles by Darko ®ubriniæ: William Feller (1906-1970) - an outstanding Croatian-American mathematician, Vinko Grubi¹iæ: The three alphabets used in the printing of Croatian Reformation books in Germany, John Felix Clissa: Migration history of the Italo-Croatians of Molise to Western Australia, Jure Kri¹to: Brother's keeper The surveillance of American Croats by FBI during World War II, Stan Granic: Canadian Ethnic Studies (1969-2003) and Polyphony (1977-2000) as sources for the Croatian Ethnological Community stangranic@hotmail.com (Stan Granic) Wed, 15 Jun 2011 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10127/1/Homeland-defense-is-a-right-not-a-crime.html  It is time to judge the judges. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko ®ubriniæ) Wed, 08 Jun 2011 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10123/1/18th-Annual-Convention-of-the-NFCA-to-Take-Place-in-Pittsburgh-June-4-2011.html  The 18th Annual Convention of the National Federation of Croatian Americans Cultural Foundation (NFCA) will take place in Pittsburgh on June 4, 2011 at the Clarion Hotel in Greentree, located just outside of Pittsburgh.  Delegates from throughout the United States are expected to attend. foleycoinc@earthlink.net (Joe Foley) Fri, 03 Jun 2011 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10122/1/US-Senator-Jeff-Sessions-to-Deliver-Keynote-Address-in-Opatija-Croatia-.html The Adriatic Institute for Public Policy will host a regional conference for elected officials and reform proponents at the International Leaders Summit in Opatija, Croatia, June 16-18, 2011. The Adriatic Institute for Public Policy is pleased to announce that United States Senator Jeff Sessions will deliver a keynote address at Adriatic Institute's International Leaders Summit. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Fri, 03 Jun 2011 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10117/1/Mijo-Juric-Wolves-in-Springtime-in-German-with-foreword-by-Dr-Alois-Mock.html Mijo Juriæ's book "Wolves in Springtime" - Life under a Dictatorship, has been published in German with a foreword of dr. Alois Mock, former vice-counceller and minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Austria, while the afterword wrote dr. Hannes Swoboda, distinguished Austrian politician. It is an expanded version of his book "Osamnaesto proljeæe" (Eighteenth Spring) published in Croatian in Zagreb. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 21 May 2011 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10116/1/Vlada-usvojila-Strategiju-odnosa-Republike-Hrvatske-prema-Hrvatima-izvan-Domovine.html Vlada Republike Hrvatske usvojila Strategiju odnosa Republike Hrvatske prema Hrvatima izvan Republike Hrvatske. Predvidjeno je i donosenje Zakona (kao instrumenta provedbe Strategije), Savjeta Vlade i Ureda Vlade za Hrvate izvan RH (operativnog tijela), izvjescuje za CROWN Dr. Ivan Bagariæ (lijevo), Predsjednik Odbora Za Hrvate Izvan Republike Hrvatske. Strategy for the relations between the Republic of Croatia and the Croatians outside the Republic of Croatia. ivan.bagaric@zg.tel.hr (Dr. Ivan Bagaric) Thu, 19 May 2011 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10112/1/Dr-Slobodan-Lang-quotStormquot-was-humanitarian-operation-that-prevented-genocide.html Dr. Slobodan Lang, distinguished Croatian scholar and humanist, gave interview for the readers of the CROWN on 25 April 2011 concerning the 1995 operation "Storm": "... This Court never heared me speaking! It is too strongly afraid of its own shameful history. And that's why it will be a Court of shame! There will be nothing that will be remembered of it, because it did not start from anything. And that's why it is a failure. ..." darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko ®ubriniæ) Sun, 01 May 2011 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10107/1/Statement-by-the-Croatian-Conference-of-Bishops-on-The-Hagues-Verdict.html The formulation "joint criminal enterprise" is an unfounded and grave insult to the Croatian people, and to justice in general. This is also how we feel about the verdict against the Croatian state leadership at that time and the generals who led campaigns to liberate territory during the war. We believe that these judgments could provide dangerous and indirect support for new violence, as well as a source of further injustice in the world. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko ®ubriniæ) Wed, 27 Apr 2011 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10105/1/Blessed-Easter-to-Mr-Gotovina-Mr-Markac-Mr-Praljak-Mr-Kordic-and-their-families.html  Happy and blessed Easter to Mr. Ante Gotovina, Mr. Mladen Markac, Mr. Slobodan Praljak, Mr. Darijo Kordiæ, and their families from Nenad Bach, Darko ®ubriniæ, CROWN Team and from the readers of the CROWN. Happy and blessed Easter to all the people of good will. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko ®ubriniæ) Fri, 22 Apr 2011 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10056/1/Vitomir-Miles-Raguz-Who-Saved-Bosnia.html A number of articles in this collection appeared in influential publications in the West, including the largest circulation English language policy daily The Wall Street Journal, The Jerusalem Post, European Voice, and The Harvard International Review, as well as in Croatian newspapers and magazines. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 16 Apr 2011 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10000/1/Jack-Baric-Croatian-American-filmaker-UN-Should-Be-Trailed.html Jack Baric: "...I wonder who is going to open a court to judge the UN, because in my estimation they were complicit during the war [in Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina] in the sense of their inactivity in stopping it..." His film Searching for a Storm deals with Croatian general Ante Gotovina. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 16 Apr 2011 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10096/1/The-Hague-Tribunal-does-not-meet-the-obligations-for-which-it-was-established.html Dr. Hrvoje Kaèiæ, writing about omissions of the Hague tribunal and the problem of “artillery logs”: ...there is no word of Vukovar, Vinkovci, Osijek, Sisak, Gospiæ and Dubrovnik (in particular the village of Osojnik), resulting in thousands of victims. The Hague tribunal was silent,... This farce has been going on too long, and the consequences can be worrying and painful. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Tue, 29 Mar 2011 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10095/1/Dr-Slobodan-Lang-Goodness-has-a-right-to-be-recognized-as-a-part-of-truth.html Dr. Slobodan Lang, distinguished Croatian humanist and scientist, learned from Gandhi to treat concrete people with their faith and culture as basic partners in facing and solving problems. He also developed the concept of Postholocaust, meanning that we have to use it as a way to prevent future genocides, concentration camps, hate, as well as promote the universal responsibility of righteous among nations and right to a home. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Thu, 24 Mar 2011 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10072/1/Dr-Kathleen-V-Wilkes-1946-2003-devoted-her-life-to-the-victory-of-Croatia.html Dr. Kathleen Vaughan Wilkes was a distinguished British humanist, professor of philosophy at the University of Oxford, and also taught at the Inter-University Centre in Dubrovnik, Croatia. During the Serbian siege of the City in 1991 and 1992, she was spreading the truth about its merciless destruction. Dr. Wilkes wrote on Dec 26, 1991: "Dubrovnik... there is still no water or electricity, scant food, no glass in the windows, temperature at freezing point..." darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Fri, 11 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10071/1/Dr-Hrvoje-Kacics-book-Serving-My-Country-translated-into-several-languages.html Prof. dr. Hrvoje Kaèiæ is a distinguished Croatian specialist in maritime law.  Since 1990 he was an independent M.P. of the Croatian Parliament, elected chairman of the Committee for Foreign Affairs during the first mandate. From 1994 to 2001 he was president of the State Commission for Borders of the Republic of Croatia. His book Serving My Country has been published in Croatian, English (three printings), Spanish and German. It will soon appear in Ukrainian and Polish. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Thu, 03 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10068/1/Dr-Slobodan-Lang-and-his-concept-of-the-Challenge-of-Goodness.html Dr. Slobodan Lang, professor of medical ethics at the University of Zagreb and at Harvard, is best known for his tireless work on humanitarian issues, without precedent in contemporary history. He initiated the concept of „Challenge of Goodness“ and proposed and presented prevention of hate and genocide, protection of hospitals, prisoners of war and refugees, as well as responsibility for goodness by human beings during conflict. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 29 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10048/1/James-J-Sadkovichs-monograph-quotTudjman-the-first-political-biographyquot.html James Sadkovich is the author of the monograph Tudjman: prva politicka biografija, his first political biography, in 2010, Zagreb (in Croatian). He is an independent scholar who holds a Ph.D. in history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  Dr. Sadkovich completed the initial research for this monograph  while a Public Policy Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. We provide an interview by Julienne Eden Bu¹iæ. julienne-eden.busic@zg.htnet.hr (Julienne Busic) Sat, 11 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10038/1/NFCA-Leaders-Meet-With-US-State-Department-and-National-Security-Council.html A delegation of members of the National Federation of Croatian Americans Cultural Foundation (NFCA) met with the White House’s National Security Council staff and several US State Department policy officials earlier this month to discuss the current status of relations between the United States and Croatia and to express their concerns about the ongoing problems faced by Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). foleycoinc@earthlink.net (Joe Foley) Sun, 21 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9953/1/Tom-Rukavina-Croatian-American-running-for-Minnesota-governor.html Tom Rukavina, from northern Minnesota is in the running for governor of Minnesota as a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. He has a reputation as a straight talking, hard working and passionate advocate for what's best for Minnesota. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Mon, 05 Apr 2010 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9943/1/Dr-Ante-Cuvalo-Croatia-at-the-crossroads-1990.html The following is an article written in June of 1990 by dr. Ante Èuvalo, distinguished Croatian historian, after the first free elections in Croatia.  It was published in the then émigré publication, Hrvatska revija [Croatian Review], No. 3, September, 1990, pp. 601-605. We provide it as a parallel Croatian and English text. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Thu, 18 Mar 2010 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9937/1/17th-Annual-NFCA-Cultural-Foundation-Convention-to-be-held-May-15-2010.html The National Federation of Croatian Americans (NFCA) Cultural Foundation 2010 Assembly of Delegates will take place in Monroeville, Pennsylvania within the Greater Pittsburgh area, the weekend of May 14-16. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9933/1/Steve-Rukavina-met-Barack-Obama-at-the-White-House.html National Federation of Croatian Americans President Steve Rukavina (left) and his wife Diane met with President Barack Obama and the First Lady Michelle Obama at a December holiday party at The White House. The NFCA President was thrilled to meet the President and to extend well wishes from the Croatian American community. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9905/1/Miroslav-Tudjman-kandidat-za-predsjednika-Republike-Hrvatske.html Prof.dr. Miroslav Tuðman: politièki i gospodarski uspje¹na Hrvatska nije moguæa bez zajedni¹tva domovinske i iseljene Hrvatske. Iseljena je Hrvatska zaslu¾na za stvaranje hrvatske dr¾ave, ali je i ¹ansa za na¹ br¾i oporavak i gospodarski razvoj. I sada je priljev sredstava od dijaspore veæi od 3% BDP-a. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9902/1/NFCA-Fall-2009-newsletter-is-now-available.html The Fall issue of the Croatian American Advocate, published by the National Federation of Croatian Americans is now available. Read about NFCA efforts in Washington, D.C. and what you can do to support this organization and their work. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9884/1/Konvoj-Libertas-plovi-prema-hrvatsko-slovenskoj-granici-7-studenog-2009.html Znameniti Konvoj Libertas plovi prema hrvatsko-slovenskoj granici 7. studenog 2009. Prikljuèite se! Kontakt: Zvonimir ©eparoviæ, na e-mail  adresu zvonimir.separovic@zg.t-com.hr (u zaglavlje staviti Konvoj Libertas). Ugro¾eni su hrvatski nacionalni interesi. A famous convoy Libertas sails to the Croatian-Slovenian border on November 7th, 2009. Join! Croatian national interests are in danger. zvonimir.separovic@zg.t-com.hr (Branka ©eparoviæ) Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9883/1/Davorin-Rudolfs-appeal-to-Croatian-Parliament-to-reject-humiliating-dictates.html Academician Davorin Rudolf's open letter to Croatian Parliament on the new Croatian-Slovenian arbitration agreement dealing with the common state border:  ... We invite and appeal to the representatives of Croatian Parliament to ... unanimously reject the dictates and blackmails that humiliate us ...  davorin_rudolf@yahoo.com (Academician Davorin Rudolf) Sat, 31 Oct 2009 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9861/1/NFCA-Delegation-Meets-US-Ambassador-to-Croatia-James-Foley.html A National Federation of Croatian Americans (NFCA) delegation of Steve Rukavina, Zvonko Labas, Joe Foley, and NFCA Fellow Jelena Rudela met with the newly approved U.S. Ambassador to Croatia, James Foley, at the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday September 1st. Cathy Westley, the State Department’s Croatian Desk Officer, also met with the NFCA delegation. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 08 Sep 2009 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9826/1/James-B-Foley-is-new-US-Ambassador-to-Croatia.html US President Barack Obama will nominate James B. Foley (left) as new US ambassador to Croatia. Foley's nomination must be approved by the US Senate. Foley, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, will succeed Robert Bradtke, who is leaving in July. Bradtke has been ambassador since 2006. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 04 Jul 2009 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9825/1/Julienne-Eden-Busic-Your-Blood-and-Mine-waiting-for-Zvonko-for-32-years.html Julienne Eden Bu¹iæ's speech at the book promotion, "Your Blood and Mine", held in an overcrowded hall of the Mimara Palace in Zagreb, May 21, 2009, in the presence of her husband Zvonko, both on the photo from 1970s. They met each other again in 2008 after 32 years of separation. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9813/1/NFCA-2009-Assembly-of-Delegates-formalize-new-agenda.html The National Federation of Croatian Americans (NFCA) just completed its 16th Annual Assembly of Delegates this past weekend. The delegates came to Washington to discuss and formalize the NFCA's new agenda in this promising era of full NATO membership for the Republic of Croatia and a new political environment for Croatia and the Croatian American community. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Mon, 15 Jun 2009 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9778/1/The-Vukovar-Hospital-1991-important-monograph-about-its-tragedy.html The English edition of the monograph The Vukovar Hospital 1991 has been published in 2008 by the Vukovar Hospital and "Society of the Croatian doctors and volunteers in 1990-1991". Its Organizer council consists of Dr.  Vesna Bosanac, Dr. Juraj Njavro, and Dr. ©tefan Biro. Especially important is an article by professor Andrija Hebrang, entitled: Silence of the International humanitarian organizations about the tragedy of the Vukovar Hospital. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 13 Apr 2009 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9763/1/Croatia-in-NATO-on-April-3-2009-NFCA-newsletter.html Republic of Croatia is scheduled to formally join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) together with Albania at a summit marking the bloc's 60th anniversary during April 3-4. 2009. The NFCA is pleased to have contributed over the years to this great accomplishment for the Old Homeland. May Croatia long enjoy the peace and prosperity that is a by-product of NATO membership. EAAndrus@comcast.net (Edward Andrus) Fri, 03 Apr 2009 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9753/1/Brian-Gallagher-interviewed-Croatian-American-filmmaker-Jack-Baric.html Exclusive interview with American Croatian filmmaker Jack Baric, the director of the new film, 'Searching for a Storm', published by Croatian Herald (Australia) 13 March 2009. New documentary about 'Operation Storm' which liberated the occupied parts of Croatia in 1995, and saved the city of Bihaæ in BiH from tragedy. Interviewer: Brian Gallagher, London; Jack Baric on the photo. brigall@yahoo.co.uk (Brian Gallagher) Sat, 21 Mar 2009 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9733/1/Pliva-In-Memoriam-ili-Kuda-quotplivaquot-na-Hrvatski-brod.html Povijest Plive zapoèinje otvaranjem vrata dionièarskog dru¹tva i tvornice "Ka¹tel" u Karlovcu 1921.g. Prvi je predsjednik odbora prof. dr. Gustav Janaèek. Ovaj tekst je geneza jedne Hrvatske prièe,  da se  ne bi ponovila. Kuda "pliva" na¹ Hrvatski brod. Mo¾emo li bolje? Odgovor znamo, ali tko ima petlje odraditi to s integritetom,  po¹tenjem i znanjem? Ima nas samo se tek povezujemo. doroteja.kirhmajer@zg.t-com.hr (Doroteja Kirhmajer Vujèiæ, mr. sci.) Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9713/1/Davor-Pavuna-Croatian-Physicist-in-Obama8217s-Science-Team-chosen-by-Steven-Chu.html  Steven Chu, Nobel Prize winner and Obama’s energy minister, has named Croatian physicist prof. dr. Davor Pavuna as one of the reviewers of projects at the U.S. Department of Energy. Reviewing projects for the DOE will be an enormous challenge because it will focus on avant-garde research that, among other things, includes new materials, high-temperature superconductivity, so-called green energy and green technologies. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 31 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9703/1/Boris-Miksic-considering-run-at-Croatian-presidency.html Boris Miksic has amassed millions from his White Bear Township business Cortec Corp. Now, he said all he wants to do is give back to his country of Croatia - as its president. If he runs for the office in 2009, it won't be the first time. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9688/1/Reflections-on-the-final-report-of-the-Genocide-Prevention-Task-Force.html  “Preventing Genocide: A Blueprint for U.S. Policymakers” is an extremely important political and cultural event, not only for the American government but also for the countries and nations which have recently suffered tragic genocidal experiences (Rwanda and Bosnia) or are experiencing them right now (Darfur and Congo). slaven1947@gmail.com (Prof.Dr. Slaven Letica) Fri, 02 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9685/1/U-Hrvatskom-Saboru-utemeljen-Odbor-za-Hrvate-izvan-Republike-Hrvatske.html Sa zadovoljstvom vas obavje¹æujemo da je odnedavno u najvi¹em zakonodavnom i predstavnièkom tijelu Hrvatske, Hrvatskom Saboru, utemeljen Odbor za Hrvate izvan Republike Hrvatske.  Kako biste se mogli bolje upoznati s radom odbora, u prilogu vam ¹aljemo podrobniji prikaz njegovog sastava, ovlasti i uloge. ivan.bagaric@zg.tel.hr (Dr. Ivan Bagaric) Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9662/1/Croatian-village-celebrates-victory-of-US-senator-Mark-Begich.html Mark Begich's victory in the U.S. Senate race in Alaska is being celebrated in a Croatian village where his grandfather once lived. Begich's grandfather left the small village of Podlapaca in central Croatia almost a century ago to seek a better life in America. Croatian Nikola Begic, who says he's the new senator's cousin, was quoted by one paper as saying their extended family had endured poverty and wars in the past, so the senator's victory "may be God's reward now." letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9659/1/Mark-Begich-the-first-Croatian-American-US-Senator-Begich-wins-in-Alaska.html Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich (D) increased his lead over convicted Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) to 3,724 votes on Tuesday with almost all of the remaining ballots counted, and the Associated Press has now called the race for the Democrat. Smile of relief, so well deserved. Croatians all over the world are celebrating tonight, a historic race. Mark is entering Senate at the right moment in history as a critical democratic Senator. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9638/1/Croatian-Americans-for-Obama-Biden-2008.html "In these uncertain and tough times, Croatian Americans, like all Americans, are looking for a President that provides steady leadership and puts the middle class first," said Representative Peter Visclosky (IN). "Barack Obama will be that President – a President who, by his example, demonstrates that achieving the American dream is still possible." letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 18 Oct 2008 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 -0700 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. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 17 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0700 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. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0700 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 -0700 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 -0700 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 -0700 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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.vrljicak@gmail.com (Joza Vrljièak) Wed, 01 Aug 2007 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 24 Jul 2007 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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.  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 09 Jul 2007 01:00:00 -0600 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. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 09 Jul 2007 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 27 Jun 2007 01:00:00 -0600 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. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 24 Jun 2007 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9082/1/Croatia-Today---May-2007.html     : presscro@yahoo.com (Josip Babiæ) Wed, 20 Jun 2007 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 01 May 2007 01:00:00 -0600 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.   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 28 Apr 2007 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 -0700 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 -0700 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 -0700 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 -0700 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 -0700 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 -0700 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 -0700 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 -0700 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 -0700 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 -0700 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 -0700 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 -0700 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 -0700 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 -0700 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 -0700 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 08 Jul 2006 01:00:00 -0600 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 01:00:00 -0600 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.   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 17 May 2006 01:00:00 -0600 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. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 22 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0700 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  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 21 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0700 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  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 20 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0700 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". letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 19 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0700 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  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 08 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0700 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 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 13 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0700 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   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 12 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0700 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   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 06 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0700 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   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 27 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0700 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 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0700 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 .   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 22 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0700 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 .   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 15 Aug 2005 01:00:00 -0600 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   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 22 Jul 2005 01:00:00 -0600 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)   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 20 Jul 2005 01:00:00 -0600 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  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 18 Jul 2005 01:00:00 -0600 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.Mesić will also visit the National historical and cultural reserve "Sofia Kievskaya" and will conduct the meeting with representatives of Ukraine’s and Croatia’s business circles. http://en.for-ua.com/news/?id=1372   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 15 Jul 2005 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7196/1/E-Israeli-PM-Sharon-Met-with-Croatian-PM-Sanader.html   Israeli PM Sharon Met with Croatian PM SanaderPM Sharon Met with Croatian PM Sanader 06:48 Jun 29, '05 / 22 Sivan 5765(IsraelNN.com) Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Tuesday evening met with visiting Croatian Prime Minister Dr. Ivo Sanader. At the start of the meeting, Prime Minister Sharon said that: “Relations between Israel and Croatia are improving and I am certain that the prime minister’s visit here will help advance bilateral relations,â€?Croatian Prime Minister Sanader said that: “I am pleased to be here and meet with Prime Minister Sharon. As Prime Minister Sharon has emphasized, I am certain that my visit to Israel will be an important stage in the development of bilateral relations and I am certain that we will discuss issues that are important to both of our countries and which will enhance bilateral cooperation.â€?Croatian Prime Minister Sanader expressed the Croatian people’s sympathy for the war against terrorism and the aspiration for security: “We in Croatia agree with Israel’s position that security is the most important thing.â€?The Croatian Prime Minister expressed his support for the disengagement plan, commended Prime Minister Sharon’s determination and said that the latter was the only leader who could carry out such brave steps.The two leaders agreed that the volume of bilateral trade was small and should be enlarged.Croatian Prime Minister Sanader invited Prime Minister Sharon to visit Croatia.http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=84801   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 05 Jul 2005 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7198/1/E-CAAs-16th-Annual-Croatian-Days-on-the-Hill-in-Washington-DC.html  CAA’s 16th Annual Croatian Days on the Hill in Washington, D.C. Croatian American Association2000 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Box 287Washington, DC 20006Telephone: 202-429-5543FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: www.caausa.orgCAA’s 16th Annual Croatian Days on the Hill in Washington, D.C.At the 16th Annual Croatian Days on the Hill lobbying campaign in Washington, D.C. from April 30- May 3, 2005, the CAA Board of Directors unanimously passed the following policy positions and presented them to both houses of the United States Congress - the Senate and House of Representatives - including the Administration:1. CAA supports the Senate confirmation of John Bolton as a major step toward United Nations reform which includes UN accountability and a better effectiveness in dealing with future global conflicts.2. CAA strongly believes that the Government of Croatia should move as quickly as possible toremove the Article 98 barrier to NATO membership.3. CAA supports the International Commission’s final Balkans report titled “The Balkans in Europe’s Future” stating that the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) should move away from its “focus on specific individuals” and allow domestic judicial systems to deal with war crimes.4. CAA urges members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House InternationalRelations Committee to help secure funding for minority resettlement in Bosnia-Herzegovina.5. CAA asks Congress and the State Department to follow the International Commission’srecommendations on the Balkans report, and to begin the process of leading to the end of the Bonn Powers and Paddy Ashdown’s removal.During CAA’s briefing with the National Security Council, a U.S. official retracted statements made by Ambassador Warren Miller during a White House ceremony in February 2005. Ambassador Miller accused Croatia of committing state-sanctioned genocide twice in the twentieth century. The CAA was assured by the Administration that Miller’s comments are not the position of the U.S. Government. The CAA is pleased by the reception that our issues received on Capitol Hill and with the Administration. We look forward to working with our elected representatives in achieving all our stated goals, reaffirm our commitment to promote the interests of Croatian Americans, and continue to be the voice of Croatian Americans in Washington, D.C.  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 09 May 2005 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7197/1/E-Denis-Macshane-gone-in-the-cabinet-reshuffle.html  Denis Macshane gone in the cabinet reshuffleTony Blair has sacked Denis Macshane in the cabinetreshuffle. He is out of government altogether.Douglas Alexander is his replacement as Minister forEurope. MacShane was one of only two casualties of thereshuffle, clearly demonstrating the low regard he washeld in. This was no secret, yet Zagreb thought he wassomeone important!Whether this changes policy remains to be seen.BrianMore about the Labour campaign | Special report:election 2005 Blunkett back to take on pensions reform Hewitt goes to health, Reid switches to defense andHoon dropped to leader of the house Michael White, political editorSaturday May 7, 2005The Guardian David Blunkett last night returned to the cabinettable with one of the hardest jobs Tony Blair couldoffer him, as a reforming works and pensions secretarywho must tackle the thorny problems of invalidity andprovision for old age.Four months after resigning as home secretary afterhis affair with the publisher Kimberly Quinn, MrBlunkett's appointment came in a reshuffle which sawthe newly re-elected prime minister struggling to makehis plans fit the colleagues he has at his disposal. In a signal which may put him at odds with theTreasury, Mr Blunkett said he would consult and listenbefore taking decisions, but that "nothing is offlimits". That amounts to a potential rebuff for Gordon Brown'sformidable lieutenant, the newly elected backbench MPEd Balls, who said during the election campaign thatthere would be no compulsory extra pensions savings. In other moves - more sweeping than expected - thecombative John Reid moves from health to defense andis replaced by Patricia Hewitt. Her post at trade andindustry will be filled by Alan Johnson, a formertrade union leader, after less than a year tacklingwhat is now to be Mr Blunkett's postbag. But Mr Johnson's department will be revamped, yetagain, as the Department of Productivity, Energy andIndustry, with the stress firmly on raisingproductivity, where Britain's position has slippedsince 1997. Geoff Hoon, whose term at defence was dominated by thepolitical fallout from the Iraq war - notably thedeath of the weapons scientist David Kelly - survivesin the low-profile role as leader of the Commons. He replaces Peter Hain, who now combines the Welsh andNorthern Ireland secretaryships. Officials refused to say whether Paul Murphy, aveteran minister in Belfast, had resigned or beenpushed. The only other casualty was Denis MacShane,the multilingual Europe minister, who is beingreplaced ahead of the promised EU referendum byDouglas Alexander, a Brown ally. The Whitehall rumour machine had suggested that MrBlair initially hoped to give his old ally, MrBlunkett, part of John Prescott's sprawling empire -the politically sensitive issues of housing and localgovernment renewal. But he was fought off by the deputy prime minister, atalmost 67 still an indispensable figure in the NewLabour coalition, a crucial link between No 10 and No11. Mr Prescott told the Guardian this week that he haddecided he needed a departmental base to remain a bigplayer and No 10's statement last night stressed hiscontinuing role chairing cabinet committees, promotingcross departmental issues, the North and overseasinterests. Many MPs fear it is too much. In a limited shake-up which saw Mr Brown, Jack Strawand Charles Clarke retain the three great departmentsof state - the Treasury, and Foreign and Home offices- Mr Blair also promoted Des Browne, the immigrationminister. In an unexpected move he becomes Mr Brown's deputy,chief secretary to the Treasury. John Hutton, No 2 athealth and long-tipped for cabinet rank, becomeschancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster - his friend,Alan Milburn's job until yesterday - in charge ofbetter regulation and driving forward public servicereform. The other cabinet newcomer is David Miliband, thehigh-flying Blairite who will now work with MrPrescott, in effect as his equivalent of chiefsecretary, a deputy who has cabinet rank. Mr Blair concluded that it would have beeninappropriate for such a senior figure as Mr Blunkett.Though Mr Blair is committed to more collegiateconduct - and discussed his appointments with Mr Brownand Mr Prescott - the changes will be seen by Labourministers and MPs as a sign of his long-termintentions, both personal and ideological. Who gets junior ministerial posts this weekend mayreinforce the impression which Blairites are keen tofoster that the prime minister will soon bounce backfrom the drubbing he got on Thursday night and driveforward his reformist agenda. He is in no mood to fall out with Mr Brown, asentiment likely to be reciprocated after the two menpatched up their well-advertised differences duringthe election. Mr Brown duly spoke out in support of greatercompetition in the provision of public services likehealth and education.  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 09 May 2005 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7199/1/E-Croatia-Japan-discuss-UN-reform-EU-membership.html Croatia, Japan discuss U.N. reform, Zagreb's future EU membership Monday April 11, 5:08 PM(Kyodo) _ Visiting Croatian Foreign Minister Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic and her Japanese counterpart Nobutaka Machimura discussed United Nations reform Monday, though Croatia has yet to express support for Japan's bid for a permanent U.N. Security Council seat, Grabar-Kitarovic said. Machimura conveyed Japan's support for Croatia's future membership in the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, she added. On the United Nations, the Croatian minister told Kyodo News in an interview soon after meeting Machimura that the two sides "discussed some of the aspects of the reform" but that Japan's bid for a permanent seat remains an issue for continued discussion and that Zagreb has yet to announce an official stance. Turning to Croatia's EU accession talks, scheduled for March 17 but shelved by the EU citing Zagreb's failure to hand over a war crimes suspect, Grabar-Kitarovic said, "We are hoping to reopen negotiations as soon as possible. We believe we are doing whatever we can and we hope that the EU will come to this conclusion." EU foreign ministers have refused to start membership talks with Croatia, citing its failure to help find war crimes fugitive Gen. Ante Gotovina. He is wanted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia for the alleged murder of ethnic Serbs at the end of the 1991-1995 Serbo-Croatian war. Croatia insists it has done all it can to find Gotovina, but U.N. tribunal prosecutor Carla del Ponte accuses it of not having tried seriously to arrest him. "We are very much determined to fulfill all the criteria for (EU) membership, including this criteria of cooperation with the ICTY and we would really like all the countries in the EU to reach this consensus," said Grabar-Kitarovic. Meanwhile, Croatia is expecting to get an invitation to join NATO in late 2006, together with Macedonia and Albania. As for bilateral relations with Japan, the Croatian minister said she and Machimura agreed there are no open issues between the two countries and that they both would like to expand cooperation especially in trade and multilateral initiatives. "We believe we can greatly contribute towards global stability --we both have experience in the past which taught us certain lessons that we can share with others and find more mutual understanding," she said. Grabar-Kitarovic arrived in Japan Sunday together with Croatian Deputy Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor. They are scheduled to attend the Croatian National Day at the 2005 World Exposition in Aichi Prefecture on Tuesday before wrapping up their visit the following day. http://asia.news.yahoo.com/050411/kyodo/d89d3t2g0.html   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 17 Apr 2005 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7200/1/E-Another-run-in-Croatia-Miksic-to-try-for-mayor-of-Zagreb.html  Another run in Croatia Miksic to try for mayor of Zagreb BY MARY BAUERPioneer PressPosted on Thu, Apr. 07, 2005 Imagine if, after losing the presidency by a hair's breadth, Al Gore had run for the mayor of New York. A consolation prize for sure, but being mayor of the nation's largest city would keep him in the public eye.Which is what Boris Miksic of North Oaks is banking on as he seeks the mayor's office in Zagreb, Croatia."I'm going to shake them up one more time really good," said Miksic last week from his White Bear Township-based business, Cortec.The political bug has bitten Miksic hard. A few months ago, he swore that his campaign for the Croatian presidency was his last run for public office in his homeland. Miksic, who has citizenship in the United States and Croatia, also has sought a seat in the nation's parliament.But the heady course of the January presidential election — he lost a place in the runoff by 2 percentage points — has galvanized him, and it's on to Zagreb.And it turns out that "Mayor Miksic" might not be as far-fetched as "President Miksic.""He stands a very good chance because his charisma did win over some of the people in Zagreb," said Steve Zakic, external affairs director with the Croatian American Association in Chicago.Zagreb was one of Miksic's strongholds in the presidential election, and his close call gained him notoriety, said Ante Cuvalo, a professor at Joliet Junior College in Illinois who has written extensively about Croatian politics."If he didn't get so many votes in the national election, he wouldn't be running at all," Cuvalo said.Other factors weigh in Miksic's favor. Now he has the name recognition he lacked before, and he'll get more free media coverage this time around, Zakic said.Voters have had time to sort through negative post-presidential news reports, in which Croatian media pounced on his personal life and business claims. Cuvalo said that from the letters to the editor in Croatian newspapers, people assume the major parties orchestrated a smear campaign."They were surprised he did so well, so in a sense he became a threat."The fact that Miksic is an independent still weighs in his favor. That attracted voters in the national level, Cuvalo said, not just as a protest vote, but for more concrete reasons.Under the Croatian political system, people vote for an entire slate of candidates at one time, called a party's list.The system, Cuvalo said, robs voters of a connection to their elected officials. When they vote, they have no idea who their local officials will be. Miksic puts a dynamic face to the elections, he said."He was a breath of fresh air precisely because of party politics," Cuvalo said. "They don't vote for individuals, they vote for parties."That's why Miksic decided against forming a party and will run in the territorial election as the leader of an independent group.He has gathered about 20 independents aligned with his economic and political reform goals who are willing to take up positions if he wins.And if he wins, he'll take the job as Zagreb's mayor and assign allies to key offices in territorial and city offices all over the country. That will position him for another run at the presidency in 2010."He's using this as a springboard, which would help him enormously," Zakic said.And as Croatia's capital and largest city, being the mayor of Zagreb is not exactly a comedown, Zakic and Cuvalo said."He'll become a household word," Zakic said, "because every time the mayor does something, it's in the papers."Miksic still faces an uphill battle. Cuvalo predicted another spew of bad press, perhaps worse than before."He will have a tough time," Cuvalo said. "(The parties) are going to do anything they can to marginalize him."That doesn't bother Miksic. He's ready for whatever his opponents throw at him. He feels vindicated by reports from an independent election-monitoring group, GONG, which found that while the elections were largely fair, there were serious problems in Bosnia and Herzegovina.He said he couldn't turn his back on the voters, whom he said he stirred from "a state of political apathy."That makes another run at office a goal in and of itself. "People have nothing to look forward to," he said.He likes the idea of returning to his birthplace — he would be the first mayor of Zagreb who was born there since the country's independence. But largely, he sees the mayor's office as a doorway to national office. He wants to stop the sell-off of national resources and banks to outsiders and to curb political corruption."If we continue this way," he said, "we don't have control of our destiny."