http://www.croatia.org/crown en-us http://www.croatia.org/crown N/A nenad@nenadbach.com Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:17:38 -0700 20 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9609/1/Blanka-Vlasic-wins-historic-Olympic-medal-for-Croatia-at-Beijing-2008.html Then comes a small "poof" when Vlasic lands in the thick pad, the bar undisturbed. Seven times she did this Saturday night, the obediently motionless bar a little higher each time. The noise inhaled by the gasp of 91,000 fans. The high-jump contest was advertised as the showcase of a legend in this sport, Blanka Vlasic's 14-month winning streak at 38. A true pride of Croatia. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9608/1/Marin-Cilic-beats-Mardy-Fish-at-Pilot-Pen-for-first-ATP-victory.html Marin Cilic of Croatia won his first ATP Tour event Saturday, beating American Mardy Fish 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 at the Pilot Pen, a U.S. Open tuneup. Despite having the crowd against him, the 19-year-old Cilic broke the hard-serving Fish five times, three times in the final set, to secure the win in his first finals appearance. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9565/1/Ivana-Zahiroviae-outstanding-Croatian-flutist-won-the-first-prize-in-Italy.html Ivana Zahirovic, outstanding Croatian flutist, has won the first prize at the 4th International Competition for woodwinds "AUDI Mozart 2008". The competition took place in Rovereto, Italy, from 9th to 24th May 2008. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9525/1/Duje-Draganja-the-fastest-swimming-man-on-the-planet-Earth.html   Croatian Superman, Duje Draganja, the fastest swimming man on the planet conquers world record on 50 meters free style in Manchester, England on April 11th 2008. The Croatian swimmer, wearing Speedo's LZR Racer suit, finished in 20.81 seconds. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9524/1/Croatia-8211-Land-of-World-Swimming-Record-Holders.html Two world swimming records are an achievement not even larger and stronger countries, than our “little” Croatia, can afford. But at this moment Croatians are celebrating and bragging with such achievements, thanks to Duje Draganja and Sanja Jovanovic, young swimmers who brought the world’s swimming to its knees. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9462/1/David-Diehl-gets-the-Super-Bowl-42.html  Croatian American David Diehl in the light of glory, after wining 42nd Super Bowl for New York Giants.  In five NFL seasons, durable jack-of-all-trades David Diehl has started every game the Giants have played - 85, including playoffs. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 06 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9384/1/Croatias-Sanja-Jovanovic-sets-50m-backstroke-world-record-Dec-15th-2007.html Croatia's Sanja Jovanovic has set a new world record on her way to winning a short-course swimming race at the European Championships in Hungary. Jovanovic finished the 50-meter backstroke in 26.5 seconds, 0.33 seconds faster than the previous record set by China's Hui Li. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 15 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9371/1/Zoran-Dukiae-Croatian-guitarist-one-of-the-most-prominent-players-of-today.html Zoran Dukiæ won more prizes on international competitions than any other guitarist in the world. He had solo concerts in more than 30 countries on all five continents. He is teaching among others at the Royal Conservatory of Music in The Hague, Hochschule für Musik in Aachen, and at the Escuela Superior de Musica de Barcelona. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9321/1/Toronto-Croatia-wins-Canadian-Soccer-League-championship-series-title-2007.html Toronto Croatia didn't score a goal in the second leg of their Canadian Soccer League championship series with the Serbian White Eagles. It turns out they didn't need one, meaning Croatia's 4-1 victory in Saturday's first leg was enough to give the Mississauga, Ont.-based team the title. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9314/1/Miro-Gavrans-great-international-success-Grand-Prix-in-Russia.html   Miro Gavran's plays have recently been performed in Russia, Austria and Poland with great success. His play "My Wife's Husband", performed under the direction of outstanding Russian artist Alexander Ogarjev, obtained three important prizes, among others the Grand-Prix for the best overall performance. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Tue, 23 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9292/1/President-Mesiae-decorated-the-US-Admiral-Lunney-with-the-Order-of-Trefoil.html The decoration was presented to Lunney at a ceremony in the Croatian Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York on Sept. 26th 2007. Admiral Lunney invested a lot of efforts, time and enthusiasm to find the family of Croat Peter Tomich, who was killed in the attack on Pearl Harbour on 7 December 1941, so as to present them with the Congressional Medal of Honor. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 19 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9304/1/Ace-king-Karlovic-pounds-out-third-title-of-season-in-Stockholm.html Croatian Ivo Karlovic fired 27 aces to lift his third title of the season on a different surface as he won the indoor Stockholm Open. Along with impeccable Roger Federer, Karlovic is the only other play in the ATP to own titles on three contrasting surfaces during the campaign. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 15 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9289/1/Opportunity-for-Croatian-Talent---RechargeIT-Request-for-Investment.html   Earlier this summer, Google.org launched its RechargeIT Initiative to accelerate the adoption of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and vehicle-to-grid technology through technical demonstrations, grant-making, advocacy and investments.   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 05 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9259/1/PYRAMID-on-top-of-the-Pyramid---Monumental-success-of-Croatian-TV.html   The Pyramid is a unique combination of talk show and game show. Europroducciones has already optioned the format for Spain, Italy and Portugal, as has Gestion Avanti Cine Video for French speaking Canada. (photo) Dubravko Merlic and Zeljka Ogresta letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 12 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9247/1/Croatias-Blanka-Vlasic-wins-GOLD-at-the-World-Athletics-Championships-in-Osaka.html   Blanka Vlasic, Croatian high jumper, confirmed her status as the premier athlete in the women's event with an easy victory at the IAAF World Championships in Osaka, Japan. Croatia's Blanka Vlasic has won 12 out of the 13 outdoor competitions she has entered this year 2007. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 03 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9214/1/Zoran-Orliae---Brilliant-book---The-Frames-behind-the-glass---True-Rock-and-Roll.html   Zoran Orlic is a Croatian-born fine arts photographer with a flair for revealing the many moods of rock photography. Orlic's passion for the camera and music has led him to capture rock bands on film for the last seventeen years. Orlic's snapshots have appeared in numerous magazines, newspapers, websites and music packaging. A new star is born. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 14 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9211/1/2-Silver-medals-for-Croatia-at-the-World-University-Games.html Josipa Kusanic (right), and Danijela Grgic won silver in Taekwondo and the 400 meter race respectively at the 24th World University Games in Bangkok, Thailand.   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 13 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9210/1/Martin-Sinkovic-wins-bronze-in-Beijing.html  Martin Sinkovic (left) won a bronze medal at the World Rowing Junior Championships in Beijing, China. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Mon, 13 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9202/1/Josip-Hanj---world-champion-in-stenography-in-Prague.html  Josip Hanj¹ won the title of world champion in stenography (in category shorthand / capturing, mothertongue; seniors), among 44 competitors from nine countries, during the 46th Intersteno Congress held in Prague. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sun, 12 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9183/1/Great-Success-and-almost-Gold-for-Croatian-Mens-Youth-Hanballers-in-Bahrain-2007.html  The crowd at the nearly complete Manama hall felt all ecstatic about the great performances of both youth teams. Danish Casper Ulrich Mortensen with 9 goals to his credit became the match winner. Manuel Strlek and Hrvoje Tojcic scoring 7 goals each made the Croatian side shining. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 04 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9182/1/Croatian-Karla-Fabrio-a--World-Champion-with-world-record-in-Jump-Blue-2007.html   Karla Fabrio, from Zagreb, Croatia establised a new world record in Jump Blue. Karla Fabrio, natjecateljica iz RK "Geronimo" iz Zagreba na natjecanju je postavila novi slu¾beni svjetski rekord u disciplini Jump Blue s rezultatom od 130,10 metara. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 04 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9172/1/Blanka-Vlasic-tops-206-in-Thessaloniki-for-a-new-Croatian-Record.html   Clearly the best athlete of the "Olympic Meeting 2007" held in Thessaloniki, Greece, was Croatia's Blanka Vlasic. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 31 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9171/1/Fantela-and-Marenic-World-Champions.html  Croatian sailors Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic from Zadar have earned the title of world champions in the under 21 World Junior Championships. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 30 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9163/1/Croatian-accordion-players-at--60th-Coupe-Mondiale-Washington-DC.html Hrvatski  harmonika¹i sudjelovat æe na 60. Coupe Mondiale 13.-19. augusta 2007. u Alexandriiji, Washington DC. Za vrijeme odr¾avanja mondijala prof. Vjeri Odak-Jembrih bit æe uruèeno priznanje MERIT AWARD, koje joj dodjeljuje Confederation Internationale des Accordeonistes.  vjera.odak-jembrih@email.t-com.hr (Vjera Odak-Jembrih) Mon, 30 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9159/1/Blanka-Vlasic-wins-again-in-Monte-Carlo-10-victories-in-2007.html  Croatia's best athlete, Blanka Vla¹iæ won her 10th victory of the season! At the Super Grand Prix meet "Herculis 2007" in Monte Carlo, she cleared 2.03 meters for victory. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9148/1/Danijela-Grgic-wins-Gold-at-the-European-Athletics-Junior-Championships-2007.html   Croatian 400m runner Danijela Grgic is making a habit of hitting top form when it matters most  a quality which will put her in good-stead for the future. Danijela wins gold again. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 22 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9147/1/Croatias-Blanka-Vlasic-cleared-205-metres-to-take-victory-in-Madrid-2007.html   Croatia's Blanka Vlasic beat her own leading mark of the year when she cleared 2.05 metres to take victory in the women's high jump at the IAAF Grand Prix in Madrid on Saturday July 21, 2007 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 22 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9090/1/TENNIS-Croatias-Ivan-Ljubicic-wins-the-mens-title-at-the-Ordina-Open-2007.html       letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9089/1/TENNIS-Karlovic-wins-Nottingham-Open-2007.html Ivo Karlovic claimed his second title of the season after coming from a set behind to defeat Arnaud Clement 3-6 6-4 6-4 in the Nottingham Open final. The big-serving Croatian took advantage of an increasingly weary-looking Clement to conclude his preparations for Wimbledon in style.   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9040/1/Croatias-Stipe-Drews-World-Champion---wins-WBA-title-belt.html  Stipe Drews (32-1, 13 KO's) won a unanimous decision in 12 rounds against Silvio Branco (55-9-2, 34 KO's) to claim the light heavyweight title. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9038/1/Klapa-Dipet-wins-first-place-at-festival-for-choral-singing-in-Verona.html Klapa Di¹pet from Zagreb  placed first in the female folk group category at the Concorso Internazionale di canto corale festival in Verona, Italy.   jasna.ja@gmail.com (Dr. Jasna Jancic) Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9022/1/Croatias-Marin-Cilic-wins-Casablanca-Open-April-15th-2007.html   Croatian tennis player Marin Cilic defeated Italian Simone Bolelli in the final to win the Casablanca Open tournament on Sunday April 15th 2007 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 16 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9020/1/Karlovic-blasts-way-to-first-career-ATP-title.html Croatia's Ivo Karlovic (right) powered his way to his first career ATP title on Sunday, using his big serve to capture the U.S. Clay Court Championship with a 6-4 6-1 victory over Mariano Zabaleta.  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 16 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9015/1/Croatia-wins-water-polo-gold-in-Melbourne-2007.html   Croatia made their first water polo medal in FINA world championship history a golden one, pulling off an upset overtime defeat of Hungary on a dramatic final day of the tournament in Melbourne today. Not an April Fools' Day joke. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 01 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9012/1/Croatia-dunks-Serbia-10-7-in-world-water-polo-rowdy-semi-final-in-Melbourne-2007.html   Miho Boskovic scored three goals Teo Dogas had two as Croatia dominated the Serbs, leading by as much as 8-3 heading into the final quarter. "We don't have a weak position in our team - we have strong defenders, strong shooters, strong center forwards, strong goalkeepers," said Croatia coach Radko Rudic. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 30 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8986/1/Nenad-Bachs-music-helps-new-film-quotRandom-Lunacyquot-score-another-award.html     HmTmProd@aol.com (Vic Zimet & Stephanie Silber) Mon, 12 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8974/1/Marija-Grgurevic-a-Croatian-model-on-the-cover-of-Time-Magazin.html     letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 07 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8961/1/Dubravka-Oraiae-Toliae---Croatian-Literature-Wins-Top-Translation-Prize.html Dubravka Oraiæ Toliæ goes beyond playing with language and textual contexts. Although reality and notions of home, country, people, nation, and life permeate her poetry, the thematic weight does not rest on the semantic deconstruction of concrete geographical-historical localities...   tchapek@pdx.edu (Terra Chapek) Fri, 23 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8956/1/Vjera-Odak-Jembrih-Receives-Teaching-Merit-Award.html Ms Vjera Odak, a teacher at the Elly Basic school of music, was chosen among 117 candidates from all around the world to receive the most significant award for classical accordion teachers - the CIA Merit Award.   nikola.mihaljevic@unimedia.hr (Nikola Mihaljevic) Wed, 21 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8905/1/Amateur-Radio-Club-Koprivnica-Celebrates-60-Years.html    stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Thu, 18 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8898/1/Kastav-Croatia-on-the-World-map-thanks-to-Darko-Ivaneiae--ELCON----KEZIA-formed.html One of the most demanding businesses that ELCON Marine carried out was equipping the largest cruise ship in the world, Queen Mary II with the "heart" of  AV systems - audiovisual racks for local entertainment for the entire cruise ship. Numerous awards and acknowledgments followed.   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 15 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8892/1/Ljubicic-beats-Murray-to-win-Qatar-Open-title.html Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia (right) beat Andy Murray of Britain 6-4 and 6-4 to take home the trophy from the one million U.S. dollars Qatar Open tennis tournament on Saturday.    letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 10 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8872/1/Admiral-Lunney-continues-with-Peter-Tomichs-story-in-The-American-Legion.html   2.5 million copies sold. Story about Croatian American hero Peter Tomich. Thank you Admiral Lunney and The American Legion. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 17 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8865/1/Reclaiming-the-lost-harmony-of-the-world-CROWN-goes-behind-Golden-Karma-Awards-with-winner-Dino-Zonic.html Reclaiming the lost harmony of the world is our mission . We are presenting gala concerts worldwide, celebrating the spirit of life, which will symbolize a unique, magnificent and unifying message for the world. Music is our deepest connection and most powerful tool of unity and peace among all people. It gives a voice to our deepest sorrows while opening our hearts to forgiveness. www.UnityThroughMusic.org   edzonic@yahoo.com (Dino Zoniæ) Sun, 10 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8861/1/Edin-Dino-Zonic-winner-of-Golden-Karma-National-Awards-2006.html Edin Dino Zonic winner of Golden Karma National Awards 2006. Unity Through Music a nonprofit organization founded by Maestro Dino Zonic. As Composer, Conductor and Cultural Ambassador, Maestro Zonic is dedicated to continuing the expansion of peace and unity through music, music that bridges cultural, national and religious barriers to bring the universal message of peace.   jeep77@prodigy.net (Peggy Jurecic Jasina) Fri, 08 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8858/1/Pasionska-batina-u-Hrvatskoj.html UDRUGA PASIONSKA BA©TINA I DRU©TVO HRVATSKIH KNJI®EVNIKA raspisuju natjeèaj za knji¾evno djelo na temu Muke Kristove, ili na temu, ¹iroko shvaæene, opæeljudske muke. U ozbir dolaze do sada ne objavljena knji¾evna djela, i to: roman, veæa pripovijetka, drama, poema, te zbirka stihova.   darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Thu, 07 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8854/1/Priv-Doz-Dr-med-Natalija-Novak-Winner-of-2006-Heisenberg-Fellowship-of-the-German-Research-Council.html 2003: Fujisawa Young Investigator Award on Achievments in the Field of Atopic Dermatitis Research2004: Karl Hansen Award DGAKI 2004 2005. Heinz Maier Leibnitz Award 2005 of the German Research Council 2005. Award on Atopic Dermatitis Research (Pro Derma Foundation) 2006: Heisenberg-Fellowship of the German Research Council   marianne.novak@hotmail.de (Marianne Novak) Tue, 05 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8853/1/Tomislav-Kuzmanoviae-Esq---Croatian-Rising-Star---8220Super-Lawyer8221-for-the-second-time.html   In November 2006, Mr. Kuzmanovic was named for the secondtime a "Super Lawyer" in the area of Business Litigation byWisconsin Super Lawyers and Rising Stars 2006 magazine. Inaddition, he was profiled as the subject of "A Small Part to Play,"an article in Super Lawyers describing his litigation practice andhis human rights work on behalf of independent Croatia. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 05 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8824/1/Adolph-Lomb-Medal-2005-Marin-Soljacic.html   Adolph Lomb was OSA's treasurer from its founding until his death in 1932. In recognition of his devotion to OSA and the advancement of optics, the Adolph Lomb Medal, established in 1940, is presented to a person who has made a noteworthy contribution to optics at an early age. The candidate cannot be older than the age of 35. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 18 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8777/1/Australia-Croatia-win-reserves-league.html Croatia reserves came out league winners when they defeated Lions this weekend with Westlands coming third after a convincing win over Wanderers.   dalmatinac99@vip.hr (Ante Katalinic) Mon, 06 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8787/1/Croatian-Handball-Team-Wins-Statoil-World-Cup.html   violicalvert@optusnet.com.au (Violi Calvert) Sat, 04 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8768/1/Mario-Ancic-triumphs-in-St-Petersburg.html Croatia's Mario Ancic holds his trophy after defeating Sweden's Thomas Johansson in the final match at the St.Petersburg Open tennis tournament in St.Petersburg, October 29, 2006.   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 29 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8756/1/A-brand-new-product-for-toothcare-toothbrushing-tablets-DENTAMETE.html BRONZE MEDAL FOR "DENTAMETE" ON ZAGREB AUTUMN TRADE FAIR 2006. I would like to introduce a brand new product for toothcare, toothbrushing tablets DENTAMETE. Dentamete are microbiologically and chemically tested and approved by Croatian public health institute. dentamete@vip.hr (Goran Nikola¹eviæ) Sun, 22 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8752/1/OSJEEANKE-ODNIJELE-ZLATO-I-DVA-SREBRA-SA-EUROPSKOG-PRVENSTVA-MAORETKINJA-U-VICENZI-ITALIJA.html OSJEÈKE MA®ORETKINJE ODNIJELE ZLATO I DVA SREBRA SA EUROPSKOG PRVENSTVA MA®ORETKINJA U VICENZI, ITALIJA Europsko prvenstvo ma¾oretkinja 2006. odr¾ano je u Vincenzi, Italija, od 01. do 03. rujna 2006. godine. Na prvenstvu je nastupilo oko 1200 ma¾oretkinja u 39 timova, iz 12 dr¾ava.   dentamete@vip.hr (Goran Nikola¹eviæ) Sat, 21 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8769/1/Ivan-Ljubicic-of-Croatia-lifts-the-trophy-after-winning-his-Vienna-Open-2006.html   Ljubicic wins Vienna title. The lanky Croatian, who added to his championships in Chennai and Zagreb, is the first player since Roger Federer in 2002 and 2003 to successfully defend the title "It's great to (successfully) defend a title. It's the first time in my life," said Ljubicic. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 16 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8694/1/Mirko-quotCro-Copquot-Filipovic-wins-PRIDE-Open-Weight-Grand-Prix.html   On Sunday, September 10, 2006 Heavyweight Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic defeated two top-ranked opponents in one night to be crowned victor in PRIDE FC's Open Weight Grand Prix.   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 12 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8600/1/E-Silver-went-to-Croatias-Duje-Draganja-at-the-European-Aquatic-Championships.html      Duje Draganja of Croatia is seen from underwater as he swims in the heats of the men's 50 m freestyle event at the European Aquatic Championships in Budapest August 5, 2006. Sergiy Breus, the European record holder from Ukraine, retained the 50m butterfly titles in a championship record of 23.41, just 0.03sec outside his best. Silver went to Croatia's Duje Draganja, on 23.62, with Jakob Andkjaer taking Denmark's first medal in the event, with 23.77 for third. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 07 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8515/1/-H-Ivan-Dikic-dobitnik-godisnje-nagrade-za-biomedicinu-Zaklade-GlaxoSmithKline.html Ivan Diki dobitnik godisnje nagrade za biomedicinu Zaklade GlaxoSmithKline   11 srpnja 2006 Hrvatski lije nik i znanstvenik prof. Ivan Diki dobitnik je ovogodisnje nagrade Zaklade za bio nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 11 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8514/1/E-Vlasic-leaps-203m-to-equal-world-season-lead.html Vlasic leaps 2.03m to equal world season lead Sunday 2 July 2006 Somosko, Hungary - The 20th international High Jump meeting which was staged in the square of this Hungarian town on Saturday night (01), was re-christened this year as the “Istvan Gyulai Memorial Competition”, paying respect to the late General Secretary of the IAAF, Istvan Gyulai ( nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 11 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8516/1/H-Ivan-Dikic-znanstvenik-godine-Europskog-udruzenja-za-istrazivanje-tumora.html Ivan Dikic znanstvenik godine Europskog udruzenja za istrazivanje tumora   Croatian researcher Ivan Dikic [EACR] Press Release: 03.07.2006 Ivan Dikic proglasen znanstvenikom godine Europskog udruzenja za istrazivanje tumora Prof. Ivan Dikic dobitnik je nagrade Europskog udruzenja za istrazivanje tumora (EACR) za istrazivaca 2006. godine. Nagrada mu je urucena na danasnjoj svecanoj ceremoniji tijekom EACR kongresa u Budimpesti. Prof. Dikic (40) nagraDen je za predani rad na otkrivanju poremecaja u prijenosu signala unutar stanice koji dovode do razvoja tumorskih oboljenja. Ovo je prvi put da je ova prestizna znanstvena nagrada dodijeljena jednom hrvatskom znanstveniku. Prof. Dikic novcani iznos nagrade donirao je za pomoc djeci oboljeloj od tumora i djeci s teskocama u razvoju u Hrvatskoj. http://www.croatianworld.net/Letters/Dikic_EACR_Press_HR.doc Dodatne informacije: http://www.eacr.org/ http://molsig.biochem2.de Ivan.Dikic@biochem2.de   Related article: http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/roundup/2006/07/10/roundup-03 nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 10 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8513/1/E-Croatias-Dikic-wins-cancer-research-award.html Science and Technology: Croatia's Dikic wins cancer research award   10/07/2006 Ivan Dikic is the winner of this year's Young Cancer Researcher Award, given by the European Association of Cancer Research. Also in science and tec nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 10 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8517/1/H-Odlikovanje-Nikola-Tesla-Prof-Dr-Davoru-Pavuna.html Odlikovanje 'Nikola Tesla' Prof. Dr. Davoru Pavuna     Sutra u srijedu 5. srpnja u 11h Predsjednik Republike Hrvatske ce uruciti odlikovanje 'Red Danice Hrvatske s likom Nikole Tesle' Prof. Dr. sc. Davoru Pavuna :za brojne inovacije i radove u podrucju ultrabrzo-kaljenih slitina i tankih elektronskih filmova, te za doprinose hrvatskoj medjunarodnoj znanstveno-tehnoloskoj suradnji. Davor Pavuna je profesor fizike i ravnatelj Laboratorija za fiziku funckionalne materije na Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne u Svicarskoj :http://ipmc.epfl.ch/page31440.html   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 04 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8512/1/E-Dva-hrvatska-branda-medju-najboljih-100---Boris-Ljubicic-opet-na-djelu.html Dva Hrvatska branda medju najboljih 100   Logo Hrvatske turisticke zajednice je 15. svibnja 2006. u Providence-u, SAD proglasena jednim od 10 pobjednika nagrade ReBrand 100 za 2006. godinu. Usporednim prikazom starog i novog Logo-a hrvatskog turizma medjunarodni ziri je odlucio nagraditi nas novi logo. Ovo je veliko priznanje hrvatskom brandu i turistickoj bransi kojom se hrvatska promovira u svijetu. ReBrand 100 se dodjeljuje stotini najdinamicnijih i najuspjesnije preoblikovanih (rebrendiranih) logo-a sa svih strana svijeta. Kriteriji prema kojima su izabrani pobjednici najboljih preoblikovanja logotipova su cista i jasna transformacija za poboljsanje strategijske objektivnosti, nadmasena ocekivanja i/ili uklopljen element iznenadjenja, naziranje emotivne veze sa ciljanom publikom i sposobnost za sire prepoznavanje i ostvarenje.     Novi logo Hrvatske turisticke zajednice dizajnera Borisa Ljubicica donio je svjezinu i prepoznatljivost Hrvatske na turistickom trzistu. Buduci je Hrvatska zemlja tisucu otoka i blistavog plavog mora, prostranih zitnih polja i gustih suma, logom Hrvatske turisticke zajednice ispreplicu se plava boja kao simbol mora, zuta kao simbol zita i zelena kao simbol suma a kao najvazniji detalj dva kvadrata (crveni i plavi) koji predstavljaju vizualni kod Republike Hrvatske. Posebnost rijesenja logoa je i njegova prevodivost na sve jezike svijeta, jer je autor oblikovao posebnu tipografiju kojom se naziv Hrvatska ispisuje s obvezna dva kvadrata i slovom "A" u onom plavom kao inicijal od Adriatic Sea (zapravo hrvatskog mora). Nagrada ReBrand 100 je jos jedna u nizu uspjeha ostvarenih suradnjom Hrvatske turisticke zajednice i dizajnera Borisa Ljubicica.       Hrvatska radiotelevizija ciji logo HRT ima dva crvena kvadrata na slovu T je rebrendirana tako da su slova objedinjena u cijelinu i da svako slovo ima jednu bocnu okomitu liniju koja ga vremenski odredjuje: slovo H naravno ima najduzu liniju, slovo R nesto kracu (upravo slavi 80 godina) i slovo T najkacu ( postoji vec 50 godina). Osnovna ideja sa dva crvena kvadrata koji odredjuju vizualni kod Hrvatske su nepromijenjana. Rebrendirani HRT kao i turizam su svijetski reprezenti uspjesnog rebrendiranja.     Zanimljivo je da je isti autor oblikovao i prva rijesenja i njihov redizajn. Zakljucak: radi se o sigurnim standardima koji jasno i nedvojbeno predstacvljaju Republiku Hrvatsku u svijetu i doma i svojim uzorom mogu biti naputak za uspjesnost hrvatskog branda, pa cak i njegova definicija. Linkovi: www.rebrand.com  winers www.rebrand100.com/page.php/id/361  Croatian National Tourist Board .   contact Boris Ljubicic: boris@studio-international.com   www.studio-international.com nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 14 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8511/1/E-Beyond-The-Call-won-the-Grand-Jury-Prize-at-the-Mountain-Film-Festival.html Beyond The Call won the Grand Jury Prize at the Mountain Film Festival 'Beyond the Call is an extremely inspiring film that is also hilarious, exciting and heartwrenching.'   We had an amazing world premier at the Tribeca film festival and screened at the San Francisco International film festival. The film recently won the Grand Jury Prize at the Mountain Film Festival in Telluride, Colorado. I am off to Maui (Hawaii) Film Festival screening the film next week. Here is a review and quote about the film: Tribeca Review: Beyond the Call Another good title for Beyond the Call would be The Santa Claus 3, if only it didn't sound too similar to a very different movie scheduled for release later this year. Nonetheless, Beyond the Call is a perfeclty fine name for Adrian Belic's extraordinary documentary about three old men -- occasionally with white beards -- traveling the world with presents. Unlike Santa, they don't travel just once a year and they don't cover all of the earth in one mission. Also, instead of toys, they give out food, medical supplies, clothing and blankets. Sometimes, though, they bring something like a solar-powered oven, which certainly looks like a big toy. Meet Ed Artis, Jim Laws and Walt Ratterman, aka Knightsbridge, a three-man humanitarian organization that provides aid to needy people, one impoverished country at a time. In the Tribeca Film Festival guide, the film's synopsis describes them as "part Mother Teresa and part Indiana Jones," which earned a few rolled eyes from the Cinematical staff at first. Well, wouldn't you know their interpretation is spot-on? Sure, they don't recover artifacts or fight Nazis, but their role is just as much adventurous as it is altruistic. One of the big questions that went through my head first was, "Where does the money come from?" Some of the materials are donated, and the guys receive an 80-90% discount on medical supplies, but the expense of each trip appears to be high; at one point they pay for truckloads of food out of a pouch filled with wads of $100-bills. Later they hand $2,000 cash to an Afghan school that can't pay its teachers. The documentary isn't completely clear about how this cardiologist, construction company owner, and retired mortgage banker can work so rarely at home and devote so much time and money abroad, except to point out that while others are saving up for a boat or for retirement, they save up for the next mission. It is probably that simple, and of course, it doesn't really matter how they're able to do it -- they do it. Beyond the Call shows them doing it throughout Afghanistan, where they planned to go even before 9/11; in the southern Philippines, where they help the U.S. military acquire medical equiptment for cheap; it shows them trying to do it on the Burmese border of Thailand. They claim to have no fear of death, because, as Artis puts it, a spreadsheet of his life comes out far more positive than negative. Artis admits one fear, however: being kidnapped; the idea of someone telling his wife, "We've got him," is the worst-case scenario he can think of. Although Knightsbridge travels through a lot of dangerous territory, Belic doesn't capture anything too intense (see Shadow of Afghanistan for that kind of film), which is okay. It is hard enough viewing the people already affected by war and poverty. Beyond the Call is an extremely inspiring film that is also hilarious, exciting and heartwrenching. Not only are the three men unbelievably good willed, they are enjoyable characters filled with loveable quirks and wonderful stories to tell. I'd say someone should give them a reality show -- the film will leave you craving more -- except I respect that this is probably all the attention they could want or need. http://www.cinematical.com/2006/04/21/tribeca-review-beyond-the-call/ "This year there are a handful of films that I want to cite simply because they embody, in one way or another, something of the spirit that gave birth to the Tribeca Film Festival... [Films] about people who know that what they do as individuals can make a difference in the world: Beyond the Call." - Peter Scarlet, Executive Director, Tribeca Film Festival Looking forward to our paths crossing sometime this year. Thank you, Adrian Belic Filmmaker (415) 716-0660 mobile Op-ed We are proud of your extraordinary talent and can only imagine