--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mary Bauer can be reached at mbauer@pioneerpress.com or 651-228-5311. http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/local/11330006.htm   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 08 Apr 2005 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7201/1/E-To-make-sure-that-the-judgement-is-not-up-to-one-single-person.html  House of Cards crumbling. Who will judge Carla del Ponte? What will be her sentence?How do you punish people who abuse their position of power?How about all of the sentences together ! As below. This is potentially devastating for DelPonte. Not only does the Slovak PM apparently say heis not convinced by her, this commission will make itsown mind up - and not rely on her info. Regardless ofoutcome, this in itself damaging to Del Ponte'scredibility. Let alone if it decides against her.BrianSlovak Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurindasaid he was personally not convinced by theprevious reports of the chief ICTY prosecutor Carladel Ponte, adding that to his view, she sounded as ifshe was "punishing Croatia".   EU to send monitoring team to Croatia23.03.2005 - 17:18 CET | By Lucia Kubosova EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS â€" In a bid to keep an eye onCroatia's progress themselves, EU leaders have decidedto set up a special taskforce to monitor Zagreb'sco-operation with the UN tribunal in The Hague.The move comes after member states on 16 March decidedto postpone opening EU membership talks with Croatiaafter a majority of governments felt themselvesunconvinced as to whether the country was fullyco-operating with the International Criminal Tribunalfor the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY).The new team will take on board officials from thecurrent and future EU presidency countries â€"Luxembourg, the UK and Austria - as well as theEuropean Commission and the EU foreign policy chief,Javier Solana.The Luxembourg Presidency is supposed to work outdetails of the concrete tasks of the working group,which is expected to release its evaluation reportabout Zagreb’s progress in May.Reacting to the proposal, Croat Prime Minister IvoSanader welcomed the move saying "it is good for mycountry to exploit the momentum." He added "We will provide all which is required fromus to prove we are ready to co-operate with theTribunal".Not a precedentThe monitoring team is to make its own judgment onCroatia’s dealings with the UN tribunal.EU foreign ministers will then study the conclusionsof the document and act accordingly â€" should there bea positive outcome, member states could decide tolaunch the negotiations with Croatia even before thenext scheduled summit of the European leaders in June.Jean-Claude Juncker, the Luxembourg Prime Minister,pointed out that the member states are not trying toundermine the Commission and its role in monitoring EUhopefuls and their readiness to start the EU talks."This particular case should not be viewed as aprecedent model for the future enlargements," MrJuncker told journalists after the European Council onWednesday 23 March.Challenging The Hague?The decision on future developments between the EU andCroatia was not originally on the EU spring summit’sagenda.However, Austria and Slovakia were supported by someother leaders in their initiative to put on the tablea draft for a new instrument to evaluate Zagreb’saction towards the Hague."The crucial added value of the taskforce is that themember states themselves will be finally involved injudging to what extent Croatia is actuallyco-operating with the Tribunal," said Slovak PrimeMinister Mikulas Dzurinda.He said he was personally not convinced by theprevious reports of the chief ICTY prosecutor Carladel Ponte, adding that to his view, she sounded as ifshe was "punishing Croatia"."Our initiative is not some kind of oath of loyaltytowards Croatia, but an attempt to clarify the vaguedefinitions of what it really means to prove 'fullco-operation' with the Tribunal, and mainly to makecertain that the judgment is not up to one singleperson," pointed out Mr Dzurinda.According to diplomatic sources, an increasing numberof member states showed clear support for a morepro-active EU approach towards Zagreb during thetwo-day summit. Also, it has been suggested that some countries â€" suchas the UK â€" will be under more pressure to share theinformation to which they had previously referred whensuggesting that Croatia was not co-operatingsufficiently.The plan to set up an EU monitoring team for Croatiais in line with similar proposals by MEPs. TheEuropean Parliament's foreign committee recently senta letter to the Luxembourg presidency supporting sucha move.But while MEPs also asked for negotiations to start inthe meantime and be halted if proof of lack ofco-operation is found by the EU monitoring group,member states were apparently reluctant to move sofast.  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 24 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7204/1/E-Croatia-goes-on-with-no-reason-to-be-mistaken-about-itself.html  Sanader: "Croatia goes on"Racan: "If Brussels is mistaken aboutCroatia, Croatia has no reason to be mistaken about itself"In Short:"Croatia goes on and there is no reason for sadness or disappointment," said Prime Minister Ivo Sanader in reaction to the EU's decision to delay entry talks.RELATEDEU-Croatia relationsBrief News:Reacting to the EU foreign ministers' 16 March decision to put off accession talks with Zagreb, Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said that while "of course [he] can't be glad", he was satisfied with the EU's adoption of a negotiating framework for his country. In Sanader's view, the foreign ministers did not conclude that "Croatia has not done its utmost [to capture war crimes suspect General Ante Gotovina], but there was no consensus on the matter". Sanader said that seven countries voted in support of Croatia, four or five were against, and the rest remained neutral.Sanader also said that Zagreb will not intensify its efforts to resolve the Gotovina issue, "because we are already fully co-operating with the Hague tribunal".President Stjepan Mesic commented that the Croats "should not be desperate, we should meet the requirements".The leaders of the country's parliamentary parties agreed that Zagreb should continue with its preparations for EU entry. "If Brussels is mistaken about Croatia, Croatia has no reason to be mistaken about itself," declared Ivica Racan, the head of the strongest opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP).http://www.euractiv.com/Article?tcmuri=tcm:29-136909-16&type=News   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 21 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7203/1/E-Trial-Chamber-to-reject-indictment-against-Gotovina.html Trial Chamber to reject indictment against Gotovina  Pukanic Nacional 15.03.05POLITICAL REPORT On Tuesday, 8 March, the three-member Trial Chamberreturned the indictment against Generals Cermak andMarkaCto the Prosecution for revision: they criticizedthe syntax of 'criminal operation', which is the keyelement in the Gotovina indictment Though there is no explicit mention of Gotovinaanywhere in the Trial Chamber ruling, all rulings inthe Cermak and MarkaCcases regarding the “criminaloperations” will automatically be applied in his caseas well Tuesday, 8 March could be one of the most importantdays for Croatia as a state and its indicted generalsbefore the Hague Tribunal. On that day, the threemember Trial Chamber under presiding Justice CarmelAgius and with Jean Claude Antonetti and Kevin Parker,returned the indictment against indicted Generals IvanCermak and Mladen MarkaCfor revision. This ruling wasa great victory for Miroslav Separovic and CedoProdanovic, attorneys of the indicted generals, as theindictments against them could be significantlychanged. This in the end could most benefit GeneralAnte Gotovina. The ruling by the Trial Chamber relatedprimarily to the Prosecutor’s syntax of the “criminaloperation” which described Operation Storm, and liststhe main executors as Franjo Tudjman, Ante Gotovinaand “others”, among whom are Cermak and MarkaC.The Hague Prosecution has been given a deadline ofthee weeks to explain its case and to support it withfurther evidence, as in the case placed before thecourt, there were no elements to support such anindictment. In the next two weeks before her responseis due, Carla Del Ponte will have a difficult time inoffering arguments to support that portion of herindictment, and therefore it is logical to expect thatportion of the charges to be removed. This wouldsignificantly ease the position of Cermak and MarkaC,and for Gotovina, the conditions would be in place tothrow out the charges against him. Though there is noexplicit mention of Gotovina anywhere in the TrialChamber ruling, all rulings in the Cermak andMarkaCcases regarding the “criminal operations” willautomatically be applied in his case as well. And itis this “criminal operation” which Gotovina is accusedof. This indictment, regardless of what Carla DelPonte and her fans in Croatia and part of the EUbelieve, is on very shaky legs, and according to legalexperts, this in the end will have to be thrown out.In order to amend the indictment or throw it out, itis not necessary for the accused to also be a prisonerin the Scheveningen prison, even though many “wellacquainted” with the ICTY regulations claim this isso. According to Articles 50 and 51 of the Statute ofthe Hague Tribunal, the accused does not need to be inprison for the indictment against him to be discussed,amended or rejected. This is confirmed by precedent,the best known of which is the case against SerbianGeneral Zec. While he was a fugitive, due to newinformation and documents obtained, the Trial Chamberthrew out the case against him, despite the fact thathe never appeared before the Hague Tribunal.Therefore, Gotovina does not need to be in the Haguefor the case against him to be amended or rejected.This has happened once before, when the HagueProsecutor amended the indictment against him one yearago, even though he was a fugitive.Carmel Agius, chairman of the three-member TrialChamber, and Chamber members Jean Claude Antonetti andKevin Parker described in detail which sections of theindictment against Cermak and MarkaCneeded to besupplemented and explained by the prosecution. In theintroduction to the Chamber ruling, they stated thatCermak and MarkaCwere accused of persecution,deportation, violent eviction and other inhumane actswhich according to Article 5 of the ICTY Statute aredescribed as being crimes against humanity, inaddition to murder, looting and destruction of townsand villages.The Trial Chamber stated that the indictment requiresthe precisely described facts and crimes chargedagainst the men. The Prosecution in particular has toexplain upon what basis they claimed that theindictees planned, stimulated or ordered the acts theyare accused of. The Trial Chamber requested that theprosecution also secure special evidence for thosesections of the indictment in which the men wereaccused of personally committed the acts they wereaccused of.The Trial Chamber also requested that the prosecutionexplain those sections of the indictments based on thethesis of a joint criminal operation. The prosecutionwas asked to explain the nature and purpose of thecriminal action, when it occurred and over whatperiod, the identity of those persons involved, andthe nature of the participation of Cermak and MarkaC.Where the indictment is based on the responsibility ofthe accused men as superiors to the perpetrators, theaccused according to the Trial Chamber have to knownot only which conduct the Prosecution based thethesis of their responsibility, but also which conductby those persons inferior to them are accused of.In the cases where MarkaCand Cermak are accused by theProsecution on the basis of command responsibility,the indictment had to be supplemented with the missingfacts which prove that these two men were in factsuperior to those persons who directly committed thecrimes in question, facts which prove that they infact had effective control over their inferiors,especially in the sense of the direct prevention orpenalization of criminal conduct, and facts describingwhich criminal conduct Cermak and MarkaCare accusedof.Judging by the ruling of the Trial Chamber, theProsecution failed to provide sufficient evidence inthe existing version of the indictment to prove thatCermak and MarkaCknew of the criminal acts they areaccused of. The prosecution must also secure the factswhich will confirm that these two men knew that theirinferiors had committed criminal acts. The TrialChamber claims that it is aware that informationcannot always be precise, but ordered the prosecutionto secure the information it can obtain. TheProsecution also needs to submit those facts whichsupport the claims that the indicted men failed totake the necessary and reasonable measures in order toprevent criminal acts by their inferiors, and thatthey failed to punish those responsible.Where the indictment stated that the indicted men wereaware of the criminal acts they are accused of, theTrial Chamber ordered the Prosecution to describe thatstate of awareness as a material fact, or to secureevidence upon what basis this thesis of the state ofawareness of the accused was made. The Trial Chamberwarned the Prosecution that they cannot simply assumethat in this case the legal assumptions forincrimination of the accused is achieved. The TrialChamber stated in its ruling that in general, each ofthese facts should be stated quickly and openly, eventhough in certain situation, they can be additionallydescribed with the necessary implications.The Trial Chamber rejected the remarks by Defensecouncil in the sections where they claim that theProsecutor incompletely and irregularly stated anddescribed the fact context in which the crimes werecommitted and which Cermak and MarkaCare accused of,and as such the entire indictment is irregular. Thesetwo men in particular responded to the fact that theindictment treats Operation Storm as a criminaloperation. In its response, the Prosecution claimedthat it is not dealing with the legality of OperationStorm, but only with the crimes committed while theOperation was ongoing.The Trial Chamber stated that the facts which theaccused are accused on only in some cases can be basedon the description of events in which, among others,Storm is treated as a criminal operation, and theso-called Republic of Srpska Krajina is placedalongside Croatia as a state. The Trial Chamber statedthat the facts burdening the accused must beaccompanied with the necessary specificity, however,the lack of specificity in the description of eventsin this case is insufficient to grow into a formalirregularity of the indictment.The Trial Chamber set out that the questionable claimson the description of actions in Storm must be provenby entering evidence into the proceedings, and it isin general considered that the way of presenting Stormwithin the indictment is not relevant for the contentof incrimination against Cermak and MarkaC.The Trial Chamber rejected the comments by councilthat the identity of the victims and the destructionof property are not precisely stated, particularly inthe section claiming that Generals Cermak andMarkaCmust have known that the crimes would becommitted or that they had been committed by theirinferiors. The Trial Chamber holds that the indictmentin that section requires stronger argumentation andevident to support it. On the contrary, the indictmentwill have to rely on those sections which state thatthe representatives of the international communitywarned the accused that the crimes had been committed.Paragraph 18 of the indictment, according to theinterpretation of the Court, is not clear in itsintent. In the first part of the paragraph, it claimsthat the accused had authority to prevent the crimesor to punish the perpetrators. The contents ofparagraph 17 and 18 of the indictment state that theywere authorized to prevent or punish the crimesentrusted to those forces who were inferior to theaccused. Therefore, the Trial Chamber requested thatthe Prosecution precisely determine the forces thatwere under the command of accused General Cermak. Andhere the situation is very clear. Under Cermak’scommand were about 30 people concerned with logisticsand the functioning of Knin: garbage removal, sewage,hospitals, supplies and removing dead animals. The Prosecution was asked to identify all the facts bywhich the accused Cermak and MarkaCcould be tied tothe claims that they knew they crimes would becommitted or had already been committed by theirinferior units. In terms of the nature and intent ofthe criminal organization, the Trial Chamber wassatisfied by the general interpretation by theProsecution that a criminal organization is two ormore individuals with a common plan to commit acriminal act according to the ICTY Statute. The TrialChamber was also satisfied by the explained timeperiod in which the Prosecution claims that the crimeswere committed – from 4 August to 15 November 1995.However, the Trial Chamber also accepted the claim byDefense council that the Prosecution had failed tooffer sufficient evidence in the identification of allthe members of this criminal organization. If theyfail to do so, the Prosecution will have to state inthe indictment that not all the participants of thealleged criminal organization can be identified. Also,the Prosecution will have to explain the nature ofparticipation of each participant in the criminalorganization. Furthermore, in paragraph 22, the Prosecution definesthe category of participants of the criminalorganization as members of the Croatian forces. Ifthis was the intent of the Prosecution, this is notexactly clear. Paragraph 11 of the indictment namesonly two suspects, General Ante Gotovina and the latePresident Franjo Tudjman as members of the criminalgroup. Other members were not identified, they wereinstead only mentioned as ‘others’. The Trial Chamberconsiders that this could, in the material sense ofproving the indictment, result in the failure of theProsecution. The Trial Chamber requested that theProsecution provide a clear position on whether itbelieves the intents and objectives of the criminalorganization were carried out by Croatian forces underreal command of the members of that organization, suchthat the defense council could be informed.Furthermore, the Trial Council requested that theProsecution explain its claims in the case of GeneralMarkaCas to how the accused was aware of the criminalactivities and how he consciously agreed to his role.All in all, not an easy task for the Prosecution,which will have to be completed in the only threeweeks.The situation is not identical for MarkaCand Cermak.They are both most burdened by the “Grubori case”, acrime committed on 26 August 1995 in which Serbiancivilians were killed and which to date has not beenprosecuted. The fact that this case was neverprosecuted is one of the greatest points of shame forthe Croatian justice system, as the perpetrators inthis horrible crime are known. In recent days inZagreb, members of the special units who participatedin this ‘cleansing’ action have been giving theirstatements to ICTY investigators. It is known whocommanded that unit of special forces, as it is alsoknown that General Cermak as a civil officialresponsible for Knin, had nothing to do with thiscase. Nacional has learned that yet another indictment,announced against a Croat, will be raised for the“Grubori” case, against the direct commander of thespecial forces unit. In 95% of crimes which arosefollowing military action during Storm, criminalcharges have been laid and the majority of those casesprosecuted. Mladen Bajic, then the military prosecutorresponsible for Gotovina’s South Sector, sent indocumentation on more than 4000 criminal chargesagainst known and unknown perpetrators of crimesduring and after Operation Storm. Bajic sent in thelast CD with his final report to the Hague two monthsago.It is not completely clear that the majority of theindictment based on the “criminal operations” isfounded on the famous “Brijuni transcripts” of 31 July1995 during the final discussion between PresidentTudjman and his military commanders. If it can beproven that this document is not credible, and that itis a forgery, then the entire thesis by theProsecution of a criminal operation no longer stands.In order to prove a “criminal operation”, this willhave to be made more concrete as to who was who inthis criminal operation and what each participant inthe operation did. They will also have to answer onwhat basis they claim that there was a criminal plan.The third item that will need to be more preciselydescribed is which units committed which crimes, andthey precisely state who the commander was of thoseunits, and who will then be held accountable for“command responsibility”. Here Carla Del Ponte is inbig trouble. She used the concept of a “criminaloperation” in order to avoid concretely listing thecriminal acts, as not a single act can be directlyattributed to Gotovina, either in commanding or tryingto cover up a crime. It is for these reasons that theHague Prosecutor decided to use the syntax of the“criminal operation” which is much more favourable foraccusations, as it only has to proven who the membersof the operations were, and then each member is asresponsible as the next for crimes committed, eventhough one may have had no knowledge of what the otherwas doing. One Hague attorney described the situation as followsfor Nacional. “For example, I agree with a friend torob a bank. I’ll drive the car and he’ll rob the back.He’s to enter the back, pass a piece of paper with athreat to the teller if he won’t give the money out ofthe safe. I agree in advance with him that there willbe no use of force and that he will not be armed. Butwithout my knowledge, he takes a gun, fires in rageand kills five bank employees. I have no idea whathe’s done, as I’m sitting in the care, and I drive himaway. According to the concept of a ‘criminaloperation’, I can also be tried for five-time murder,because I knew that we had the criminal intent to roba bank, and I should have known that there were manypossible outcomes, including that my friend might killpeople, even though we agreed to otherwise. Accordingto that, by the concept of a ‘criminal operation’, Iam as responsible as the man who killed five people. Iwould likely only receive a somewhat smaller sentencebecause he was the actual executor.”Carla Del Ponte has begun with the thesis thatGotovina was part of this criminal operation, and thathe must be held accountable for any possible mistakesby Tudjman, Su¹ak, Cermak, MarkaCand perhaps evenJarnjak, as well as the remaining unnamed people fromthe Brijuni meeting. However, the indictment mustcontain some kind of an agreement on the criminaloperation and crimes committed personally by Gotovina.According to the Prosecution, this agreement was madein Brijuni on 31 July 1995, when Gotovina ‘knew’ ofTudjman’s intent to “hit the Serbs so hard theydisappear”. Knowing this, Gotovina participated in a“criminal operation” by carrying out Storm. Accordingto Carla Del Ponte, he knew that Tudjman’s intent wasto scare the Serbs into leaving, even though no crimewas committed during the military-police action thatended on 9 August 1995 when Gotovina commanded an“active defense”, thereby halting all offensiveactions and he sent the military units on vacation. Hethen went to BiH. However, the Prosecution claims thatGotovina “knew or should have known” that aftercarrying out Storm that various criminal acts would becommitted, including those by civil persons. Accordingto that, he is responsible according to the accusationfor all that happened after Storm because he knew ofTudjman’s intentions. He executed Operation Storm andshould have known all that would follow.In the current indictment against Gotovina, there isnothing concrete and the indictment is based on theproblematic transcript. If the Prosecution is unableto prove their claims on the “criminal operation”following the ruling by the Trial Council, nothingwill remain in Gotovina’s indictment. Therefore, thecontents of the new indictment to be submitted byCarla Del Ponte in two weeks’ time will be veryimportant, as within it will be very difficult to tieGotovina and his soldiers to any crime. If thathappens, the Prosecution will be unable to defend itsthesis of a “criminal operation”, and with that, theindictment against Gotovina will be rejected. Thequestion this raises is for whom this performace hasbeen carried on for the past few years, which hasdestabilized the country and put enormous pressures onthe Croatian state, and who will be held responsible. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 21 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7202/1/E-Sir-Braithwaite-I-am-ashamed-of-the-British-politics-toward-Croatia.html  Sir Roger Braithwaite: "I am ashamed of the British politics towardCroatia and BiH"Sir Roger Braithwaite Vjesnik interviewtranslation by Hilda M. FoleyMarch 19, 2005MediaVjesnik, March 16, 2005Antun Kresimir ButerinOn the Eve of March 17: Sir Roger Braithwaite, foreign policy advisor of former British Prime Minister Major: "I am ashamed of the British politics toward Croatia and BiHIf Europe would have had wiser leaders in the beginning of the 1990's we certainly would have acted better at the beginning of the war in former Yugoslavia. Sir Roger Braithwaite is a respected British diplomat with a rich experience. During the Cold War he served in Warsaw, Jakarta, Rome, Bruxelles and Washington. From 1988 to 1992 he served as Ambassador in the USSR, afterwards the Russian Federation, and after his return to London became the foreign policy advisor to Prime Minister John Major as well as becoming president of the joint intelligence council, having served previously in the military intelligence. In the Vjesnik interview, Braithwaite critically assessed the stand taken at that time by Great Britain and the world regarding Serbian aggression in the nineties.Croatians, and they are not the only ones', view very critically Britain's role in the war in former Yugoslavia. How did you experience Yugoslavia's bloody collapse?- It was a painful time for all of us. We all comprehended the horror which was occurring, but no one knew what to do about it. We tried to come up with a thoughtful answer, but it did not exist. At that time, a number of problems emerged in the world: the collapse of the Soviet Union, the first Gulf War ... we were all tired, so that the problem of Yugoslavia just crept in somehow. Since we did not believe in getting the support of the British population for a larger military intervention, we sent units to deliver humanitarian aid to at least help some people to survive. But what about the embargo on arms which was of direct help to the Serbs? Whom did you want to help with this? - Look, there was a general opinion -( I know what you will say to that) - that the Serbs were not the only ones guilty of the war. I am aware that we are reproached for this, but the British did not at that time support the Serbs. If nothing else, this at least did not exist in the narrow circle of people around Prime Minister Major. We reasoned, if there were more arms in the area, there will be more innocent victims. That is why we installed the embargo. It was not an easy decision and I understand the Croatians' view that it was not a fair one, but our motive was good and honest. Perhaps the British were wrong for lacking understanding of the situation, but we were not pro-Serb oriented.Many in Croatia still have the same impression even today.- I know, but believe me, I was there and never heard such a thing. We were almost convinced that the Serbs were the most responsible for the war, to be precise Milosevic, but we also believed that the politics of the Croatians were bad. We did not believe your president Tudjman, we knew about the plans to divide Bosnia, and Izetbegovic also lied to us. The general consideration was therefore that they all lied, that they are all more or less guilty and that the real victims are the ordinary people, Croatians, Serbs and Muslims. In the end, during Oluja Serbs were expelled in the greatest numbers. But, this was Milosevic's fault, I cannot deny it, but the fact is that they all experienced tragedy. We wanted with our policy to limit such a tragedy happening to ordinary people.But it seems you are forgetting again that the war was conducted exclusively on the territory of Croatia and Bosnia and that is the base of everything, the beginning and the end of the story.- Yes, you are right, I agree with you. I repeat, today I am not at all proud of our policy, it was shameful and inefficient. I am convinced - that if the Europeans, or at least the British and the French, had acted in 1991 or 1992, we would have with quick intervention stopped the war in the very beginning. If there would only have been enough political will and an adequate yet not too large a military force. If Europe had at that time stronger politicians, wiser leaders, things would certainly have been better, and we would have carried it out better. Instead, the war finally ended in 1995.Yes, and this thanks to the Croatian action "Oluja". - There were more facts that led to the ending of the war. First, the Bosnian Serbs got tired and out of breath, and the Croats and Bosniaks succeeded to arm themselves after all. The pivotal move of it all was Srebrenica. After that no one could sit any longer with crossed arms.A similar situation occurred in Vukovar, but back in 1991.!- Eh, in Vukovar... You know, I have Serbs in my family, my son is married to a Serb. In her family a young man deserted the Serb army exactly at Vukovar, because he did not approve of the attacks. I repeat, I am not proud of our politics at that time. Even though we had instruments at our disposal, it was inefficient, but not pro-Serb. Would Europe have been able to agree politically and use the instruments? I don't know, and I am now skeptical. For the sake of truth, we have not even tried, and that is shameful! Srebrenica was the cup that spilled over. Croatia is apprehensive because of the uncertain beginning of the negotiations with the EU, during which Great Britain again with great obstinacy, practically to the point of intolerance, insists on the extradition of General Gotovina. Why Great Britain again?- There are many factors. First, we all think that the EU is the solution for the Yugoslav problem - for the Croats, the Serbs and the Slovenes, when they finally come to their senses. Second, if we already hunt for Karadzic and Mladic, then we also have to hunt Croats and Bosniaks. Otherwise, it will and already has led to great resistance by the Serbs.Why did you not fear resistance by the Germans in 1945?-I we shall discuss history, the Serbs will never find peace within themselves until they forget about the Kosovo Field, until they reconcile with their history. In contrast Croatia has already done this to some extent. We have a similar experience with Ireland. As soon as Great Britain and Ireland joined the EU we were able to confer mutually. It took us 35 years, but now it is a reality. The EU gives the countries of former Yugoslavia and the Balkans in general, the chance to stop thinking of the past . And that is in the interest of Europe and all Europeans.   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 21 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7205/1/E-Iranian-President-Mohammad-Khatami-visits-Zagreb.html   Iranian President Mohammad Khatami (L) and Croatian President Stjepan Mesic (R) pass an honor guard in Zagreb on March 7, 2005. Khatami is on a two day official visit to Croatia. REUTERS/ Nikola Solic Reuters - Mar 07 4:21 AM Iranian President Mohammad Khatami (L) and Croatian President Stjepan Mesic (R) listen to national anthems during their meeting in Zagreb on March 7, 2005. Khatami is on a two-day official visit to Croatia. REUTERS/ Nikola Solic Reuters - Mar 07 4:36 AM Iranian President Mohammad Khatami smiles during his meeting with Croatian President Stjepan Mesic in Zagreb March 7, 2005. Khatami is on a two-day official visit to Croatia. REUTERS/ Nikola Solic  Reuters - Mar 07 4:41 AM  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 08 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7207/1/E-Croatia-attacked-by-Independent---response-required.html  Croatia has not yet shown it merits a place in the EU (op-ed Nenad Bach) or vice versa The Independent, which once used to be pro-Croatia hasrun this scathing editorial on Croatia. I urge all toreply - politely and briefly - , giving postaladdress and telephone number, toletters@independent.co.uk  You need to give postaladdress and telephone number.Brian Croatia needs time to develop its own merit, that could be higher then European standards, especially of the last century. We can, and we will build better society then anybody is expecting from us. Just give people a chance to show their talent. Step aside with long list of legal obstacles and let the sheer Croatian  talent fly.  On the subject of war crimes and the titles that appeared in many newspapers as "war criminal" accused yet innocent, unless proven guilty... the whole thing should be dismissed. Let's not give a chance for another History Remodeling as it happened in 1945. What an interpretation of truth, one can easily call a lie, as far as someone can imagine, became quotable for the next generation. Time is NOW to step forward and say loud what needs to be told. Croatia defended it's sovereignty and freedom of it's citizens with our own blood and tears. Even in case that the general wasn't a war hero, he just became one. In my eyes. Ja placam chekom a ne u "gotovini" Nenad BachThe Independent 4 March 2005Croatia has not yet shown it merits a place in the EUEUROPE SHOULD be marking a significant event on 17March. Croatia, the former Yugoslav republic that 10 years ago was beingtorn apart by civil war, is to open formal membership negotiations withthe European Union. The mood has soured, however, and EU leaders arepoised to call off the talks over Zagreb's failure to arrest an armygeneral who has been indicted for war crimes.Croatia's Prime Minister, Stjepan Mesic, travelled toBrussels this week protesting that Zagreb is powerless to complywith the demands of the UN tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Haguefor the arrest of General Ante Gotovina. Mr Mesic contends that thegeneral has fled Croatia and, moreover, that EU pressure on the issue isdamaging his public's support for the EU.Europe's leaders would be unwise to listen to thesehollow protestations. Croatia may have undergone an economic transformationsince the death of its former president Franjo Tudjman in 1999. Butits political transformation has not kept pace, and this issymbolised by the refusal to force individual war criminals to acceptresponsibility for their alleged deeds. An essential part of any nation'scoming to terms with its wartime past is to ensure that justice isadministered to those responsible for atrocities. General Gotovina isnumber three on the UN's "most wanted" list for his role in thekillings of Croatian Serbs in 1995. But one of the reasons he hasnot been arrested yet is that so many Croats still regard himas a war hero.The EU would also be setting a dangerous precedent inits dealings with the rest of the former Yugoslavia if it allowedCroatia to enter talks at this stage. The two most notorious indictees,the Bosnian Serbs Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic, are still at large.Although he claims to be powerless, Mr Mesic could atleast order General Gotovina's cronies to be arrested or placedunder surveillance. Officials at The Hague believe the general is still inhiding in "the region". Such steps might go some way towardsconvincing the world that Croatia is serious about purging its legacy ofviolent nationalism and is ready to begin the process of admission toEurope's family of democracies.  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 04 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7206/1/E-Italy-and-WII-atrocities-in-Slovenia-and-Croatia.html  Slovenia & Italy: Moving On?  Transitions Online www.tol.czby Andrej Brstovsek2 March 2005An Italian movie revisiting the fate of Italians killed or expelled by partisans courts controversy in Slovenia. LJUBLJANA, Slovenia--A massively publicized Italian movie about the killings of Italian civilians at the end of World War II in what was then Yugoslavia has angered many in Slovenia and strained relations between the two countries. Il Cuore nel Pozzo (The Heart in the Pit) has been widely condemned in Slovenia for portraying Yugoslav partisans as evildoers while neglecting the circumstances in which the crimes occurred.The debate sparked by the movie shows that the two countries have never achieved true reconciliation and cannot even agree on what exactly happened before, during, and after World War II.“I wanted to make a simple story. The aim was not to make it political,” says Italian Alberto Negrin, the director. The movie shows pictures of families put before firing squads of Italian and Yugoslav partisans, Italian children screaming after being taken away from their mothers, and murdered civilians being thrown into the Karst pits of Slovenia and Croatia, the fojbe or foibe.The movie is silent about the crimes of the Fascists in those areas. A NEW ROMAN HOLIDAYIf Negrin wanted to make a non-political movie, its effect has been anything but. In Italy, the movie received the outspoken support of the National Alliance, a party in the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi that traces its roots to Mussolini’s Fascists. “We must pull from the abyss of lies a truth hidden by the imposition of a cultural bias,” Italian Communications Minister Maurizio Gasparri, a member of the National Alliance, was quoted by Reuters as saying.The two-part movie premiered on Italian state television just before 10 February, a new national holiday to commemorate the victims of the fojbe. Millions of Italians watched--and a good number of Slovenes tuned in as well.The political backlash from Italy’s eastern neighbors was fast and furious. Among the first to respond were World War II veterans from Slovenia and Croatia, who accused director Negrin of being biased and trying to portray Italy as the victim when in fact it was the aggressor. “The occupying Italian forces killed and raped, which caused reprisals. Revenge has always been blind,” said Janez Stanovnik, president of the Slovenian World War II veterans’ association. He said it was “a huge lie” to claim that Italians were killed just because they were Italians. Even without the movie, the new Italian holiday would have raised some eyebrows in Slovenia. There is a good chance that the Slovenian parliament will respond by proclaiming a new Slovenian holiday, celebrating the incorporation of the coastal Primorje region, which was once Italian, into Slovenia. It is an uncontroversial historical fact that many Italians were killed in Slovenia and Croatia after the war--estimates of their number range from 1,700 to 10,000. Many Italians also fled the territory fearing reprisals or because they didn’t want to live in a communist state. But both veterans and historians said that while it was important to acknowledge the killings and expulsions, one also had to consider the circumstances in which they took place. Even before World War II, Italy pursued an aggressive policy in Istria (now shared by Croatia and Slovenia) and Dalmatia (part of today’s Croatia) and then occupied most of the territory during the war. Several postwar agreements between Italy and Yugoslavia tackled the problem of Italian citizens who fled at the end of the war. The agreements obliged the Italian government to pay compensation for the property they left behind in Yugoslavia; those payments were in turn considered as Italian compensation for war damage in Yugoslavia. But despite the legal settlement, the issue never came to rest politically. In the face of an Italian threat to veto the beginning of Slovenian negotiations on EU membership in the mid-1990s, Slovenia had to sign a special agreement with the EU in which it opened up its real-estate market to Italians who had fled.At the same time, both Yugoslavia and Slovenia (which became independent in 1991) tried to take care of the Italian minority that remained on its soil. One of the 90 seats in the Slovenian parliament is reserved for a representative of the Italian minority (another one is reserved for a representative of the Hungarian minority), and Italian is an official language in the areas where the Italian minority lives.JANSA IN AN AWKWARD POSITIONBut the matter goes beyond minority rights or compensation for past injustice and the loss of real estate, though all of these have been raised by the families of those who were killed or fled. This is also an issue of setting the historical record straight--and of being able to move on.While the current center-right Italian government, which supported the making of the movie, is likely to reap benefits from revisiting the past, the new center-right government coalition in Slovenia finds itself in an uncomfortable situation. This is no longer just a bilateral question but also one of domestic politics. Critics accuse the Slovenian government of having been slow to react because its anti-communist stance made it awkward to defend the communist partisans. A number of public figures put pressure on Prime Minister Janez Jansa and Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel to respond to the movie. The leader of the opposition Social Democrats, Borut Pahor, suggested sending a diplomatic note to Rome. The government at first said a movie shouldn’t be a basis for discussing bilateral relations but reversed course after Slovenian television decided to air the movie--and then reported record ratings. The government issued a statement voicing the expectation that Italy would deal with its past in a critical manner, and reaffirming that the government rejected all biased and politically motivated interpretations of recent history. This could also be seen as criticism of Yugoslavia’s communist regime and its version of events.The conciliatory tone seems to have had some impact. An undersecretary in the Italian Foreign Ministry mentioned the possibility that representatives of the three countries could mark a “symbolic reconciliation,” presumably during a planned summit between Berlusconi, Slovenian President Drnovsek, and Croatian President Stipe Mesic.On the other hand, as Stanovnik of the Slovenian veterans’ association said, reconciliation is a matter of personal conscience. And if that conscience hasn’t been examined in the last sixty years, it is doubtful it will be now.Andrej Brstovsek is a journalist with the Ljubljana daily "Dnevnik."Copyright © 2005 Transitions Online.  