sacrifice that accompanies your missions. Just to remind other people who do not connect the dots. Belic brothers made Ghengis Blues a documentary that was nominated for an Oscar. I saw it in Dubrovnik and the film was simply amazing. My warmest recommendations for the film www.genghisblues.com  as well. Nenad nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 14 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8510/1/H-Design-Ambalaze-Hrvatske-Tvrtke-Ulola-Nagradjen-u-SAD.html Design Ambalaze Hrvatske Tvrtke Ulola Nagradjen u SAD Hrvatska - Ulola - nagrada - SAD - design - sapuni www.ulola.com  (Moja preporuka za pogledati. Website je izuzetan. My recommendation for you to see this website. Outstanding design. Nenad Bach) Zagreb (ots) - Na medjunarodnom natjecanju za design - The 2006 Summit Creative Awards (SAD) design ambalaze tvrtke Ulola iz Zagreba osvojio je nagradu "Silver Award". Nagrada je dodijeljena u kategoriji "Packaging--Series or Campaign" za ambalazu Ulola prirodnih sapuna i kupki.. Nagradjeni design rad je agencije Elevator iz Splita. The Summit Creative Awards dodjeljuje priznanje za izvanredna dostignuca marketinÅ¡kih tvrtki, reklamnih agencija, tvrtki video-produkcije i multimedija te ostalih kreativnih studija s godiÅ¡njim prometom do 25 miljuna USD. Kao takav predstavlja jedinstvenu priliku za takav tip tvrtki da se natjece na globalnom nivou. Radovi u 13 kategorija su ocjenjivani prema najstrozim kriterijima na bazi inovativnosti i kreativnosti koncepta, kvaliteti izvedbe te uspjeÅ¡nosti u komuniciranju ideje. Ulola je proizvodjac prirodne kozmetike sa sjediÅ¡tem u Zagrebu. Osim atraktivnog designa nagradjena ambalaza karakteristicna je i po inovativnosti. Zbog potpuno prirodnih sastojaka proizvodi su pakirani u hermeticki zatvorenu ambalazu prehrambene kvalitete koja garantira mnogo bolje ocuvanje prirodnih svojstava. Proizvodi Ulola dostupni su u lancima drogerija DM i Kozmo. ViÅ¡e informacija o proizvodima Ulola mozete vidjeti na web-adresi http://www.ulola.com  OvogodiÅ¡nje natjecanje zaprimilo je oko 4000 radova iz 50 zemalja ukljucujuci Australiju, Austriju, Kanadu, Dansku, Indiju, Italiju, Kuvajt, Meksiko, Nepal, Novi Zeland, Rusiju, Singapur, Juznu Afriku, Nizozemsku, Ukrajinu, Ujedinjene Arapske Emirate, Veliku Britaniju, Sjedinjene Americke Drzave i Hrvatsku. Nagrade pobjednicima su dodijeljene u kategorijama: print, broadcast, online advertising, multimedia, printed material, direct mail, sales promotion, political, corporate video, public service, best idea never produced i self-promotion. ViÅ¡e informacija o Summit Creative Awards-u moze se naci na Summit Awards web siteu na www.summitawards.com. NAPOMENA O IZVORU: Sapio - ULOLA Josipa Vogrinca 18 10 000 Zagreb Tel/Fax: 01 / 3833 193 web: www.ulola.com  , web: www.sapio.hr Marijan Tomljanovic e-mail: info@ulola.com  mobi: 091 8895303 Jocelyn Luciano - Executive Director Summit Creative Awards tel: ++1 (503) 297-9979 e-mail: JocelynLuciano@summitawards.com web: www.summitawards.com  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 14 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8509/1/E-Blanka-Vlasic-of-Croatia-wins-Golden-Spike-with-a-jump-of-200-meters.html Blanka Vlasic of Croatia wins Golden Spike with a jump of 2.00 meters   Blanka Vlasic of Croatia clears the bar to win the women's high jump at the Golden Spike athletic event in Ostrava, Czech Republic, Tuesday evening, May 30, 2006. (AP Photo/CTK, Dan Krzywon)   Croatia's Blanka Vlasic reacts during the women's high jump final at the Golden Spike IAAF World Athletics Tour Meeting in the north Moravian town of Ostrava, Czech Republic May 30, 2006. Vlasic won with a jump of 2.00 meters. REUTERS/David W Cerny nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 30 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8508/1/E-Croatia-storm-to-World-Team-title.html Croatia storm to World Team title   Saturday, May 27, 2006; Posted: 10:01 a.m. EDT (14:01 GMT) Stand-in Karlovic's win in the first singles proved vital for Croatia. DUSSELDORF, Germany -- Croatia dominated the hosts Germany 2-0 to win the 1.85 million euro (2.36 million dollar) ATP World Team Championship for the first time in their history on Saturday in Dusseldorf. Croatia added the team trophy to the Davis Cup they won last year after crushing holders Germany in a one-sided final. Singles victory for the giant Ivo Karlovic and tournament star Ivan Ljubicic sealed the victory. Karlovic, coming in for the injured Mario Ancic, defeated Alexander Waske 7-6 6-4 in the opening singles rubber. Nicolas Kiefer then had the task of keeping his country in the match but came up well short against Ljubicic. The 26-year-old Croat, ranked fourth in the world, hardly broke a sweat winning 6-4 6-4 to clinch the crown. The win meant the ensuing doubles match was irrelevant. The win will certainly boost Ljubicic ahead of his French Open bid at Roland Garros, which begins on Monday. http://www.cnn.com/2006/SPORT/05/27/tennis.team/index.html?section=cnn_latest Croatia clinch World Team title Karlovic won the opening singles rubber in straight sets Croatia beat defending champions and hosts Germany 2-0 to seal the ATP World Team Championship for the first time in Duesseldorf on Saturday. Ivo Karlovic, deputising for the injured Mario Ancic, defeated Alexander Waske 7-6 6-4 in the first singles. And Ivan Ljubicic eased past Germany's Nicolas Kiefer 6-4 6-4 in the second rubber to ensure the win. It was Croatia's first appearance in the final since 1985 when they reached that stage for the first time. Waske, who was also a last-minute replacement for Michael Kohlschreiber, was always in contention but was unable to gain the upper hand against Karlovic. Waske led 3-0 after breaking in the second game of the second set before Karlovic broke back in the fifth game. A superb backhand return that landed just inside the line earned him a second and decisive break for 4-3. Kiefer looked a little flat against Ljubicic, who played a steady match but rarely had to lift himself above the ordinary. A break for 2-1 in each set was enough to secure victory. Kiefer netted a backhand at 1-1 in the first set, and Ljubicic struck a cross-court winner on his fourth break point at 1-1 in the second. Kiefer earned just one break point in the match, and it came at a crucial stage with Ljubicic leading 4-3 in the second set. Ljubicic saved that with a forehand volley and went on to serve out the match. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/5023546.stm nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 27 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/4273/1/E-Admiral-Henry-Ulrich-III-awards-the-Congressional-Medal-of-Honor-to-Srecko-Herzeg.html  Croatian World War Two hero Peter Tomichposthumously receives the Congressional Medal of Honor    Admiral Henry Ulrich III, Commander of US Naval Forces Europe, awards the Congressional Medal of Honor to Srecko Herzeg (R), a descendant of World War Two hero Peter Tomich, on the USS Enterprise, in Split, Croatia, May 18, 2006. Chief Watertender Peter Tomich, a Croatian immigrant to the U.S., was awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt for his outstanding courage in Pearl Harbor when he remained at his post onboard USS Utah when it was attacked in 1951 until he saw all the boilers were secured and all personnel had left their stations, and lost his own life. U.S. authorities had troubles locating his next of kin. REUTERS/Matko Biljak Reuters - May 18 10:56 AMSrecko Herzeg, a descendant of WW2 hero Peter Tomich, displays the medal at a Medal of Honor ceremony, Split, Croatia, Thursday May 18, 2006. Chief Watertender Peter Tomich, a Croatian immigrant to the U.S., was awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor by President Franklin D. Roosevelt for his outstanding courage in Pearl Harbor when he remained at his post onboard USS Utah when it was attacked in 1951 until he saw all the boilers were secured and all personel had left their stations, and lost his own life. U.S. authorities had troubles locating his next of kin. Herzeg accepted the medal on Tomich's behalf from Adm. Harry Ulrich III, Commander of the U.S. Naval Forces Europe, aboard the USS Enterprise. (AP Photo/Bozidar Vukicevic) AP - May 18 9:39 AM  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 18 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/4269/1/E-Medal-of-Honor-on-USS-Enterprise-during-port-call-in-Croatia.html  Spotlight on USS Enterprise during port call in CroatiaBy Sandra Jontz, Stars and StripesEuropean edition, Friday, May 19, 2006SPLIT, Croatia - It's one heck of a first port call for the sailors and Marines of the USS Enterprise, which is transiting the world's oceans, including a combat zone, over the next five months.Early Wednesday, the mammoth aircraft carrier pulled in to the resort town of Split on the Croatian coast and gave the crew a chance to look around.'This is amazing,' Marine Cpl. Joshua Cline said after returning to the carrier from a tour of the town. Although he was on a liberty patrol, making sure all went well as the sailors and Marines descended on Split, he and others visited various eateries and shopping spots in town.'I wanted to eat the local food, but we ended up getting pizza,' said Petty Officer 3rd Class Mathew Selph, 22. 'But it was goooood pizza.'Commissioned in 1961, the Enterprise is the Navy's oldest nuclear-powered carrier. It left its home port of Norfolk, Va., on May 2 on a six-month deployment with nearly 6,000 sailors and Marines and 60 aircraft aboard.Split is the first of about a dozen planned liberty calls.On Thursday, the carrier's crew hosts a much-anticipated ceremony in which the Navy will present, after 64 years in limbo, the nation's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, to a distant relative of a World War II sailor who perished during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.Lt. Col. Srecko Herceg Tonic will accept the decoration on behalf of his relative, Chief Watertender Peter Tomich, who was killed while manning the USS Utah.Croatia's Minister of Defense Berislav Roncevic visited the carrier Wednesday afternoon, touring the hangar bays, the flight deck and getting tutorials from Rear Adm. Ray Spicer, the carrier strike group's commanding officer, and Capt. Larry Rice, the ship's skipper.During their two-plus days in Split, crewmembers will be doing more than shopping and dining. The carrier and a Croatian ship exchanged 69 of each other's sailors for several hours Thursday to learn how the other carries out its respective jobs.On Friday, sailors and Marines will partake in two community relations projects in which they will refurbish the Jurabonci home for mentally handicapped children and the Marjan city park, said Chief Petty Officer Will Borrall, a ship spokesman.And the Americans will take on the Croatians in rugby, basketball and soccer matches for which the troops have equal amounts excitement and trepidation, Borrall joked. They know Enterprise players likely won't come home victorious, especially in soccer.The Enterprise's arrival made headlines, and while on a boat ferrying sailors and Marines between Split's pier and the carrier anchored a few miles off the coastline, Airmen Hillario Arreola and Joshua Dandrea watched Croatian news coverage of their visit.'It's pretty weird,' said Arreola, 20.'Yeah, we just don't think it's that big of a thing,' added Dandrea, also 20. 