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 04 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7208/1/E-CONGRESSIONAL-CROATIAN-CAUCUS.html  NFCANATIONAL FEDERATION OF CROATIAN AMERICANS SPEARHEADS DRIVE TO FORM CONGRESSIONAL CROATIAN CAUCUS Washington, D.C. (February 3, 2005). The National Federation of Croatian Americans (NFCA) welcomed the official establishment of the Congressional Croatian Caucus which was formally announced at a reception hosted by theNFCA at the Rayburn Congressional Office Building on Capitol Hill last Tuesday evening. Approximately 150 invited guests attended the reception which featured an assortment of Croatia's finest wines and excellent Croatian cuisine created by Chef Ivo Svircic and provided by the Croatian Embassy. TheNFCA reception was funded in part by special donations from Mike Grgich, Jure Sola, Tony Peraica, Janet Robert and Jamie Coleman.The bipartisan Co-Chairs of this new Caucus, Rep. George P. Radanovich (R-CA) and Rep. Peter J. Visclosky (D-IN), welcomed all those present and discussed their long-standing desire to establish this important association of Members of Congress interested in promoting Croatian-American relations. That both Co-Chairs are of Croatian descent gives even further emphasis to this historic event for the Croatian American community.Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-CA) also addressed those present, noting that he too has a personal connection to Croatia through his daughter-in-law, a native of Split. Congressman Gallegly in particular noted his deep appreciation of Croatia's beauty which he experienced first hand when his son and daughter-in-law recently renewed their marriage vows there. Rep. Gallegly will chair the Europe Subcommittee of the House International Relations Committee in the 109th Congress.Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) gave a short but powerful speech in which he spoke about his personal involvement in Croatia's struggle to gain independence and freedom for its people. He said he admired the strength and resolve of the Croatian people during this difficult period.The Croatian Ambassador to the United States, Neven Jurica, said a few words about Croatia's determination to join Euro-Atlantic institutions and viewed the creation of the new Caucus as a step toward fulfilling that goal. Ambassador Jurica also welcomed a number of honored guests from Croatia, including Bozo Biskupic, the Minister of Culture, and Dr. Mario Zubovic, a member of the Croatian Parliament.NFCA President Edward A. Andrus gave remarks on behalf of the Croatian American community thanking the bipartisan Co-Chairs and Founding Members while pledging to support the Caucus as it engages on important matters relevent to the community and the Republic of Croatia. He noted that the structuring of the Caucus was a government relations task which demanded much effort and many resources, not only from the NFCA but from other individuals and organizations. Mr. Andrus specifically mentioned the assistance provided by the Croatian Fraternal Union, Dr. Frank Brozovich, the former President of the Croatian American Association (CAA) and Honorary Consul of the Republic of Croatia, and Cook County Commissioner Anthony J. Peraica, a former board member of theNFCA and President of theCAA's Illinois Chapter. Mr. Andrus also recognized in the audience the presence of Dr. Jasenka Piljac from Zagreb, who coauthored an English language book on the Croatian origins of the Zinfandel grape which the NFCA will be presenting to all 41 of the Founding Members of the Caucus as an expression of its appreciation for their efforts on Croatia's behalf. (A copy of the "Zinfandel" book can be ordered fromNFCA Headquarters for $ 35.)In addition to the four Congressmen who spoke, thirteen other Congressmen, both members and non-members of the Croatian Caucus made an appearance at the reception: Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA), Rep. Judy Biggert (R- IL), Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA), Rep. Phil English (R- PA), Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL), Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA), Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), Rep. Rick Larsen (R-WA), Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL), Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), Rep. Nick Joe Rahall (D-WV), Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), and Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI). The event was also attended by scores of Congressional officials and staff members, representatives from the State Department, leaders of the Croatian-American community from throughout the United States, a number of prominent Croatian-Americans in the Washington, D.C. area and Dr. Thomas P. Melady, former US Ambassador to the Vatican and Senior Dipolmat in Residence at the Institute of World Politics. Tony Butala of "The Lettermen" singing group and members of the press were also present.Speaking after the event, NFCA President Edward Andrus reiterated the importance of the establishment of the Caucus and the NFCA's role in same. "There had been talk for some time about the need to establish a Caucus. The NFCA had a number of discussions concerning the idea with Congressmen Radanovich and Visclosky and their staffs. They all expressed their enthusiasm and we worked closely with their staffs in order to contact members of Congress to encourage them to join the Caucus as Founding Members. In this regard, not only did we rely on our own members but we teamed with non-members as well to have them reach out to their Congressional contacts. After all, while theNFCA played the key role in moving this concept forward, the Caucus itself is not a creature of theNFCA but is something from which the entire Croatian-American community and the Republic of Croatia will benefit."In further discussing how the NFCA will work with the Croatian Caucus, Mr. Andrus said that theNFCA now has the enhanced ability to communicate with a group of Congressmen who have expressed a keen interest in issues related to Croatia. "Up until now, doing effective lobbying in Congress has been hampered without the Caucus. We had to concentrate on approaching individual Congressmen when we had some ideas or issues related to improving Croatian-American relations and the status of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Vojvodina. Now we have a group which on its first day of existence consists of almost 10% of all members of Congress. This will, we hope, allow the NFCA and the Croatian-American community as a whole the ability to more effectively present their views to Congress and have Congress as a whole take those views under serious consideration."Mr. Andrus noted that the establishment of the Caucus will now actually require the NFCA and Croatian Americans to "step up to the plate" in a more consistent manner. "We now have this most efficient means to have Congress listen to our concerns, and there are many of them. Croatia's entry into NATO and other Euro-Atlantic institutions continues to encounter difficult obstacles which our elected Representatives can help to remove. Our community must become more engaged to make use of this opportunity and in that regard I urge all Croatian Americans to join us in further building on what I believe to be one of the greatest successes the NFCA has had to date."The 41Founding Members of the Congressional Croatian Caucus are as follows:Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA) - Co-Chair, Rep. Peter Visclosky (D-IN) - Co-Chair, Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA), Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH), Rep. Ben Chandler (D-KY, Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL), Rep. Bud Cramer (D-AL), Rep. Joe Crowley (D-NY), Rep. John Duncan (R-TN), Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY), Rep. Phil English (R-PA), Rep. Mike Ferguson (R-NJ), Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-CA), Rep. Paul Gillmor (R-OH), Rep. Luis Gutierrez (R-IL), Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA), Rep. Melissa Hart (D-PA), Rep. Maurice D. Hinchey (D-NY) Rep. Tim Holden (D-PA), Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA), Rep. Darrel Issa (R-CA), Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA), Rep. Rick Larsen (R-WA), Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-OH), Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA), Rep. Dennis Moore (D-KS), Rep. Harold Rogers (R-KY), Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Rep. Steve Rothman (D-NJ), Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL), Rep. Rob Simmons (R-CT), Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA), Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL), Rep. Lynn Woosley (D-CA), Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), and Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA).The NFCA is a national umbrella organization of Croatian-American groups which collectively have approximately 130,000 members.For more information, please call Joe Foley, (NFCA) Government Relations Director, at 301-294-0937 or Erik Milman, theNFCA's Director of Development, at the NFCA's headquarters in Washington at 202-331-2830 or by email at NFCAhdq@aol.com.   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 08 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7211/1/E-OSCE-had-established-Council-of-the-prominent-political-figures.html  OSCE had established Council of the prominent political figures 02.02 / 19:08 Kazakhstan enters the Council of the leading political figures Astana. February 2. KAZINFORM. OSCE had established Council of the prominent political figures, such a decision was taken by the OSCE incumbent chairman, Foreign minister of Slovenia Dimitri Rupel at the session of the OSCE Preparatory committee held on Monday in the capital of Austria, Vienna.The Council is called to attach new impulse to the political dialogue between the OSCE member states and introduce conceptual viewing of the organization activity within new geopolitical terms. The council is to elaborate proposals aimed at perfection of the OSCE efficiency.The Council consists of famous political and public figures of the seven OSCE member states –Germany, Russia, the USA, the Netherlands, Norway, Croatia and Kazakhstan. Chairman of the committee of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, resigned Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador Kuanysh Sultanov has been elected as the Council member. http://www.inform.kz/showarticle.php?lang=eng&id=109949  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 07 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7210/1/E-Laffingly-Serious---Flat-Tax.html   Laffingly SeriousFebruary 2, 2005 COMMENTARY By VITOMIR MILES RAGUZ February 2, 2005Poor cousins from the East they may be, yet the politicians from New Europe can be quite rich in policy ideas. So enticing in fact that Brussels may be about to take up one of their recipes as a way to revive the lackluster economies of Old Europe. And this may happen quickly if the new Commission president has his way.Today in Strasbourg, José Manuel Barroso is expected to tell the 732 lawmakers in the European Parliament that the way to economic rejuvenation and job-creation in Europe lies primarily with intra-border competition, technological innovation, less rigid labor regulations and more stringent welfare programs. As a way to promote competition within the borders of the Union, Mr. Barroso is also expected to step away from a strict interpretation of single market principles. He will likely oppose calls for tax harmonization, including the controversial issue of minimum corporate tax rates.What may be music to the ears of leaders in new members states out East will be a sour note to Gerhard Schröder, Nicolas Sarkozy and others. The German chancellor recently called moves to cut corporate tax rates in New Europe dangerous "tax-dumping." Mr. Sarkozy said this was unfair competition and suggested cutting EU transfers to states practicing it.While the issue of lower tax rates is accepted wisdom in the U.S., made famous in the 1970s by Arthur Laffer, it's still counter-intuitive in Europe. Mr. Laffer argued convincingly that lower tax rates, at some optimum level, will promote risk-taking and investment, thereby increasing production and government revenue.Apart from Ireland, newcomers Slovakia and Lithuania are the Union's only real-life laboratories for Mr. Laffer's ideas. Their overall tax burdens on corporate profits are below 15%, compared to tax rates in Old Europe states that can be twice as high. Despite lower rates, these countries collect more corporate tax receipts than those with higher rates. Ireland's inflows are at 3.3% of GDP, Slovakia's at 2.2%, while Germany's, for instance, linger at 0.7%.Slovakia reduced tax rates last year, and went a step further by making them flat. It now has the same 19% rate on corporate profits, personal income and sales tax. The fact that the government was able to bring in two new major car production lines has made the country the Detroit of Eastern Europe -- and a bellwether state for economic policy. U.S. President George W. Bush will stop over in Bratislava later this month, due to in no small part to this development.Meanwhile, Poland's leading opposition party, the conservative Civic Platform, has suggested that Warsaw should introduce a flat tax four points below Slovakia's. Similarly, Romania just this year reduced its corporate and personal income taxes from 25% to a flat 16% rate, while keeping VAT at 19%. Serbia seems to want to outdo them all with its recent corporate rate cut to 10%, to be followed by additional tax reductions in June. Even the spend-happy Czech Republic has now commenced a process to reduce its corporate rate to the low-20s from the high-20s over a period of a few years.To be fair, New Europe states are not doing this only because they believe Mr. Laffer. Rather, they fret that they're becoming less attractive to foreign investors due to rising wages. Not only are the wages in the region now relatively higher, but payroll taxes supporting the Communist-era social programs remain extravagant. Thus, to lower the burden of doing business in their countries, they look to lower corporate taxes. Hungary, for instance, has seen close to 10 foreign investors, such as IBM and Philips, move some or all of their Hungarian operations to cheaper pastures further east and south.* * *But New Europe is no policy nirvana. While a number of Central Eastern European states are now in the vanguard on tax policy, many are still laggards on fiscal policy. They can use the advice of Mr. Barroso in this respect. His support for lower taxes should also be seen as a de facto petition for smaller governments, especially in the East, where they are particularly bloated, slow and nontransparent. They're the major obstacles to a new phase of robust economic expansion needed to catch up quickly with Western levels of prosperity. Countries like the Czech Republic, Hungary and Croatia have been most profligate in recent years, running budget deficits in the 5-13% range, compared to the 0-3% levels elsewhere in Europe. This is largely due to a lack of political will to break away from Socialist-era welfare comfort and vote-buying dependency.As a consequence, Prague, for instance, may have more single mothers than any other city in the world. Of course, almost all wear matrimonial bands but are officially single to be able to collect hefty handouts. Croatia, meanwhile, has yet to grasp what economic policy means beyond IMF stability packages. It muddles along only thanks to its resilient private sector, tourism earnings and émigré transfers. And Hungary, once a favorite among international investors, is now seen as a weakling in the region due to its long-running twin deficits, which put constant pressure on inflation and the exchange rate.The health care, judiciary, pensions, subsidies and entitlement schemes need a major overhaul in the East. The last three are also a problem in the West. Health sector reform can begin with cost-participations, which is anyway already part of the system in the form of routine bribes of doctors and key personnel. The judiciary can be improved by transferring commercial disputes to special arbitration courts. But most of all, public sector wages in the East ought to be brought in line with Western standards. They cannot be higher than the private sector earnings as is now often the case.Lower taxes in new member states prevent capital flight to cheaper Asian markets. If combined with reforms, that'll increase the wealth and buying power there. After all, the region still accounts for only 5% of the Union's output or demand. It isn't a threat to Western Europe. As new Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu pointed out during a visit to Brussels last week, the region can produce more consumers with deeper pockets for the EU.While Europe's backyard has taken the lead on taxes, Brussels should embrace these benefits for the front yard as well. Moreover, it should insist on fiscal responsibility across the Continent, all the more so because the old leaders of economic policy in Europe, Berlin and Paris, have lost credibility on both taxes and fiscal policy.Thankfully, Mr. Barroso seems to have the courage to lead. He doesn't sound worried about offending the old guard. He's confident enough to side with the upstarts out East when they're right. Now if only everyone, whether New or Old Europe, followed his advice.Mr. Raguz, a former Bosnian-Herzegovene ambassador to the E.U. and NATO, is a banker in Vienna.Copyright 2005 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 07 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7209/1/E-Is-Croatia-the-new-California.html  Is Croatia the new California?Nenad, We made the Sunday Wash. Post Style section and this was a very,very successful event.  Sve najbolje, Steve Rukavina The Reliable Source -- The Style SectionBy Richard LeibyThe Washington PostSunday, February 6, 2005; Page D03  This Wine Has Croatians Proud Enough to Pop • Is Croatia the new California? Well, we don't expect to see the next wine-region movie set there (à la "Sideways"), but Croatian officials are finding an appreciative audience for their grape products on Capitol Hill. Croatian red zinfandel and other wines flowed last week when the Congressional Croatian Caucus was launched with 40 representatives and two senators signing on as bipartisan members. At a Hill reception hosted by the Croatian Embassy, the buzz, so to speak, concerned a newly discovered link between California and Croatian zinfandel grapes -- specifically, the Croatian varietal called crljenak kastelanski. The embassy's deputy chief, Marijan Gubic, tells us this "zinfandel mystery" took 35 years of genetic sleuthing across two continents to solve. (Clearly, some topics besides joining the European Union warrant keen attention.) The caucus is co-chaired by Reps. Peter Visclosky (D-Ind.) and George Radanovich (R-Calif.). Radanovich also co-chairs the popular 250-member Congressional Wine Caucus, whose Web site quotes Robert Louis Stevenson: "Wine is bottled poetry." The Croats have enlisted nine other Californians, as well as Sens. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) and Rick Santorum (R-Pa.). "They're not all Croatian, but they support Croatia," said Gubic, adding, "We're not known yet in America as a wine-producing country, but increasingly we hope to be." Given its thirst to understand international affairs, Congress seems a good place to start.  With Chris Richards   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 07 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7212/1/E-The-Congressional-Croatian-Caucus-on-Capitol-Hill.html NFCANATIONAL FEDERATION OF CROATIAN AMERICANS     The Congressional Croatian Caucus which the NFCA has long been working in support of becomes official today, January 26, 2005.  The bipartisan Co-Chairs of the Croatian Caucus, Congressman George P. Radanovich (R-CA) and Congressman Peter J. Visclosky (D-IN), have sent letters to all of their Colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives informing them of the formal Caucus launch and notifying them that to become founding Members, they must respond by today.      The NFCA is sponsoring a kickoff celebration with a Capitol Hill reception on Tuesday, February 1, 2005 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM in the Energy and Commerce Committee Room 2322, at the Rayburn House Office Building on Independence Avenue and South Capitol Street in Washington, DC, in support of the Co-Chairs who established the Caucus.  The NFCA will be serving fine Croatian wine and food to celebrate this special occasion.  Members of Congress interested in the Caucus as well as invited members and friends of the NFCA will be in attendance.      The Croatian Caucus will be a powerful resource in forging a strong working relationship between the U.S. and the Republic of Croatia and in helping to promote mutual interests.  Among other relevent matters, the Caucus will support the endeavors of  Croatia as it works toward full membership in NATO and strives to establish itself as a regional leader in Southcentral Europe.      Members of the NFCA should be delighted and feel gratified that the Congressional Croatian Caucus has finally come to fruition.                                                               Ed Andrus                                                            President                                                            NFCA Contact: NFCAhdq@aol.com       Website: www.croatianworld.net/NFCA/               letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 26 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7213/1/E-Croatias-President-Stjepan-Mesic-celebrates-his-victory.html  President Stjepan Mesic celebrates his victory in 2005  Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic celebrates his victory in the presidential elections, after hearing some preliminary results, at his party headquarters in Zagreb January 16, 2005. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 19 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7214/1/E-Croatia-Elects-New-President-on-Jan-16-2005.html  VOTECroatia Elects new president on Jan 16, 2005  Presidential candidate Jadranka Kosor, left, and Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader greet their supporters at a pre-election rally in Zagreb, Croatia, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2005. Kosor will challenge Croatian President Stipe Mesic, who is running for his second term in office in the second round of elections on Sunday. (AP Photo/Filip Horvat)   Presidential candidate Jadranka Kosor gestures during her speech at a pre-election rally in Zagreb, Croatia, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2005. Kosor will challenge Croatian President Stipe Mesic, who is running for his second term in office in the second round of elections on Sunday. (AP Photo/Filip Horvat)    Croatian President Stipe Mesic hands out roses as he campaigns at the market in Zagreb, Croatia on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2005. Mesic, who is running for his second term in office, will face Jadranka Kosor of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union in the second round of presidential election on Jan. 16. (AP Photo/Filip Horvat)   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 14 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7215/1/E-Croatian-court-rejects-Miksics-appeal.html  Croatian court rejects Miksic's appeal  Ivo Scepanovic, Special To The Star Tribune January 6, 2005 CROA0106 SPLIT, CROATIA -- The Croatian Constitutional Court on Wednesday turned down the election appeal of Minnesota businessman and Croatian presidential candidate Boris Miksic.The court concluded that Miksic's claims that he was cheated in Sunday's election were groundless."Boris Miksic did not present evidence for his claim that there were irregularities during the presidential elections," the court said, rejecting his request for a recount.The court in Zagreb, the capital, also rejected Miksic's appeal on the fact that his observers were not allowed to be present as the State Election Commission tabulated votes on Sunday.The court accepted the commission's explanation that the law requires the admittance only of representatives of political parties, nongovernment organizations and foreign observers during the counting of votes. Such a right has not been anticipated for representatives of independent candidates, such as Miksic, unless they do it via nongovernment organizations.Speaking at a news conference in Split before the court released its ruling, Miksic said he would abide by the decision. Miksic, who lives in North Oaks and holds U.S. and Croatian citizenship, also told his supporters something they wanted to hear: "I'll definitely stay in politics."He said he will participate in local elections scheduled for April and pledged to provide more details at a public rally he has scheduled for Friday in Zagreb.Miksic finished third in Sunday's election with 17.8 percent of the vote, barely missing out on a spot in a Jan. 16 runoff election with the first-place finisher, President Stipe Mesic.Miksic cited the absentee vote as evidence of fraud. In voting abroad, including the United States, Miksic got only 9.9 percent of the vote."It is hard to understand that my percentage of votes was much better here in Croatia than, for example, in the United States," said Miksic, who left the Balkan region in 1973.http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/5171369.html   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 06 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7217/1/E-Boris-Miksic-finished-third-with-178-per-cent-of-the-vote.html  Incumbent, woman to vie for Croatian presidencyCroatia's incumbent President Stipe Mesic has overwhelmingly won the first round of elections taking 49 per cent of the vote, according to official results.However, he now faces a run-off to win a second five-year term to lead the country as it seeks to join the European Union.Mr Mesic will face conservative Deputy Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor, who received 20.18 per cent of Sunday's vote, in the January 16 run-off. Wealthy Croatian-US businessman Boris Miksic finished third with 17.8 per cent of the vote, the electoral commission said. A jubilant Mr Mesic has urged voters to turn out in big numbers for the run-off, following a low turnout of 51 per cent on Sunday. "Croatia must be a modern, European and democratic country with satisfied citizens," he said."It will be possible only if we change many things. We will decide where Croatia is heading, to the 21st Century or back in time. I offer the 21st Century."Ms Kosor says Croatia is ready for a woman president."I am very happy that for the first time we have two candidates of which one is a woman," she said."This shows the maturity of voters since the most frequent question during the campaign was whether Croatia was mature enough to have a woman for a president."Mr Mesic, 70, was heavily favored to win the vote to lead the former war-torn Yugoslav republic, with exit polls released immediately after voting stations closed showing he might win the 50 per cent needed to avoid the run-off. - AFPhttp://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200501/s1275661.htm   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 02 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7216/1/E-Silent-Mother-Speaks-Volumes.html  Reflection: As another tumultuous year ends, amen to all that By ROGER COHENLast Updated: Dec. 25, 2004The end of the year is near, a time for reflection. So in search of understanding, I recently visited my grandmother, who is 104. She was 14 when the shot was fired in Sarajevo that sparked World War I. As the stones of the old city have been smoothed by countless footsteps, so have her memories been honed by time. Honed to silence, or so it seems. She was loquacious on her 100th birthday, but has gone quiet these last few years. Her eyes are now closed much of the time. In her touch, there is recognition, but her eyes, when they open, are impenetrable as pools.But some things never return. Marriages, great loves, gone and sundered as completely as the empires and nations that have disappeared in her lifetime. Austria-Hungary, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Soviet Union, East Germany, Yugoslavia - all vanished as a single life has been lived.The birthing of countries has been more hectic in her time than the dying. An independent Croatia was reborn after more than eight centuries: The loops of history can be circuitous. Indonesia came into being, as did Israel, Uzbekistan, myriad independent African states and North Korea.Some states moved. Poland journeyed westward. Hungary shrank. Some borders did a vanishing act, like those within the European Union. Political ideologies came and went, taking tens of millions of lives. So it goes. States are living beings. They shift, they wed and divorce, they wither and perish, as one woman lives her life.I considered my grandmother’s skin: fissured as parched earth, yet soft as a newborn. I considered her silence. It seemed more sage than vacant. We do not like riddles or silence; we prefer pronouncements. Journalism is the day-after-yesterday craft. We need to say where things are going, what they mean.But the living of 104 years speaks for caution. Such longevity is itself unexpected and, scientific advances notwithstanding, unforeseeable. She was 21 when the British installed a monarchy in the modern Iraq carved from the defunct Ottoman Empire. Eighty-three years later, the country’s statehood still seems tenuous.It is tenuous because different currents in history, different epochs almost, are clashing there, as they do now throughout the world. It used to be that we could ignore our differences. No longer. Asian nationalism, European post-nationalism, American expansionism vie for influence.In Iraq, at the very least, we see the following forces: the apocalyptic fundamentalism of Islamic jihadists; a classic guerrilla struggle against an occupying army; the national aspirations of the Kurdish people; the battle between Shiite and Sunni strains of Islam; an old-fashioned fight for resources; and the zeal of the United States, a country at or near the zenith of its historical power, to fashion more of the world in its image by delivering the freedom that President Bush believes is God’s design for humanity.Where all this will lead, I do not know. I did not ask my grandmother; she would have responded with the wisdom of silence. It is possible that the borders of Iraq will not withstand these forces and the country will break up, as Yugoslavia did in the 1990s after its release from despotic rule. But I doubt it, for the simple reason that agreement on the shape of the broken-up parts would be impossible.I do know that American forces will leave Iraq one day and that it is possible but not inevitable that the young American lives lost in Iraq, more than 1,280 already, will have been lost in vain. I also know that Iraq in 2004 stands at what the Germans in 1945 called Stunde null or zero hour.It is quiet in my grandmother’s Johannesburg apartment in South Africa. There is no television; she lives without news. It is possible to live without news, of Iraq or American elections. So she did not hear the good news of 2004: the Chilean army’s extraordinary apology for the killing and torture after the 1973 coup and the Bosnian Serbs’ apology for the slaughter at Srebrenica in 1995.Truth, it seems, is gaining a global toehold. For much of her life, it was not so: The lies that exalt and kill were the stuff of political discourse. There are grounds for guarded optimism. When she was born, the city of Johannesburg, founded in 1884, was a mere teenager. Her father came penniless from Lithuania. Her daughter went to England. Four of her great-grandchildren live in the United States.Over 104 years, a lot happens. Although she has seen a lot of it, she never liked change much. “The things you see when you don’t have a gun” was a favorite expression, delivered on encountering any novelty or irritant.Her husband died a few years back at the age of 98; they were married 75 years. She loved him deeply, and I think she may have forgotten him entirely - proof, if needed, that in the great scheme of things, three-quarters of a century is the blink of an eye.Occasionally, the silence is broken. My grandmother speaks: “On earth as it is in heaven, forgive us our trespasses.”Fragments of the Lord’s Prayer, summoned from somewhere. She is Jewish but attended a convent school long ago. Perhaps her last lesson is ecumenism. Or love. She will not release my hand. I try to ease it away but she clings with surprising force. In her silence, there is indeed knowledge.A nurse confides: “She’s talking to the people on the other side.” To whomever she is speaking, she has a last word, pronounced slowly: “Aaaa-men.”Perhaps we can all agree on that.Roger Cohen writes for The International Herald Tribune. This article first appeared in The New York Times.Appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Dec. 26, 2004.http://www.jsonline.com/news/editorials/dec04/286781.asp   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 02 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7218/1/E-EC-Chief-Expresses-Hope-Croatia-Will-Join-EU-by-2009.html  New EC Chief Expresses Hope Croatia Will Join EU by End of 2009 19/11/2004ZAGREB, Croatia – Newly appointed European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Thursday (18 November) that he hopes Croatia would be able to join the EU by the end of 2009. Zagreb expects to be given a date for starting accession talks in early 2005 and join the Union as soon as possible, possibly in 2007 with Bulgaria and Romania. Most observers find that timeframe unlikely.Also Thursday, a crowd of 10,000 people gathered in Vukovar to commemorate the city's fall to Serb forces in 1991. Church bells rang across the country, while in Vukovar, mourners gathered at the hospital where more than 250 people were executed. (Vjesnik - 19/11/04; HINA, HRT, AFP - 18/11/04http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/newssummary/setimes/newsbriefs/2004/11/19/nb-07  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 20 Nov 2004 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7219/1/E-We-swore-wed-always-rememberno-retreat-and-no-surrender.html     CLICK TO PLAY VIDEO   We have produced this special video -- only available online -- highlighting the important themes of our campaign. Please forward this email to 10 friends.   Dear Nenad, During this campaign I have asked you for so much -- your time, your energy, and your financial support. Today, I ask you for one final thing -- your vote. Tomorrow, Americans will face a choice. How will we find our way forward? How will we keep America safe, and keep the American dream alive? I believe we begin by giving this country we love a fresh start. This morning, I would like to give you as a plainly as I can the summary of my case on how -- together -- we can change America. I believe we begin by moving our economy, our government, and our society back in line with our best values. I believe we do whatever it takes to lead our troops to success and bring them home safe. And when they do come home, I believe we begin by rebuilding an America with a strong middle class where everyone has the chance to work and the opportunity to get ahead. Tomorrow, you can choose a fresh start. You can choose a president who will defend America and fight for the middle-class. You can choose between four more years of George Bush's policy to ship jobs overseas and give tax breaks to the companies that do it -- or a president who will reward the companies that create and keep good jobs here in the United States of America. Tomorrow you will face a choice between four more years of George Bush's giveaways to the big drug companies and the big HMOs -- or a president who will finally make health care a right, and not a privilege, for every American. This election is a choice between four more years of tax giveaways for millionaires along with a higher tax burden for you -- or a president who will cut middle-class taxes, raise the minimum wage, and make sure we guarantee women an equal day's pay for an equal day's work. Tomorrow, America faces a choice between four more years of an energy policy for big oil, of big oil, and by big oil -- or a president who finally makes America independent of Mideast oil in ten years. A choice between George Bush's policy that just yesterday showed record profits for oil companies and record gas prices for American consumers. I believe that America should rely on our own ingenuity and innovation, not the Saudi Royal family. Tomorrow this campaign will end. The election will be in your hands. If you believe we need a fresh start in Iraq; if you believe we can create and keep good jobs here in America; if you believe we need to get health care costs under control; if you believe in the promise of stem cell research; if you believe our deficits are too high and we're too dependent on Mideast oil then I ask you to join me and together we'll change America. I ask for your vote and I ask for your help. When you go to the polls bring your friends, your family, your neighbors. No one can afford to stand on the sidelines or sit this one out. And in return for your hard work, you have my commitment to always fight for you, to always be on your side. In the words of Bruce Springsteen that have become the theme of this campaign. "We've made a promise we swore we'd always remember...no retreat and no surrender." Tomorrow we will change America and with your help I will always keep that promise to you. Thank you, John Kerry   Paid for by Kerry-Edwards 2004, Inc.   Kerry-Edwards 2004, P.O. Box 34640, Washington DC, 20043, U.S.A.   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 01 Nov 2004 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7227/1/E-Dont-vote-for-our-cousin-beacuse-blood-is-thinner-than-oil.html  Beacuse blood is thinner than oil - don't vote for our cousin!"Bush Relatives for Kerry" grew out of a series of conversations that took place between a group of people that have two things in common: they are all related to George Walker Bush, and they are all voting for John Kerry. As the election approaches, we feel it is our responsibility to speak out about why we are voting for John Kerry, and to do our small part to help America heal from the sickness it has suffered since George Bush was appointed President in 2000. We invite you to read our stories, and please, don't vote for our cousin!http://www.bushrelativesforkerry.com/pages/1/index.htm  BushRelativesForKerry.com urges visitors: "Please, don't vote for our cousin."The Bush relatives said they've never met the president but disagree with his policies ranging from the war in Iraq to the environment. Bush second cousin and co-creator Sheila House said she doesn't believe the effort is a betrayal. The people behind the Web site are all grandchildren of Mary Bush House, the sister of Prescott Bush, who was the father and grandfather of the two Bush presidents. That makes them second cousins of the president. The Bush campaign hasn't commented.   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 28 Oct 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7226/1/E-Eyewitness-to-a-failure-in-Iraq---PGALBRAITH.html Eyewitness to a failure in IraqBy Peter W. Galbraith | October 27, 2004IN 2003 I went to tell Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz what I had seen in Baghdad in the days following Saddam Hussein's overthrow. For nearly an hour, I described the catastrophic aftermath of the invasion -- the unchecked looting of every public institution in Baghdad, the devastation of Iraq's cultural heritage, the anger of ordinary Iraqis who couldn't understand why the world's only superpower was letting this happen.I also described two particularly disturbing incidents -- one I had witnessed and the other I had heard about. On April 16, 2003, a mob attacked and looted the Iraqi equivalent of the Centers for Disease Control, taking live HIV and black fever virus among other potentially lethal materials. US troops were stationed across the street but did not intervene because they didn't know the building was important.When he found out, the young American lieutenant was devastated. He shook his head and said, "I hope I am not responsible for Armageddon." About the same time, looters entered the warehouses at Iraq's sprawling nuclear facilities at Tuwaitha on Baghdad's outskirts. They took barrels of yellowcake (raw uranium), apparently dumping the uranium and using the barrels to hold water. US troops were at Tuwaitha but did not interfere.There was nothing secret about the Disease Center or the Tuwaitha warehouses. Inspectors had repeatedly visited the center looking for evidence of a biological weapons program. The Tuwaitha warehouses included materials from Iraq's nuclear program, which had been dismantled after the 1991 Gulf War. The United Nations had sealed the materials, and they remained untouched until the US troops arrived.The looting that I observed was spontaneous. Quite likely the looters had no idea they were stealing deadly biological agents or radioactive materials or that they were putting themselves in danger. As I pointed out to Wolfowitz, as long as these sites remained unprotected, their deadly materials could end up not with ill-educated slum dwellers but with those who knew exactly what they were doing.This is apparently what happened. According to an International Atomic Energy Agency report issued earlier this month, there was "widespread and apparently systematic dismantlement that has taken place at sites previously relevant to Iraq's nuclear program." This includes nearly 380 tons of high explosives suitable for detonating nuclear weapons or killing American troops. Some of the looting continued for many months -- possibly into 2004. Using heavy machinery, organized gangs took apart, according to the IAEA, "entire buildings that housed high-precision equipment."This equipment could be anywhere. But one good bet is Iran, which has had allies and agents in Iraq since shortly after the US-led forces arrived.This was a preventable disaster. Iraq's nuclear weapons-related materials were stored in only a few locations, and these were known before the war began. As even L. Paul Bremer III, the US administrator in Iraq, now admits, the United States had far too few troops to secure the country following the fall of Saddam Hussein. But even with the troops we had, the United States could have protected the known nuclear sites. It appears that troops did not receive relevant intelligence about Iraq's WMD facilities, nor was there any plan to secure them. Even after my briefing, the Pentagon leaders did nothing to safeguard Iraq's nuclear sites.I supported President Bush's decision to overthrow Saddam Hussein. At Wolfowitz's request, I helped advance the case for war, drawing on my work in previous years in documenting Saddam's atrocities, including the use of chemical weapons on the Kurds. In spite of the chaos that followed the war, I am sure that Iraq is better off without Saddam Hussein.It is my own country that is worse off -- 1,100 dead soldiers, billions added to the deficit, and the enmity of much of the world. Someone out there has nuclear bomb-making equipment, and they may not be well disposed toward the United States. Much of this could have been avoided with a competent postwar strategy. But without having planned or provided enough troops, we would be a lot safer if we hadn't gone to war.Peter W. Galbraith, a former US ambassador to Croatia, is a fellow at the Center For Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. In the 1980s, he documented Iraqi atrocities against the Kurds for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. © Copyright 2004 The New York Times Company  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 28 Oct 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7225/1/E-George-Voinovich-runing-for-US-Senate-Seat.html  George Voinovich's grandparents immigrated from CroatiaState Lawmaker Challenges Voinovich For US Senate Seat  Voinovich's grandparents immigrated from CroatiaVoinovich (R) | Fingerhut (D)(WCPO/WCPO.com) Reported by: A.P.Web produced by: Neil RelyeaPhotographed by: 9News10/24/04 11:09:51 PM A senator with millions of dollars and a well-known name is being challenged November 2 by a state lawmaker whose campaign included a walk across Ohio. Democrat Eric Fingerhut acknowledges that he's at a disadvantage against Republican George Voinovich, a former two-term governor and mayor of Cleveland who raised $9.5 million for the race. "I understand what we're up against," he said. Fingerhut, a state senator from the Cleveland area who has accrued just $1.1 million, says the election is about whether voters want the status quo or a change. "In some respects, Senator Voinovich and I agree about what this election is about. It's about jobs. What we disagree about is that Senator Voinovich thinks that things are heading in the right direction, and I don't," Fingerhut said in an interview with The Associated Press. To Voinovich, the race is about the economy and protecting America from terrorism. He says the national economy is improving, as recent data indicate, and Ohio needs his experience to get back on track. "What I am doing is bringing new thoughts to these areas. I understand what needs to be done," Voinovich told the AP. "I'm the change agent." America's payrolls continued to increase in September, with the economy adding 96,000 jobs, but the nation is still down 821,000 jobs since President Bush took office in 2001. Ohio's unemployment rate was 6.3 percent in August, compared to a national rate of 5.4 percent the last two months. In the Senate, Voinovich has supported a clean air bill that won't put power companies out of business, a highways bill he says would create jobs in Ohio and a new federal office focusing on manufacturing. He was among four senators to oppose Bush's plan to enact a tax cut larger than $350 billion over 10 years, unless spending could be reduced to pay for it. Voinovich says the lower tax cut has helped to foster some economic recovery and is an example of his fiscal discipline. Critics said the final package relied on budget gimmickry and really was larger than Voinovich had pledged to allow. Fingerhut has criticized Voinovich for supporting any size of tax cut, saying it has added to the country's deficit. He says Ohio's economy isn't on solid ground yet. Voinovich acknowledged the lagging state economy but said it would be worse without the tax cut. "We've seen some really significant growth in our economy," he said. "A lot of Ohioans still don't feel too good about things, but in terms of most of Americans, we have come a long way." Fingerhut's economic plan includes giving tax relief to recent college graduates and people who invest in startup businesses, continuing a tax credit for research and development and increasing government funding for higher education.Though he has less campaign money, Fingerhut says he has widespread support because of several grass-roots tactics, such as walking 335 miles across the state and working for a couple of hours at the Original Sub Shop & Deli in Toledo. His campaign also got a lift when trash talk show host Jerry Springer decided last year against running, guaranteeing an easy primary and drawing early attention to the contest. Both candidates know what it's like for working-class families to make ends meet. Fingerhut, 45, is the grandson of immigrants from Hungary and Eastern Russia and son of an insurance agent and a secretary. After his father died, he used his Social Security survivor benefits to become the first in his family to attend college. As a lawyer he worked with Cleveland's welfare program and legal aid clinic. Fingerhut won his first election to the state Senate in 1991 and a seat in the U.S. House the following year, at age 33. He lost re-election two years later to Republican Rep. Steven LaTourette. Fingerhut attributes the loss to several controversial votes, including one on an assault weapons ban that expired this year. He also cast a pivotal vote to help pass President Clinton's 1993 deficit-reduction bill, which included some unpopular tax increases. "There's no shame in losing an election when you did the right thing," Fingerhut said. Voinovich's grandparents immigrated from Croatia, and he grew up in a big family. He was elected to the Ohio House in 1966, at age 30, and to the U.S. Senate in 1998. A win would make Voinovich the second Republican senator re-elected in Ohio since the 1950s. Sen. Mike DeWine was the first, in 2000. Voinovich, 68, wouldn't say whether this will be his last race for public office. Meanwhile, Fingerhut has brushed off questions about whether the race is about building name recognition and an organization to run for governor or attorney general in 2006. "I'm flattered, but I'll be busy in 2006 because I'll be Ohio's newest U.S. senator," he said. http://www.wcpo.com/news/2004/local/10/24/fingerhut.html   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 28 Oct 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7222/1/E-People-who-support-Bush.html  Canadian Ambassador James Bissett: Bush a better choiceSeptembar 29, 2004Former Canadian Ambassador to Yugoslavia in 1992, James Bissett. Ambassador says charges against Milosevic 'pure Fantasy' Canadian Ambassador James Bissett: Bush a better choiceAn Interview with the former Canadian ambassador to Yugoslavia, Mr. James Bissett Ottawa - Oct. 22, 2004 "…From a Serb point of view a Kerry's victory is the worst that might happen for them, their interests and the Balkans."  Glasajte za Busha: Preporucuje udruzenje Srpsko-Americkih biraca u AmericiOktobar 14, 2004With American Serbs comprising a little over million votes in what appears to be another closely-contested US presidential election, Serbian American Voters' League has launched a number of initiatives as part of its public education campaign -- Serbs for Bush -- to empower American Serbs to become part of the democratic process and vote for Bush. To understand why a Republican or Bush's foreign policy would be better for the Serbs then that of Democrat candidate John Kerry, we are joined by Mr. James Bissett, former Canadian ambassador to Yugoslavia and one of the leading experts on the Balkans affairs. What has been the American foreign policy like in the Balkans since 1992? Bissett: You can sum it up in a few words. American foreign policy in the Balkans has been disastrous, particularly for the Serbian people. The initial signs of the early break-up of Yugoslavia were ignored by the USA. That country was preoccupied with other things, such as the collapse of the USSR and the first Iraq war. At the last moment- the eleventh hour- they tried to keep Yugoslavia together. It was a halfhearted attempt. Secretary of States, James Baker was dispatched to Belgrade to try and convince the leaders of the various Republics to stay together, but his mission failed. The Americans then pretty well gave up on the idea of the united Yugoslavia and later yielded to Germany's insistence that early recognition be given to the independence of Croatia and Slovenia. 1) Holbrooke flatly asserts that the Serbs were not "rational people with whom one could argue, negotiate, compromise, and agree... they respected only force or an unambiguous and credible threat to use it" http://news.suc.org/bydate/2001/Aug_02/4.html  Cleveland Plain Dealer endorsementby kos Sat Oct 23rd, 2004 at 21:43:02 GMT- letters@plaind.com  - Send your commentsHere's the scoop.The Cleveland Plain Dealer is published by Alex Machaskee, a Serb who considers Richard Holbrook an architect of the bombing of Belgrade (during the Kosovo War). Word leaked that the Kerry campaign planned on sending Richard Holbrook to meet with the Plain Dealer's editorial board and try to win Kerry's endorsement. Word was sent to the Kerry campaign through several channels to keep Holbrook the heck away from Machaskee. The Kerry campaign knew. And they still sent Holbrook to meet with the Plain Dealer.Word has it that after Holbrook met with the editorial board and left the room, Machaskee looked around the room, crinckled up his nose, and said, "Now we're gonna have to fumigate this place."No big surprise, then, that the rumor is Malchov has overruled his own editorial board and ordered the paper to endorse Bush.Update: to be clear, no endorsement has been made yet. The rumor is that Machaskee has ordered the editorial board to make the endorsement. I assume there will be negotiations of some sort to resolve the impasse. http://www.dailykos.com/main/2  Op-ed:These are the people who support Bush !  Besides presidents of Iran and North Korea. www.serbsforbush.com  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 28 Oct 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7221/1/H-Hrvatska-i-Hrvati-u-BiH.html  Hrvatska i HrvatiuBiHNeki kritičari, politici vlade premijera Sanadera zamjeraju kako u ispunjavanju obveza prema EU ne poklanja dovoljno pozornosti pitanjima koja se odnose na porast životnog standarda. Također, prema njima i briga o Hrvatima u BiH je u drugom planu. Ja ne mislim tako. Sanader slijedi svoj put. Na tom se putu susreće sa brojnim (već postojećim) poteškoćama. Njegov pristup problemu je aktivan: ne dopušta da mu problemi zasjene cilj kojem se približava. Poznato mu je kako su gospodarski zaostale zemlje, ulaskom u EU ostvarile znatan porast životnog standarda i unaprijedile socijalnu sigurnost. Ustavna je obveza Hrvatske praćenje stanja i pomoć Hrvatima ma gdje se u svijetu nalazi. To podrazumijeva i pomoć Hrvatima u BiH kako bi ostvarili punu jednakopravnost s druga dva naroda. Hrvatska na svom putu u Europu lobira za to - kao i za dobrobit BiH u cijelosti. Nemoguće je odjeliti prostor koji se kao lego kocka uklapa u Europu. Istovremeno, svjedoci smo žive diplomatske i svake druge aktivnosti hrvatskih predstavnika vlasti prema BiH. U proteklih mjesec dana posjetili su nas: Hebrang, Primorac i Šeks. Potpredsjednik vlade Andrija Hebrang otvorio je radove na KB Mostar, obišao sveučilište, dao potporu Aluminiju - najuspješnijem poduzeću u BiH koje može biti dobar primjer gospodarske suradnje Hrvatske i BiH. Ministar znanosti obrazovanja i športa Dragan Primorac se u Sarajevu susreo sa Federalnim ministrom obrazovanja Halilovićem kako bi podupro ostvarenje jednakopravnosti Hrvata na svoj jezik; obišao je Mostarsko sveučilište te dao potporu jedinom sveučilištu na službenom hrvatskom jeziku. Prošlotjedna posjeta predsjednika Sabora Vladimira Šeksa je od osobite važnosti. Sa Šeksom su u delegaciji osim saborskih zastupnika (Ćosić i Bagarić) bili nazočni i potpredsjednici Sabora Luka Bebić i Mato Arlović. Delegacija Hrvatskog Sabora je u dva dana posjetila Parlament, Vladu i Predsjedništvo BiH, kardinala Puljića, provincijala Miju Džolana, hrvatske kulturne institucije Maticu Hrvatsku i Napredak, gradsku upravu Mostara, Aluminij, Mostarsko sveučilište, Kliničku bolnicu i biskupski ordinarijat. Šeks je vodio razgovore o svim pitanjima važnim za obje zemlje. Ostvarenje jednakopravnosti Hrvatskog naroda je pitanje svih pitanja. Nitko ne može kršiti ustavna prava Hrvata u BiH a sa druge strane očekivati ustupke Hrvatske. Kako se ponekad odnosimo (vlast BiH) prema Hrvatskoj najbolje govore neka iskustva na polju privatizacije javnih poduzeća u BiH. Ostaje dilema radi li se samo o tržišnoj utakmici ili netko priječi ulaz hrvatskog kapitla u BiH? Mi u BiH kažemo kako luka Ploče ne bi imala smisla da nije na usluzi gospodarstvu BiH, isto tako vrijedi: što bi bilo sa gospodarstvom BiH da nije luke Ploče? Zbog svih ovih i drugih pitanja potrebno je voditi dijalog. Hrvatska pokazuje otvorenost za svaku vrst razgovora a osobito za ostvarenje prava Hrvata u BiH - koja moraju biti «ni manja ni veća» od druga dva naroda. Diplomatska aktivnost Hrvatske, novčana pomoć Hrvatske vlade Hrvatskim institucijama u BiH te skoro potpisivanja međudržavnog sporazuma o sudjelovanju Hrvatske u zbrinjavanju stradalnika HVO su sustavna i očita potpora opstanku Hrvata na prostoru BiH. Ova potpora sama po sebi nije dovoljna, ona mora biti u službi poticaja u usklađenom naporu kojeg mi u BiH svakodnevno ulažemo. Za vrijeme posjete provincijalu Miji Džolanu ostala mi je u ušima zvoniti njegova poruka: «radimo sve što možemo i radimo na najbolji način».  Dr Ivan Bagarić   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 28 Oct 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7220/1/E-A-Croatian-missing-in-Iraq.html  A Croatian missing in IraqDevelopments concerning Iraq By Associated Press, 10/26/2004 12:24Developments concerning Iraq on Tuesday. Iraqi kidnappers released Jordanian businessman ZiadJabr Abu Irfai, two weeks after his abduction,following the payment of a ransom, his brother toldThe Associated Press. Irfai's brother, Mahmoud, didnot say how much was paid. The abductors had demanded$150,000. A Croat truck driver is missing in Iraq after aweekend attack on a convoy in which he was driving,his colleagues and family said in Croatia. Dalibor Burazovic, one of the seven Croat drivers inthe convoy, failed to turn up at Turkey's border aftergunmen opened fire on mostly Turkish trucks in thecenter of Mosul, another driver identified only asMladen told the Vecernji List daily. Officials in Iraqsaid two drivers one Turkish and one Yugoslav werekilled, while two others were wounded. Burazovic's sister told state-run Croatian radio shehas not heard from him since last week. In central Baqouba, a government official was gunneddown on his way to work while a roadside bomb attackleft one policeman dead and 10 others hurt, Iraqiofficials said. Two sets of car bombs exploded in northern Mosul, withone targeting a U.S. patrol, although no Americancasualties were reported, the U.S. military said. Twocivilians were injured, hospital officials said.   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 28 Oct 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7224/1/E-Jadranka-Kosor-candidate-for-president.html  Jadranka KosorCroatia's Ruling Party Nominates Candidate for President 18/10/2004ZAGREB, Croatia -- The Croatian Democratic Union on Sunday (17 October) nominated Deputy Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor, 51, as its candidate for president. The far-right Croatian Bloc announced Saturday that it has chosen Ivic Pasalic, a close associate of the late Franjo Tudjman. Miroslav "Ciro" Blazevic, who led Croatia's soccer team to third place in the 1998 World Cup, will run as an independent. Incumbent Stipe Mesic has not yet announced his intentions, but observers believe he will seek one more term. The election is scheduled for 21 December. (Vecernji List - 18/10/04; AFP, HINA, HRT - 17/10/04)http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/newsbriefs/setimes/newsbriefs/2004/10/18/nb-04KOSOR, JADRANKA Rodena je 1.7.1953. u Pakracu. Hrvatica. Završila Pravni fakultet u Zagrebu; dipl.iur. Potpredsjednica je Odbora za pravosude i clanica Odbora za zakonodavstvo, Odbora za informiranje, informatizaciju i medije te Odbora za ravnopravnost spolova. Telefon: 01/4569-429; Telefax: 01/4569-321.  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 24 Oct 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7223/1/E-Nader-ex-running-mate-endorses-Kerry.html  Nader ex-running mate endorses Kerry  - WASHINGTON (AFP) via News.Designerz.com Sunday October 17, 2004AFP/FileRalph Nader's running mate in two past presidential elections said she plans to cast her ballot in November for Democrat John Kerry."I'm voting my conscience on November 2 -- I'm voting for John Kerry," Native American activist Winona LaDuke wrote in comments published this past week in the Minneapolis Star Tribune."John Kerry provides promise for Native America and for America," said LaDuke, who lives on White Earth Reservation in the northern prairie state of Minnesota."His policy proposals involve vision -- like alternative energy, more accessible health care, and finding all those children who have been left behind by the (George W.) Bush administration."She said the Massachusetts senator's support of Native American communities demonstrates shows that "we are on his radar."LaDuke was most recently Nader's running mate during the controversial 2000 presidential election that saw Bush squeak out a razor-thin victory over Democratic candidate Al Gore -- with Nader's votes providing what many irate Democrats felt was the margin of victory for Bush.Nader, America's most famous consumer activist, is again running for president in 2004, but this time his running mate Peter Camejo, a California-based environmental activist.http://breaking-news.news.designerz.com/nader-ex-running-mate-endorses-kerry.html  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 24 Oct 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7229/1/E-Balkan-justice-joust-by-Jeff-Kuhner-of-The-Washington-Times.html  Balkan justice joustThe Washington TimesCommentaryOctober 24, 2004By Jeffrey T. KuhnerThe Bush administration is now demanding that the chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, Carla Del Ponte, bring her prosecutions to an end. Washington is insisting that war crimes cases relating to the Balkan wars of the 1990s be tried either in domestic courts or be given an amnesty. This shift not only marks a dramatic change in U.S. policy toward the ICTY, but more importantly, it is a fatal blow to the power and credibility of Mrs. Del PonteMrs. Del Ponte. In a recent interview, Undersecretary of State for Arms Control John Bolton told me Washington is deeply concerned that the ICTY, rather than fostering ethnic reconciliation, has emerged as a threat to regional stability. "There is a very real risk that the ICTY prosecutions will not resolve the situation in the Balkans," Mr. Bolton said, "but will create new animosities that lead to tensions in the future." He emphasized the Bush administration is demanding war crimes cases at The Hague be sent back to national domestic courts. Mr. Bolton and other senior State Department officials are finally realizing what Mrs. Del Ponte and her fellow left-wing globalists have refused to acknowledge: The ICTY has degenerated into a politicized tribunal that has failed to live up to its original mandate. The irony is that the Clinton administration was largely responsible for creating the ICTY. Washington, however, now realizes that it has unleashed a Frankenstein monster. Instead of being an impartial body that seeks to punish those who committed or ordered war crimes, the tribunal has become a vehicle by which Mrs. Del Ponte has sought to rewrite the history of the Balkan wars. She has abused her office by issuing deeply flawed and weak indictments. The most obvious example is the bogus indictment against fugitive Croatian Gen. Ante Gotovina, the commander of a 1995 military operation that effectively ended the Croatian-Serbian conflict. As Mr. Bolton notes, the problem with the ICTY is that it has no democratic accountability. Hence, there are no checks or balances against the misuse of power. Therefore, the Bush administration has concluded the only solution is to kick war crimes cases back to national domestic courts. "That is why our strategy with respect to the ICTY is to bring these prosecutions to an end and to return responsibility to Serbia, Croatia and to the other nations," Mr. Bolton said, "because, after all, many of the alleged crimes were carried out in their name and they need to confront that reality. They need to make the decisions whether to prosecute or not to prosecute Serbs or Croats respectively." The senior Bush administration official emphasized that "responsibility" for trying alleged war crimes "should rest on the shoulders of the people who have to live with the decisions they make." Ultimately, the United States rightly believes that the ICTY has become not only an undemocratic institution, but a direct threat to the development of democracy throughout the former Yugoslavia. Its greatest flaw is that, by virtue of being an international tribunal with little accountability, it is retarding the growth of independent judicial bodies and the rule of law within Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia. For viable democracies to take root in the stony soil of the Balkans, it is imperative to cultivate fully functioning legal institutions. "One of the downsides of any distant court is that it takes away responsibility, and I don't think that is conducive to the political maturation of societies that we hope will become democratic and realize that they have to confront actions that their prior governments took," Mr. Bolton said. "So that is why our approach to the ICTY and with the Rwanda tribunal is to make and create institutions in the respective countries and to turn that authority back over to them." The record is now clear: The ICTY has been a dismal failure. The trial of the former Serbian strongman, Slobodan Milosevic, continues to drag on with no end in sight. Notorious Bosnian Serb leaders Gen. Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic remain at large. The Gotovina indictment threatens to destabilize Croatia. Bosnian Muslims and Kosovo Albanians feel they will never receive justice. Serbs perceive the tribunal as being biased against them. Mrs. Del Ponte has managed to accomplish what no other person has before: Temporarily unite the warring peoples of the former Yugoslavia in their opposition to her. She is the Lady Macbeth of the Balkans, an unscrupulous political climber with delusions of grandeur. And like Lady Macbeth, Mrs. Del Ponte's lust for power has led to her downfall. Washington is right to yank her off the stage. Jeffrey T. Kuhner is editor of the Ripon Forum magazine and communications director at the Ripon Society, a Republican think tank. http://www.washtimes.com/commentary/20041023-105636-4172r.htm    letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 23 Oct 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7228/1/E-Kerry-for-Catholics-Who-Believe-in-the-Constitution.html  Kerry the Candidate for Catholics Who Believe in the ConstitutionBy Shawn M. O'Donnell and Drucilla Badurina It seems clear to informed and discerning Roman Catholics that John Kerry's public positions prove that he should elected the next President of the United States. He should be the new leader of the United States, a secular nation that enshrines in its Constitution one of its founding principles, freedom of religion. John Kerry is not running for president because he and some of his advisors and supporters think he was chosen by God to do so. Nor does Kerry want to govern a country where separation of church and state becomes hazy and religion is dictated by the state or the state is dictated by religion.Kerry's public policy positions and senatorial voting record are much more closely aligned with our church's social and economic justice issues including health care, jobs and the environment. His belief in the importance of separation of church and state is not merely lip service. As he has stated, "I fully intend to practice my religion separately from what I do with my public life and that's the way it ought to be in America." It seems that ultraconservative Catholics and many on the Christian right are working to create a theocratic, oligarchic, plutocratic Christian government in the United States. They believe that this administration, with a president selected by God, leads a holy war against good and evil. Bush's public statements and private ones made public buttress that belief. According to one well known theologian, this administration and many of its Christian right supporters project an "American messianic nationalism."Unfortunately, recent statements by a number of Catholic bishops appear to suggest that, their protestations to the contrary, they might look with favor on just such a theocratic government. They might as well be upfront and open about it and ask the United States Council of Catholic Bishops to lobby for a constitutional amendment to establish Roman Catholicism as the state religion!The hypocrisy and secrecy of many of the U.S. Catholic Church's hierarchy in the sexual abuse scandal and the "manipulation" of  the lay National Review Board investigating the scandal by some of the bishops have an eerie parallel to the hypocrisy and secrecy of the Bush administration. Pay, pray, obey, shut up and just trust us seems to be the rallying cry for both.History shows us the wisdom of the founding fathers in writing our Constitution. They knew from experience that separation of church and state was vitally important in this democratic republic and remains so to this day. Subsequent additional constitutional amendments that were inclusive of the people endured while those exclusive of the people failed and disappeared. One critic of the Bush administration's arrogant incompetence regarding its unprecedented, unilateral, pre-emptive war against and occupation of Iraq observed that perhaps the Iraqis should borrow our Constitution because Bush's administration isn't using it or abiding by it.John Kerry's campaign has said that religion should not be an issue in U. S. politics. A Kerry spokesman made this statement: "The decisions he [Kerry] will make as president will be guided by his obligation to all the people of our country and to the Constitution of the United States. Every American---whether they be Jewish, Catholic, Protestant or any other faith---must believe their president is representing them."In order to keep its tax-exempt status, the Catholic Church in the United States is prohibited from interposing or participating in political campaigns for or against any candidate. Even without that barrier, it is inappropriate for bishops, priests or religious to publicly endorse either political party or candidate. However, if they truly believe in the Constitution and freedom of religion, they should personally and privately support John Kerry's candidacy.Let us hope, for the good of this nation, the world and Catholics everywhere, the Democratic Party's candidate, John Kerry, will be elected the 44th President of the United States.  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 23 Oct 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7232/1/E-Croatians-of-Vojvodina.html  Croatians of VojvodinaNFCANATIONAL FEDERATION OF CROATIAN AMERICANSNational Federation of Croatian Americans (NFCA) Instrumental in Amending 'Sense of Congress' Resolution on Serbian Elections in U.S. House of Representatives"Washington, D.C. ( October 12, 2004)  -  As the U.S. Congress hurried toward its elections adjournment, the Europe Subcommittee of the House International Relations Committee marked up and passed H. Res. 726 on October 5th.  The Resolution commended the people of Serbia for conducting free, fair, and democratic Presidential and municipal elections on June 27, 2004.  It encouraged newly elected President Boris Tadic to further pursue democratic reforms, cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), and continue down the path toward regional cooperation.The National Federation of Croatian Americans (NFCA) was instrumental in encouraging changes in the Resolution which noted additional steps the government of Serbia and Montenegro can take to protect the rights of minorities currently living in the Vojvodina Province of Serbia.  Following the collapse of Yugoslavia, the defenseless Croats of Vojvodina suffered as a result of ethnic cleansing actions carried out by indicted war criminal Vojislaw Seselj, were forced out of their homes in 1992, and fell victim to further upsurges in ethnic attacks in 1995.  Recent violence against Croats and other minorities residing in the Province has been attributed to the resurgence of support for the extremist Serbian Radical Party.  Many of these issues were first brought to the attention of the U.S. Congress by NFCA Treasurer Zvonko Labas when he appeared before the Congressional Human Rights Caucus panel with representatives from the Center for Hungarian American Congressional Relations earlier in July.NFCA officials, together with NFCA lobbyist Joe Foley of Foley Government and Public Affairs Inc., provided a number of suggested amendments to the Resolution that were included in the final version by the Europe Subcommittee.  At markup, Chairwoman Jo Ann Davis (R-VA) offered the new language for the Resolution which passed unanimously.  The NFCA suggested changes that were accepted as part of the passed bill are illustrated with appropriate quotations markings in the following paragraphs.In the Preamble:   Whereas Serbia and the Serbian people "are encouraged" to remain committed to democratic reforms and regional cooperation, "respect for the rights of all minorities, including in Vojvodina," and integration into Europe and Europe-Atlantic institutions, including NATO and the EU.In the Resolved clause a new paragraph on the third page:   That the House of Representatives (4) "reaffirms the importance of establishing security and stability by respecting and protecting the human rights of all people, including all minority groups throughout Serbia and Montenegro."During the debate on the Resolution prior to its passage, Chairwoman Davis noted that the legislation "reaffirms the importance of respecting and protecting the economic, social, cultural, and religious rights of all minorities throughout Serbia including those Hungarian and Croat people, and others, who live in the Vojvodina region as well as those Serbs who live in Kosovo.  The Serb people and government must understand that if they are to demand respect for the Serb minority in Kosovo, they themselves must respect the rights of other minorities living in Serbia."Due to the unique ending nature of this Congress, longtime Europe Subcommittee Staff Director Vince Morelli indicated that H. Res. 726 may see further action in the 'Lame Duck' session now scheduled to begin sometime the week of November 15th.  However, Mr. Morelli noted that this is just a possibility due to the many scheduling intangibles on Capitol Hill at this time. NFCA President Ed Andrus noted on hearing of the passage of the Resolution: "We appreciate the fine work of Chairwoman Jo Ann Davis and her perceptive Subcommittee staff members on these important personal security issues facing Croats and other minorities in the Vojvodina Province.  The current situation remains a major concern to the Croatian American community.  We are hopeful that the amended language will help the Croats of Vojvodina. Their status has been an issue that has been overlooked by many human rights activists for a long time.  This should at least bring this issue to the forefront in America's dealings with Belgrade."  Mr. Andrus also cited the important contributions of Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL), Ranking Minority Member of the Subcommittee, and Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA), as well as their talented staffs, on the success to date for this Resolution.For further information or a copy of amended H. Res. 726, please contact Mr. Foley via www.foleycoinc.com or Mr. Erik Milman at the NFCAWashington Office on 202-331-2830.The NFCA is a national umbrella group of Croatian Americans whose member organizations collectively represent approximately 120,000 members. NATIONAL FEDERATION OF CROATIAN AMERICANS1329 Connecticut Ave, NW - Washington, DC 20036Phone: (202) 331-2830  Fax: (202) 331-0050   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 21 Oct 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7230/1/E-Why-Will-Croatian-Americans-vote-for-John-Kerry.html   Why Croatian Americans will vote for John Kerry Dear Nenad:I'm Drucilla Badurina, President of Badurina & Associates. We are an advisory firm dealing with Euro-Atlantic international relations, business and economic issues. From 1998-2001, our main focus was United States-Croatia relations. Perhaps you might remember me. Many Croatians, Croatian Americans and Croatians worldwide are aware of us because of our work during that period. (Web site: http://badurina.com)Since that time, we have worked on other projects, but Croatia will always be a special area of interest. In fact, I'm working on a book about US-Croatia relations.However, the focal point of our current project, the most critical work of our lifetime, is helping to elect John Kerry and John Edwards. You wrote an excellent personal reminiscence op-ed piece for John Kerry a true Croatian Friend that preceded Kerry's statement in remembrance of Croatia's Statehood Day (Politics-21 Sep-04).I don't believe that some Croatian Americans realize the dreadful consequences another Bush-Cheney term will have on their lives here in the United States (e.g. their children and grandchildren having to pay off Bush's projected deficit of $2.33 TRILLION) but also the extremely negative impact it will have on Croatia and US-Croatia relations.To enlighten and inform them, I have written an article, "Why Croatian-Americans Who Care About Croatia Should Vote for John Kerry and John Edwards" and am submitting it to CROWN for posting.Thanks. Good to see that CROWN keeps on rolling.Regards,Drucilla BadurinaEmail: badurina@aol.com Phone: 540.372.4512  WHY CROATIAN AMERICANS WHO CARE ABOUT CROATIA SHOULD VOTE FOR JOHN KERRY AND JOHN EDWARDS ByDrucilla BadurinaPresident, Badurina & AssociatesHere in the United States, the first Tuesday of November will mark the most important election in our lifetime. It's a choice between George W. Bush and Dick Cheney and a continuation of lies, hypocrisy and the erosion of our democratic rights, values and ideals OR John Kerry and John Edwards and truth, integrity and upholding those democratic rights, values and ideals.It's a choice between Bush-Cheney and four more years of government of, by and for corporate cronies like Enron and Halliburton OR Kerry-Edwards and government of the people, by the people and for the people. But Croatian Americans who care about Croatia should also vote to replace Bush-Cheney because of the imperial hubris of their relations with the Republic of Croatia and other nations that has made the United States less respected throughout the world. Seeking to deflect from their horrible failure and the increasing quagmire of Bush's war in Iraq, Bush constantly refers to the coalition of the willing in Iraq, frequently mentioning Poland (less frequently mentioning those other military giants: Palau, Tonga, the Solomon Islands, etc.) as if that makes his preemptive war more palatable. However, unlike Bush's assertions that the US is joined in this war by a coalition that wanted to liberate Iraq, find WMD's or any of the other 24 ever changing reasons he has used to defend the indefensible, Poland's Foreign Minister was brutally honest about why Poland was part of the coalition. It was not for liberation or democracy but for a share of Iraq's oil fields---to the victors belongthe important spoils. So, 13 Polish soldiers died for oil. (Now, the US is upset by Poland's defense minister's recent statement announcing the withdrawal of its troops from Iraq beginning in early 2005.) Fortunately, Croatia's government didn't attach itself to the coalition of the coerced and greedy, although pressure to provide even a token force was probably applied. So, unlike Poland and Italy for example, which lost troops, Croatia was spared the agony of its soldiers returning in "transfer tubes" (aka body bags) or without arms and legs.No matter how one feels about the International Criminal Court (ICC-not to be confused with the ICTY----the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia), George W. Bush reached the heights of hypocrisy and bullying about this issue. In 2002, Bush formally renounced his predecessor's signature on the Rome Statue of the ICC. Last year, the Bush administration cut off military aid to 35 friendly countries, which included Croatia, because of their support of the ICC and refusal to exempt US soldiers from ICC jurisdiction.However, after the Abu Ghraib scandal and abuse of Guantanamo held prisoners became front page news worldwide, the Bush administration, in its usual flip-flop method, withdrew a U.N. Security Council resolution to exempt American soldiers from prosecution overseas and renounced the ratification process ofthe ICC. Croatians will remember how, in 2003, Bush's administration attempted, through a legal challenge at the WTO, to browbeat the European Union into lifting its moratorium on the sale of genetically modified (GM) seeds and foods in Europe. Croatians, like most Europeans, are concerned about possible harmful healthconsequences of GM food. Also, unlike some American corporate fast food mind sets, every European country, including Croatia, has its own cuisine which is an integral part of its culture.Acting like a cheerleader for American agribusiness and chemical corporations, Bush bullied Europe by fraudulently equating their refusal to grow GM crops for export to creating millions of starving people in less developed countries. (Actually, the hunger problem is more a result of how farmland is used rather than having any basis in the availability of GM food.)Then the Bush administration tried persuasion by invoking cost savings which was another lie. GM seeds are more expensive because they are patented. That means that farmers cannot save new seeds for another growing season because they belong to the seed company! (There is already a ludicrous lawsuit filed by a large agribusiness company against a farmer whose fields sprouted plants from wind blown seeds of neighboring farms.) Forced to buy new seeds every year would not help but further hurt subsistence farmers.However, Bush and his administration refuse to accept the reality of any issue, so their policies and plans, or lack thereof, result in terrible consequences for the United States and the rest of the world.  Croatian Americans need to face the fact that another four years of Bush's policies could seriously cripple United States-Croatia relations. If you care about strong future US-Croatia relations, a US relationship with Croatia that is enlightened, practical and respectful of Croatia's sovereignty, vote for John Kerry and John Edwards on November 2.  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 21 Oct 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7233/1/E-Blaskic-Judgement-Overturned-due-to-Judge-Jordas-Errors.html  Blaskic Judgement OverturnedThis is the original English version of an articlethat appeared in issue 753 of Globus, 15.10.04Blaskic Judgement Overturned due to Judge Jorda'sErrorsBrian GallagherThe quashing of the majority of General Blaskic’sconvictions did not rely on new evidence. He waslargely exonerated because of errors the TrialChamber judges made and the prosecution not havingproved its case in the first place. Croatianpoliticians should request an independent UN inquiryinto the Tribunal, to determine how UN prosecutors andjudges convicted Blaskic in the first place.Contrary to popular belief, the issue of new evidencewas not as critical to the success of Blaskic’s appealso much as errors made by the original Trial Chamber. Indeed, many international media reports primarilyreferred to the criticism of the Trial Chamber by theAppeals Chamber. London’s The Times pointed out theAppeals Chamber had “said the court had misinterpretedthe law and punished Blaskic unfairlyâ€?. It alsoconsidered there may be implications for the Milosevictrial, “If the tribunal cannot prove a serving generalhad command responsibility for forces in histerritory, it is likely to be more difficult toestablish it for a political leaderâ€?. The New York Times considered the decision a “ strongreprimand of the work of the lower court, inparticular of the senior justice who presided over it,Judge Claude Jorda of France.â€? The Independent didn’tbother mentioning the new evidence at all, statingthat “The ruling dealt a blow to prosecutors involvedin other cases concerning some of the worst ethnicviolence of the Balkan wars in the 1990s, in which twomore Bosnian Croat commanders, Dario Kordic and MarioCerkez, are contesting their charges.â€?Such reports were based on what the Appeals Chamberhad actually stated in their judgement. The Appeals Chamber re-affirmed findings made in theearlier Kupreskic appeal - which was also amiscarriage of justice concerning Ahmici - presidedover by American Judge Patricia Wald. Essentially,where the Trial Chamber had made a conviction thatcould not have been accepted by any tribunal or wherethe evaluation of evidence was “wholly erroneousâ€? itshould be overturned. The Trial Chamber was criticised on this basis; forexample in blaming Blaskic for Ahmici. The AppealsChamber stated that the original trial evidence didnot support the Trial Chamber’s finding that theBosnian Army was not preparing for combat in theAhmici area; the additional evidence simply confirmedthat. In other words, the Trial Chamber got it wrongin the first place. In relation to Blaskic’s order to attack Ahmici, theTrial Chamber’s assessed it as an order to attackmuslim civilians. This was found to be “whollyerroneousâ€? and that “no reasonable trier of factâ€?could have reached that conclusion on the basis of the evidence before the Trial Chamber. This is veryserious criticism indeed. Furthermore, the Trial Chamber made errors of law,which the Appeals Chamber corrected, especially inregard to ’command responsibility’. The Trial Chamber had considered that commandresponsibility meant that any person who orders anact, knowing that there is a risk of crimes beingcommitted is guilty of any such crimes. The Appealshad a different view: “The knowledge of any kind ofrisk, however low, does not suffice for the impositionof criminal responsibility for serious violations ofinternational humanitarian law.