'I guess we're used to us.'http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=37297 nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 18 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/4271/1/E-US-Vice-President-and-the-Medal-of-Honor-for-Croatian.html  American Vice President Cheney plans to award the Peter Tomich Medal of Honor to his next of kin during his visit to Croatia this month May 2006.   TOMICH, PETER Medal of HonorTHE PETER TOMICH UNCLAIMED MEDAL OF HONORorPeter Tonic-Tomic-HercegBy Adam S. EterovichThere are only two Medals of Honor in American history that are not claimed because a next-of-kin could not be found, one in the Indian Wars and Peter Tomich at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941. He died a hero on the battleship Utah.His next-of-kin, John Tomich in Los Angeles, could not be found and the Navy dropped the matter as his records simply stated born in Prolog, Austria. So, for 60 years the Navy, Medal of Honor Society and the Croatian community did nothing thru no fault of their own.Approximately 15 years ago (1985) I asked a journalist, Vjekoslav Krsnik, from Split, Croatia to visit Mali and Veli Prolog in Dalmatia and Prolog in Hercegovina and ask for the names Tonic and Tomic and since these were small places , we should turn up something. To our surprise no Tonic-Tomic originated in Mali or Veli Prolog, but at Prolog in Hercegovina Vjekoslav found that Tonic was the Clan Name for Herceg. We had found our hero, his birthplace and his Croatian nationality. We obtained birth and other records from Prolog which were extremely useful.Admiral J. Robert Lunney of New York has probably contributed more than anyone in his help, cooperation and labor to present to the proper Naval authorities adequate proof that we do have a next-of-kin. Last year he traveled to Prolog to view the original Church and Civil records. His first submission to the Navy was rejected and since then a second Legal Brief has been filed. We also wish to thank my good friend Don Chvarak, a Croatian American War Veteran, of Texas, Admiral Robert A. Rosen, Senators Robert G. Torricelli and Max Cleland. Also special thanks to Mato Herceg here in California and a Vietnam Veteran, a native of Prolog, who updated and uncovered new documentation and president Bernard Luketich of the Croatian Fraternal Union for graciously publishing material on Peter Tomich in the Zajednicar. The Navy is confused because of “Prolog, Austria”; Tonich changed to Tomich, then being advised that the name is really Herceg and that he is a Croatian from Hercegovina that had been Turkey in his father’s lifetime. It does get confusing.We are pleased to report to have found a direct relative of the next-of-kin, now deceased, his grandson, Srecko Herceg a Lt. Col. in the Croatian Army living in Split, Dalmatia. He received five medals for valor in battle against Serbian forces in the late war in Croatia. We also have a relative, Mato Herceg, living in California. Now we have two heroes, it must in their blood...Hercegovci are known for their stubborness, loyalty, honor and as superior warriors against all odds. Peter Tomich-Herceg beat the Japanese in the Pacific and Srecko Herceg beat the Serbs in Croatia and Hercegovina. We do hope to have Srecko Herceg brought to America or Mato Herceg to receive the Medal from the President of the United States.I would like this Medal to be deposited at the Croatian Fraternal Union Museum in Pittsburgh.TOMICH, PETER Peter Tonich was born in Prolog, Austria, on June 3. 1893. He enlisted in U. S. Army at Fort Solcum, New York, on June 6, 1917, and served with the 12ti- Company, 3rd Training Battalion, 154th Depot Brigade, Camp Greene, North Carolina, and also with Company L, 47th Infantry, Camp Greene, North Carolina. He was honorably discharged January l3, 1919.Tonich was naturalized at Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, on October 10, 1918. He enlisted in the U. S. Navy at Newark, New Jersey, on January 23, 1919, at which time his name was recorded as Tonich. Later he used the name Tomich in signing official papers. Tonich (Tomich) served continuously in the Navy from the time of his enlistment and was advanced through the enlisted ratings to that of Chief Watertender on June 4, 1930.Tonich (Tomich) was serving aboard the USS UTAH at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked the Fleet on December 7, 1941, and was killed in that action. For his heroism on this historic occasion he was awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously, by the President of the United States, with the following citation:Medal of Honor"For distinguished conduct in line of his profession and extraordinary courace and disregard of his own safety during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, by the Japanese forces on December 7, 1941. Although realizing that the ship was capsizing, as a result of enemy bombing and torpedoing, he remained at his post in the engineering plant of the USS UTAH, until he saw that all boilers were secured.and all fireroom personnel had left their stations, and by so doing he lost his own life."He was also awarded the Purple Heart Medal, posthumously.In addition to the Medal of Honor and the Purple Heart Medal, Tonich (Tomich) was entitled to the American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp, the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.A Destroyer Escort vessel, the USS TOMICH, DE-242, was named in his honor.OTHER MEDALS OF HONOR:BUCHA, PAUL WILLIAMRank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, Company D, 3d Battalion. 187th Infantry, 3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Place and date: Near Phuoc Vinh, Binh Duong Province, Republic of Vietnam, 16-19 March 1968. Entered service at., U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. Born: I August 1943, Washington, D.C. Citation, For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Capt. Bucha distinguished himself while serving as commanding officer, Company D, on a reconnaissance-in force mission against enemy forces near Phuoc Vinh, The company was inserted by helicopter into the suspected enemy stronghold to locate and destroy the enemy, During this period Capt. Bucha aggressively and courageously led his men in the destruction of enemy fortifications and base areas and eliminated scattered resistance impeding the advance of the company. On 18 March while advancing to contact, the lead elements of the company became engaged by the heavy automatic weapon, heavy machinegun, rocket propelled grenade, claymore mine and small-arms fire of an estimated battalion-size force. Capt. Bucha, with complete disregard for his safety, moved to the threatened area to direct the defense and ordered reinforcements to the aid of the lead element. Seeing that his men were pinned down by heavy machinegun fire from a concealed bunker located some 40 meters to the front of the positions, Capt. Bucha crawled through the hail of fire to singlehandedly destroy the bunker with grenades.During this heroic action Capt. Bucha received a painful shrapnel wound. Returning to the perimeter, he observed that his unit could not hold its positions and repel the human wave assaults launched by the determined enemy. Capt. Bucha ordered the withdrawal of the unit elements and covered the withdrawal to positions of a company perimeter from which he could direct fire upon the charging enemy. When friendly element retrieving casualties was ambushed and cut off from the perimeter, Capt. Bucha ordered them to feign death and he directed artillery fire around them. During the night Capt. Bucha moved throughout the position, distributing ammunition, providing encouragement and insuring the integrity of the defense. He directed artillery, gunship and Air Force gunship fire on the enemy strong points and attacking forces, marking the positions with smokegrenades. Using flashlights in complete view of enemy snipers, he directed the medical evacuation of 3 air-ambulance loads of seriously wounded personnel and the helicopter supply of his company. At daybreak Capt. Bucha led a rescue party to recover the dead and wounded members of the ambushed element. During the period of intensive combat, Capt. Bucha, by his extraordinary heroism, inspirational example, outstanding leadership and professional competence, led his company in the decimation of a superior enemy force which left 156 dead on the battlefield. His bravery and gallantry at the risk of his life are in the highest traditions of the military service, Capt. Bucha has reflected great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.The original name of Capt. Bucha was Buha. His people came from Slavonia in Croatia. He is now the President of the Medal of Honor Society in America.CUKELA, LOUIS (Army Medal)Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, 66th Company 5th Regiment. Place and date: Near Villers-Cotterets, France, 18 July 1918. Entered service at: Minneapolis, Minn. Born: I May 1888, Sebenes, Austria. G,O. No.: 34, W.D., 1919. (Also received Navy Medal of Honor.) Citation: When his company, advancing through a wood, met with strong resistance from an enemy strong point, Sgt. Cukela crawled out from the flank and made his way toward the German lines in the face of heavy fire, disregarding the warnings of his comrades. He succeeded in getting behind the enemy position and rushed a machinegun emplacement, killing or driving off the crew with his bayonet. With German handgrenades he then bombed out the remaining portion of the strong point, capturing 4 men and 2 damaged machine guns. Sgt. Cukela was born in Sibenik, Dalmatia and the origins of Cukela come from the Island of Solta. My good friend, Ante Jakovcevic, from Solta proved that he is a Croatian Catholic with origins in Solta. He is one of the few that received two Medals of Honor.CUKELA, LOUIS (Navy Medal)Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, 66th Company, 5th Regiment. Born: I May 1888, Sebenes, Austria. Accredited to: Minnesota. (Also received Army Medal of Honor.) Citation: For extraordi nary heroism while serving with the 66th Company, 5th Regiment, dur ing action in the Forest de Retz, near Viller-Cottertes, France, 18 July 1918. Sgt. Cukela advanced alone against an enemy strong point that was holding up his line. Disregarding the warnings of his comrades, he crawled out from the flank in the face of heavy fire and worked his way to the rear of the enemy position. Rushing a machinegun emplacement, he killed or drove off the crew with his bayonet, bombed out the remaining part of the strong point with German handgrenades and captured 2 machineguns and 4 men.NOVOSEL, MICHAEL J.Rank and organization: Chief Warrant Officer, U.S. Army, 82d Medical Detachment, 45th Medical Company, 68th Medical Group. Place and date: Kien Tuong Province, Republic of Vietnam, 2 October 1969. Entered service at: Kenner, La. Born: 3 September 1922, Etna, Pa. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. CWO Novosel, 82d Medical Detachment, distinguished himself while serving as commander of a medical evacuation helicopter. He unhesitatingly maneuvered his helicopter into a heavily fortified and defended enemy training area where a group of wounded Vietnamese soldiers were pinned down by a large enemy force. Flying without gunship or other cover and exposed to intense machinegun fire, CWO Novosel was able to locate and rescue a wounded soldier. Since all communications with the beleaguered troops had been lost, he repeatedly circled the battle area, flying at low level under continuous heavy fire, to attract the attention of the scattered friendly troops. This display of courage visibly raised their morale, as they recognized this as a signal to assemble for evacuation. On 6 occasions he and his crew were forced out of the battle area by the intense enemy fire, only to circle and return from another direction to land and extract additional troops. Near the end of the mission, a wounded soldier was spotted close to an enemy bunker. Fully realizing that he would attract a hail of enemy fire, CWO Novosel nevertheless attempted the extraction by hovering the helicopter backward. As the man was pulled on aboard, enemy automatic weapons opened fire at close range, damaged the aircraft and wounded CWO Novosel. He momentarily lost control of the aircraft, but quickly recovered and departed under the withering enemy fire. In all, 15 extremely hazardous extractions were performed in order to remove wounded personnel. As a direct result of his selfless conduct, the lives of 29 soldiers were saved. The extraordinary heroism displayed by CWO Novosel was an inspiration to his comrades in arms and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.CWO Novosel’s people came from Ribnik in Croatia.GRBITCH, RADERank and organization: Seaman, U.S, Navy. Born: 24 December 1870, Austria. Accredited to: Illinois. G.O. No.: 13, 5 January 1906. Citation: On board the U.S. Bennington, for extraordinary heroism displayed at the time of the explosion of a boiler of that vessel at San Diego, Calif., 21 July 1905.Grbitch is Grbic and his origins are in Dalmatia, Croatia. He is buried at the Presidio of San Francisco.TOMINAC, JOHN J.Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company 1, 15th infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Saulx de Vesoul, France, 12 September 1944. Entered service at: Conemaugh, Pa. Birth: Conemaugh, Pa. G.O. No.: 20, 29 March 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty an 12 September 1944, in an attack on Saulx de Vesoul, France. lst Lt. Tominac charged alone over 50 yards of exposed terrain onto an enemy roadblock to dispatch a 3-man crew of German machine gunners with a single burst from his Thompson machinegun. After smashing the enemy outpost, he led one of his squads in the annihilation of a second hostile group defended by mortar, machinegun, automatic pistol, rifle and grenade fire, killing about 30 of the enemy. Reaching the suburbs of the town, he advanced 50 yards ahead of his men to reconnoiter a third enemy position which commanded the road with a 77-mm. SP gun supported by infantry elements. The SP gun opened fire on his supporting tank, setting it afire with a direct hit. A fragment from the same shell painfully wounded Ist Lt. Tominac in the shoulder, knocking him to the ground. As the crew abandoned the M-4 tank, which was rolling down hill toward the enemy, ist Lt. Tominac picked himself up and jumped onto the hull of the burning vehicle. Despite withering enemy machinegun, mortar, pistol, and sniper fire, which was ricocheting off the hull and turret of the M-4, Ist Lt. Tominac climbed to the turret and gripped the 50-caliber antiaircraft machinegun. Plainly silhouetted against the sky, painfully wounded, and with the tank burning beneath his feet, he directed bursts of machinegun fire on the roadblock, the SP gun, and the supporting German infantrymen, and forced the enemy to withdraw from his prepared position. Jumping off the tank before it exploded, Ist Lt. Tominac refused evacuation despite his painful wound. Calling upon a sergeant to extract the shell fragments from his shoulder with a pocketknife, he continued to direct the assault, led his squad in a handgrenade attack against a fortified position occupied by 32 of the enemy armed with machineguns, machine pistols, and rifles, and compelled them to surrender. His outstanding heroism and exemplary leadership resulted in the destruction of 4 successive enemy defensive positions, surrender of a vital sector of the city Saulx de Vesoul, and the death or capture of at least 60 of the enemy.His people are from Croatia.VADAS, ALBERTRank and organization: Seaman, U.S. Navy. (Named changed to Wadas, Albert.) Born: 26 March 1876, Austria-Hungary. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 521, 7 July 1899. Citation: On board the U.S.S. Marblehead during the operation of cutting the cable leading from Cienfuegos, Cuba, I I May 1898. Facing the heavy fire of the enemy, Vadas displayed extraordinary bravery and coolness throughout this period. More detailed records stated he was from Fuma (Fiume), Fiume is Italian for Rijeka, Croatia. The name Vadas-Wadas was Vidas from the Rijeka district.  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 17 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/4272/1/E-Dutch-grown-tulips-named-after-Janica-Kostelic.html  Dutch-grown tulips named after Janica Kostelic  Croatia's alpine skiing champion Janica Kostelic smells a brand new variety of Dutch-grown tulips named after her at a ceremony in Zagreb April 27,2006. A Dutch tulip grower named the red tulips Janica Kostelic in honour of the World Cup winner and Olympic champion. REUTERS/Nikola Solic   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 15 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/4270/1/E-Ivan-Dikic-receives-Award-from-GlaxoSmithKline-Foundation.html   Medical Faculty Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt Press release from the Institute of Biochemistry IIApril 5th, 2006Professor Ivan Dikic receives the Scientific Award from GlaxoSmithKline Foundation Professor Ivan Dikic receives the Scientific Award from GlaxoSmithKline Foundation and the Binder Innovation Prize from German Society for Cell Biology.  The jury of the GlaxoSmithKline Foundation awarded Professor Ivan Dikic with the scientific award in medical basic research 2006. The prize will be awarded on July 11th at the ceremony in Munich. In addition, the German Society for Cell Biology awarded the annual Binder Innovation prize 2006 to Dr. Ivan DIkic on it annual meeting held on March 31, 2006 in Braunschweig, Germany.Professor Dikic (39) is heading the molecular signaling research group of the Institute of Biochemistry II at Frankfurt University Hospital. His team studies signaling pathways that control cell growth and differentiation and the reasons why they are deregulated in diseases such as cancer. Crucial for the GlaxoSmithKline Foundation juryÂ's decision were Professor Dikics scientific contributions concerning the role of the ubiquitin system in biological cells: ubiquitin is a small protein that works as a molecular switch in cells. Tagged to other proteins it regulates various cellular processes such as gene activation, protein degradation or signal transduction. The research results of the Dikic-group concerning the ubiquitin system, including the discovery of novel binding domaines for ubiquitin, have been described in recent publications in the scientific journals SCIENCE (Dez 16th, 2005/ 310:1821-1824) and NATURE CELL BIOLOGY (February 2006/ 8:163-169).  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 10 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/4268/1/E-Ivan-Dikic-receives-26th-AACR-Award-in-Cancer-Research.html   Medical Faculty Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt Press release from the Institute of Biochemistry IIApril 5th, 2006Ivan Dikic receives 26th AACR Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cancer Research Dr. Ivan Dikic (39), professor at Goethe University Medical School received the 26th American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) award for Outstanding Achievement in Cancer Research. Dr. Dikic is the first scientist from Europe who was honored by this prestigious recognition. This Award is given to a young investigator (under 40 years of age) on the basis of meritorious achievement in cancer research. The prize was awarded on April 4th, 2006 at the annual meeting of AACR in Washington DC where 17 000 scientists from around the world gathered.Dr. Dikic is honored for his groundbreaking contribution to the field of growth factor receptor signaling. Through this work, Dr. Dikic has propelled a major advancement of our current understanding of the molecular machinery, which along with the ubiquitylation, controls the intracellular trafficking of ligand-engaged and â€"activated growth factor receptors. The AACR also credited Dr. Dikic’s dedication to the education of young scientists, through active participation in teaching programs and as a founder of the Dubrovnik signaling conferences.Ivan Dikic graduated at the Medical School University of Zagreb, Croatia in 1991. He next joined the laboratory of Dr. Joseph Schlessinger in New York, where he completed his Ph.D. and postdoctoral training (1992-1997). From 1997-2003 Dr. Dikic led a research group at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Uppsala, Sweden. In 2003, Dr. Dikic was appointed a professor at the Goethe University Medical School in Frankfurt, Germany. Prof. Dikic has published more than 70 scientific manuscripts in prestigious journals and has received a number of international distinctions for his research including the Binder Innovation prize (Braunschweig, 2006), elected a member of EMBO (2004), the Fernstrom Price (Lund, 2002), the Swedish Strategic Fund award (Stockholm, 2000), the Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds award (Stuttgart, 1997). His current research interests are focused on the emerging role of ubiquitin and Ub-like modifiers as signalling devices controlling intracellular trafficking, gene transcription and DNA repair.  