â€? They pointed outthat the Trial Chamber seemed to think any militarycommander who gave an order was criminally liable, asthere is always a chance crimes could occur.The Appeals Chambers considered that ‘commandresponsibility’ should be applied only when a personorders an act or omission with the awareness thatthere is a substantial likelihood that a crime wouldbe committed in the execution of that order. This isa quite major finding, which will have implicationsfar beyond the Blaskic case, as the western press hasalready noted. For Blaskic, it meant that he was notfound responsible for ordering the crimes in Ahmici.The Appeals Chamber in fact expressed concern thathaving found Blaskic guilty of ordering crimes theTrial Chamber also found him guilty of not preventingor punishing those crimes. Blaskic it seems wasguilty of not preventing himself from committingcrimes and then not punishing himself for them. Little wonder the Appeals Chamber threw this lunacyout. It was also confirmed that the Prosecutors hadbreached Tribunal rules by not providing the defencewith documents they were entitled to have. This wasrectified during the appeal, but it points to anethical problem in the Prosecutor’s office, showingthey are not quite the moral force they portraythemselves as. One wonders how often they withholdevidence.In light of the severe rebuke the Appeals Chamber hasgiven to the Trial Chamber, it is hard to believe thatBlaskic’s original conviction was some kind ofaccident. The Croatian government is now in an excellentposition to press forward their case in theinternational community. The Blaskic acquittal givescredibility to the concerns regarding the case againstthe Bosnian Croats recently sent to the Hague and therole of Croatia that it alleges. Zagreb should do the same over the indictments ofGenerals Gotovina, Cermak and Markac for the Americancontrolled Operation Storm. Like the Blaskic case,its fairly clear - from evidence in the public domain- that these men are innocent. Those indictments should be dropped now; must we waityears for an Appeals Chamber to overturn theirinevitable guilty verdicts? Further, Zagreb should request an independent UNinvestigation into the entire performance of thetribunal during the Blaskic affair. As part of such arequest, all Court documents in the case not madepublic should be made public, so that the public has acomplete picture.If Croatia can investigate why documents were nothanded over, than surely the UN can investigate itsown far greater role. It was the UN that indicted,prosecuted and wrongly sentenced General Blaskic to 45years for crimes he did not commit. Judges did notapply the law correctly and came to conclusions thatthe evidence they had did not support. They bear theresponsibility for this shocking miscarriage ofjustice - not Croatia - and the individualsresponsible at The Hague should be held fullyaccountable by the international community.   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 20 Oct 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7231/1/H-Obveze---Saborski-Zastupnik-Dr-Ivan-Bagaric.html  Obveze«Hrvati bi morali nadići svoj anakroni nacionalizam» kazao je ministar talijanske vlade Giovanardi. Ta konstatacija i ne bi bila toliko čudna da je upućena nekim drugim povodom. Ali njome Giovanardi tako brani izvjesnog Finija koji je izjavio da su Istra i Dalmacija talijanske zemlje. Oni to pravo temelje na činjenici kako su tamo živjeli (i sada žive) Talijani. Slovenija računa na dio hrvatskog teritorijalnog mora a kao adut za ostvarenje tog «prava» drži svoju vojsku u Hrvatskoj - na Svetoj Geri. Valjda kako bi u danom trenutku trgovala: vama vaÅ¡e a nama (opet) vaÅ¡e. Milorad Pupavac misli da su Hrvati iz BiH u Hrvatskoj povlaÅ¡tena klasa. Govori o prognanicima koji su već godinama nastanjeni u Hrvatskoj, a sada ih hrvatska vlada pokuÅ¡ava trajno zbrinuti. Ovi ljudi su prethodno prognani sa svojih ognjiÅ¡ta pa joÅ¡ jednom - temeljem prava drugih na svoju imovinu iz privremeno zaposjednutog smjeÅ¡taja, i na koncu treće sreće â€" Hrvatske, ni tamo nemaju mira.Hrvatska je prihvatila obveze prema međunarodnim institucijama, prema susjedima, prema Srbima povratnicima itd. Nabrojane obveze su odraz političke volje i koliko god bile dodatno opterećenje za proračun provode se. Istovremeno, nekima su Hrvati iz BiH obveza (i viÅ¡ak) koja im prelijeva čaÅ¡u strpljenja. Međunarodna zajednica čini sve kako bi Hrvatskoj pomogla ostvariti pristup Europskoj Uniji. To je proÅ¡log utorka u Saboru jasno kazao Povjerenik za proÅ¡irenje Unije gospodin Gunter Verheugen. Na mene je ostavio dojam vrlo iskrenog čovjeka. Čovjeka koji hoće pomoći i čovjeka koji je svjestan da je Hrvatska (kao i BiH) oduvijek pripadala zapadnom svijetu. Međutim, to ne ide lako. Carla Del Ponte kaže da je Ante Gotovina viđen u Brelima. Istina, i ja sam vidio Gotovinu. Međutim, davno za vrijeme rata u kome su Srbi pokuÅ¡ali doći ne samo u Brela nego sve do Karlobaga. Hoće ljudi na more - ali na svoj način. U međuvremenu (ili za svaki slučaj), odnekud se pojavio joÅ¡ jedan transkript s kojim Tuđman žestoko prijeti. Pročitao sam da je i ovaj iz Predsjednikova arhiva. Izgleda da su se neki ljudi osposobili za dodatne poslove i to za vrijeme obnaÅ¡anja osnovne dužnosti. Budući će uskoro predsjednički izbori, bilo bi dobro da im narod omogući baviti se onim za Å¡to su pokazali najveću sklonost. Recimo, povijesnom građom i arhivom.Dr Ivan Bagarić  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 19 Oct 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7236/1/E-EU-sets-stricter-criteria-for-Croatia-joining.html  EU sets stricter criteria for Croatia joining ISN SECURITY WATCH (07/10/04) - The EU is changing its language and setting stricter membership criteria for newcomers from Southeastern Europe. European Commission reports released on Wednesday give green lights to Bulgaria and Romania for EU entry in 2007, but under a proposed "safeguard clause", warning that the two countries' membership could be delayed by a year if they faltered in their reform efforts. But in the case of Croatia, which was promised membership talks beginning early next year, the EC report's wording was surprisingly strict. According to the new tone adopted by the EU executive body, candidate countries will be driven by real reforms on the ground, rather than simply on paper, which may take much longer to prove. The report said that the EU reserved the right to suspend negotiations in case of what the EC called "a serious and persistent breach of the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law". Croatia, which became an official EU candidate in June, was hoping to join the EU in 2007, together with Bulgaria and Romania, but EC officials are now skeptical of that date. EC officials told ISN Security Watch that Croatia's membership could be put off until 2009. Zagreb's hopes were dealt another blow on Wednesday, when the EC report stopped short of recommending a start date for membership talks. Instead, Zagreb was advised to continue to improve its democratic and human rights standards if it wanted to move towards membership talks. Brussels has already made it clear that full cooperation with the Hague-based International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) is a key condition for Croatia's EU membership. In particular, Brussels is concerned about the authorities' failure to turn over fugitive Croatian General Ante Gotovina, a former French Legionnaire indicted by the tribunal for crimes against Serb civilians during the 1992-1995 war in the Krajina region. Other requirements include advancing the refugee returns process and judicial reform. Despite the setback, Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader on Wednesday welcomed the EC's recommendation that the EU should start membership negotiations with his country in early 2005, without offering an exact date. "I would like to welcome the decision by the European Commission, which is another important step in the process of Croatia approaching the European Union," Sanader told journalists. It will be up to EU country leaders to decide at during a December summit whether to accept the commission's recommendations. In other news, support for EU membership has fallen dramatically in Croatia, just a few months since gaining candidate-member status. According to a poll by the Institutit Puls agency conducted in September, just under half (49 per cent) of those surveyed backed accession, while 41 per cent were opposed to joining the EU, compared to January when more than 70 per cent of Croatian voters supported joining the European bloc. (By Ekrem Krasniqi in Brussels)http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?id=9880 v  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 07 Oct 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7235/1/E-Former-Croatia-coach-Blazevic-to-run-for-president.html  Former Croatia coach Blazevic to run for presidentWed Oct 6, 5:54 AM ET ZAGREB (AFP) - Former Croatia coach Miroslav Blazevic, who led the Balkan country to third place at the 1998 World Cup, is planning to run for president in elections due by February. "Certain people have convinced me to run for the presidency, since they believe I could win," Blazevic -- nicknamed 'Ciro' -- told the Jutarnji List daily on Wednesday. "They told me that I was the only one who can beat (President) Stipe Mesic." The date for the elections is not yet fixed but they are due to be held by February, when Mesic's five-year term expires. Mesic has said he would run for a second term. Blazevic claimed he could get the 10,000 signatures required to list as an independent candidate "in 24 hours". "I only need an announcer at the Zagreb stadium to say that Ciro needs 10,000 signatures," he said. The 68-year-old, who recently recovered from prostate surgery, is currently coaching Croatian first division side Varteks Varazdin. http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20041006/sp_soccer_afp/fbl_cro_blazevic_041006095438   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 06 Oct 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7234/1/H-Boris-Miksic-Prvi-Iseljenicki-Kandidat-za-Predsjednika.html  DODJITE I UPOZNAJTE PRVOG ISELJENICKOG KANDIDATA ZA PREDSJEDNIKA HRVATSKE KOJI SE BORI ZA INTERESE HRVATSKOG ISELJENISTVA Subota 9. Listopada 2004. New YorkBoris Miksic ce se susresti sa Hrvatima u popularnim hrvatskim okupljalistima (Albona, Luna, Scorpio)12.30 p.m.Susret sa mladima u Valentinu5.00 p.m. Fairview N. J. - susret sa Hrvatima New Jerseya7.00 p.m. ISTRA KLUB- Banket (Ulaz slobodan)Nedjelja 10. Listopada 2004.10.45 a.m. Misa u Most Precious Blood Crkvi- AstoriaSusret sa zajednicom nakon Svete Mise.1. p.m. - Zakuska u RUDAR KLUBU3. p.m. ? HRVATSKI CENTAR na ManhattanuBoris ce prisustvovati Lickom banketu za izgradnju Crkve u Udbini.U organizaciji prijatelja Borisa MiksicaZa sve informacije telefon 1 - 888 94 BORISwww.borismiksic.net letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 06 Oct 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7238/1/E-Ljiljanna-Ravlich-First-woman-born-in-a-non-English.html  Ljiljanna RavlichLjiljanna Ravlich First woman born in a non-English speaking country to be appointed a minister in the State Government. Ms Ravlich is also the first Croatian-born woman ever elected to a parliament outside Croatia. Minister flies migrant flag Ljiljanna Ravlich notched up a record for migrant West Australians yesterday, becoming the first woman born in a non-English speaking country to be appointed a minister in the State Government.After a brief caucus meeting yesterday, Ms Ravlich, 46, was elevated to Cabinet, taking up the ministerial responsibilities left by the resignation last week of Local Government Minister Tom Stephens, who will now run as the Labor candidate in the Federal seat of Kalgoorlie.Ms Ravlich dismissed claims her factional status as one of Labor's powerbrokers in the Centre faction had won her the job rather than her parliamentary work."I see myself as being a meritorious candidate and nothing will convince me otherwise," Ms Ravlich said. "I'm over the moon about being the next minister elected to the Cabinet."As the first woman born in a non-English speaking country to be elected to the WA Parliament, I am very honoured and I know that I represent the aspirations of hundreds of thousands of migrant West Australians."Born in Split, Croatia, Ms Ravlich is also the first Croatian-born woman ever elected to a parliament outside Croatia.http://www.thewest.com.au/20040922/news/general/tw-news-general-home-sto129389.html letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 28 Sep 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7240/1/E-Anton-Srdanovics-Cruise-to-Victory.html  “Cruise to Victory”Anton Srdanovic The honorable James Ortenzioand theNew York Republican County Committeeinvite you to a special event for US Congressional CandidateAnton Srdanovic“Cruise to Victory”Wednesday, October 6th, 6:00 pmTo be a passenger, there is a minimum suggested donation of $125Please rsvp as soon as possible since space is limited!If you are interested in helping to sponsor or need more information, please contact us at: Info@AntonForCongress.com or call 212 / 831 – 6774WWW site: http://www.AntonForCongress.com  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 25 Sep 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7239/1/E-John-Kerrys-letter-to-the-Croatian-Fraternal-Union.html   John Kerry's letter to the Croatian Fraternal UnionSeptember 23, 2004Dear Mr. Bernard Luketich:I would like to offer my greetings and best wishes to you and the Croatian Fraternal Union Federation on your 110th Anniversary. I would very much like to be here with all of you to help celebrate your achievements over more than a century of service to the Croatian American community, but the fight to take back the White House continues to take me far and wide across our great land.For over a hundred years, Croatians have contributed to the rich diversity of immigrants that have made America what it is today. Our nation owes much to you and your families who sought to better their fortunes here, and who have contributed so much to our culture, our freedom, and our prosperity. Today, Croatia continues to stand with America in meeting our greatest challenges; with forces fighting in Afghanistan and Croatian doctors treating injured Iraqi children in Zagreb. For all of this, America is grateful. America and the world is safer and stronger when we act with our allies. This administration has walked away from more than a hundred years of American leadership in the world and embraced a new and dangerously ineffective American disregard for the world. Time and again, this administration has confused leadership with going it alone and engagement with compromise of principle - they fail to understand that real leadership means standing by your principles and rallying others to join you. As president, I will rebuild America's leadership in the world through strength and cooperation with its friends and allies. My administration will seek to expand relations between the U.S. and Croatia through greater dialogue and discussion at the highest levels of government as well as from the input and experience of Croatian-American groups such as the Croatian Fraternal Union. Croatian Americans have contributed so much to make our country great. I will work to make certain that the United States and Croatia not only remain allies, but that we become even closer partners on issues of security, trade and investment, and culture. And I intend to work with our European allies to see that Croatia is able to take its place as a law-abiding member of the key institutions that helped to win the Cold War, including NATO and the European Union. Sincerely Yours, John Kerry   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 25 Sep 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7237/1/E-Dr-Ivo-Sanader-addresses-the-UN-General-Assembly.html  Croatia's prime minister Ivo Sanader addresses the United Nations General Assembly in New York Croatia's prime minister Ivo Sanader addresses the United Nations General Assembly in New York, September 22, 2004. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 23 Sep 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7241/1/E-John-Kerry-a-TRUE-Croatian-friend.html  John Kerry a true Croatian Friend Op-edJohn Kerry is not saying this just before election. I witnessed his comments in 1991 - 1995, when it was the most difficult for us. Recently, few weeks ago while cleaning my basement, I found a note saying "Send thank you notes to Senator John Kerry and Joseph Biden, for their support". I remember when I wrote those notes, and that was at the time when George Bush senior, Lawrence Eagleburger and the rest of the administration supported embargo on "Yugoslavia", which in reality meant, let the aggressor (Serbs) win. They had arms, more than they could use it and we Croatians had NONE. We still won, in part, thanks to people like John Kerry and many other friends that we had in America. Nenad BachEditor in Chief, CROWN Croatia.org Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry issued the following statement Sunday in remembrance of Croatia's Statehood Day:"Today I join the people of Croatia and Croatian descent as they celebrate Croatia's Statehood Day.  Over a decade has passed since Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in the early 90's.  Independence has not always been easy, but in joining the Adriatic Charter in 2002, Croatia has taken positive steps toward securing its own peace and becoming integrated into a Europe whole and free.  I congratulate Croatia on the progress it has made and urge Croatians to continue working for peace, justice and democracy in their country.  For over a hundred years, Croatians also have contributed to the rich diversity of immigrants that have made America what it is today.  Our nation owes much to those hard-working men and women who sought to better their fortunes here, and who have contributed so much to our culture, our freedom, and our prosperity.  Croatians around the world have earned the right to celebrate their independence on this day."www.johnkerry.comFor Immediate Release May 30, 2004Contact: George Kivork, 202-712-3000 Photographer: Kerry-Edwards 2004, Inc. from Sharon Farmer letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 21 Sep 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7242/1/E-Dr-Ivo-Sanader-Prime-Minister-of-Croatia-in-New-York.html Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson with Dr. Ivo Sanader, Prime Minister of Croatia  Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson (L), recipient of the Appeal of Conscience World Statesman Award, shakes hands with Dr. Ivo Sanader, Prime Minister of Croatia (R), and Rabbi Arthur Schneier (C), Appeal of Conscience president, at an awards banquet in New York, September 20, 2004. REUTERS/Chip East   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 20 Sep 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7243/1/E-Cyprus-backs-Croatias-EU-efforts.html  Cyprus backs Croatia's EU efforts10 September 2004 Cyprus is supporting Croatia's aspirations to join the European Union and is ready to help the Balkans country in accession talks through its own experiences, Cypriot Foreign Minister George Iacovou said here on Friday. "Cyprus has supported Croatia's aspiration to join the (European) Union and it has supported the commencement of negotations," with the 25-nation-bloc, Iacovou told journalists. Iacovou, who spoke after meeting his Croatian counterpart Mimior Zuzul, offered to share with Zagreb his country's experiences in accession talks. "Croatia is a Mediterranean country like ourselves and it is in our own interest that the expansion of the European Union also goes to the south and Mediterranean countries." Croatia was recently granted official EU candidate status and is to start accession talks early next year. It hopes to join the bloc in 2007, along with Bulgaria and Romania. The divided island of Cyprus, represented by its internationally recognized Greek Cypriot side, joined the EU on May 1 along with nine other countries. Cyprus has been split since 1974 when Turkey occupied the north in response to a Greek Cypriot coup in Nicosia aimed at uniting the island with Greece. A last-ditch effort to reunify Cyprus' Greek and Turkish communities before EU accession failed in April when Greek Cypriots rejected a UN peace plan that Turkish Cypriots endorsed. "We will not turn our backs to the efforts to find a peaceful solution to the (Cyprus) problem and hope that this will be soon rather than later," Iacovou said on Friday. Iacovou, on a one-day visit to Zagreb, also met President Stipe Mesic and Prime Minister Ivo Sanader. http://www.eubusiness.com/afp/040910133828.pn1hrs2u   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 09 Sep 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7246/1/E-Macedonia-and-Croatia-agree-to-cooperate-on-EU-accession.html  Macedonia and Croatia agree to cooperate on EU accession06 September 2004 Croatia and Macedonia signed a cooperation accord Monday to help each other join the European Union as Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader visited Macedonia for meetings with top officials. The signing ceremony followed talks between Sanader and Macedonian Prime Minister Hari Kostov. "The region needs peace and development after a crisis of many years," Sanader said after the meeting, referring to the wars which tore the former Yugoslav federation apart in the 1990s. He said the "project of a united Europe cannot be realised without the countries of southeastern Europe". The EU recently granted Croatia official candidate status while Macedonia lodged its formal request to join the bloc earlier this year. http://www.eubusiness.com/afp/040906135745.i7am5s6a  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 08 Sep 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7245/1/E-Balkans-pact-chief-says-Croatia-important-for-Balkan-stability.html  Balkans pact chief says Croatia important for Balkan stability08 September 2004 Croatia's efforts to join the European Union are important for Balkan stability, a senior EU official, Erhard Busek, said Wednesday. Busek is coordinator of the Stability Pact for southeastern Europe, launched in 1999 to promote democratisation, economic reconstruction and security throughout the Balkans where a series of wars erupted in the 1990s. "We are prepared to assist Croatia in every way possible to reach this aim (EU membership) because it is of a great importance for the whole Stability Pact and the situation in the region," Busek said after meeting Croatian Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul. Croatia was recently granted official EU candidate status and is to start accession talks early next year. It hopes to join the bloc in 2007, along with Bulgaria and Romania. Busek is also expected to meet Prime Minister Ivo Sanader. http://www.eubusiness.com/afp/040908120950.eriihzu4   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 08 Sep 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7244/1/E-Britain-ratifies-Croatias-EU-association-agreement.html  Britain ratifies Croatia's EU association agreement03 September 2004 Britain on Friday ratified an EU association agreement with Croatia that it had previously refused to sign owing to concerns about Zagreb's alleged lack of cooperation with the UN war crimes court at The Hague, the British embassy said."Croatia's future is in the EU and Croatia will have our full support as it tackles the next step in its journey towards full membership," an embassy statement quoted British Minister for Europe Denis MacShane as saying. "I hope that Croatia's success will encourage others in the region to tackle the necessary reforms." Britain's concerns about cooperation with The Hague centered on one of the tribunal's most wanted fugitives, retired Croatian general Ante Gotovina. Zagreb claims the 48-year-old Gotovina, wanted for war crimes against Serbs during Croatia's 1991-95 independence war, has problabely fled abroad. He has been on the run since mid-2001 when the UN court charged him. MacShane said "it is vital that Ante Gotovina appears before the tribunal in The Hague as soon as possible." Croatia received EU candidate status in June and is to start accession talks early next year. It hopes to join the bloc in 2007, along with Bulgaria and Romania. Copyright © 2004 AFP. http://www.eubusiness.com/afp/040903134327.vcywn60h   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 04 Sep 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7247/1/E-Vanessa-Redgrave-on-Goli-Otok-and-Guantanamo.html Goli OtokVanessa Redgrave: Guantanamo's torture regime is a shameful disgraceThe British intelligence services and the Foreign Office appear complicit in the torture23 August 2004The IndependentI have just returned from a theatre workshop inCroatia, with women who survived Tito's concentrationcamp for political prisoners on the island of GoliOtok. Officially this was a "work site" or "labourcamp", and was opened by the Yugoslav State SecurityService in 1948, when Tito split from Stalin.The women prisoners were suspected of beingpro-Stalin. They were never formally charged with acrime, and were never tried or given access to lawyersor a chance to defend themselves. On the island theywere subjected to hideous beatings, forced to standover urine buckets or against a wall for hours on endin "stress-positions"; they were deprived of sleep,denied food and drinking water as punishment andlocked away in isolation. They were prohibited fromwashing even in the sea, and had to endure repeatedinterrogations and "self-criticism". They were called"bandits", "scum", "traitors", "enemies of the state".In effect, Stalin's methods were being used by theState Security Service against those suspected ofbeing "pro-Stalin". No one knows how many went mad,how many died, or how many attempted suicide. InTito's time, this was a "State Secret".All the survivors of Goli Otok (the island had a campfor men as well) agree that under prolonged conditionsof torture, they would do anything, say anything,write anything and sign anything that was demanded ofthem in the hope of being released.I have also just finished reading the 115-pagedocument Detention in Afghanistan and Guantanamo Baycompiled by Birnberg Pierce & Partners, lawyers forthe three British citizens released from GuantanamoBay without charge in March. Their accounts ofdetention are horrifyingly similar to the conditionsin Goli Otok. In both cases, the denial of a trial,and a specified date of release added to the physicaltorture the three endured.Shafiq Rasul, Asif Iqbal and Rhuhel Ahmed werecaptured in northern Afghanistan in November 2001. Allthree state that they were physically tortured inSherbagan, Kandahar, before being consigned to thepsychological and physical hell of Guantanamo Bay. InMarch this year they were sent back to England andreleased without charges.Asif and Shafiq say they were interrogated by an SASofficer in Kandahar before they were flown toGuantanamo. Rhuhel states that he was questioned inKandahar by MI5 and separately by someone from theForeign Office. He was in a terrible state fromprolonged sleep deprivation, starvation anddehydration. The MI5 officer told him he would be senthome if he agreed to "admit to everything" that wasput to him. "I just said 'OK' to everything they saidto me. I agreed with everything, whether it was trueor not. I just wanted to get out of there." Duringtheir two years of incarceration in Guantanamo M15officers and a representative of the British embassyin Washington made six or seven visits/interrogations.All three men made complaints about the conditionsunder which they were being held; and about theinterrogations by US military intelligence and otherUS agencies. The British intelligence services and theForeign Office appear therefore to be complicit in theconditions of psychological and physical torture inAfghanistan and Guantanamo Bay.The document depicts a Kafkaesque nightmare combinedwith a barbaric system of punishments, including"short-shackling" for hours on end. Any decent person,British or American, could only feel the utmost shameand revulsion that such methods should be used.It is clear from the accounts of the three Britishdetainees that many prisoners have gone mad and manyhave attempted suicide. The Foreign Office has evadedthe requests of family lawyers to allow independentdoctors to see the British citizens and UK residentswho still remain in Guantanamo.Torture is morally repugnant, degrading both thetortured and the torturers. It is also whollydestructive of security, which in part depends onintelligence. Torture produces dysfunctionalintelligence since the suspect is being forced to giveonly the answers the interrogators want.Article 2 of the UN Convention on Torture, 1984,states: "No exceptional circumstances whatsoever,whether a war or a threat of war, internal politicalinstability or any other public emergency, may beinvoked as a justification of torture." Both the UKand the US signed and ratified this convention. Yetour Appeal Court has upheld our Government's case foraccepting evidence extracted under torture.In the name of security, our Government is destroyingthe principles and the laws which are the foundationsof the security of all citizens; these principles wereproclaimed by the American Patriots in theirDeclaration of Independence and after the war, intheir constitution which also prohibits cruel anddegrading treatment. It is a spine-chilling disgracethat the Blair government has supported the Guantanamotorture regime, and agreed to the pre-tribunalhearings that have been repudiated by US civil rightslawyers and human-rights NGOs. http://argument.independent.co.uk/commentators/story.jsp?story=554088 info@guantanamo.chr.org  23 August 2004 02:35  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 23 Aug 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7248/1/E-Dropping-the-genocide-charges-is-currently-not-an-option.html  Croatia confident on genocide caseZAGREB -- Monday – International law expert, Ivo Josipolic, said that Croatia would not have filed charges of genocide against Serbia-Montenegro if they did not feel that they had a valid and strong case. Radoslav Stojanovic, who is in charge of coordinating Serbia-Montenegro’s defense case, recently said that the charges would not hold up in court. Croatian Justice Minister ,Vesna Skare Ozbolt, would not comment on Stojanovic’s claims, but said that dropping the charges is currently not an option. http://www.b92.net/english/news/index.php?&nav_category=&nav_id=29506&order=priority&style=headlines   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 16 Aug 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7250/1/E-Catholics-and-voting-in-2004-USA-Elections.html  Catholics and voting in 2004 USA ElectionsSOURCE: Gallup Poll News ServiceCONTACT INFORMATION: Media Relations 1-202-715-3030Subscriber Relations 1-888-274-5447World Headquarters901 F StreetWashington, DC 20004August 10, 2004Catholic Vote Split Based on Level of Religious CommitmentPracticing Catholics more likely to support Bushby Jeffrey M. JonesGALLUP NEWS SERVICEPRINCETON, NJ -- Historically a solid Democratic voting group, in the past three decades Catholics have become a key swing voting group in American presidential elections. Catholics broke with their historical voting pattern to support victorious Republican candidates in 1972, 1980, and 1984, according to Gallup final pre-election poll estimates. Aside from the 1988 election, Catholics have supported the candidate who won the popular vote in every election since 1972.Catholics, who comprise a substantial amount (about 25%) of the population, are of special interest this year since Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry is the first Catholic major-party nominee since 1960. Recent polling has shown Catholics with a slight preference for Kerry over President George W. Bush. However, among practicing Catholics -- those who attend church on a weekly basis -- Bush leads Kerry. Catholics who attend church infrequently support Kerry by a wide margin. The Overall Catholic VoteThe last five Gallup surveys have shown Kerry with at least a slight lead over Bush among Catholic registered voters. In the most recent poll, Catholic registered voters favored Kerry by a 51% to 45% margin. Before mid-May, Bush had at least a slight lead among Catholics in every poll. It is unclear why the shift occurred in mid-May; especially when the national vote among registered voters has remained fairly stable since it became clear Kerry would be the Democratic nominee. One possibility is that as voters learned more about Kerry, they became aware of his Catholic faith. Kerry's faith has been an election-year issue, as well. Some Catholic bishops have argued that Catholic politicians, like Kerry, whose policy positions on matters such as abortion rights are not consistent with church teachings, should be denied Communion when attending church. The Catholic DivideWhile the overall Catholic vote would still appear to be very much up-for-grabs, but presently leaning toward Kerry, a closer look at the data reveal that Catholics themselves are divided in their support, according to their frequency of attending church. Combined data from Gallup's two most recent polls, conducted July 19-21 and July 30-Aug. 1, show that Catholic registered voters who attend church weekly support Bush over Kerry by a 52% to 42% margin. This group represents about one-third of all Catholic registered voters. Among Catholic registered voters who attend church on a semi-regular basis -- that is, nearly every week or monthly -- Kerry leads Bush by 50% to 45%. This group represents slightly more than one-quarter of all Catholic registered voters, 27%. Among Catholic registered voters who attend church on an infrequent basis -- that is, "seldom" or "never" -- Kerry has a large 57% to 39% lead. This is the largest group of Catholics, representing just under 40% of all U.S. Catholic registered voters (38%). As such, Kerry tends to appeal to non-practicing Catholics, while Bush appeals more to practicing Catholics. Bush's policy stands on abortion, stem-cell research, and same-sex marriage appear to be more consistent with Catholic teachings than Kerry's. In general, Gallup Poll data show that practicing Catholics are much more likely to share the stances on policies espoused by the church than are non-practicing Catholics. Last week, Bush, who is a Methodist, made a direct appeal to Catholic voters in a speech at a large Catholic gathering in Dallas. Hispanic CatholicsPart of Kerry's appeal to Catholics could be because he appeals to Hispanic voters, who are overwhelmingly Catholic (62%, according to Gallup's June Minority Relations poll). But recent Gallup data suggest that Hispanic Catholics are only slightly more likely to support Kerry than are white Catholics, although there is not as strong a relationship between Hispanic Catholics' church attendance and support for Bush as there is among Catholics overall. Among Hispanic Catholic registered voters, Kerry led 58% to 36% in the June Minority Relations poll, and his lead among white Catholic registered voters in that poll was similar, at 55% to 43%. Kerry led Bush 54% to 41% among all Catholic registered voters in that poll.Though the sample sizes are too limited to draw firm conclusions, the data suggest that Hispanic registered voters who attend church weekly give less support to Kerry than Hispanics who attend church on a less frequent basis. Still, it appears Kerry would maintain a lead over Bush in both groups. Survey MethodsThese results are based on telephone interviews with a randomly selected national sample of 545 Catholic registered voters, aged 18 and older, from polls conducted July 19-21 and July 30-Aug. 1. For results based on this sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum error attributable to sampling and other random effects is ±5 percentage points. Data for Hispanics are based on interviews with 503 Hispanics, aged 18 and older, conducted June 9-30, 2004. The sample of 166 Hispanic Catholic registered voters has a margin of sampling error of ±14 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.Larry CirignanoLarryvote@aol.com www.CatholicVote.org  120 Riverwood Ave.PO Box 118Far Hills, NJ 07931609-781-0090908-234-1978 faxLarry Cirignano617-755-7668  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 13 Aug 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7249/1/E-Otto-von-Habsburg-champions-Croatia-as-a-typical-European-country.html  Otto von Habsburg champions Croatia as a typical European countrySaturday, August 14, 2004Austro-Hungarian dynasty heir sees a broader Europe By Katinka Mezei, Agence France-Presse VIENNA-Otto von Habsburg, heir to the illustrious imperial Austro-Hungarian dynasty, is at 92 a tireless champion of an EU enlargement he hopes will soon reach out to southeast Europe too. Oldest son of the last Austro-Hungarian emperor, whose dynasty once ruled much of southern and eastern Europe, the veteran conservative envisages a bloc stretching from Ukraine via Albania to Iceland. On a recent visit to Vienna, he hailed the May 1 entry of 10 mostly eastern European countries into the European Union as the culmination of a "gigantic process . . . that was blocked first by fascism and then communism." Habsburg was in the Austrian capital ahead of the commemoration of the 1914 assassination in Sarajevo of his ancestor, Archduke Franz-Ferdinand-an event that triggered World War I and, ultimately, the demise of the Austro-Hungarian empire. "The enlargement was even more satisfying for me in that several of the new members are more European than the old ones," he said. He rejoiced "particularly about the reuniting of Hungary and Austria under one roof." Tall and elegantly dressed, bespectacled and sporting a moustache, Habsburg now lives in Germany. He gave up his claim to the throne in 1961 and makes no claims for the restitution of family property. Although he was forced into exile at the age of six when his father Karl I abdicated at the end of World War I, he has been a tireless advocate for the countries the Habsburg family once ruled. An outspoken opponent of Austria's incorporation into Nazi Germany in 1938, he was forced to flee to the United States when the Nazi regime accused him of treason. After exile in Switzerland, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, France and the United States, he settled in Germany after World War II, where he was elected to the European Parliament in 1979 for the conservative Christian Socialist Union. He served in the parliament until 1999 where for a while he was head of the conservative bloc. But while he favors EU enlargement, it is on the basis of a shared set of Christian values. "We shouldn't waste time because there are still very important countries which should become part of a united Europe, notably Croatia which is a typical European country," he said. Croatia was granted candidate status in June and is due to open accession talks next year. http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2004/aug/14/yehey/opinion/20040814opi8.html   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 13 Aug 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7251/1/E-UNs-Empire-Building-by-Dr-Jerry-Blaskovich.html  UN’s Empire BuildingTHE NEW GENERATION -A Hrvatski vjesnik Englishsupplement 23 July 2004POLITICAL COMMENTARY By Dr. Jerry BlaskovichUN’s Empire Building. . . or shades of  ‘Rule Britannia’While the war on terrorism focuses on Iraq andAfghanistan, Bosnia, a hotbed of fundamentalism, hasbeen largely ignored. Apparently the Bush administration accepted UnitedNations High Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina[OHR], Paddy Ashdown's, unsupported assurances that:"steps were taken to ensure that Bosnia-Herzegovinacould not in any way be used as a platform forterrorist attacks of any sort" and "tightly controlledenough to thwart even the most secretive terroristcells". The realities, however, belie Ashdown's self servinggrandiosities. Fundamentalists have been overtly operating in Bosniasince the early 1990s. According to intelligencesources and Marcia Christoff Kurop [former editorDefense News]: "Bosnia was a major recruitment andtraining center of Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaidanetwork". Bin Laden visited Bosnia at least three times duringthat period. Al-Qaeda's maneuverability was helpedlargely by the Bosnian Muslim government. Manyal-Qaeda captured in Afghanistan carried legitimateBosnian passports. Lionel Dumont, aka Hamzo, who was recently arrestedfor organizing al-Qaeda cells in Japan, as well asseveral suspects of the train attack in Spain, trainedin Bosnia’s terrorists camps. Ashdown's contention: 'Bosnia-Herzegovina is not abreeding ground for Islamic fundamentalism" would belaughable if the consequences weren‘t so serious.Ashdown’s deputy, US Ambassador Donald Hays, is anadherent of Clinton's failed Bosnian policy, a policythat supported sponsors of terrorism in the region.The OHR’s energies have ignored the encroachment ofMuslim fundamentalists since its energies focused onsuppressing Croatian Catholics rights. The OHR has turned over control of at least 15 townsto the Muhajdins and are now essentially off-limits tonon-Muslims. Despite the OHR’s head in the sand policyNATO forces are aware that fundamentalists areoperating in the region. Col. Stephan Thomas, a commander of NATO‘s contingencyforce diplomatically described Bosnia as a "transitcountry and possible refuge" for Islamic extremists.The US Department of Treasury bypassed the OHR when itand the Saudi government asked the UN SanctionsCommittee on 22 December 2003 to designate Vazir aterrorist organization and representatives asal-Qaeda. This is not the first time this non-governmentalBosnian Muslim institution was accused of havingterrorist ties. Previously they operated asAl-Haramain until designated a terrorist organizationin March 2002; thereafter they changed names. Vazir isonly the tip of the iceberg to similar entities inBosnia. Prior to 1990 fundamentalism was a non-issue inBosnia; the majority identified with Turkish culturerather than religion. After Western governments turneda blind eye to the Serb induced wholesale slaughter,the Bosnians realized the West's concern for theirwell being was mere verbiage. As the West shamelessly refused to protect the largestMuslim community in Europe, the Muhajdins filled thevoid and provided money, arms, personal, but mostimportantly -- moral support to their demoralizedbrethren.In the process they transformed the most secularizedMuslims in the world into mirror images of themselves.They financed an intensive mosque building campaignand established madrasas (Muslim schools). Madrasas are hotbeds for Wahhbism teachings thatpromote violent Jihad and intolerance towardChristianity, Judaism, and Muslims who don't fit theirmold. Parenthetically, eighty percent of the mosquesin the United States are controlled by Wahhbism.Most Westerners define Jihad simplistically. Jihad hasramifications far more serious than imaginable. OnceJihad succeeds, the vanquished have three choices.Conversion. If that is not acceptable, the survivorsmust submit to second class status with no possibilityof equality. Death is the third option.From Islam's first military incursions outside ofArabia these tenets were inexorably followed. However,when Islam was eclipsed by Western civilization'sascendancy, Islamic countries became back water statesor colonies for Western interests. While the three cornerstones of theological lawremained in force in the Muslim world, they were inabeyance in Bosnia under Austrian and Serbian rule.During that period and until the war of the nineties,Catholics of Bosnia enjoyed equality with Muslims forthe first time in centuries. Now that Bosnia, with the exception of areas underSerb control, de facto has become a Muslim state, theMuslims are forcing its will. For the moment it isn'tpolitically expedient to impose the second or thirdchoice; instead they coerce the Catholics to acceptdomination. The Western powers were either not aware that AlijaIzetbegovic, their darling, had written "The IslamicDeclaration" or ‘conveniently‘ forgotten. Althoughwritten in 1970 it's chillingly reminiscent ofAl-Qaeda's manifesto of the 1990s. His key pointsabout the incompatibility of Islam and non-Islamicsystems: "There can be no peace or coexistence betweenthe 'Islam faith' and non-Islamic societies andpolitical institutions . . . Islam clearly excludesthe right and possibility of activity of any strangeideology on its own turf. . . Islamic renewal cannotbe initiated without a religious [revolution], andcannot be successfully continued and concluded withouta political revolution" are being implemented -- allwith OHR's tacit approval. The Imams ultimate goal is to revert to Muslim moresof five hundred years ago. Faruk Rizvanbegovic,Bosnia's Minister for Culture, publicly echoedIzetbegovic's sentiments. After Catholics erected a Cross on a hill in Croatianterritory to celebrate Christ's 2000th Jubilee itprovoked controversy, especially from Seid ef.Smajkic, leader of the Muslim community. The American ambassador, Thomas Miller, reinforcedSmajkic's arguments, by saying: "Crosses on the hillsand other symbols of religious intolerance will not betolerated". Interestingly, his condemnation was only directedtoward Catholic symbols. He has not chastised Muslimsfor their numerous newly built mosques, even in areasof Christian majority. Clearly the ambassador is not aware the importanceMuslims place on imposing architectonic signs on ahostile environment. These external signs of Islamsend a loud and clear political message. While the OHR has almost dictatorial power and governsBosnia as a protectorate, it has down everything inits power to accommodate the Muslims but will provedisastrous for Western security. According to aStrategic Studies Association report more than 50percent of the Muslim forces in Bosnia were believedto be affiliated with radical Islamist mujahedingroups.What's happening in Bosnia is a microcosm of Islamicvalues being imposed on western secularism. Thanks tothe West's indifference to the Muslim suffering inBosnia, the Trojan horse of terrorism is being builton the very doorstep of Europe.  