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 07 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/4274/1/E-Croatian-Chronicle-Filmmaker-Brenda-Brkusic-receives-CINE-award.html  The Honors Keep ComingFilmmaker Brenda Brkusic receives prestigious CINE awardCroatia-American filmmaker Brenda Brkusic on April 18 at Discovery Communications headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, near Washington, D.C., received the prestigious CINE Special Jury Award in the student category for her 2004 documentary film "Freedom From Despair."By Frank Vinko MustacAdd yet another award to the bevy of honors already garnered by Croatian-American filmmaker Brenda Brkusic.On April 18, Brkusic was in Silver Spring, Maryland, near Washington, D.C., to receive the prestigious CINE Special Jury Award in the student category for her 2004 documentary film "Freedom From Despair."The award ceremony was held at Discovery Communications headquarters, the parent company of cable television's Discovery Channel.Last year the Chicago-born Brkusic, who is only in her mid 20s, received the CINE Golden Eagle Award making her eligible for both the CINE Special Jury Award and the CINE Masters Series Award, for which she was runner up.Past CINE award winners have included luminary filmmakers George Lucas and Steven Spielberg and acclaimed documentarian Ken Burns."Freedom From Despair" is a feature length documentary that explores the stories of the Croatian people's struggle to overcome oppression from Communist Yugoslavia and the fight during the 1990s to win a free and independent Croatian nation.The film, in part, chronicles the exodus from Yugoslavia of Brkusic's father Kruno Brkusic at age 17 from the village of Bogomolje on the Island of Hvar in Croatia to Italy and finally to the United States."This is a different sort of documentary. It's very personal," said Brkusic following the award ceremony. "It's an untold history. Nobody has every made a story about the dark side of Tito. I think the story is timeless.""Historically it's important for future generations This can be a document for the younger generation," she said."Rarely in the American media do you see or hear stories about Croatia," said Brkusic, who currently lives in Los Angeles and she works at public broadcasting TV station KOCE in Orange County, California, as an assistant editor and producer on the award-winning news program called "Real Orange."Those who have contacted her about purchasing copies of her film on DVD and VHS, she said, hopefully will be patient while she resolves issues with Croatian Television (HRT) for the official release of some stock footage she used in the documentary. When the film becomes available for purchase, it announced on her Web site www.freedomfromdespair.com .A graduate of Chapman University in Orange, California, where on scholarship she earned a bachelor of fine arts degree, Brkusic worked on the documentary as an undergraduate student, using primarily her own funds to finance the project."I borrowed a lot of money," she said adding that she has also received donations from many Croatians in the Untied States, Canada and Australia.Asked about the process of making "Freedom from Despair," Brkusic said it was no easy task. "It was so hard," she said. "I don't know if I could ever do it again. I basically wasn't sleeping for two years, but the momentum kept me going.""I could have probably made 10 different films from the images I captured," she said.Although she is intimate with ever scene, seeing excerpts from documentary, Brkusic said, still makes her emotional."Even though I've seen the film 300 times, every time I see it, I'm affected by it," she said.Brkusic said her immediate future plans include a trip in late April to Sydney, Australia, to screen "Freedom From Despair" at a venue called the Croatian Punchbowl.Her more long term plans include a return to film making."I'm also hoping to work on more documentaries on my own," she said.Brkusic was also insistent of acknowledging the many people who helped her with the film."I want to thank all of the Croatians," she said. "Without everyone's support, I couldn't do this."  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 25 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/4275/1/EH-Prof-Dr-Ivan-Djikic-wins-Binder-Award---dobitnik-Binderove-nagrade.html  Professor Doctor Ivan Djikic earnedBinder-Innovationspreis for 2006www.binder-world.com Prof.dr. Ivan Djikic dobitnik Binderove nagradeThe Prize is endowed by the Binder GmbH, Tuttlingen and awarded by the German Society for Cellular Biology Hrvatski znanstvenik dr. Ivan Djikic, profesor na Sveucilistu Goethe u Frankfurtu, dobitnik je Binderove nagrade za inovacije 2006. godine, koju dodjeljuje Njemacko udruzenje za stanicnu biologiju (DGZ).U obrazlozenju nagrade napominje se da je profesor Djikic nagradu zasluzio za predani rad na razumijevanje zivotnih procesa stanice te za otkrivanje poremecaja u prijenosu signala unutar stanice koji dovode do razvoja tumorskih oboljenja. Nedavne studije profesora Djikica i njegovih suradnika dovele su do novih i uzbudljivih otkrica kako stanice reagiraju na ostecenje nasljednog materijala. Ta otkrice predstavlja osnovu za razvoj efikasnijih i modernijih oblika dijagnostike i terapije. Nagrada je profesoru Djikicu urucena 29.03.2006. godine na godisnjem skupu Njemackog udruzenje za stanicnu biologiju u Braunschweigu. Die Jury der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Zellbiologie e.V. hat den Frankfurter Biochemiker Prof. Dr. Ivan Dikic als diesjährigen Träger des Binder-Innovationspreises nominiert. Der Preis, der von der Firma Binder in Tuttlingen für hervorragende Arbeiten auf dem Gebiet der Zellbiologie vergeben wird, und wird anläßlich der DGZ-Jahrestagung am 29. März in Braunschweig verliehen.Professor Dikic (39) ist Leiter der Arbeitsgruppe 'Molecular Signaling' am Institut für Biochemie II der Universitätsklinik in Frankfurt am Main. Die Wissenschaftler der Arbeitsguppe erforschen molekulare Signalmechanismen, die Wachstum und Differenzierung von Zellen regulieren und die große Bedeutung für die Entstehung von Krebs und anderen Krankheiten haben. Die Dikic-Gruppe war insbesondere erfolgreich bei der Aufklärung des Ubiquitin-Systems und der Entdeckung neuartiger Ubiquitin-Bindungsdomänen (siehe auch Fachartikel in SCIENCE, 16. Dezember 2005/ 310:1821-1824 und NATURE CELL BIOLOGY, Februar 2006/ 8:163-169). Als kleines Protein wird Ubiquitin an andere Proteine angeheftet. Es funktioniert als molekularer Schalter und reguliert so eine Vielzahl von zellulären Prozessen wie etwa Genaktivierung, Proteinabbau oder Signaltransduktion. Für weitere Informationen:Dipl.-Biol. Stefan KießPresse- und Ã-ffentlichkeitsarbeitInstitut für Biochemie IIUniversitätsklinikum FrankfurtTheodor-Stern-Kai 7Tel: (069) 63 01 - 54 50E-Mail kiess@em.uni-frankfurt.de Internet-Seite des Instituts: www.biochem2.deBINDER Innovation Prize 2006The Prize is endowed by the Binder GmbH, Tuttlingen and awarded by the German Society for Cellular Biology (DGZ). It is marked with EUR 4.000— and was announced for the first time in 1998.The prize is awarded for stand out works in the sector of biotechnology, which concern or are usefull to cell cultures. Applicants can propose themselves for the award. A membership in the DGZ in not necessary, but desirable. The application should be handed in by 15. January 2006, including six samples of the work and a curriculum vitae. The winner is selected by an independent jury of the German Society for Cellular Biology (DGZ). click for press release.1 2 nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 31 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/4277/1/E-Janica-Kostelic-Champion-of-the-World-2006.html  Janica Kostelic champion of the World 2006  Janica Kostelic World Cup champion. Croatia's World Cup champion Janica Kostelic set a new single-season points record for women after winning the final Alpine skiing race of the season in the giant slalom.    Croatia's Janica Kostelic, left, and Benjamin Raich of Austria hold their Alpine Ski World Cup Overall trophies, at the World Cup finals in Are, Sweden, Sunday, March 19, 2006. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 20 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/4276/1/H-Hrvatske-kuglacice-na-ledu-osvojile-su-zlatno-odlicje.html  KUGLANJE NA LEDU, OTVORENO EP: HRVATSKE KUGLACICE OSVOJILE PRVO MJESTO  10.03.2006 Hrvatske kuglačice na ledu osvojile su zlatno odličje na Otvorenome prvenstvu Europe u kuglanju na ledu, koje se odrzalo u zagrebačkome Domu sportova. To je prva zenska medalja za ovaj u nas mladi i nedovoljno poznati sport, do koje su nase kuglačice dosle na najuvjerliviji mogući način sa omjerom 20:0. Do zlatne medalje hrvatske su reprezentativke svladale po dva puta kuglačice Madjarske, Kanade, Finske, Rusije i Kenije i tako izborile da se sljedeće godine na EP-u u Poljskoj natječu u elitnom A razredu.Srebro su osvojile Madjarice s omjertom (12:8), broncu Kanadjanke s istim omjerom (12:8), a zatim slijede Finska (10:10), Rusija (4:16) i Kenija (2:18). Nasi seniori nisu obranili broncu u momčadskome dijelu natjecanja u B skupini. Nakon sto su dobili Poljsku i Izrael u drugome krugu su izgubili od Rusije, Kenije, Finske, Spanjolske, Danske i Brazila te su na kraju osvojili sesto mjesto s omjerom 14:18. Zlatnu medalju osvojili su Rusi (28:4), drugi su bili Danci (26:6), a treći Poljaci (18:14).Hina/HRTweb sport (vh)  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 20 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/4278/1/E-Croatia-native-to-compete-in-spelling---Spahija-story.html  Croatia native to competeThe St. Charles pupil is one of more than 70 participants in the annual event.By HAROLD GWIN VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER Published: Sunday, March 12, 2006YOUNGSTOWN - Luka Spahija spoke no English when his family immigrated to the United States from Croatia when he was 4. He's come a long way since then. On Saturday, he will be the representative of St. Charles School in the 73rd annual Vindicator Spelling Bee to be held in Kilcawley Center at Youngstown State University. Luka, 14, is an eighth-grader at St. Charles in Boardman and has come close to winning the school's spelling bee preliminary twice before, finishing as runner-up in fourth grade and again in sixth grade. He won this year's event by correctly spelling plagiarism. He is one of 73 individual school champions in this year's Vindicator-sponsored event. Learned English Luka said he spoke Croatian when he and his parents, Drs. Berislav (Berry) and Mirjana Spahija, came to the United States, but he learned English quickly. He picked up his first few English words within a week and could communicate relatively easily within a year, he said. Young people tend to be able to master a new language quicker than adults, he said, adding that, at 4, he really hadn't quite mastered Croatian yet. The fact that he spoke English every day at home with his parents and went to a daily preschool program where only English was spoken helped, Luka recalled. He learned to read and speak Croatian before English and that may have helped him to become a good speller, he said. Each letter has a singular sound in the Croatian language, unlike English where letters may have several different sounds. That Croatian background helps him to sound out a word, he said. Reading is the key The most important key to becoming a good speller, however, is to read a lot, Luka said. "That really introduces you to a variety of words," he said, adding that he finds it more productive than simply trying to memorize a list of spelling words. Anytime he comes across a new word in something he's reading, he takes the time to look it up in a dictionary. Seeing the word with its meaning and remembering how it was used in a story helps him to remember how it is spelled, he said. "He's a good boy. He can spell," said his father, adding that Luka's participation in the spelling bee is good for his self-esteem. His family is proud of him, his father said. Dr. Spahija is a neurologist, and his wife is a physiatrist, a doctor who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Luka has two younger brothers, Roko and Frane, and a younger sister, Marta, at home. The family first lived in Pittsburgh upon coming to this country. The Spahijas moved to the Mahoning Valley just five years ago, and Luka enrolled at St. Charles. The family now lives in Boardman. Other