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 31 Jul 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7259/1/E-Croatian-Gen-Tihomir-Blaskics-Conviction-Dismissed.html  Bosnian Croat Conviction Dismissed Op-edIt is time to celebrate only on personal level (wife, friends etc). On the government level it's time to protest heavily. How can that happen? Most likely Blaskic was in prison for 8.5 years more than he should. Priority in this case as well in most of such cases is: WHO WILL PAY for this? Who will pay for WAR REPARATIONS to Croatia? If someone has been charged with so-called "command responsibility''... where is the command responsibility in Hague? Are the prosecutors who imprisoned an innocent man responsible for this... and what is the punishment? Promotion? And how much is worth someone's imprisonment for 8.5 years, plus humiliation. I would say A LOT. If I was president of Croatia, this would be my first priority, how to get WAR REPARATIONS and how to create civil society where value is placed on law and not just public perception, that is so easily manipulated. Everywhere. Nenad BachThe Associated Press THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - An appeals panel at the U.N. war crimes tribunal on Thursday dismissed the conviction of a Bosnian Croat for crimes against Muslims in 1993 and reduced his sentence to nine years from 45 years.Gen. Tihomir Blaskic, 43, has spent more than eight years in prison for ordering an ethnic cleansing campaign against Muslim villages in central Bosnia that left hundreds dead and forced tens of thousands more to flee.Blaskic voluntarily surrendered to the U.N. court on April 1, 1996. At the time, his sentence was the harshest in the tribunal's history.In a sweeping rejection of the lower court's conclusions, the five-member appeals panel said the court had misinterpreted the law and punished Blaskic unfairly for the crimes of forces under his authority. It quashed both the earlier ruling and sentence.The panel did find him guilty of lesser crimes of illegal detainment and inhumane treatment of prisoners.The defendant will be released after serving the remaining few months of the nine-year sentence. He can also apply for early release.In a two-hour reading at the Yugoslav tribunal, presiding judge Fausto Pocar of Italy dismissed 16 of 19 counts in Blaskic's initial indictment.In March 2000, Blaskic was found guilty of so-called ``command responsibility'' at the peak of the 1992-1992 Bosnian war, including crimes against humanity and grave breeches of the Geneva Convention. But those convictions were thrown out on Thursday.Among the most severe crimes dropped against Blaskic were a series of massacres in the village of Ahmici in April 1993 that killed dozens.``The appeals chamber considered that the trial chamber's assessment was wholly erroneous'' and that it had not been ``proven beyond reasonable doubt that the appellant is responsible for ordering the crimes in Ahmici and neighboring villages on April 16, 1993.''It upheld three counts of grave breeches of the Geneva Convention related to the imprisonment of Muslims at a series of camps in Bosnia where detainees were forced to dig trenches, build fences and used as human shields during shelling by enemy forces.Outside the court, Blaskic's wife, Ratka, and his children said they were overjoyed.The appeals chamber said that in setting a new sentence it had taken into account Blaskic good behavior, clear prior record, poor health, voluntary surrender and his young children. Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 30 Jul 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7258/1/E-NATIONAL-FEDERATION-OF-CROATIAN-AMERICANS-PRESS-RELEASE.html NATIONAL FEDERATION OF CROATIAN AMERICANS CRITICIZES TESTIMONY OF DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE ROBERT A. BRADTKEWashington, D.C. (July 8, 2004). The National Federation of Croatian Americans (NFCA) today released the text of a letter written by its President, Edward A. Andrus, responding to the June 16, 2004 testimony of Robert A. Bradtke, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for European Affairs, given before the House of Representative's International Relations Committee's Subcommittee on Europe.In his testimony, Deputy Assistant Secretary Bradtke discussed Croatia's prospects for NATO membership. Bradtke said that Croatia needed to show further "progress" on the case of Croatian General Ante Gotovina, pending before the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), as a condition to NATO membership. Bradtke further placed the ICTY indictment against Croatian General Ante Gotovina on par with the indictments brought against Serbian General Ratko Mladic and Bosnian Serb Leader Radovan Karadzic. Bradtke also discussed the "successes" NATO had had with respect to its peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina.Mr. Andrus initially pointed out that the indictments against General Gotovina cannot be compared with those against Mladic and Karadzic. He noted that unlike the indictment against General Gotovina, both Mladic and Karadzic have been charged with the crime of genocide. Mr. Andrus emphasized that "Mladic and Karadzic are unquestionably responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Kosovo. Historical facts show that they directed and commanded Serbian forces to engage in systematic killings, rapes and destruction." In comparison, the indictment against General Gotovina "is solely grounded in the claim that he did not take adequate actions to prevent criminal acts by soldiers under his command following the liberation of Serbian occupied territory. Allegedly, no more than 100 to 400 civilians were killed as a result. There is no evidence that General Gotovina directed such killings. In any event, the magnitude of those allegations is a far cry from those crimes alleged against Karadzic and Mladic," he noted. Mr. Andrus further questioned the reasons behind tying "progress" on the General Gotovina case with Croatia's prospects to join NATO. "Surely, there is no precedent that one can point to where the arrest of a fugitive, whose whereabouts are unknown, forms a stumbling block to greater integration into Western institutions." Mr. Andrus argued that such a policy is especially troublesome in connection with Croatia. Mr. Andrus noted that even President Clinton admitted in his recently published memoirs that Croatia "acted as America's proxy in the region in re-establishing a balance of power in Southeastern Europe. It was military actions undertaken by such men as General Gotovina which achieved this balance. These military successes led directly to the foundation for the Dayton Peace Accord."Mr. Andrus emphasized that Croatia allowed NATO use of its airspace during NATO's 1999 war against Serbia and has played an active role in the war on terrorism, including sending a military police contingent to Afghanistan and assisting U.S. efforts in monitoring Al Qaeda activities in neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mr. Andrus wrote that "Croatia's cooperation with NATO and the United States in these matters is an out growth of its status as one of the most stable, democratic, and prosperous nation-states in Southeastern Europe."Mr. Andrus further took issue with NATO's claimed successes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In addition to noting that NATO's greatest failure in its mission has been its inability to capture Karadzic and Mladic despite being in control of the country for almost 10 years, Mr. Andrus stressed that the peace which NATO has secured in Bosnia and Herzegovina "has come at the expense of establishing a functioning democratic state which respects the rights of minorities. Croats are the smallest of the three constituent peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Their rights to cultural autonomy and religious freedom have been increasingly trampled on . . . . This bodes ill for the future stability of that country and the ultimate success of the NATO mission there."Mr. Andrus concluded his letter by noting that the "Croatian community in the United States fully supports" the entry of Croatia into NATO and that of Bosnia and Herzegovina into the Partnerships for Peace. Mr. Andrus called on the United States to "move energetically" to secure the rights of all of the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina to peace, democracy, and security. With respect to Croatia, Mr. Andrus wrote that the NFCA believes that the Republic Of Croatia "has shown that it has more than adequately met the criteria for membership in NATO. We urge that the United States support Croatia's entry into NATO at the earliest opportunity."The NFCA is a national umbrella organization of Croatian-American groups which collectively have approximately 130,000 members.For more convention information, please call Joe Foley, Government Relations Director, at 301-294-0937 or Erik Milman, the NFCA's Director of Development, at the NFCA's headquarters at 202-331-2830 or by email atNFCAhdq@aol.com.   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 30 Jul 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7257/1/E-NFCA-DELEGATION-ATTENDS-WORLD-SUMMIT-IN-CLEVELAND.html NFCA DELEGATION ATTENDS WORLD SUMMIT OF CROATIAN BUSINESS LEADERS IN CLEVELAND, OHIOWashington, DC (June 29, 2004) NFCA President Ed Andrus and Eastern Region Vice President Steve Rukavina led a delegation of NFCA past and current Board members and key NFCA activists that participated in the World Summit Of Croatian Business Leaders at the Group 100 meeting that was held on June 25-27. The gathering was sponsored by the American Croatian Business Association and held at the Croatian Hall in Eastlake, Ohio. There were over 250 business leaders from the global Croatian diaspora who gathered to discuss ways to invest in Croatia and to boost development of Croatia's economy. The participants heard from high level Croatian government officials including the Ministers of the Economy, Agriculture, Tourism and Finance regarding structural changes taking place which will create opportunities for investment. The Group 100 meeting concluded with the election of Executive Committee members who will be responsible on an on-going basis to promote investments and business development in Croatia.NFCA participants included current Board Members Zvonko Labas, Dr. Judy Vogelsang, Joe Rukavina, Tom Steich, Tony Dizdar ,and past board members Miro Koletic, Mijo Radocaj, Nenad Bach, Michael Benz, Niko Hazdovac, Milan Vukovic, and Marko Rudela. Because of their expertise, Dr. Judy Vogelsang and Nenad Bach were selected to chair panel discussions on biotech-medicine and the media. They were both asked to give presentations in their respective fields before the entire audience. NFCA President Ed Andrus also helped lead a breakout session on information technology and was impressed by the number and capabilities of small businesses that have been created within Croatia despite the trying times they've been through. He stated "We were honored that the Summit Leaders recognized the talents of NFCA members and selected them to play a leadership role in this historic event by asking them to chair panel discussions."Steve Rukavina, Ed Andrus, Zvonko Labas, and Miro Koletic joined Mark Van Fleet of Capstone International at a private meeting with Croatian Minister of the Economy, Branko Vukelic, to discuss the NFCA's efforts at supporting an innovative new program between the Capstone International-US Chamber of Commerce and its Croatian counterpart that will create working relationships between Croatian businesses and U.S. companies. Croatian Finance Minister Ivan Suker, State-Secretary in the central state office for development strategy Dr. Ante Babic, and Assistant Foreign Minister David Sopta participated in the discussions.On Sunday, June 27, Steve Rukavina was asked by the organizers of Group 100 to moderate and chair the elections for members of the Executive Committee. He was subsequently elected the Eastern USA Vice President of Group 100. Former NFCA board member Miro Koletic was elected Western USA Vice President, and former NFCA president Mijo Radocaj was elected the Group 100 Deputy Treasurer. Marko Rudela and Nenad Bach were also elected to serve on the Board of Directors as well as the Group 100 Advisory Committee.Steve Rukavina concluded upon his departure from Cleveland that "I am very excited about the planned and proposed development of Group 100 and the growing overall commitment of so many Croatians globally to extend their time, talent, and dollars in the international organizational efforts to invest in Croatia. I have never seen so much Croatian business synergy and Croatian diaspora talent all in one room at the same time."The NFCA is a national umbrella group of major Croatian-American organizations which collectively have 120,000 members.  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 30 Jul 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7255/1/E-Vojvodina---Where-Catholic-Hungarians-and-Croats-make-up-the-majority.html  Where Catholic Hungarians and Croatians make up the majorityinteresting article here, from awebsite(www.balkanalysis.com) not known forcriticising serbs.BrianSerbia & Montenegro: Vojvodina: A Hungarian ViewPosted on Wednesday, July 28 @ 12:00:00 EDT by CDelisoWith this article from László Szentesi Zöldi, aHungarian journalist and foreign affairs adviser inBudapest, our readers are treated to the Hungarianview on current relations with Serbia. Formerly areporter for Hungarian Television and Duna Television,László is presently editor of Budapest's Magyar Nemzetnewspaper.Vojvodina, the northern province of Serbia, is one ofthe most multi-ethnic regions in Europe. It is a landthat has been home to more than twenty differentethnic groups for centuries. Vojvodina could becomethe symbol of tolerance and fellowship of men, but atpresent it is rather a sort of time bomb, havingramifications for the whole region.In September 1990, Serbia stripped Vojvodina of itsautonomy. Previously, it was an autonomous provincewith considerable self-government authorities.Starting in 2003, tension between some Serbian groupsand individuals of other ethnicities sharplyincreased, which has led to some violent incidents. Atthe moment some 300,000 Hungarians are living inVojvodina, mostly in the northern part of theprovince. This means that they make up almost 15percent of Vojvodina's two million-strong population.Over the past few years, Hungarians have been targetedby extremist Serbian nationalists.The story began in the early 1990s when up to 300,000Serb refugees came from Bosnia, Croatia, and thenKosovo. The main problem is that these refugees do notbelieve in peaceful solutions between the localcommunities. Outside analysts have also noted theeffect of such unhappy immigrants on the “HungarianKosovo.” The incidents in question have included actsof vandalism against cemeteries, graffiti on Hungarianchurches and schools, and death threats againstindividuals. Slogans like “death to Hungarians” and“Hungarians go to Hungary” cover walls in many townsof Vojvodina. In March, vandals desecrated a Catholiccemetery in Subotica, where Catholic Hungarians andCroats make up the majority.However the problem goes far beyond slogans. Manypoliticians have received threatening phone calls,including József Kasza, leader of the VMSZ (Federationof Hungarians in Vojvodina). Physical incidents haveincreased dramatically. Young Serbs have beaten upyoung Hungarian kids in many places. Minority girlshave been publicly sexually molested by Serbs. Thelatter have provoked fights, in which minorityyoungsters in many instances have required hospitalcare. Some of these cases were reviewed in a recentarticle in the Budapest Sun by American researcherAndrew Ludanyi.On the other hand, in June five Hungarian young menseverely beat a Serb in the town of Temerin. TheSerbian press used this attack as the first sign ofHungarian anger against the Serbs, but failed tomention the previous attacks carried out against localHungarians.The crisis has reached a point where the twogovernments had to begin talks about the situation.Hungarian foreign minister László Kovács phonedSerbian PM Vojislav Kostunica in April to call onBelgrade to “take a firm stance with respect toviolent incidents against the Hungarian minority inVojvodina.” Then Hungarian interior minister, Mónika Lamperth saidon 18 June during her visit to Subotica that theHungarian government is concerned about the attacksagainst local Hungarians. “If the Serbia & Montenegroauthorities put an end to attacks on the members ofminorities and enable them to live a peaceful and safelife, Hungary will do everything in its power to helpSerbia & Montenegro prepare well and quickly forEuropean integration processes. Otherwise, we willhave to seek the protection of the Hungarian minoritythrough the Council of Europe,” she added.At the same time, two major Hungarian-Americanlobbying groups in the US have begun to focus theattention of American policy-makers on the situationin Vojvodina.The Belgrade response is not clear. “We do not want tounderestimate these incidents in any way but it is amistake to give them an importance they do not have,”Rasim Ljajic, human and minority rights minister ofSerbia and Montenegro, recently told Reuters. SerbianPM Vojislav Kostunica has responded by saying thatthese racially motivated attacks were “notcharacteristic of Serbian society.” After talks with minority leaders, Mr. Kostunica hasproposed that a multiethnic police unit be establishedin Vojvodina “in the very near future.” LocalHungarian leader József Kasza told the Novi Sad dailyDnevnik that this new unit would be deployed inmulti-ethnic areas of the province to preventinter-ethnic problems and incidents such as hadoccurred over the past seven months. The Belgradedaily Politika responded by warning Kasza that he was“playing with fire.”In response, the Hungarian newspaper Nepszabadsagcarried an editorial by Gabor Miklos, that posed therhetorical question, “who is playing with fire?” andthreatened that new EU member Hungary could make lifedifficult for the Serbs:“…Serbia's European integration is out of the questionas long as such incidents happen. The roads will beclosed, there will be no talks about a visa-waiversystem, investors will not come, and the pressure willnot decrease.”   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 30 Jul 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7254/1/H-Zuzul-putuje-na-demokratsku-konvenciju-u-Boston.html  Zuzul putuje na demokratsku konvenciju u BostonSrijeda, 28. srpnja 2004. http://www.index.hr/MINISTAR vanjskih poslova Miomir Zuzul u srijedu putuje u Sjedinjene Drzave kako bi nazocio zavrsnim danima nacionalne konvencije demokratske stranke u Bostonu, priopcilo je Ministarstvo vanjskih poslova. Zuzul na konvenciju odlazi na poziv americkog nacionalnog demokratskog instituta i bivse drzavne tajnice Madeleine Albright. Demokratska konvencija je pocela u ponedjeljak, a zavrsava u cetvrtak, kada ce John Kerry biti i sluzbeno nominiran demokratskim kandidatom na americkim predsjednickim izborima u studenome. HinaMinistar vanskih poslova RH dr. Miomir Zuzul na Konvenciji demokrata u BostonuMVPRH - http://www.mvp.hr/Zagreb, 28. srpnja 2004. - Ministar vanjskih poslova Republike Hrvatske dr. Miomir Zuzul putuje danas, 28. srpnja 2004 u Sjedinjene Americke Drzave na poziv Nacionalnog demokratskog instituta i Madeleine Albright ranije Drzavne tajnice Sjedinjenih Americkih Drzava. Ministar Zuzul ce u Bostonu kao gost, uz ostale pozvane ugledne svjetske politicare, prisustvovati Nacionalnoj konvenciji demokratske stranke koja je zapocela 25. srpnja, a zavrsava 29. srpnja 2004. Ocekuje se da ce na Konvenciji posljednjeg dana biti nominiran demokratski predsjednicki kandidat za predstojece predsjednicke izbore koji se odrzavaju pocetkom studenoga ove godine. U pratnji ministra dr. Zuzula Konvenciji americkih demokrata prisustvovat ce i hrvatski veleposlanik u Sjedinjenim Americkim Drzavama Neven Jurica.   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 30 Jul 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7253/1/H-Blaskic-u-ponedjeljak-na-slobodi.html  Blaskic u ponedjeljak na slobodiSrijeda, 29. srpnja 2004. http://www.index.hr/PREDSJEDNIK Haskoga suda Theodor Meron odobrio je u Den Haagu zahtjev obrane da se bivsi zapovjednik Operativne zone Sredisnja Bosna Tihomir Blaskic pusti na slobodu prije odsluzenja cjelokupne kazne. Meron je upravi Haskog pritvora nalozio da osigura Blaskicevo pustanje na slobodu u ponedjeljak, 2. kolovoza.Blaskic je pravomocno osudjen na kaznu od devet godina zatvora, a u pritvoru je proveo osam godina i cetiri mjeseca. Americki branitelj generala Tihomira Blaskica Rusell Hayman odmah je nakon sto je Blaskicu izrecena jedinstvena kazna od devet godina zatvora podnio sudu zahtjev za uvjetnim otpustom bivseg zapovjednika Operativne zone Sredisnja Bosna. Vidno zadovoljan obratom u zalbenom dijelu postupka Hayman je kazao kako je odluka Zalbenog vijeca Haskog suda "hrabar korak za sud koji ce podici njegov ugled".Prvostupanjsko vijece Haskog suda prije cetiri godine proglasilo je generala Blaskica odgovornim i osudilo ga na 45 godina zatvora za zlocine pocinjene u Lasvanskoj dolini tijekom rata u BiH, od kojih je najtezi bio zlocin u Ahmicima kada je 16. travnja 1993. ubijeno vise od stotinu muslimanskih civila. Blaskicu je ukinut najveci dio presude, ukljucivsi onaj u kojem se teretio za zlocin u Ahmicima. Proglasen je krivim za zlocin pocinjen okrutnim postupanjem prema zatocenicima, sto je ukljucilo i njihovo upucivanje na kopanje rovova i koristenje kao zivi stit.U presudi je utvrdjeno da Blaskic nije imao nadzor nad jedinicama koje su pocinile zlocin u Ahmicima, kao i da je postojala dvostruka linija zapovjedanja kojom su drugi kontrolirali snage HVO-a, a ne Blaskic. U presudi je zalbeno vijece zakljucilo da je u Srednjoj Bosni bilo legitimnih vojnih ciljeva, te da je u slucaju Ahmica, za koje je prvostupanjsko vijece tvrdilo da je iskljucivo civilni cilj, zalitelj imao opravdanja za izdavanje zapovijedi za napad.Zalbeno vijece utvrdilo je da je prvostupanjsko vijece doslo do pogresnih zakljucaka u presudi primjenom pogresnih pravnih standarda, te je primjenom ispravnih standarda oslobodilo Blaskica za najveci dio presude. Na galeriji na kojoj su bili clanovi obitelji generala Blaskica izbila je erupcija odusevljenja nakon sto je predsjednik zalbenog vijeca procitao da je Blaskic osudjen na devet godina zatvora.Sam Blaskic je, kao i tijekom citava sudjenja, ozbiljna lica slusao gotovo dvosatno obrazlozenje presude i radio zabiljeske, a njegova supruga Ratka i stariji sin slusali su talijanskog suca drzeci se za ruke. Sudac Pocar objavio je kako ce Blaskic ostati u pritvoru dok se ne uredi njegovo prebacivanje u neku zemlju u kojoj bi trebao odsluziti kaznu do kraja.Maratonsko sudjenjePresudu je Blaskic docekao s pritvorskim stazom od osam godina i cetiri mjeseca, sto je tek u hrvatskoj javnosti povremeno poticalo rasprave o pravednosti presude nakon tako dugotrajnog sudjenja, koje se protegnulo na vise od sedam godina. Novi dokazi obrane, koje je Zalbeno vijece prihvatilo, potjecali su iz tri izvora - arhiva HVO-a koji su lezali nedostupni obrani u HIS-u do smjene vlasti u Hrvatskoj 2000. godine, zatim iz Ureda predsjednika RH, te iz haskog tuziteljstva koje ih je pronaslo u arhivu Armije BiH.U prosincu prosle godine na zalbenoj raspravi Blaskicev branitelj Rusell Hayman je, suprotstavljajuci nove dokaze i iskaze novih sest svjedoka obrane zakljuccima presude donesene u ozujku 2000. godine argumentirao zasto je prvostupanjsko vijece doslo do pogresnih zakljucaka na temelju kojih je Blaskicu izrecena jedinstvena kazna zatvora od 45 godina.Bivsi zapovjednik Operativne zone Sredisnje Bosne izrazio je na kraju zalbene rasprave zaljenje zbog svih zrtava rata u Srednjoj Bosni, te porucio sucima kako mu je savjest potpuno mirna, jer svim srcem vjeruje da je ucinio sve da sprijeci zlocine, a da se o pocinjenima provede istraga.Sudjenje ce novinari, koji su proveli mjesece sjedeci svakodnevno na sudskoj galeriji pamtiti ponajvise po potresnim svjedocenjima ahmickih zrtava, kompleksnosti odnosa tri naroda u BiH koji su dugo u sudjenje i dalje zbunjivali suce, Blaskicevom pedantnom svakodnevnom vodjenju biljeski i jos minucioznijem svjedocenju u kojem je danima opisivao kako su mu sat po sat tekli dani u Lasvanskoj dolini. Nedugo nakon sto je Blaskic stigao u Haag rodio mu se drugi sin. Zahvaljujuci pravilima haskog pritvora, koja dozvoljavaju privatne posjete supruga, Blaskiceva se obitelj uvecala za jos jednog clana. Dugotrajni pritvor ostavio je traga na Blaskicevu zdravlju i posljednjih godinu dana bio je cesto na lijecenju. Blaskic se u pritvoru nalazi od 1. travnja 1996. godine kada se dobrovoljno predao.Ratka Blaskic: Presretna sam i ne znam sto bih drugo reklaSupruga generala Tihomira Blaskica sa suzama i neizmjernim veseljem docekala je u cetvrtak u Den Haagu vijest da ce se njezin suprug uskoro vratiti u krug obitelji. "Sretna sam sto cemo nastaviti zivjeti zajedno, i zbog djece i zbog sebe. Ako sam ja sada uopce bitna, presretna sam i ne znam sto bih drugo rekla. Sretna sam", kazala je Ratka Blaskic ispred zgrade Haskog suda nakon odluke Zalbenog vijeca kojom je Blaskicu smanjena kazna sa 45 na devet godina zatvora. Hina----------------------------------------Sanader - Zadovoljstvo odlukom Haaskog suda - Razloge za veselje ima i cijela HrvatskaSrijeda, 29. srpnja 2004. http://www.index.hr/Predsjednik Vlade Ivo Sanader izjavio je danas u Visu kako u ime Vlade izrazava zadovoljstvo odlukom Zalbenog vijeca Haskog suda koje je kaznu zatvora bivsem zapovjedniku Operativne zone Sredisnja Bosna Tihomiru Blaskicu s 45 smanjilo na devet godina te da razloge za veselje osim Blaskica i njegove obitelji danas ima i cijela Hrvatska. "Prije svega izrazavam zadovoljstvo presudom kojom je onih strasnih 45 godina prakticki preinaceno na devet godina i mislim da danas svi mozemo osjetiti onaj pravi smisao narodne poslovice 'pao mi je kamen sa srca' ", kazao je premijer Sanader. "Sigurno je da general Blaskic i njegova obitelj danas imaju posebne razloge za veselje, ali smatram da razloge za to ima i cijela Hrvatska", rekao je premijer. Osim toga, izjavio je, "tom je presudom general Blaskic pobio mnoge tvrdnje iz prvotne presude, stoga je to putokaz i drugima kako se treba ponasati."Zakljucio je kako se konacna ocjena o znacenju te odluke ne moze donijeti prije nego se dobije uvid u tekst presude. Medjutim, vec je sada jasno, nastavio je premijer, osim samog znacenja te odluke za sudbinu generala Blaskica, ovo je, takodjer, dokaz da se na haskom sudu moze dokazati istina, odnosno da se moze dokazati sto je bilo u Domovinskom ratu i u Hrvatskoj i u BiH to je najvaznije saznanje. Hrvatska danas moze reci da je suradnja s Haskim sudom takva da se nasa zemlja uvazava i da ona zna obraniti svoje interese, a tako cemo se ponasati i ubuduce, rekao je premijer, dodajuci kako je na pocetku svojega mandata Vlada kazala kako ce suradnju s politicke svesti na pravnu razinu. "To i cinimo, a takva vrsta suradnje, ocito je, daje rezultate, pa uskoro ocekujemo i odluku da se generali Cermak i Markac puste da se brane sa slobode i pripremaju za postupak. Na upit da komentira izjave Blaskicevih odvjetnika da su za smanjenje presude umnogome pomogli dokumenti HIS-a i iz Ureda predsjednika koje je bivsa Vlada predala Haagu, a HDZ-ova Vlada nije, premijer Sanader kazao je kako on Vlade ne bi nazivao ni HDZ-ovim ni ovim ili onim, nego je rijec o hrvatskim Vladama."Danasnja Vlada i prethodna i one prije nje, imaju dvije zadace: braniti nacionalne interese i suradnju, u punom smislu rijeci, s Medjunarodnim sudom u Hagu, a to znaci da se daju i dokumenti, kazao je premijer. Kako je rekao, jedan od prvih poteza njegove Vlade bilo je davanje dokumenata za obranu generala Gotovine, sto je prethodna Vlada otezala mjesecima, a nikakvih problema s Hagom zbog toga nije bilo."Svakom haskom osumnjiceniku treba biti dostupna sva dokumentacija koja mu je potrebna u obrani, rekao je Sanader. Moja ce se Vlada tako ponasati i ponasa se vec u slucaju najaktualnijih optuznica protiv generala Markaca i Cermaka i sestorice Hrvata optuzenih za sukob u BiH",izjavio je. Na pitanje nije li vrijeme da se izadje s konkretnim imenima onih koji su ranije takve dokumente zadrzavali, premijer je odgovorio da on o tome ne moze nista reci, jer, kako je rekao, "nema saznanja, niti informacija", ali sigurno ce se ako postoje indikacije, istraziti cijeli slucaj i povuci odredjene konzekvence". Nije zelio kazati kakve, porucujuci "kad istrazimo cijeli slucaj onda cemo s tim izaci pred javnost". (Hina) xdstr yvkn----------------------------------------Hrvati BiH odusevljeni presudom BlaskicuSrijeda, 29. srpnja 2004. http://www.index.hr/Pobijedila je pravda, ocjena je vecine Hrvata u BiH, odusevljenih odlukom Zalbenog vijeca Medjunarodnog suda za ratne zlocine u Den Haagu kojom je Tihomiru Blaskicu preinacena kazna sa 45 na 9 godina zatvora. Radijska postaja Herceg-Bosna iz Mostara prekinula je u cetvrtak prije podne program da bi izvijestila o odluci Zalbenog vijeca. Hrvatski clan Predsjednistva BiH Dragan Covic izjavio je da je vijest iz Haaga "iznenadjujuca i izvanredna". "Sama cinjenica da je kazna pet puta smanjena govori o cestitosti i nevinosti generala Blaskica, a s druge strane da je prvostupanjski proces pogresno vodjen. Svi smo znali da je osudjen i bio u zatvoru za ono sto nije pocinio", rekao je Covic.Covic je takodjer rekao da presuda predstavlja satisfakciju za Hrvate u BiH , napose Hrvate srednje Bosne koje se "kolektivno kriminaliziralo". Izrazio je ocekivanje da ce ova presuda pomoci u dokazivanju nevinosti drugih Hrvata iz srednje Bosne. HDZ BiH istaknuo je kako su vjerovali u Blaskicevu nevinost. "Bili smo uvijek uvjereni u nevinost generala Blaskica. Zato smo vjerovali da ce Haski sud donijeti oslobadjajucu presudu. Ocito je da su trazili nacin kako da opravdaju to sto je nevin covjek osam godina u Haagu. Danas smo uistinu sretni i dijelimo radost s obitelji Blaskic i njima odajemo priznanje sto su hrabro i dostojanstvo podnijeli krizni put. Tihomiru zelimo skori povratak obitelji i hrvatskom narodu", rekao je glasnogovornik HDZ-a BiH Pero PavlovicHrvatska narodna zajednica (HNZ) takodjer je u priopcenju pozdravila odluku Zalbenog vijeca kojom je Haski sud, kako se navodi, "pojacao svoj kredibilitet". HNZ ukazuje na vaznost cinjenica iz obrazlozenja presude o "dvostrukoj liniji zapovijedanja" , po kojoj su drugi a ne Blaskic imali stvarnu kontrolu nad snagama HVO-a. (Hina)xzkre ybs----------------------------------------Ahmic: Vrijeme je da se otkriju pravi pocinitelji masakra u nasem seluSrijeda, 29. srpnja 2004. http://www.index.hr/"JA SAM ovo ocekivao puno ranije. Ne moze nevin covjek lezati u zatvoru 45 godina. Slomio sam se ziv uvjeravajuci ljude u Haagu i u Ahmicima da Blaskic s pokoljem nema veze" prva je reakcija na konacnu presudu Zalbenog vijeca Haskog suda kojom se Blaskicu smanjuje zatvorska kazna, a koju je Pincom.info dobio od Mehmeda Ahmica, najvatrenijeg zagovornika teze da je general Blaskic nevin, zbog cega je dozivio masu verbalnih neugodnosti od strane susjeda bosnjacke nacionalnosti."Vrijeme je da se otkriju pravi pocinitelji maskara u nasem selu i kad bi sad proveli anonimnu anketu kod mjestana bosnjacke i hrvatske nacionalnosti uvjeren sam da bi 90 posto njih odgovorilo da je Blaskic nevin i da se istraga u cilju pronalaska pravih pocinitelja treba ponovno pokrenuti" - dodao je Mehmed Ahmic koji je od strane radikalnog dijela bosnjackog stanovnistva u Ahmicima optuzen za kohabitaciju s Hrvatima. Iako se ocekivalo da ce se pravomocna presuda Suda u Haagu u slucaju Blaskic u Ahmicima pratiti s pozornoscu, vecina Bosnjaka u ovom srednjobosanskom selu uopce nije imalo pojma o cemu se zapravo radi.Zaokupljeni rutiniranom svakodnevnicom, vecinu starije populacije Bosnjaka, vise je zanimalo hoce li Vlada Federacije BiH ispuniti obecanje o povecanju mirovina za najavljenih cetiri postom, nego hoce li general Blaskic dobiti 45 ili devet godina zatvora. Mladi su se rasprsili po lokalnim kupalistima, dok su oni imucniji zauzeli neku od turistickih destinacija na Jadranu, gdje svoj gnjev umjesto na postrojbe HVO-a najvjerojatnije fokusiraju na losu poslugu i visoke cijene pizze, cevapa u preskupim restoranima, pise Pincom.info. "To ti je stvarnost" istice Ahmic - "ljudi naprosto ne znaju sto se dogadja. Upijaju ono sto im se servira kroz medije. Da je nekoga od Bosnjaka 1993 godine bilo pitati tko je Zapovjednik HVO-a Srednje Bosne, je li to general Blaskic 99 posto bi ih reklo da je to Dario Kordic. Kordic je nastupao u medijima, a za Blaskica sve dok nije otisao u Haag nitko ziv nije nikad cuo-istice nas sugovornik. Za razliku od ravnodusnog ozracja u Ahmicima, par kilometara dalje u Vitezu presuda generalu Blaskicu docekana je s opcim odusevljenjem. Iz vecine ugostiteljskih objekata odzvanjale su domoljubne pjesme. Odluka Haaskog suda depresivnu i socijalno neizvjesnu svakodnevnicu u Vitezu, Busovaci, Kiseljaku barem je na jedan dan pretvorila u osjecaj optimizma, samopouzdanja.Od optuzbi oslobodjeni Zoran Kupreskic koji je pravdu ovog suda osjetio na svojoj kozi, nije skrivao emocije nakon pravomocne presude Suda u Haagu. "Odluka o devet godina zatvora za Tihu donesena je samo da on o njegovi odvjetnici ne bi tuzili Sud u Haagu za gresku koju su nanijeli njemu i njegov obitelji. Sve je dobro Tiho ce biti uskoro na slobodi" - rekako je Kupreskic za Pincom.info. Za skori izlazak generala Blaskica iz pritvora u Schevennigenu kako doznaje Pincom.info sprema se prava proslava na kojoj ce veci broj Blaskicevih prijatelja na simbolican nacin odati Blaskicu pocast za sve ono sto je on u pritvoru prozivio. Hina----------------------------------------Sudjenja za ratne zlocine pred sudom BiH pocinju iduce godineSrijeda, 29. srpnja 2004. http://www.index.hr/VIJECE ministara Bosne i Hercegovine usvojilo je u cetvrtak prijedlog paketa zakona koji bi trebali osigurati pocetak sudjenja za ratne zlocine pred drzavnim sudom te zemlje vec pocetkom naredne godine. Ministar pravde BiH Slobodan Kovac kazao je novinarima u Sarajevu kako zakoni koje treba usvojiti Parlament BiH preciziraju nacin izbora sudaca i tuzitelja te utvrdjuju pravila po kojima ce se predmeti preuzimati od Medjunarodnog kaznenog suda za bivsu Jugoslaviju (ICTY). Posebnim sporazumom izmedju Vijeca ministara BiH i Ureda Visokog predstavnika (OHR) ovlasti za imenovanje medjunarodnih sudaca koji ce suditi za ratne zlocine prenose se na Visokog predstavnika dok ce Ured registraran pri Odjelu za ratne zlocine, organizirani kriminal, gospodarski kriminal i korupciju Suda BiH imenovati domace suce.Isti mehanizam vrijedit ce i pri imenovanju tuzitelja. Posebnim ce se zakonom urediti status i uloga zasticenih svjedoka na sudjenjima za ratne zlocine. Ministar Kovac je izjavio da se ocekuje da sva sudjenja za ratne zlocine pred Sudom BiH budu okoncana u razdoblju od pet godina. Hina----------------------------------------Ministarstvo pravosudja pozdravilo odluku zalbenog vijeca Haskog sudaSrijeda, 29. srpnja 2004. http://www.index.hr/MINISTARSTVO pravosudja pozdravilo je danasnju odluku zalbenog vijeca Haskog suda (ICTY) koje je bivsem zapovjedniku Operativne zone HVO-a u Sredisnjoj Bosni Tihomiru Blaskicu smanjilo kaznu s 45 na devet godina zatvora. Ministarstvo pravosudja pozdravlja odluku zalbenog vijeca haskog Tribunala, pod predsjedanjem suca Fausta Pocara, u predmetu generala Blaskica, stoji u priopcenju Ministarstva. Ta je odluka donesena nakon svestranog ispitivanja svih cinjenica i dokaza u tom predmetu i svakako ce biti povijesni prilog utvrdjivanju istine o sukobima u sredisnjoj Bosni, kaze se u priopcenju Ministarstva pravosudja.Prvostupanjsko vijece Haskog suda prije cetiri godine proglasilo je generala Blaskica odgovornim i osudilo ga na 45 godina zatvora za zlocine pocinjene u Lasvanskoj dolini tijekom rata u BiH, od kojih je najtezi bio zlocin u Ahmicima kada je 16. travnja 1993. ubijeno vise od stotinu muslimanskih civila. Blaskicu je danas ukinut najveci dio presude, ukljucivsi onaj u kojem se teretio za zlocin u Ahmicima. Proglasen je krivim za zlocin pocinjen okrutnim postupanjem prema zatocenicima, sto je ukljucilo i njihovo upucivanje na kopanje rovova i koristenje kao zivi stit. Blaskic je u pritvoru osam godina i cetiri mjeseca i njegovi branitelji su odmah nakon sjednice na kojoj je procitana presuda poceli sastavljati zahtjev za uvjetni otpust. HinaCroatian World Congress H.S.K. NGO Member of the United Nationshttp://www.crowc.org/  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 30 Jul 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7252/1/E-CAPITOL-HILL-BRIEFING---STATUS-OF-CROATS-IN-VOJVODINA.html (H) CAPITOL HILL BRIEFING CONCERNING STATUS OF CROATS IN VOJVODINA , July 30, 2004 }-->h2 {margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid; punctuation-wrap:simple; text-autospace:none; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-top:0in} NATIONAL FEDERATION OF CROATIAN AMERICANS TESTIFIES AT CAPITOL HILL BRIEFING CONCERNING STATUS OF CROATS IN VOJVODINA(Washington, D.C., July 15, 2004). The National Federation of Croatian Americans (NFCA) presented a statement at a briefing on Capitol Hill on July 14, 2004 concerning the status of Croats in Vojvodina, a province of Serbia. The briefing was co-sponsored by the House of Representatives' Human Rights Caucus and Hungarian American Caucus.In addition to the NFCA, presentations at the briefing were given by Mr. Charles English, the Director of South Central Europe at the U.S. State Department, Mr. Ivan Vujacic, the Ambassador of Serbia and Montenegro to the United States, Mr. Nenad Canak, President of the Vojvodina Parliment, and Mr. Sandor Nagy, President of the Center for Hungarian American Congressional Relations. Treasurer Zvonko Labas presented the statement on the NFCA's behalf. Mr. Labas noted that the centuries' old Croat community in Vojvodina has been subjected to relentless Serbianization pressures. This can best be seen by the drop in the number of Croats in the Province from approximately 138,000 in 1961 to less than 75,000 in 1991.Mr. Labas noted that the following the collapse of Yugoslavia, the defenseless Croats of Vojvodina suffered as a result of a number of ethnic cleansing actions carried out by, among others, indicted war criminal Vojislav Seselj. The most well-known of these attacks occurred in the village of Hrtkovci where approximately 350 Croat families were forced out of their homes in 1992. A further upsurge of violence against Croats in the Province occurred in 1995. The tragic results of these campaigns condoned and encouraged by the Serbian government can be seen in the census figures for 2002 which show that only 56,637 Croats remain in Vojvodina, 25% less than the previous decade. Mr. Labas pointed out that observers have noted that many villages which had previously had Croatian majorities have since become purely or majority Serb villages.Unfortunately, Croats and other minorities in Vojvodina have recently once again been the victims of renewed attacks coinciding with the recent rise in political fortunes of Seselj's Serbian Radical Party. Mr. Labas listed a number of "incidents" which have occurred since December 2003 alone, including attacks against the Croatian Home in Somobor, the toppling of a bust of Matija Gubec (a 16th century Croatian peasant leader) in the Croatian-populated village of Tavankut, anonymous death threats made to consular authorities of the Republic of Croatia in Subotica and the staff of the Croatian-language weekly Hrvatski rijec, the desecration of Catholic graves in a cemetery in Subotica and in Backa Monostor, and the breaking of windows of the Franciscan monastery in Subotica. Mr. Labas noted that just earlier this month, during the night of July 2-3, 2004, the Catholic cemetery in Somobor was hit, with 20 Hungarian, Croat, and other graves damaged.Mr. Labas argued that "these incidents are tied to the resurgence of support for the extremist Serbian Radical Party. The SRP unabashedly calls for the creation of a Greater Serbia, at the expense of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina . . . . Since its members cannot conceivably turn their violence against internationally recognized sovereign states, they can only do so against [unarmed] minority groups within their borders." While Mr. Labas noted with approval that the Croats of Vojvodina had recently won the right to educate their children in the Croatian language, he expressed concern that the growth in power of such openly racist parties as the Serbian Radical Party presents a threat to the continued stability of the region and to the "day to day lives of Croats and other minorities living in Vojvodina."In addition to Mr. Labas, Erik Milman, the NFCA's Director of Development, and Joseph Foley, the NFCA's Government Relations Director, attended the briefing.Mr. Edward Andrus, the President of the NFCA, commented afterwards that he was very pleased that the NFCA was able to bring to the attention of American elected officials an issue which has been clearly overlooked by many human rights organizations. "The Croats of Vojvodina have been subjected to an unprecedented level of ethnic cleansing in the past decade. Western institutions, agencies, and governments have brought pressure to bear on other players in the region to reverse the effects of ethnic cleansing, and they need to now step-up pressure on Belgrade with respect to Vojvodina. Clearly, this has also become an issue of concern to America's Hungarian community and it should become one of concern to American Slovaks as well, as both their minority counterparts have recently experienced increased harassment in Vojvodina. Hopefully, our contribution in this matter will serve as a catalyst to initiate needed changes in the Province."The NFCA is a national umbrella organization of Croatian-American groups which collectively have approximately 130,000 members.For more convention information, please call Joe Foley, Government Relations Director, at 301-294-0937 or Erik Milman, the NFCA's Director of Development, at the NFCA's headquarters in Washington at 202-331-2830 or by email at NFCAhdq@aol.com    letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 30 Jul 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7256/1/E-The-Bridge-over-the-River-Neretva.html The Bridge over the River Neretva The opening of the reconstructed Old Bridge in Mostar was, of course, always going to be accompanied by much official hoopla. Top regional and international officials flocked to the city on 23 July for what was essentially an elaborate photo opportunity at a bridge that will, it is hoped, become a symbol of a better future for Mostar, Bosnia and the region. Messages of goodwill poured into the city from all over the world. Bosnians at home and abroad rejoiced, many of whom glued to TV sets that evening.It was also a day that perhaps radiated more positive energy than the present-day Mostar and Bosnia can absorb in one go. This may be true in particular of the exaggerations about the Old Bridge's historic and possible future meaning. Unsurprisingly, the exaggeration favored by foreign dignitaries was that the bridge has the real and metaphorical power to connect and reconcile not only the divided local communities, but also the Islamic and Christian worlds.A SYMBOL STRETCHED TO BREAKING POINTStrictly speaking, the Old Bridge never fitted the bill. Sulekiman the Magnificent, on whose orders the bridge was built in the 16th century, may have sought to demonstrate the power and refinement of the Ottoman Empire. But rather than connecting two worlds, the bridge was primarily built to serve the much more mundane purpose of connecting the two banks of the River Neretva, both of which were deep inside the Ottoman Empire. Since then, the region of Herzegovina, of which Mostar is the biggest urban settlement, has been part of many different states, all of which spanned both banks of the Neretva.While some historical figures may have toyed with the notion of the Neretva as a border between states or even civilizations, the idea was first acted upon in 1992 when Serb nationalists proposed to their Croat counterparts that the river become the border between their own future states. When the Croats refused, the two sides fought a brief war in the river valley, with the Croats, aided by the Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims), prevailing with surprising speed. That coincided with the equally effortless capture by the Serbs of the northern region of Posavina, an area with a Croat majority. Suspicion of a secret trade-off was born.When the Croats and the Bosniaks turned against each other toward the end of 1992, neither saw the Neretva as the desirable future border, but the winding river did become the frontline in a number of places in Mostar and its outskirts. The Old Bridge area, however, was not one of them, as the Bosniak forces controlled both ends of the bridge and the surrounding areas. Those former frontlines, not the bridge, are today's invisible, but powerful dividing lines that separate the Bosniak and the Croat parts of the city.That the reconstructed Old Bridge, which connects two Bosniak parts of the city, attracted so much international attention was always going to irritate some Croat nationalists, whose army destroyed it in November 1993. "It's a Muslim bridge, nothing to do with us," said one.Local Bosniaks poured scorn on the international obsession with the bridge's alleged wider meaning, such as the one voiced by the international community's high representative, Paddy Ashdown, who said that the bridge is a cornerstone of the reconstruction of Bosnia as a multiethnic society. As if that was not enough, according to Ashdown, Bosnia could become a symbolic bridge between Islamic countries and Europe, helping the two worlds overcome misguided and stereotyped views of each other. Apart from any other consideration, Ashdown ought to have learned by now that not all Bosniaks are necessarily thrilled to be viewed as representatives of the Islamic world. "That may be too much reconciliation for one bridge," said a local Bosniak.TRUTHS AND SYMBOLSBut while the locals' occasional frustration with the international hijacking of the cause of the Old Bridge does deserve to be noted, it is largely beside the point. Even though it may never have served the lofty purpose of being a crossroads of civilizations, the Old Bridge's beauty and architectural brilliance meant it belonged to the world. The UNESCO-listed bridge was perhaps the single most important historical monument in the whole of the former Yugoslavia. While the many atrocities involving the loss of human life were obviously the most tragic moments in the war, the deliberate destruction of the Old Bridge, filmed by a local Bosniak fighter, became the defining image of the senselessness and futility of the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s. Accordingly, for the outside world its reconstruction was always going to acquire an equally strong meaning of restored reason, reconciliation, and purposefulness.The reconstruction project itself was an impressive goodwill exercise, bringing donations and assistance from many international organizations and governments, including those of Croatia and Turkey. The end result is a perfect copy of the bridge and its surroundings.The spectacular and largely tasteful opening ceremony looked like a reconciliation fairytale. Performers from many parts of Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Croatia took part, rubbing shoulders with dozens of international dignitaries, including an impressive collection of Balkan and European presidents, foreign ministers and royals, complete with the British heir to the throne, Prince Charles. Most importantly, no Balkan leader failed to stress that a new era of reconciliation and cooperation has dawned. And while the political pasts and current profiles of some of them leave room for skepticism, there is no obvious reason why their words should not be taken at face value.The truth is that, in the uppermost echelons of political power in the Balkans today, even former extremists profess and often practice moderation. Reconciliation is actually happening to a very great extent at the top. As far as their governments are concerned, Serbia and Croatia are today two friendly neighbors. The same can be said of Sarajevo's relations with both Zagreb and Belgrade, or of those between Skopje and Tirana. All the governments in the region--and nearly all the major parties--are committed to peaceful and active cooperation. That their mutual affairs are not always sorted out in the most efficient of manners is more often caused by a lack of skill than of will.The question is how much of this newfound positive energy trickles down to local level, especially in multiethnic places such as Mostar that are burdened with a bad recent history. While the consequences of the war are often still tangible and some are perhaps permanent, changes do happen locally as well, even though locals themselves may be reluctant to acknowledge them. The absence of any incident before, during, and after the Old Bridge opening ceremony in a city that has seen some of the most vicious examples of communal violence during and after the war testifies to this. Yes, the two communities viewed the bridge project in different ways. To be sure, there was a lot of Croat recalcitrance and Bosniak exultation to be found, but very little of it was displayed in public. Local Bosniak and Croat officials and their media for once behaved responsibly, for the most part steering clear of stereotypes and strong words. It could, then, perhaps be concluded that the two communities were shamed into behaving themselves by the enormous regional and international attention that the bridge attracted.But it could also be the case that significant reserves of positive energy do exist locally, only they need a lot of external encouragement to show. Even though the new Old Bridge is unlikely to bridge all the differences between the two largest communities in Mostar, maybe the attention, goodwill and orderliness surrounding the opening ceremony will reawaken many to the truth that it doesn't hurt to be civilized with one another. Although the opening of the reconstructed Old Bridge is a big event by any measure, maybe the true value of such gatherings is exactly in encouraging small steps at local level. "The Bridge over the River Neretva"http://www.tol.cz/look/TOL/article.tpl?IdLanguage=1&IdPublication=4&NrIssue=74&NrSection=2&NrArticle=12472 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 28 Jul 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7260/1/E-FOOTBALL-CRAZY-BY-BRIAN-GALLAGHER.html  FOOTBALL CRAZY BY BRIAN GALLAGHER Croatian Herald No 1021 2 July 2004Viewpoint from LondonBy Brian GallagherCroatia was all over the UK press recently. All dueto the England v Croatia clash. Most of the coveagewas good, some of it bad. Your humble correspondenteven gave his opinions on who would win on television.As most know the England V Croatia match on 21 Junedetermined who would go through to the next stage ofthe tournament; England won but was promptly knockedout by Portugal.Like many countries, England is obsessed by football.And so, Croat opinions were much in demand by themedia. They turned to the Croatian Students and YoungProfessionals Network, the UK's leading Croatianorganisation of which I am Vice-President, no less. Marko Krznaric, the President of CSYPN handled much ofthe press, handing out quotes like a professional. Hedid it very well - a real credit to Croatia. The day before the match we arranged a lunch inSpago's restaurant, Croatian flag on the wall, inSouth Kensington. Sky Sports News TV filmed ourdebate on the forthcoming match. The Times and TheIndependent also stopped by to obtain views. CSYPN had booked a room at the Cadogan Arm's inLondon's Chelsea. Much of the press erroneouslythought that it was a Croatian pub! One TV morningprogramme wanted to film Croats in the pub at, er,5.30AM on the day. Quite apart from anything else,pubs in England are not known to open at such hours.More realistically, a crew from London Tonight - animportant London news programme - interviewed a groupof us live shortly before the match. I informed all ofLondon that Croatia would win.Much of the press were intrigued by the 'UpstairsDownstairs' aspect of things. The Croats were in theroom upstairs, the England fans downstairs. The presswere there during the match. The Croats were cheering,singing and roaring throughout the game, even whenEngland were ahead- contrary to one report which saidthe Croats went quiet. Amusingly, the press picked upon the booing when Victoria 'Posh' Beckham appeared onscreen. Little could be heard from downstairs,despite the fact England won. The whole of Chelseacould hear the Croats. Most of the press reporting of the fans at the pub wasfair, with BBC Online easily producing the bestreport. Press reporting in general was not too bad -that is for an opposing team. Some allegations about'racist' Croatia fans - echoing similar complaintspreviously about Slovaks - did appear in the media. Some English fans made clear to me this was a bit much- as if racism has not been present in Englishfootball in the past or indeed now. Other reports,such as in the News of the World, concentrated ondifferences in the Croatian team. Crowatia - geddit?However, this kind of thing is to be expected againstany team playing England. Just wait until the nextEngland v Germany game…Whatever the merits of press coverage, at least itconcentrated on football - you can't expect theEnglish media not to support their team. However, theIndependent was an exception. It ran a page,containing a reasonable article based on theaforementioned lunch but also "Ten things you alwayswanted to know about Croatia". Amongst these thing,we were informed about Croatian concentration camps -but not about wartime Serbian crimes in Croatia. We were also informed that "former yugoslavians" donot like Croat player's chequerboard shirts becausethey remind them of Ustasha uniforms. We were notinformed why they had no problem with the chequerboardwhen it denoted Croatia during the communist Yugoslavera. Strange people, these "former yugoslavians". This was nasty and hideously inappropriate material,from a supposedly 'liberal' newspaper. This is thesort of newspaper to look down its nose at anti-Germancomments by other papers.It was interesting to see that most sports/generalreporters were not interested in such drivel, incontrast those that cover Croatia politically. Therewere some erroneously reports that an England fan wasmurdered by a Croat - but these were quicklycorrected. One interesting thing about Euro 2004 is thenationalism, lets it call it that, of the English andits media - now transferred to the Tennis. The crossof St. George is everywhere. This is mostly apositive phenomenon. Only a few years ago it wasrarely seen. The lesson for Croats is not to take anynonsense from anyone about their 'nationalism' - justpoint to the English. Those few Croats who claimthat flying the flag etc is not the done thing intoday's world are merely displaying their ownignorance and unworldliness.All in all, the media coverage of Croatia was good. The main reason is not that that it was all positive -it wasn't of course. No, it was because Croatia wasall over the press as an accepted country in its ownright. It would be unthinkable twenty years ago toconsider such a thing. There are no doubt those whowere grinding their teeth at Croatian symbols soprominently displayed in the press. They belong toyesterday - and they know it. Its become a bit of cliché to say Croatia's sports menand women are Croatia's best ambassador's. But, asthe Croatian football team - and their tennis players- have recently showed, it's as true as ever.(c) Brian Gallagher  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 08 Jul 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7261/1/E-ITALY-CROATIA-MARTINO-MEETS-RONCEVIC.html  ITALY-CROATIA:MARTINO MEETS DEFENCE MINISTER RONCEVIC(AGI) - Rome, Italy, July 6 Defence Minister Antonio Martino, met in Rome today his Croatian counterpart, Berislav Roncevic, on an official visit in Italy. During the talk they reviewed the main themes of security and common defence and the state of bilateral relations. The two ministers expressed their agreement on the positive evolution of the security situation in Bosnia Herzegovina and they said that they agreed on the conclusion at the end of 2004 of the "Sfor" mission and the beginning of the Eufor mission by the EU. The two then examined, with reciprocal satisfaction, the state of bilateral relations in the defence sector. They went into the details of the agreement signed in Ancona in 2000 and ratified with law 20 March 2003, n. 75. Of particular interest for Roncevic, was the Croatian participation in the MLF (Multinational Land Force), the multinational brigade level formation with Italy, Slovenia and Hungary which was born at the end of the 90s. It is a force oriented towards the execution of EU missions in the context of the Petersberg declaration. Regarding this, Minister Martino confirmed the support of Italy for a policy of openness towards the offerse from Croatia (participating as an observer nation) for its future, progressive participation in the initiative. Finally, Minister Roncevic, with reference to the aspirations of Croatia of joining EU and euro-atlantic political and security institutions, expressed words of gratitude for the constant and strong support given by Italy. Minister Martino, on his part, repeated the importance of Croatia in the context of international community policies for the stabilisation of the Balkan area. (AGI) . 062045 LUG 04 COPYRIGHTS 2002-2003 AGI S.p.A. http://www.agi.it/english/news.pl?doc=200407062045-1219-RT1-CRO-0-NF82&page=0&id=agionline-eng.italyonline letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 06 Jul 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7262/1/E-Wheres-Radovan-Carla.html  Where's Radovan, Carla?Earlier this month Carla Del Ponte told us thatKaradzic would be in the Hague by June 29. Sherepeated it at the UN. So where is he? Herspokeswoman is now ludicrously claiming that DelPonte's comments were distorted. Precisely why thiscomplaint about distorted comments was not airedpreviously has not been revealed. Below, in order,are the relevant press reports.Again, when complaining about the Hague, Del Ponte'smisleading comments to the world public should beaired.Brian GallagherDel Ponte confident on Karadzic arrest | 21:44 June 12| ReutersTHE HAGUE -- Saturday -- The chief war crimesprosecutor for the Balkans says she is confident topBosnian Serb war crimes fugitive Radovan Karadzic willbe arrested by the end of the month, the Swiss newsagency ATS reported."We have good reasons to believe that Radovan Karadzicwill be extradited by June 29," Carla del Ponte toldATS in Switzerland late on Friday, withoutelaborating.The Bosnian Serb wartime leader has been at largesince 1996, evading a United Nations trial forgenocide for his role in Bosnia's 1992-95 war thatkilled 200,000 people.The Bosnian Serb Republic is under Western pressureover poor cooperation with the U.N. war crimes courtin The Hague and has pledged to step up efforts todetain suspects.It hopes to join NATO's Partnership for Peaceprogramme for non-members next month.Expressing discontent with Belgrade's poorcooperation, Del Ponte said the arrest of Karadzic'smilitary commander Ratko Mladic depended on theSerbian authorities.Del Ponte said she would submit a formal complaintagainst Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica tothe UN Security Council by the end of the month,adding that the tribunal was still missing importantdocuments needed to continue the inquiry.Karadzic arrest 'imminent'Tuesday, June 29, 2004 Posted: 8:13 PM EDT (0013 GMT) UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- Chief U.N. war crimesprosecutor for the former Yugoslavia, Carla Del Ponte,says she is optimistic that former Bosnian Serb leaderRadovan Karadzic will be in custody by the end of theday Wednesday.Asked why she thought they would be in custody soon,Del Ponte said Tuesday, "I cannot tell it now publicly-- let's obtain the arrest of Karadzic and afterwardwe will talk about what we have done, what we havelearned."For years, Karadzic was said to be at large somewherein the Republika Srpska -- the Serb part ofBosnia-Hercegovina. There has been renewed pressure onBosnia to hand over Karadzic.Aides to Del Ponte say there have been new pressuresplaced on Serb officials in Bosnia who were recentlyconvinced to give fresh evidence on mass graves for areport on the massacres in Srebrenica in July 1995.Bosnia also is hoping to join NATO's Partnership forPeace -- a cooperative defense program with NATO. At the recent NATO summit in Istanbul, Bosnia wasreminded that it had not lived up to its obligation tocooperate with the war crimes tribunal -- a conditionfor joining NATO's Partnership for Peace.Del Ponte has been saying in various forums over thepast year that she was hopeful Karadzic would bearrested by the end of the year, and recently toldjournalists she was confident he would be arrested bythe end of June 2004.The International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia,and another U.N. Tribunal for War Crimes in Rwanda,are now under mandate from the U.N. Security Councilto wrap up their work. While there is no particular deadline for arrests tobe made, investigations must be completed by the endof 2004 and trials must be completed by the end of2008.Del Ponte told the U.N. Security Council Tuesday thatthe tribunal was in a "dire budgetary and financialsituation." She also said the deadlines imposed by the councilmeant that "fugitives and their protective networksare trying to buy time until 2008 in hopes of evadingjustice, as they believe the time to be tried in TheHague will soon expire."Karadzic is wanted for his role in Bosnia's war -- hehas been twice indicted by the United Nations warcrimes tribunal in The Hague. Karadzic as well as another top war crimes suspect,former Bosnian Serb military leader General RatkoMladic, are alleged to be directly responsible for theatrocities committed against the Bosnian Muslimpopulation in Srebrenica.Both Karadzic and Mladic are also charged withgenocide and crimes against humanity for crimesperpetrated against the civilian population throughoutBosnia-and-Herzegovina, for the sniping campaignagainst civilians in Sarajevo, and for the taking ofU.N.-peacekeepers as hostages and their use as humanshields.Del Ponte says there are a total of 20 fugitives fromthe war crimes tribunal including Karadzic, and 15 ofthe fugitives are thought to be in Serbia andMontenegro.Next year will mark the 10th year that both Karadzicand Mladic have been on the run from the court.Del Ponte told the council, "How long will it betolerated that these leaders escape justice? How longwill it be tolerated that they make a parody of bothjustice and the repeated commitment of the SecurityCouncil to have them arrested and tried?"The Associated PressWednesday, June 30, 2004Karadzic eludes U.N. war crimes tribunalBy ANTHONY DEUTSCHASSOCIATED PRESS WRITERTHE HAGUE, Netherlands, June 30 (AP) --Serbia-Montenegro's presidentsaid Wednesday his country is ready to extraditefugitives to the U.N. war crimes tribunal for the Balkans, and the topinternational administrator for Bosnia fired dozens of officialsbelieved to be hampering the court's work.The key developments for the U.N. court in the Hague came as itsmost-wanted suspect, Radovan Karadzic, was still at large, despitepredictions by Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte thathis arrest would happen before the end of June.Karadzic, the Bosnian Serb leader during the wars ofthe 1990s that broke apart Yugoslavia, has eluded justice for nearly nine years.The tribunal has stepped up pressure on Serbian leaders in recentmonths by reporting their failure to cooperate withthe courtto the U.N. Security Council, which can impose economic sanctions.Also, the change of position by Serbia-Montenegro came after the weekendelection of a pro-Western leader in Serbia, the dominant country in thetwo-republic union that replaced Yugoslavia. ReformerBoris Tadic won in a runoff poll against a hard-line nationalist allyof former autocrat Slobodan Milosevic, who fueled ethnic wars in Croatia,Bosnia-Herzegovina and the southern Serbian province of Kosovo.Karadzic was indicted for genocide in 1995 - alongwith his top general, Ratko Mladic - for the massacre of thousands ofBosnian Muslims from the Bosnian enclave of Srebrenica. They are among 20fugitives still sought by the tribunal for crimes allegedly committed duringthe Balkan wars.Comments by Del Ponte on Tuesday in New York, aftershe addressed the U.N. Security Council, had left the impression thatKaradzic's hand-over was imminent. Some media even reported he had beencaught.Asked about Karadzic's arrest, Del Ponte had said: "Of course I have(information). But you all understand that I cannot tell it now publicly.Let's obtain the arrest of Karadzic, and after we will speak aboutwhat we have done."Responding to a question about her earlier comment that Karadzic wouldbe arrested before June 30, he said: "I'm still expecting (it), yes. But let's see."But the following day her spokeswoman, Florence Hartmann, soughtto tone down the prosecutor's comments, which she said had been"completely twisted" out of context."She expects, she hopes, and we will not give up,"Hartmann said. "Just when it will be, we don't know."Karadzic has eluded a massive manhunt, escapingregular raids by NATO peacekeepers at the homes of his family, hisformer political headquarters, and businesses of his former associates.Some believe he has long fled the Balkans, possibly toRussia, where Milosevic's wife, Mira Markovic - also a war crimesfugitive - is believed to be hiding.Del Ponte's optimistic comments may have been provoked by the pendingdismissals of 60 Bosnian Serb officials that Bosnia-Herzegovina'sinternational administrator, Paddy Ashdown, announced Wednesday.Among those fired for stonewalling Karadzic's capturewere Bosnian Serb Parliament Speaker Dragan Kalinic and Zoran Djeric,the interior minister in charge of police in the Serb half of Bosnia.Others dismissed were senior politicians of the partyfounded by Karadzic, along with lower party officials, heads ofstate companies and some local police chiefs.Ashdown said the dismissals were part of a 10-pointpackage "designed to reduce the influence of those who ... obstruct thiscountry's progress toward stability and the rule of law."  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 03 Jul 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7264/1/E-Clinton-on-Operation-Storm-I-was-rooting-for-the-Croatians.html Clinton on Operation Storm: "I was rooting for the Croatians"Below is some info posted on Justwatch by MikeBaresic. It regards Bill Clinton's comments onOperation Storm in his autobiography and it wouldappear to be of great significance.BrianMike Baresic  GRABOVCAN@AOL.COM Bill Clinton's autobiography, out in bookstores today,contains several pages about the conflict in Croatiaand Bosnia. Interesting excerpts include Clinton'sconfirmation that the US authorized MPRI to go to Croatia to trainthe Croatian army and make it a counterbalance to the Serbarmy. He also states that the US looked the other way toarms shipments that violated the UN arms embargo. Clintondeclares that Operation Storm was of great importance todefeating Milosevic and that he was "rooting for the Croatians"to take back the Krajina.Although he doesn't explicitly state that he was the"godfather of Operation Storm" (to borrow Florence Hartmann'sphrase), he comes awfully close.Mike  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 23 Jun 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7263/1/E-Croatia-is-named-candidate-for-EU.html  Croatia is named candidate for EUCroatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader wants to enter EU in 2007 Talks for Croatia to join the European Union will start next year. EU leaders at a two-day summit in Brussels announced Croatia's new status as an official candidate country. The European Commission's President Romano Prodi said: "We are very satisfied because Croatia is going with us into Europe." Croatia hopes to join the EU in 2007, together with Bulgaria and Romania. Ten countries joined the EU in May, taking the total to 25. EU leaders used the summit to reiterate that they want Romania and Bulgaria to join the union together in 2007. The Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern, whose country holds the rotating presidency, said there were no plans to separate the two countries' entry, provided they both met membership criteria. Earlier this week Bulgaria completed negotiations on its accession, and correspondents say there has been speculation that it may join the EU before Romania, which is hoping to complete talks on its accession by the end of this year. Regarding Croatia, the 25 leaders agreed that it had met the criteria necessary to get the official status of applicant. UN co-operationIn April, the EU's executive arm, the European Commission, said Croatia should get formal candidate status after its political and economic reforms were judged successful. It also praised its readiness to co-operate with the UN war crimes tribunal at The Hague - Prime Minister Ivo Sanader's conservative government has facilitated the surrender of eight war crimes suspects to the tribunal. The EU leaders reiterated that, to meet membership criteria, Croatia needed to maintain full co-operation with the tribunal, improve minority rights and speed up the return of ethnic Serb refugees who fled the country during the wars of the 1990s. Croatia would be the second former Yugoslav state to join the EU. Slovenia was among the 10 states who joined on 1 May. Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey are already candidates for membership. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is attending the summit, has also said entry talks may begin for Turkey as early as March 2005. EU leaders are due to decide in December whether Turkey has made enough progress on human rights and political freedoms to begin the negotiations. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3818485.stm    letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 19 Jun 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7267/1/E-RESETTLING-CROATS-IN-POSAVINA-by-Brian-Gallagher.html  VIEWPOINT FROM LONDON RESETTLING CROATS IN POSAVINAby Brian GallagherThe Croatian Herald, Australia No. 1018 - 11.06.04Croat refugee return in Bosnia-Herzegovina has beenunsuccessful. However, whilst in Sarajevo I learnt ofan important project to help resettle Croat refugeesto the Posavina area of BiH on a sustainable basis. Concerns were expressed to me in Sarajevo that AnnexVII of the Dayton Accords - which deal with refugeereturn - may be declared to be fully realised. Thiswould mean declaring that the refugee problem iseffectively over, and no funds will remain for Croatswho want to go home. This possibility is givencredence by Paddy Ashdown's continued declarations onthe success of refugee returns - conveniently notmentioning the failure of Croat returns. Unlike theSerbs and Bosniaks, Croats only started returningafter 2000 rather than in 1995 - when the war ended. The seriousness of the situation is demonstrated byfigures from the Franciscan Bosna Srebrena Provincial.In the areas they administer there were 158,246 Croatsin 2003 as opposed to 295,060 in 1991. However, this does not mean the situation is hopeless.A new project funded by the Croatian AmericanAssociation may help in returning Croats to theirhomes in BiH. The CAA project is taking place in Plehan, in thePosavina region of northern BiH, which bordersCroatia. Plehan falls within the Serb controlled partof BiH. Historically, Posavina has a large Croatpopulation. During the war, the Serbs ethicallycleansed the region of Croats. They also destroyed theSt. Marko Monastery. The United Nations Development Programme, which hasbeen involved in attempting to return Croats to thearea, has written an unusually sympathetic report. Itpoints out the great significance Posavina has forCroats in BiH, Croatia and the Croatian Diaspora,referring to the "continuing breathing" betweenpopulations across the border. However, refugee BiH Croats who fled to Croatia havelittle incentive to return. The conditions - economic,health care, education etc - are much better inCroatia than BiH. There are few employmentpossibilities in Posavina, never mind the implicationsof living in Republika Srpska; it is only relativelyrecently that Croats have been able to return safely. Few have actually done so. In 1991, Plehan itself had6,000 Croats; in 2003 it just had 161. The CAA project in Plehan is geared to the micro level- a grass roots approach. A local who returned fromCroatia is receiving CAA funds to build a store.Currently, there is no such store and locals have tobe ferried to nearby towns for their supplies. Some ofthe profits will go into a community fund to expandthe scheme. A local, integrated approach - homes, churches,schools and employment are all needed for sustainablereturn. This is recognised by bodies such as UNDP. TheCAA project is working on the same lines. If it works,then it can create an ongoing success. In so doing, itcan bring attention to the Croat refugee returnproblem and put off any notion of stating that AnnexVII has been realised.© Brian GallagherMy 'Viewpoint from London' column appears fortnightlyin the Australian 'Croatian Herald' and thereafter atwww.croatiafocus.com   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 14 Jun 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7266/1/H-Istina-je.html  ISTINA JE!ISTINA JE da Hrvatska, kao i sve ostale clanice Ujedinjenih naroda, ima obvezu suradnje s Medunarodnim kaznenim sudom za teška kršenja medunarodnog humanitarnog prava pocinjena na podrucju bivše Jugoslavije (MKS).ISTINA JE da je Sabor u travnju 1996. donio Ustavni zakon o suradnji RH s MKS-om.ISTINA JE da je u rujnu 2001. godine 50 saborskih zastupnika Ustavnom sudu podnijelo Zahtjev za ocjenu ustavnosti Ustavnog zakona o suradnji RH s MKS-om.ISTINA JE da najpriznatiji hrvatski ustavno-pravni strucnjaci, Smiljko Sokol i Branko Smerdl, u svojoj knjizi Ustavno pravo izricito navode da i ustavni zakoni moraju biti u skladu s Ustavom. Iz toga jasno proizlazi da je Ustavni sud nadležan za ocjenu ustavnosti Ustavnog zakona o suradnji RH s MKS-om.ISTINA JE da su podnositelji u Zahtjevu naglasili da se ne zalažu za prekid suradnje s MKS-om.ISTINA je da su podnositelji u Zahtjevu zatražili stavljanje izvan snage pojedinih zakonskih odredbi koje ne zadovoljavaju ustavne standarde zaštite ljudskih prava. ISTINA JE da su podnositelji u okviru Zahtjeva predložili i donošenje odluke o privremenom obustavljanju izrucenja okrivljenika MKS-u. ISTINA JE da je spomenutih 50 saborskih zastupnika opisanim pravnim sredstvima legalno i legitimno pokušalo zaštititi generala Antu Gotovinu od progona MKS-a.ISTINA JE da je Ustavni sud, sukladno Ustavnom zakonu o Ustavnom sudu, svaki zahtjev za ocjenu ustavnosti obvezan riješiti «u pravilu u roku od najviše godinu dana».ISTINA JE da se Ustavni sud još uvijek nije ocitovao o Zahtjevu za ocjenu ustavnosti Ustavnog zakona o suradnji RH sa MKS-om, a od njegovog podnošenja prošle su gotovo tri godine!ISTINA JE da je Vlada premijera Ivice Racana u listopadu 2002., vezano uz optužnicu protiv generala Janka Bobetka, uputila Ustavnom sudu Inicijativu za davanje mišljenja o pojedinim ustavnopravnim aspektima oslobodilackih akcija Domovinskog rata i s njima povezanim ovlastima i dužnostima oružanih snaga Republike Hrvatske.ISTINA JE da je Ustavni sud na Inicijativu Vlade premijera Racana odgovorio nakon mjesec dana - u studenome 2002. godine.ISTINA JE da neki od 50 saborskih zastupnika koji su u rujnu 2001. od Ustavnog suda zatražili ocjenu ustavnosti Ustavnog zakona o suradnji RH s MKS-om i privremenu obustavu izrucenja okrivljenika Haaškom sudu, danas obnašaju najistaknutije državne funkcije. To su: IVO SANADER, predsjednik Vlade; VLADIMIR ŠEKS, predsjednik Sabora; JADRANKA KOSOR, potpredsjednica Vlade; LUKA BEBIC, potpredsjednik Sabora; VESNA ŠKARE - OŽBOLT, ministrica pravosuda; IVAN ŠUKER, ministar financija; BOŽIDAR KALMETA, ministar mora, turizma, prometa i razvitka; MARINA MATULOVIC - DROPULIC, ministrica zaštite okoliša, prostornog uredenja i graditeljstva; IVAN JARNJAK, predsjednik saborskog Odbora za unutarnju politiku i nacionalnu sigurnost; BRANIMIR GLAVAŠ, predsjednik saborskog Odbora za izbor, imenovanje i upravne poslove; itd.ISTINA JE da o zastupnickoj inicijativi iz rujna 2001. ne šuti samo Ustavni sud. O tome šuti i Vlada, šuti Sabor, šuti vlast, šuti oporba, šute mediji… ISTINA JE da ovo nije placeni novinski oglas kojim se pokušava utjecati na Ustavni sud da donese «ovakvu» ili «onakvu» odluku. Na takvo nešto nitko nema pravo.ISTINA JE da je ovo poticaj Ustavnom sudu da se konacno ocituje o Zahtjevu za ocjenu ustavnosti Ustavnog zakona o suradnji RH s MKS-om. Taj poticaj nije samo pravo, nego i svojevrsna moralna obveza jednog od pedesetorice potpisnika jedne znakovito zaboravljene inicijative.P.S. Prvi je dan lipnja. Utorak. Istjece rok za predaju još jedne kolumne. Prelistavajuci novine pokušavam se otresti asocijacija na Cervantesa i Shakespearea; Don Quihotea i Hamleta; vjetrenjace i trulu državu - naravno «Dansku». Sutra nam ponovno dolazi Carla Del Ponte. Njen domacin biti ce ministrica pravosuda, što je na tragu politike nove vlade za koju «suradnja s Haaškim sudom predstavlja iskljucivo pravosudni, a ne politicki problem». Iskreno, ovaj citat je uvjerljivo najgluplja fraza koju sam cuo u životu. Jutarnji javlja da ce Carla Del Ponte vecerati s Ivom Sanaderom, Jadrankom Kosor, Andrijom Hebrangom, Miomirom Žužulom, Vesnom Škare - Ožbolt i Mladenom Bajicem. Ne spominje se hoce li Ivo na «party za ekipu» pozvati i Stipu. Slobodna donosi naslov «Del Ponte odlucuje o kandidaturi za EU». E moj narode! Procitali ste kolumnu g. Joska Kontica koju novo urednistvo tjednika Fokus nije htjelo objaviti u cjelosti ili ako ne mozete otvoriti file kliknite na www.lijepanasadomovinahrvatska.com/tekst/ISTINA JE.doc Srdacan pozdravIvica GrgicISTINA JE!  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 14 Jun 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7265/1/H-CroInfo-web-site-opened.html  CroInfo web site openedDragi svi,zelim vam predstaviti i pozvati vas da posjetite CroInfo web stranice (www.croinfo.com ) koje sam nedavno pokrenuo i koje funkcioniraju kao neprofitni web site.Prije toga samo dvije rijeci o meni. Zovem se Zdeslav Hrepic, rodjen sam u Splitu, Hrvatska. U USA sam dosao prije 4 godine na poslijediplomski studij. Tu sam stekao titule magistra i doktora znanosti a na jesen pocinjem predavati na Fort Hays State University, Kansas. U USA sam dosao sa suprugom Dijanom, takodjer rodjenom u Splitu a u medjuvremenu smo dobili kcer Zrinku. Vise o meni mozete naci na: http://www.phys.ksu.edu/~zhrepic/  odnosnowww.hrepic.com .Da se vratim na temu :-). Svrha CroInfo web sitea je upozoravanje i senzibiliziranje hrvatske javnosti na teme od iznimne vaznosti (1) za politicku samostalnost i gospodarski napredak Republike Hrvatske i (2) za zastitu i ocuvanje prirodnog okolisa u Republici Hrvatskoj. Mnogim od tih tema se u medijima ne posvecuje pozornost koju zavrijedjuju. Nazalost najvaznije teme cak i kad su dobro poznate javnosti, cesto bivaju zasjenjene drugim, za kvalitetu zivljenja ljudi potpuno nebitnim ako ne i stetnim temama. Primjera je na pretek i necu ih ni spominjati.Kako su politicki, gospodarski i ekoloski bitne teme cesto isprepletene u istim dogadjajima, vijesti i osvrti na CroInfo stranicama najcesce ne pripadaju iskljucivo jednoj od njih. No teme su uvjetno podijeljene radi preglednosti i lakseg snalazenja na stranicama.Ukoliko zelite dati svoj doprinos cilju za koji se zalazem, pozivam Vas da svoja razmisljanja i osvrte objavite na stranicama CroInfo-a. Za bolju Hrvatsku - danas! Veliki pozdrav svim CROWN-ovcima i uredniku Nenadu koji mi je u mnogocemu bio i ostao uzor.Dr. Zdeslav Hrepic   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 14 Jun 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7269/1/H-Otvaren-Hrvatski-Konzulat-u-Mundimitru---Molise---Italija.html  Otvaren Hrvatski Konzulat u Mundimitru - Molise - Italija Petak 28svibnja2004Štovani,šaljem Vam clanak o otvaranja Hrvatskog Konyulata u Mundimitru.Srdacno Vas pozdravljam.Gabriele RomagnoliMontemitro, antico paese croato.Mundimitar, stari hrvatski grad.Web: www.mundimitar.it E-mail: info@mundimitar.it Responsabile - Odgovoran: Gabriele RomagnoliE-mail: gabriele.romagnoli@aliceposta.itMundimitar - U petak 28 svibnja 2004 god. prigodom svetkovanja 17° stogodišnjice izumrle Svete Lucije, otvoren je u Mundimitru Hrvatski Konzulat. Počasnim Konzulom nominiran je geom. Antonio Sammartino, koji se u posljedni desetljeća borio na očuvanju naše kulturne i ježične baštine, a u nama je probudio interes i ponos naše istinske identičnosti, predana nam vijekovima od naših predaka.S lijeva: Vjekoslav Križanec Savjetnik Ministarstva Vanjskih Poslova Republike Hrvatske, Zdenka Babić Petričević Predsjednica Odbora za useljeništvo Republike Hrvatske, Sergio Sammartino gradonačelnik općine Mundimitra, Drago Kraljević Veleposlanik Republike Hrvatske u Rimu, Antonio Sammartino Počasni Konzul Hrvatskog Konzulata u Mundimitru "Pokrajne Molise - Italija", Nevio Šetić Državni Tajnik Ministarstva Prosvjete.Koji datum značajniji za otvaranje Konzulata ako ne na ovaj zadnji petak mjeseca svibnja u kojem je proslavljena i svetkovina posvećena sv. Luciji zaštitnici očiju i općine Mundimitra. Nakon 5 stoljeća tradicija želi da sv. Lucija bude slavljena svakog petka mjesec svibnja a pripovijeda se da su tokom prijelaska Jadranskog mora naši preci sa sobom nosili drveni trup sv. Lucije i da su stigli u naše zemlje jednog petka mjeseca svibnja, ne znajući točniji datum i zbog toga slavljeni su svakog petka mj. svibnja.Posebno su slavljeni prvi i posljedni petak, prvi petak kao znak otvaranja a posljedni i najznačajniji petak kao dan završetka svetkovine. Osobno mi je bila velika čast pričustvovati ovakvoj prigodi, neponovljiva je to prigoda pošto nevjerujem da ću u slijedećoj stogodišnjici biti prisutan, isto vrijedi i za otvaranje Hrvatskog Konzulata u Mundimitru.Zaklada "Agostina Piccoli" u okviru ove prigode, izdala je i predstavila zbirku neizdanih literarnih pjesama s naslovom "S našimi rići". Sakupljenja zbirka pjesama sudjelovala je u posljednje tri godine na objavljenom natječaju Zaklade "Agostina Piccoli". Zbirka sakuplja sve nagrađene, a i nenagrađene pjesme s znatnim interesom.Svečanom otvaranju Hrvatskog Konzulata prisustvovali su nazočni gosti: Drago Kraljević Hrvatski Veleposlanik u Rimu, Franjo Zenko Hrvatski Veleposlanik u Svetoj Stolici, Zdenka Babić Petričević Predsjednica Odbora za useljeništvo Republike Hrvatske, Vjekoslav Križanec Savjetnik Ministarstva Vanjskih Poslova Republike Hrvatske, Nevio Šetić Državni Tajnik Ministarstva Prosvjete, Snježana Hefti Predsjednica Saveza Hrvatskih Zajednica u Italiji, Rosa Alò Konzul Hrvatskog Konzulata u Bari, Pasquale Piccoli Savjetnik Pokrajine Campobasso, Antonio Chieffo Pokrajinski Odbornik za opću javnost poslova i prometa, Augusto Massa Predsjednik Pokrajine Campobasso, Gianluigi Scaltritti Talijanski Izaslanik, Predsjednik Saveza prijateljstva između Italije, Slovenije i Hrvatske, Rosida Norelli gradonačelnica San Felice del Molise "Stifilič", delegacija Hrvatskog Saveza u Rimu, Hrvatska Televizija, Talijanska Televizija RAI treći prog. i svi ostali.Moja posebna pohvala prevoditeljici Orietti Crnobori, njena prisutnost bila je inzvanredna i neophodna za ulakšavanje i razumijevanja jezika svim prisutnima.Gabriele Romagnoli  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 11 Jun 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7268/1/E-John-Kerry-Statement-for-Croatias-Statehood-Day.html  John Kerry Statement for Croatia's Statehood Day May 30, 2004Contact: George Kivork, 202-712-3000 Washington, DC - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry issued the following statement Sunday in remembrance of Croatia's Statehood Day:"Today I join the people of Croatia and Croatian descent as they celebrate Croatia's Statehood Day. Over a decade has passed since Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in the early 90's. Independence has not always been easy, but in joining the Adriatic Charter in 2002, Croatia has taken positive steps toward securing its own peace and becoming integrated into a Europe whole and free. I congratulate Croatia on the progress it has made and urge Croatians to continue working for peace, justice and democracy in their country. For over a hundred years, Croatians also have contributed to the rich diversity of immigrants that have made America what it is today. Our nation owes much to those hard-working men and women who sought to better their fortunes here, and who have contributed so much to our culture, our freedom, and our prosperity. Croatians around the world have earned the right to celebrate their independence on this day."www.johnkerry.com letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 11 Jun 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7271/1/E-Titos-son-named-Croatian-envoy-to-Indonesia.html   Tito's son named Croatian envoy to Indonesia JAKARTA: A generation ago the leaders of Indonesia and Yugoslavia helped set up the Non-Aligned Movement -- a grouping meant to offer a middle path during the Cold War.Now, in an echo of times gone by, the son of Yugoslavia's late strongman Josip Broz Tito has become Croatia's ambassador to an Indonesian government led by the daughter of its founder, Sukarno. Aleksandar Broz, a former vice president of Croatia's state-owned oil company, arrived in Jakarta over the weekend after being named to the post late last year. "I'm not sure what role the non-aligned connection can play nowadays, it certainly cannot hurt relations", Broz said on Monday. Tito and president Soekarno were instrumental in setting up the Non-Aligned Movement at the height of the Cold War in the late 1950s. --AP http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailnational.asp?fileid=20040525.C07&irec=13   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 25 May 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7270/1/E-NFCA-at-The-White-House.html   NFCANATIONAL FEDERATION OF CROATIAN AMERICANSNATIONAL FEDERATION OF CROATIAN AMERICANS MEETS WITH LISA TEPPER OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL IN THE WHITE HOUSE  (Washington, D.C., May 24, 2004). On Friday, May 21, 2004, a delegation of the National Federation of Croatian Americans met with Lisa Tepper, the National Security Council Director for Southeastern European Affairs, to discuss Bush Administration policies toward Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The delegation, consisted of NFCA President John Kraljic, Past President Steve Rukavina, Vice President of Finance Frank Jerbich, Treasurer Zvonko Labas, Director of Development Erik Milman, Louise Birt and Dr. Judy Vogelsang of Missouri, Andrew and Susan Marcec of Illinois, Joseph Rukavina and John Balaich of Minnesota, Marie McGuckin of Illinois and Joseph Foley of Foley Government and Public Affairs.During the meeting, NFCA representatives expressed their views regarding Croatia's status vis-a-vis NATO, the work of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), and the status of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina.The NFCA took the opportunity to express to Ms. Tepper its concern over the continued linkage by certain American and international officials of Croatia's membership in NATO with the surrender of General Gotovina. As was noted during the meeting, Croatia's continued integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions cannot be delayed on the basis of the failure of one person to surrender to an international tribunal.Those present further noted that requiring General Gotovina's surrender as a sine qua non of NATO entry presented an unfair burden to Croatia, especially in light of the fact that the United States and its NATO allies have failed to capture Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic despite being in control of Bosnia and Herzegovina for close to ten years.With respect to the ICTY, NFCA representatives expressed their frustration at the failure of the international community and especially the United States to enforce oversight over the Tribunal. They noted to Ms. Tepper the ICTY's clear attempts to draft indictments to balance guilt among the parties to the conflict in the former Yugoslavia and the ICTY's continued reliance on sources for evidence having questionable credibility, such as Savo Strbac, a former high-ranking official of the criminal "Republika Srpska Krajina," whose Belgrade-based organization has been instrumental in assisting the ICTY in drafting some of the more recent indictments against certain Croatian generals.Concerning Bosnia and Herzegovina, the NFCA spoke generally about their disappointment with the continuing state of limbo in which that country and especially its Croat population finds itself in. Several of those present expressed the fear that the failure to properly protect the rights of the Croatian community within Bosnia and Herzegovina together with the continued presence of extremist Serbian nationalism and the potential threat of increased Islamic fundamentalism placed Bosnia and Herzegovina in an especially precarious situation, reminiscent to some of the former Yugoslavia immediately prior to its collapse in the early 1990s.Following the meeting, Mr. Kraljic noted that the NFCA was pleased to have had the opportunity to have met with an official of the National Security Council to express its position on these issues of vital importance to Croatian-Americans. "This meeting comes on the heels of meetings we held in early April with Ambassador Prosper and with State Department officials responsible for oversight of relations with Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. We come away from these meetings with a generally positive impression about the current state of relations between Croatia and the United States. However, a number of issues continue persist which need to be resolved in a manner beneficial to Croatia. Moreover, the problems in Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to haunt us and there seems to be little understanding in the international community for plight of the Croatian community in that country. We need to strengthen our focus on that issue in the coming months."The NFCA is a national umbrella group of major Croatian-American organizations which collectively have 120,000 members.For more information, please contact Mr. Joseph Foley via info@foleycoinc.com or Mr. Erik Milman at NFCA headquarters at 202-331-2830.1329 Connecticut Ave, NW Washington, DC 20036Phone: (202) 331-2830 Fax: (202) 331-0050 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 24 May 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7272/1/E-A-Useful-Balkan-Flip-Flop-By-VITOMIR-MILES-RAGUZ.html letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 20 May 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7274/1/E-Europe-Plans-For-An-Arab-Expansion.html  Europe Plans For An Arab ExpansionThe Times, LondonBRUSSELS, May 4. - WITH the largest-ever enlargement of the EU behind them, European officials are now preparing even more ambitious plans to expand the Brussels empire across North Africa, West Asia and Asia. They hope that just as last weekend's enlargement helped to entrench democracy in eight former Communist countries, this new policy will stabilise much of the Arab world, as well as the still turbulent far eastern regions of Europe. Next week, the European Commission, the EU's executive body, will launch a strategy document setting out details of an effective enlargement of the EU over decades across all the Muslim countries lining the Mediterranean, from Morocco to Syria, as well as Israel, Lebanon and all the former parts of the Soviet Union which are in Europe, including Russia. This is in addition to the well-advanced plans for Romania and Bulgaria to become full members of the EU in 2007, followed by all the Balkan countries including Albania, Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia. The Commission will also announce in October whether it thinks that Turkey is ready to join the EU.  Source:http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=3&theme=&usrsess=1&id=42295   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 10 May 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7273/1/E-Slobodna-Dalmacija-on-Ashdown.html  ASHDOWN'S EDUCATION MANIFESTO Slobodna Dalmacija's BiH has run a piece on Ashdown'sUK education policies. My article from last Octoberhas filtered through! Link to SD item below, as wellas my original piece.Brianhttp://members.madasafish.com/~opus/Croatia/Brian.Gallagher.200404.html VIEWPOINT FROM LONDON by Brian GallagherThe Croatian Herald, Australia No. 987 - 10.10.03Paddy Ashdown's manifesto commitments and his writingswhilst he was leader of the Liberal Democrats in theUnited Kingdom shed a lot of light on his policies inBosnia-Herzegovina. In particular, the details oneducation are of great importance, as that is a majorissue right now in BiH, especially for the Croats. AndAshdown's views are very close to the Croats. In BiH, reform of education is being debated byparliament. There is a push by the Organisation forSecurity and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to placeeducation on the entity level away from the locallevel. In the Muslim-Croat Federation this would meancontrol passing to the education ministry in Sarajevo.Croats are very concerned about this; not unreasonablythey wish their children to be taught in their ownlanguage and about Croat culture, which they are ableto do now at local level. They believe this may becompromised if it is placed at entity level; theCroats are significantly outnumbered in the Federationby the Bosniaks. If a solution is not found, then Paddy Ashdown mayimpose one. If one considers his political trackrecord then in theory his solution would be somethingCroats find agreeable.In an interview for the Guardian last year, Ashdownstated that he is implementing the 1992 LiberalDemocrat manifesto in BiH. So it seems that Ashdown is drawing on his partypolicies as leader in running BiH. The 1992 electionmanifesto is very clear on education: Under "Puttingeducation at the heart of the community" they discussthe independence of schools and colleges and theirpioneering local management. They want educationwithin a "democratically accountable framework oflocal education authorities". Local educationauthorities in the UK roughly translates into cantonsin BiH, rather than the entities.The manifesto also says that education is an area that"should be devolved from Whitehall (centralgovernment) and brought nearer to the people they mostaffect."For Ashdown's 1997 manifesto - which I personallycampaigned for - previous ideas are built upon, withmore power to be given to schools. The "valuable role"of church schools is recognised, and where there issubstantial community support, the major faiths canestablish publicly funded voluntary schools. Furthermore, the role of national culture and languageis also regarded as important. The 1997 ScottishLiberal Democrat manifesto under "A new deal forGaelic and Scots culture", states they "will supportand maintain the diversity of Scotland's linguisticand cultural traditions." Specifically they willsupport and develop the provision of Gaelic ineducation and that they will "Promote a greateremphasis on Scottish culture in the mainstreamcurriculum".It is obvious from all this that Ashdown's commitmentsas party leader were to local control of school and astrong recognition and support of religion, languageand culture. The positive implications for Croats areclear. In 1994 Ashdown wrote a book entitled 'BeyondWestminster - Finding Hope in Britain'. Essentially hetravelled across the United Kingdom, includingdeprived areas, spending time with the diverse peopleof the country.In East London, he speaks approvingly of Saturdayschools run by and for ethnic minorities which "teachtheir religion, preserve their language and cultureand supplement mainstream education". Croats of courseare a constituent people, not an ethnic minority. Theyexpect mainstream schools to do their job rather thanhaving to organise separate schooling themselves. AndEast London is extraordinarily multi-cultural incontrast to BiH. The situations are very different. But the critical point here is that Ashdown supportsthe preservation of people's language, culture andreligions. In Beyond Westminster's conclusion Ashdown declareshis belief in local communities and people providingsolutions - not centralised government. In total, it is very clear that Paddy Ashdown'smanifesto commitments as Liberal Democrat leader andhis own words lean towards local control of education,an appreciation of religion in schools and supportingthe development of local language and culture. Thiscertainly would benefit Croats - but it also benefitsSerbs and Bosniaks as well. No one group should beable to dominate another in any field in BiH under theguise of unity - Serb domination in former Yugoslaviawas hardly a good idea. Croats should set about reminding Paddy Ashdown of hismanifesto commitments - and use them right now insupport of their case for their schoolchildren andstudents to be taught in their own language and abouttheir own culture.If Ashdown has to impose a solution, it will beinteresting to see what he does; I am sure manyobservers in Britain will be keen to see if he sticksto his principles. © Brian Gallagher My 'Viewpoint from London' column appears fortnightlyin the Australian 'Croatian Herald' and thereafter atwww.croatiafocus.com   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 10 May 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7277/1/E-Stand-with-me-for-peace.html  A MESSAGE FROM DENNIS KUCINICHRECORDED THE EVENING OF APRIL 20, 2004TRANSCRIPT OF AUDIO POSTCARD:Hi, this is Dennis.The situation in Iraq continues to get worse, and unfortunately leaders of both political parties do not seem to know any way out and they are guiding us towards a path of sending in more troops, which will inevitably prolong the war, and put us in a situation where we are going to have more casualties on both sides, and a greater cost to the American taxpayers and an alienation further from the nations of the world.Your help has enabled me to bring a message that war is not inevitable and that peace is inevitable if we are willing to work for a new plan which will enable us to go to the United Nations and bring in U.N. Peacekeepers and bring our troops home. As you know, now we've been talking about this plan for six months. And as you know, with your help, I've been able to stay in this presidential campaign to continue to talk about the need for peaceful resolutions of the conditions in Iraq.Now more than ever your help is needed to help us keep this message going. Now more than ever I need your financial assistance to make sure that we can carry this message not only through the platform committee process, but through to the convention so that our Democratic party can offer the American people a real alternative. It really isn't fair to the American people that they have to choose between a Democratic version of Iraq and a Republican version of the war in Iraq.Yet our campaign gives the people some hope that there are alternatives. That we can go to the U.N. and ask the U.N. to handle the oil assets of Iraq on behalf of the Iraqi people until the Iraqi people are self-governing. The same with the contracts. That we tell the world community the United States is no longer interested in the privatization of Iraq. That we ask the U.N. for help in scheduling elections and drafting a constitution for Iraq. That we help to pay for what we destroyed, that we pay reparations to families of innocent victims and noncombatants who lost their lives in the conflict, and that we help fund a U.N. peacekeeping mission.It's not inevitable that we stay in Iraq. And it's not necessary for our troops to have the bear the responsibility for stabilizing Iraq. You know and I know that the U.S. invasion created the instability in Iraq. That the U.S. invasion created a situation where the war is deepening, and that only when we get our troops home is there going to be any hope of bringing about a resolution provided of course that we can come to and agreement with the U.N. for a new peace plan. And that's exactly what I've offered.This is the moment when we get a chance to consciously choose a new direction for our nation. Your support for this campaign has made it possible for us to get this far. But I can't take another step without your help. I need your help to keep funding our effort. I need you to go right now to our website at kucinich.us and send another contribution so that in the next weeks and months so that we can keep this message alive inside the Democratic Party.We have to have the Democratic Party stand for peace. We can't tell the American people that they're going to be asked to choose between a Republican version of the war in Iraq and a Democratic version of the same. So your help is going to be so important in helping to send this campaign in a direction where we can enable the Democratic Party to stand for something. To stand for a new hope. To stand for a new way to stand for a course of action which will bring our troops home.As we speak, 10,000 miles away, there are men and women who serve this country who wonder if their leaders are going to be able to come up with a solution so that they can come home and be with their families. As we speak, there is bloodshed in the streets of Iraq and people are wondering if there is any way out of this plight that seems to afflict this country without end.And yet, we have it within our hands to take a new direction. We have it within our hearts to cause the American dream to be opened up to people in this country when we start focusing the resource of this country on rebuilding the American way of life, instead of using our military might to try to force people to accept conditions which are basically foreign to them.This is the time that we get an opportunity to say what we stand for. Please stand with me as I continue to carry the challenge forward. The challenge that America must walk the way of peace. The challenge of a Democratic Party must offer true peaceful alternatives. A challenge that as we prepare for a November election that our people can be given a real choice. And that when the choosing is complete, that they will have chosen peace, that they will have chosen reconnecting with the world community.With your help this is possible. I look forward to continuing to work for you and with you in the weeks and the months ahead, as we prepare America to take a new course of action which will bring peace not only with Iraq, but will enable us to reconnect with the world community in the hopes of creating peaceful tomorrows. Thank you very much.Dennis Kucinich======Contribute by calling 866-413-3664 or online at https://www.kucinich.us/contribute.php or by sending your check to the address shown at the bottom of this page.PLEASE NOTE - You can also help the campaign by ordering ORIGINAL CAMPAIGN MEMORABILIA such as cups, travel mugs, t-shirts, and buttons and in the Official Campaign Store: http://www.kucinich.us/store.php  . These designs are limited stock; once these quantities are gone they will be no longer available.Sign Petitions: We are taking signed petitions to the Democratic National Convention in Boston this July, focused on the critical issues this campaign has stood for. Petitions to end the war in Iraq, repeal critical sections of the PATRIOT Act, and to establish a cabinet-level Department of Peace are among those available. You can sign the petitions online right now, or print and circulate them. Get the petitions here: http://kucinich.us/VolunteerAction/petitions.php ."DENNIS TALKS ABOUT" is a series of 2 to 5 minute reports of Dennis on the campaign trail. In these clips, Dennis discusses in detail his current thoughts on specific issues. You can watch the video online, hear the audio, or read the text transcript on each of the issues. Below are the latest installments of Dennis Talks About.Just in from North Carolina, just in time for Earth Day which is tomorrow, 4/22...The Environment:http://www.kucinich.us/talksabout/environment-talksabout.php Also new:PATRIOT Act: http://kucinich.us/talksabout/PATRIOTact-talksabout.php Military Draft: http://kucinich.us/talksabout/draft-talksabout.php Affordable Housing:http://kucinich.us/talksabout/housing-talksabout.php [ more Dennis Talks About: http://kucinich.us/video/issues_video.php ]Do you stand with Dennis? Tell us why:http://www.kucinich.us/standsfor_form.php Find out why others stand with Dennis:http://www.kucinich.us/standwithdennis1.php HEAR THE AUDIO POSTCARDClick here to contribute to Kucinich for President online.Please forward this Email quickly and widely.(Delete the opt-out link at the very bottom, so that no one accidentally cancels your subscription.)If you received this Email from a friend and would like to receive them directly, click here: http://kucinich.us/alerts-signup.htm Contact us:Kucinich for President11808 Lorain Avenue - Cleveland, OH 44111216-889-2004 / 866-413-3664 (toll-free)http://www.kucinich.us   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 25 Apr 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7276/1/H-Hrvat-Ivan-Gasparovic-dosao-na-celo-Slovacke.html  Hrvat Ivan GaÅ¡paroviÄ? doÅ¡ao na Ä?elo SlovaÄ?ke  SENZACIONALNI REZULTATI NADMETANJA PREDSJEDNIČKIH KANDIDATA Vijest o izboru Ivana GaÅ¡paroviÄ?a brzo se proÅ¡irila Grižanima, gdje mu žive roÄ'aci Nepredvidivo slovaÄ?ko biraÄ?ko tijelo odradilo je u joÅ¡ jednu senzaciju; Ivan GaÅ¡paroviÄ?, predsjednik Pokreta za demokraciju, pobijedio je na predsjedniÄ?kim izborima u SlovaÄ?koj i posatao treći predsjednik samostalne SlovaÄ?ke. GaÅ¡paroviÄ? je izborima pristupio kao kandidat kojemu su predizborne ankete dodjeljivali treće, Ä?etvrto mejsto. Prvo su davale Eduardu Kukanu, ministru vanjskih polsova, i uz premijera Dzurindu najzasluÅ¡nijem Ä?ovjeka za ulazak zemlje u NATO i EU, te Vladimiru MeÄ?iaru, kontroverznom premijeru devedesetih godina, za mnoge koÄ?niÄ?aru ulaska zemlje u reÄ?ene euroatlastske integracije. Nakon debakla u prvom krugu, agencije za predviÄ'anje izbornih rezultat nisu se ni oglaÅ¡avale prije drugog kruga u koji su uÅ¡li MeÄ?iar sa 32,73 posto i GaÅ¡paroviÄ? sa 22,28 posto glasova. Uvjerljiva pobjeda U drugom je krugu, GaÅ¡aparoviÄ? svojeg nekadaÅ¡njeg Å¡efa i bliskog suradnika MeÄ?iara (za Ä?ije je vlasti bio predsjednik parlamenta, no proÅ¡le su se godine žestoko raziÅ¡li), uvjerljivo nadvisio - 59,91 prema 40,09 posto. Odnosno, viÅ¡e od milijun glasaÄ?a dalo je glas GaÅ¡paroviÄ?u, a 722 tisuće MeÄ?iaru. Poraz je MeÄ?iar primio toliko teÅ¡ko da nije ni primio GaÅ¡paroviÄ?evu ruku u susretu nakon izbora. MeÄ?iaru nije pomogao ni 15 puta jaÄ?i proraÄ?un kampanje za drugu rundu.Veliku pomoć GaÅ¡paroviÄ?u je pružio Robert Fico, predsjednik koalicijske stranke Smer, sve veći kritiÄ?ar Vladine i Dzurindine samodopadnosti. Bela Bugar, predsjednik koalicije maÄ'arskih stranka, smatra da je odluÄ?io strah od povratka MeÄ?iara na vlast. Fikusne ovlasti predsjednika ipak mogu usporiti Vladine reforme. GaÅ¡paroviÄ? pak tvrdi da će biti predsjednik svih graÄ'ana, a Dzurinda koji se hvalio da neće ni ići na glasovanje brže-bolje izražava spremnost na suradnju. OduÅ¡evljenje u Grižanama Vijest o izboru Ivana GaÅ¡paroviÄ?a za novog predsjednika SlovaÄ?ke brzo se proÅ¡irila Grižanima i Tribljem, mjestima u zaleÄ'u Crikvenice u kojima žive njegovi bliži i dalji roÄ'aci. U zaseoku Blažići u Triblju posjetili smo Anicu Miklić, Ä?ija je baka Margareta BoljeÅ¡ić roÄ'ena sestra bake slovaÄ?kog predsjednika GaÅ¡parovića, Agne. Prema njezinoj priÄ?i, Agna se pred poÄ?etak I. svjetskog rata udala za Tomu GaÅ¡parovića i nedugo zatim braÄ?ni se par odselio u SlovaÄ?ku. Tada je, naime, gotovo svaka kuća imala nekoga u ekonomskoj emigraciji, a nerijetko su glave obitelji od prvog zaraÄ'enog novca kupovale kartu za svoje supruge kako bi im se pridružile u svijetu. Anica Miklić ne zna toÄ?no jesu li GaÅ¡parovići pritom sa sobom imali i dijete, ali zna da su Tomo i Agna u SlovaÄ?koj imali puno djece, meÄ'u njima je i Vladimir, po Anici, otac danaÅ¡njeg slovaÄ?kog predsjednika Ivana GaÅ¡parovića. Obitelj iz SlovaÄ?ke nikad nije izgubila vezu sa starim krajem, izmijenjivala su se pisma i Ä?estitke, a prije Ä?etrdesetak godina tada već starica Agna sa sinom Vladimirom posjetila je Grižane i svoju rodnu kuću u BoljeÅ¡ićima, kao i rodnu kuću supruga Tome u Baretićima. Razumljivo, nakon prve objave izbornog rezultata u SlovaÄ?koj svi su se GaÅ¡parovići, kojih je u ovome kraju mnogo, oduÅ¡evili Å¡to imaju roÄ'aka - predsjednika. Nitko ovdje ne dvoji da je Ivan GaÅ¡parović praunuk Agne i Tome, a to je ponosno susjedima i novinarima objaÅ¡njavala Anica Miklić, njegova roÄ'akinja u trećem koljenu. Cijela se obitelji u nedjeljno poslijepodne okupila kako bi i oni, iako daleko od SlovaÄ?ke, proslavili izborni uspjeh svoga roÄ'aka zaželjevÅ¡i mu, uz zdravicu, uspjeÅ¡no voÄ'enje zemlje u kojoj je postao prvi Ä?ovjek ŽELJKO VALENTIĆ, ANTON FICKO Izvor: http://www.vecernji-list.hr/2004/04/19/Pages/hrvat.html letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 25 Apr 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7275/1/E-President-of-Slovakia-Ivan-Gasparovics-Croatian-Roots.html  President of Slovakia Ivan Gasparovic's Croatian Roots According to Vecernji List, newly elected president of Slovakia, Ivan Gasparovic has Croatian roots. The original Croatian article can be found at:http://www.vecernji-list.hr/2004/04/19/Pages/hrvat.html GASPAROVIC WINS SLOVAK PRESIDENTIAL RACE...Ivan Gasparovic, leader of the extraparliamentary Movement for Democracy (HZD), defeated three-time former Prime Minister and leader of the People's Party-Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) Vladimir Meciar in a presidential runoff of 17 April, international news agencies reported. Gasparovic won by a convincing margin of nearly 60 percent as against slightly more than 40 garnered by Meciar. Gasparovic is to take office on 15 June, six weeks after Slovakia joins the EU. Turnout was 43.5 percent, according to CTK. According to TASR, Gasparovic won in all of Slovakia's eight regions. Upon learning of his victory, Gasparovic pledged to try to find common ground with Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda and said he wants Slovakia's EU integration to be smooth. Dzurinda congratulated Gasparovic, according to TASR. The premier said he will "strive to have a good relationship with the president because this is in Slovakia's interests," Reuters reported. Parliamentary speaker Pavol Hrusovsky said the electoral outcome signifies "the final defeat of Meciar's policies." All leaders of the four-party center-right coalition stayed away from the poll, saying there is "no lesser evil" to chose from. MSIvan Gasparovic's official website (in Slovak)http://www.gasparovic.sk/    letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 25 Apr 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7279/1/E-Slobodna-Dalmacija-on-Ashdown.html  ASHDOWN'S EDUCATION MANIFESTO Slobodna Dalmacija's BiH has run a piece on Ashdown'sUK education policies. My article from last Octoberhas filtered through! Link to SD item below, as wellas my original piece.Brianhttp://members.madasafish.com/~opus/Croatia/Brian.Gallagher.200404.html VIEWPOINT FROM LONDON by Brian GallagherThe Croatian Herald, Australia No. 987 - 10.10.03Paddy Ashdown's manifesto commitments and his writingswhilst he was leader of the Liberal Democrats in theUnited Kingdom shed a lot of light on his policies inBosnia-Herzegovina. In particular, the details oneducation are of great importance, as that is a majorissue right now in BiH, especially for the Croats. AndAshdown's views are very close to the Croats. In BiH, reform of education is being debated byparliament. There is a push by the Organisation forSecurity and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to placeeducation on the entity level away from the locallevel. In the Muslim-Croat Federation this would meancontrol passing to the education ministry in Sarajevo.Croats are very concerned about this; not unreasonablythey wish their children to be taught in their ownlanguage and about Croat culture, which they are ableto do now at local level. They believe this may becompromised if it is placed at entity level; theCroats are significantly outnumbered in the Federationby the Bosniaks. If a solution is not found, then Paddy Ashdown mayimpose one. If one considers his political trackrecord then in theory his solution would be somethingCroats find agreeable.In an interview for the Guardian last year, Ashdownstated that he is implementing the 1992 LiberalDemocrat manifesto in BiH. So it seems that Ashdown is drawing on his partypolicies as leader in running BiH. The 1992 electionmanifesto is very clear on education: Under "Puttingeducation at the heart of the community" they discussthe independence of schools and colleges and theirpioneering local management. They want educationwithin a "democratically accountable framework oflocal education authorities". Local educationauthorities in the UK roughly translates into cantonsin BiH, rather than the entities.The manifesto also says that education is an area that"should be devolved from Whitehall (centralgovernment) and brought nearer to the people they mostaffect."For Ashdown's 1997 manifesto - which I personallycampaigned for - previous ideas are built upon, withmore power to be given to schools. The "valuable role"of church schools is recognised, and where there issubstantial community support, the major faiths canestablish publicly funded voluntary schools. Furthermore, the role of national culture and languageis also regarded as important. The 1997 ScottishLiberal Democrat manifesto under "A new deal forGaelic and Scots culture", states they "will supportand maintain the diversity of Scotland's linguisticand cultural traditions." Specifically they willsupport and develop the provision of Gaelic ineducation and that they will "Promote a greateremphasis on Scottish culture in the mainstreamcurriculum".It is obvious from all this that Ashdown's commitmentsas party leader were to local control of school and astrong recognition and support of religion, languageand culture. The positive implications for Croats areclear. In 1994 Ashdown wrote a book entitled 'BeyondWestminster - Finding Hope in Britain'. Essentially hetravelled across the United Kingdom, includingdeprived areas, spending time with the diverse peopleof the country.In East London, he speaks approvingly of Saturdayschools run by and for ethnic minorities which "teachtheir religion, preserve their language and cultureand supplement mainstream education". Croats of courseare a constituent people, not an ethnic minority. Theyexpect mainstream schools to do their job rather thanhaving to organise separate schooling themselves. AndEast London is extraordinarily multi-cultural incontrast to BiH. The situations are very different. But the critical point here is that Ashdown supportsthe preservation of people's language, culture andreligions. In Beyond Westminster's conclusion Ashdown declareshis belief in local communities and people providingsolutions - not centralised government. In total, it is very clear that Paddy Ashdown'smanifesto commitments as Liberal Democrat leader andhis own words lean towards local control of education,an appreciation of religion in schools and supportingthe development of local language and culture. Thiscertainly would benefit Croats - but it also benefitsSerbs and Bosniaks as well. No one group should beable to dominate another in any field in BiH under theguise of unity - Serb domination in former Yugoslaviawas hardly a good idea. Croats should set about reminding Paddy Ashdown of hismanifesto commitments - and use them right now insupport of their case for their schoolchildren andstudents to be taught in their own language and abouttheir own culture.If Ashdown has to impose a solution, it will beinteresting to see what he does; I am sure manyobservers in Britain will be keen to see if he sticksto his principles. © Brian Gallagher My 'Viewpoint from London' column appears fortnightlyin the Australian 'Croatian Herald' and thereafter atwww.croatiafocus.com   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 22 Apr 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7278/1/E-A-BRITISH-U-TURN-OVER-CROATIA.html  CROATIAFOCUS COMMENT A BRITISH U-TURN OVER CROATIA?21.04.04by Brian GallagherAre the British gearing up for a U-turn over Croatia?Previously, the United Kingdom, in the form of EuropeMinister Denis McShane and the Foreign Office wereinsistent that Britain would block Croatia joining theEU if it did not hand over General Ante Gotovina. Yetwithin days of negative comments, the UK has notblocked the EU from giving a positive 'avis' toCroatia's desire to join the EU. There are a number ofreasons for this, but one factor that may beoverlooked is the rather larger U-turn by PrimeMinister Tony Blair over the European Constitution. Britain has seemed more concerned with Gotovina thanwith the Serbian indictees Karadzic and Mladic, nodoubt because of the British role in supportingBelgrade during the war.But in Zagreb on 19 April, MacShane was full ofglowing words for Croatia. He believed that Croatiawould join the EU before the end of the decade. Heeven mentioned Croat partisans working with Britonsduring the second world war - a far cry from the'Ustasha' propaganda of old. Of course, MacShane didnot explicitly say policy had changed - the UK couldstill veto Croatia's entry into the EU and may yet doso. Even so, he went out of his way to be positive."Gotovina no longer remains an obstacle to sayingCroatia can start accession talks," MacShane told theGuardian.A large part of this turnaround has no doubt much todo with anti-British feeling developing in Croatia; itappeared from MacShane's interview statements thatBritain did not care if Croatia could not get hold ofGotovina - they would block Croatian entry anyway.Anti-British feeling is not in the UK's interests. Anegative 'avis' from the EU would have meant no morehold over Croatia by the UK, EU or Carla del Ponte.Furthermore, the emergence of the 1995 videotape ofGeneral Gotovina berating his officers for theirsoldier's criminal acts has severely damaged thecredibility of an already highly dubious UN indictment- which ludicrously claims that such acts were part ofsome master plan by Gotovina and others. This cannothave passed unnoticed in the Foreign Office. However, British domestic politics may have played amajor role. On 20 April, Tony Blair announced aBritish referendum - bizarrely not mentioning the word'referendum' - on the proposed European constitution.This is regarded as major U-turn - he previously ruledout such a referendum. There has been much humourabout Blair's 'reverse gears' - he once said he hadnone. It is certainly one of the most extraordinaryturnarounds in recent British political history.What has this got to do with Croatia? Blair will nodoubt campaign for a 'yes' vote. He is already makingstrong pro-EU comments. He will not want any argumentsor discords with his EU partners; this would play intothe hands of 'no' campaigners. It is known that Britain - with the Dutch - are theones preventing Croatian entry into the EU. In June,if Britain votes against Croatia to start accessiontalks it would create an EU split. This would annoyother countries - who then may be disinclined to workwith Britain on other matters. MacShane's U-turn seemsto follow straight on from Blair's - which had beenextensively leaked to the press days before Blair madehis announcement.Of course, the Croatia issue is a small thing inrelation to UK politics, and we can expect similarchanges on other EU policy issues. But Blair wants toshow the UK working with Europe in a harmonious,positive way. Will he really want a split - big orsmall - with Europe over General Gotovina? Especially,as mentioned above, when the indictment is so flimsy?Let alone the questions that may - justifiably - ariseagain over Serbophilia in the Foreign Office.Certainly, the various generals Croatia has sent tothe Hague of late has provided a good excuse forBritain to change tack - they can now report howimpressed they are with Croatia's co-operation.It is revealing that this Croatia U-turn it hasnothing to do with morality and all the rest of it -but everything to do with Britain's interests and thepolitics of the Blair government. Something Croatswould do well to bear in mind.© Brian Gallagher www.croatiafocus.com   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 21 Apr 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7281/1/E-Croatia-Gets-a-Very-Positive-Avis.html  Croatia Gets a Very Positive Avis Ivana Novakova21 April 2004Chris Patten, EU Foreign Affairs Commissioner Yesterday, in Strasbourg, the European Commission recommended in its avis to the European Union to start the negotiations with Croatia on full membership in the Union. Avis is a document used by the Commission to evaluate, on the request of the Council of Ministers, the capacities of a country to start the negotiations on full membership and to accept the responsibilities and obligations charged in the full membership. 'The Commission recommends that the negotiations on integration of Croatia into the European Union should be opened', state the conclusions of the avis. It lists not requirements or conditions, but cites, among other points, that the Chief Prosecutor of The Hague Tribunal, Carla Del Ponte, said this month that "Croatia is fully cooperating with the ICTY.' Romano Prodi, EU Commission President However, the avis also states that Croatia needs to make additional efforts in the fields of minority rights, return of refugees, reforms of the judiciary, regional cooperation and fight against corruption. It states that the political criteria were fulfilled and that Croatia is a functioning democracy with stable institutions which guarantee the rule of law in the country. Majority of economic criteria were also fulfilled, with the conclusion that Croatia "can be considered a functioning market economy" and the addition that, in mid-term, Croatia should be able to compete with the competition pressure and the market forces in the Union, if it continues with the programme of reforms in order to eliminate the remaining weaknesses of its economic system." The environmental protection was the sole field for which it was estimated that no long-term engagement would be needed to fulfill the criteria, but it will require great investments. 'In order to assist Croatia in the preparations for accession negotiations, it would be necessary to undertake a thorough analysis of the harmonization of legislation. The Commission, moreover, proposes to the EU to prepare a pre-accession strategy for Croatia and to prepare the necessary proposals", state the conclusions of the avis. Simultaneously with the avis, the Commission presented the draft-European partnership document for Croatia, which identifies the priorities in the preparations for accession. http://www.oneworld.net/article/view/84115/1/   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 20 Apr 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7280/1/E-Croatia-Inches-Closer-to-EU-Membership.html  Croatia Inches Closer to EU Membership EU Commissioner Chirs Patten squarely backs Croatia's application for EU membership The European Commission has pledged to back Croatia's application to join the union. Although a start date for accession talks won't be confirmed until June, the former Yugoslav republic is already en-route to home base.In an address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, European External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten and Enlargement Commissioner Günter Verheugen announced the commission's support for Zagreb's application, adding they would suggest to the Council of Ministers that they start membership talks "quickly." Patten described it as an "historic day for Croatia," which is the second Balkan country after Slovenia to have come so far in a bid to become a part of the growing European Union. He said Croatia had made a lot of progress but stressed that there was still work to be done. Directly addressing Croatian Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul, who was present at the debate in Strasbourg, Patten said Zagreb needed to reform its judicial system, do more to protect its minorities and make it possible for Serb refugees to return to their homes.Verheugen praised Croatia's growing economy, which is a key factor for potential accession to the EU. "Croatia is better placed today than most of the countries that will be joining on May 1st," Verheugen said in reference to the impending expansion of the union from 15 to 25 members. "The economy is strong, very strong, and in close cooperation with the economy of the EU," he added. The expansion commissioner said he believed EU support for Croatia's increasing efforts to meet membership entry requirements would send an "important and powerful signal" to the entire region. He cited the former Yugoslav republic as an example to it neighbors that effort pays off. Clean bill of health Croatia first applied to join the EU roundtable in February 2003, but the application stuck on the issue of how much Zagreb was doing to cooperate with the International War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague. Banging the drum of concern were principally the Netherlands and Britain, who wanted to see Zagreb do more to track down war crimes suspects before endorsing its application. Britain, in particular, wanted Croatia to hand over General Ante Gotovina, who has been wanted in The Hague since 2001 for alleged war crimes against Serbs in 1995.Although the fugitive Gotovina has still not been captured, Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader has overseen the handover of eight suspects to the tribunal since his election in November. They include two indicted generals and six former Bosnian Croat officials. And this seems to have been enough to pacify Britain, which has now dropped its blocking tactic. "The British government hopes to see Croatia as a member of the EU before the decade is out," Denis MacShane, Britain's Minister for Europe told the Guardian newspaper. He added that "Gotovina no longer remains an obstacle to saying Croatia can start accession talks." Speaking in Strasbourg yesterday, Chris Patten said UN war crimes prosecutor Carla del Ponte had given Croatia a clean bill of health for its cooperation with the tribunal. "She concluded that Croatia is fully complying with the tribunal, and sees no likelihood of that situation changing. As far as the Gotovina case is concerned, she indicated that the Croatian government is doing all it can to help locate and turn him over to The Hague," Patten told Reuters.New chapter in Balkan historyIt's a breakthrough for the Croatian prime minister, who is hoping to lead his country into the EU in 2007 along with Romania and Bulgaria. "We're opening today a new page in our history, and I'm sure the whole nation is sharing in the happiness of taking this first concrete step towards EU membership," Sander said in the Croatian capital. In accession he sees a chance not only for his people, but also for the entire region. "Croatia has the chance to become a success story, to pave the way for our neighbors in southeast Europe to follow," Sanader said. "A unified Europe wouldn't stand a chance if new dividing lines were introduced, and some countries were excluded from unification."http://www.dw-world.de/english/0,3367,1430_A_1176063_1_A,00.html   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 20 Apr 2004 01:00:00 -0600 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7282/1/E-Marcus-Tanner-on-Mostar---The-Independent.html  A symbol of hope is reborn in Mostar Relatively speaking, this is one of the most balancedpieces concerning Bih Croats I have seen. Inparticular, mentions Bosniak attacks on Croats inCentral Bosnia. Furthermore, sums up Croat concernsover Ashdown's Mostar solution fairly. And - am Ireading too much into this? - seems to be slightlyskeptical over the Ashdwon solution. Shows the valueof putting forward your case.Brianhttp://news.independent.co.uk/europe/story.jsp?story=512234 The IndependentBridge over the ethnic divide: a symbol of hope is reborn in MostarAfter 12 years and £7.5m, the famous Old Bridge atMostar - destroyed in the Bosnia war - has beenrebuilt. But is it too late to close th