interests Spelling isn't Luka's only interest. He used to play tennis, basketball and soccer but is concentrating more on tennis now, playing for a local club. He hopes to play tennis for Cardinal Mooney High School, where he intends to enroll this fall. Luka is also a major fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers and was elated when they won this year's Super Bowl. He's not particularly nervous about participating in Saturday's spelling bee. No one's putting any pressure on him, he said. The winner of the bee gets an all-expenses-paid trip (with a parent) to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., a trophy from The Vindicator, a grand champion certificate, a $100 U.S. Savings Bond from Rotary Club of Youngstown, a $100 savings bond from the Downtown Kiwanis Club, a copy of The Vindicator's "These Hundred Years - A Chronicle of the Twentieth Century," the $100 Savings Bond Samuel Sugarman Award, a Webster's Third New International Dictionary, and a floral arrangement from Burkland Flowers. gwin@vindy.com http://www.vindy.com/content/local_regional/330161307668137.php   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 15 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/4279/1/E-Iva-Gersic-is-this-weeks-MWC-Player-of-the-Week.html Iva Gersic Named MWC Women's Tennis Player Of The Week This is New Mexico's second weekly honor for the 2006 season Feb. 24, 2006Colorado Springs, Colo. - Junior Iva Gersic was named Mountain West Conference Player of the Week announced yesterday by the league office yesterday Feb. 23. This is the second time a Lobo has received this award, the first being Ola Abou-Zekry Feb. 16. Gersic, a native of Koprivnica, Croatia, helped the No. 38 Lobos to victories against Oklahoma State University and rival New Mexico State University. On Friday Feb. 17, the 3rd ranked duo of Gersic and Maja Kovacek defeated NMSU 8-4. At the No. 2 singles spot she defeated NMSU's Edine van Beusekom (6-2, 6-2). Saturday Feb. 18, the 3rd ranked duo was the only team to defeat OSU in doubles action with an 8-3 victory. Gersic rallied her team in singles play to help New Mexico come back and win five of the six singles points. She played at the No. 1 singles spot defeating OSU's Iryna Tkachenko (6-3, 5-7, 6-4). New Mexico ended the weekend defeating NMSU 6-1 and OSU 5-2 giving them six consecutive wins. http://golobos.collegesports.com/sports/w-tennis/spec-rel/022406aac.htmlIva Gersic Class: Junior Hometown: Koprivnica, Croatia High School: Gimnazium Fran Galovic Height: 5-9 Experience: 2L 2004-05 - Sophomore Season Finished the season with an overall singles record of 29-5 and a doubles record of 33-8...voted "Most Valuable Player" for having a .853 winning percentage in singles and a .805 winning percentage in doubles...was named MWC Co-Player of the Year with Maja Kovacek...made all-MWC team selections for singles and doubles...was an NCAA participant in the doubles portion with Kovacek for the first time in her collegiate career... finished the season No. 75 in the nation as a singles player, No. 12 in the nation for doubles, No. 5 in the Central Region for singles and No. 1 in the Central Region for doubles...was a 2005 academic all-MWC honoree...(Fall 2004): Received a preseason national ranking of No. 62 in singles and No. 11 in doubles with partner Maja Kovacek...advanced past three qualifying rounds to become the first UNM women's tennis player to make it to the main singles draw at the ColemanVision Championships in Albuquerque...was part of the first doubles team in UNM tennis history to be invited to compete in the main doubles draw at the ITA/Riviera All-American Championships...played at the ITA National Individual Indoor Championships in doubles with Kovacek...made it to the singles semifinals at the Wilson/ITA Central Region Championships and the quarterfinals in doubles play...finished the fall season 11-2 in singles and 13-3 in doubles with Kovacek ...earned No. 1 ranking in doubles and No. 4 ranking in singles for the Central Region. 2003-04 - Freshman Season Standout newcomer for UNM ...tied for first on the team for most singles wins ...finished season with an overall singles record of 28-8 ...competed mainly at the No. 2 singles spot ...compiled a doubles record of 33-4 at the No. 2 position with teammate Maria Ruiz-Fabrega ... broke the record for most combined wins in one year with 61 ...ended the season at No. 111 in the nation for singles ...ranked No. 7 in the Central Region for singles and No. 9 in the region for doubles with Ruiz-Fabrega ...was awarded MWC Player of the Week two times (January 29 and April 7) ...made the all-MWC team selection for singles and doubles ...earned all-MWC academic honors. HIGH SCHOOL Graduated from Gimnazium Fran Galovic in Koprivnica, Croatia ... named Athlete of the Year in Koprivnica in 2001. PERSONAL Born September 19, 1983 ... daughter of Ljiljana and Igor Gersic ... has one sister, Janja ... enjoys drawing, playing other sports and spending time with family and friends at home...favorite athlete is Goran Ivanisevic ... favorite foods are fruit, vegetables and milkshakes and has to always have cereal in the morning...major is Marketing.   Formatted for CROWN by Ivo Bach  Distributed by CroatianWorld.net. This message is intended for Croatian Associations/Institutions and their Friends in Croatia and in the World. The opinions/articles expressed on this list do not reflect personal opinions of the moderator. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, please delete or destroy all copies of this communication and please, let us know! Ivobach2@aol.com (Ivo Bach) Sat, 25 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/4280/1/E-Vegeti-urucena-nagrada-Superbrand-Russia-u-Moskvi.html  Vegeti urucena nagrada "Superbrand Russia" u Moskvi U samom glavnom gradu Moskvi, Vegeta ima u svojoj kategoriji trzisni udjel od 65,5 %Koprivnica (ots) - Na prigodnoj svecanosti u Moskvi Podravka je primila priznanje za svoju najpoznatiju marku Vegetu. Naime, nakon statusa Superbranda u Madjarskoj i Poljskoj, Vegeta je primila i priznanje za "Superbrand Russia" za 2005. godinu u Rusiji. Ocjenu i klasifikaciju marki provodila je, na osnovi podataka istrazivackih kuca ACNielsen i COMCON, nezavisna ekspertna komisija sastavljena od meritornih strucnjaka s podrucja marketinga, brandinga te samih potrosaca. Ukupno su za nagradu i pravo nosenja znaka kandidirale 1033 robne marke, koje drze vodece pozicije na trzistu po obujmu prodaje te prepoznatljivosti branda na trzistu Rusije. Vegeta se nalazi u uskom krugu brandova koji su dobili pravo nosenja znaka Superbrand na vrlo zahtjevnom ruskom trzistu. Medju dobitnicima znaka prevladavaju brandovi poznatih multinacionalnih kompanija (Kodak, Goodyear, Knauf, Duracell, DHL, MasterCard...) te domacih ruskih (Aeroflot, Ruska gazeta...), tako da je Vegeta jedan od vrlo rijetkih brandova s podrucja ovog dijela Europe koji ima pravo nosenja statusa Superbrand. Inace, Superbrands International ima sjediste u Londonu, a Rusija je jedna od 45 zemalja u kojima dosad ima svoje filijale. U Podravkinoj delegaciji su bili clanovi Uprave Sasa Romac i Goran Markulin, direktor trzista istocne Europe Danko Martincevic, i category menadzer za Vegetu Marcel Janekovic koji je primivsi nagradu rekao: "Zahvaljujem ruskim potrosacima koji su prepoznali prave vrijednosti. To je jedno povijesno nasljedje nastalo tijekom cetrdesetak godina prisustva na ruskom trzistu. Puno nam znaci ovo priznanje jer simbolizira snagu i potencijal za daljnji razvoj marki i inovacija. Medjutim, s druge strane, Superbrand predstavlja i veliku odgovornost za kompaniju da novim proizvodima i marketinskim konceptima zaista opravdamo tako visoko povjerenje ruskih potrosaca. Naime, s obzirom na velicinu i zahtjevnost tog trzista, upravo je Rusija oznacena kao jedna od zemalja u kojima ce Podravka ubrzano razvijati i povecavati svoje poslovanje." Inace, Podravka je cetrdesetak godina na ruskom trzistu, a osime Vegete izvoze se i juhe, te djecja hrana. U kategoriji dodataka jelima u Rusiji je Vegeta lider i najjaca marka, a prodaje se na vise od 100 tisuca prodajnih mjesta diljem cijele Rusije, pa primjerice ima znacajan trzisni udjel i na udaljenim podrucjima poput Sibira ili Kamcatke. U samom glavnom gradu Moskvi, Vegeta ima u svojoj kategoriji trzisni udjel od 65,5 %, a slijede je Knorr s 18 %, te Maggi s 10 %.NAPOMENA O IZVORU:Podravka d.d.Sektor za korporativne komunikacijeA. Starcevica 3248000 Koprivnicatel. 048/651-845Mailto: mario.pintar@podravka.hrweb: www.podravka.com    nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 13 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/4281/1/H-U-istini-je-mir---Fra-Nikola-Mate-Roscic.html  U ISTINI JE MIRZA ISTINU, PRAVDU I MIRFra Nikola Mate RoscicSlovo prigodom dodjele priznanja 'Junak hrvatskog Domovinskog rata'General pukovniku Anti GotoviniZagreb, Hrvatski novinarski dom, 1. veljace 2006. u 11 satiPostovani predstavnici Udruga proizaslih iz Domovinskog rata!Ugledni casnici i duznosnici!Cijenjene gospodje i gospodo!Smatram prikladnim zapoceti ovaj govor obnavljanjem uspomene na proslavljenog spartanskog kralja i junaka Leonidu koji je 480. godine prije Krista sa svojim izabranim vojnicima iz Sparte i saveznicima iz Grcke htio obraniti svoju zemlju od najezde ratobornih i mnogobrojnih Perzijanaca. Htio ih je docekati u klancu Termopile. No, bili su izdani od Efijalta i svi su junaci izginuli. Leonidino ime i lik ostalo je do danas simbol junastva i domoljublja, a Efijaltovo ime simbol sramote i stravicnog grijeha izdaje protiv domovine. Kazu da jos uvijek i nakon gotovo 2500 godina postoji spomenik na kojem su uklesane rijeci: 'Putnice, ako ides u Grcku, reci njima dolje da smo ovdje svi mi pali za njihovu slobodu'.Postovani prijatelji! Kao katolicki svecenik i redovnik danas zacijelo ne bih bio na ovom mjestu, niti bih se odvazio progovoriti u ovoj prigodi, da se u svijesti i savjesti ne osjecam potaknut pismom novoizabranog rimskog pape Benedikta XVI., koji je za svjetski dan mira, dakle za Novu godinu 2006., uputio svijetu svoju poruku koja nosi naslov U ISTINI JE MIR. To je zapravo dubokoumno teolosko i duhovno razmisljanje o miru koji u svom ostvarenju na osobnoj i univerzalnoj razini mora biti utemeljen na istini. To je ponajprije istina o Bogu i Bozja istina o covjeku, istina o vrijednosti i dostojanstvu covjekovog zivota, istina o temeljnim vrjednotama, ali i istina o povijesnim dogadjajima, njihovim stvarnim uzrocima i posljedicama. Odnosno, to je osuda lazi i laznog pogleda na zivot, kako pojedinca tako i cijele ljudske zajednice. Jer, kako istice papa, 's lazju je povezana drama grijeha sa svojim perverznim izvedenicama koje su prouzrocile strahovite posljedice u zivotu pojedinaca i naroda i jos uvijek to prouzrocuju. Treba se samo sjetiti sto se dogodilo u proslom stoljecu – nastavlja papa – kad su nastrani ideoloski i politicki sustavi planski izvrtali istinu i tako doveli do izrabljivanja i potcinjavanja golemog broja ljudi, stovise, citavih obitelji i zajednica' Zbog povijesnih i politickih lazi i izokretanja istine mnogi narodi trpe nepravde i nasilja. Papa se pri tom poziva na vazni i velebni dokument II. vatikanskog sabora O Crkvi u suvremenom svijetu (Gaudium et spes). A tu je, izmedju ostalog, i rijec o miru i svemu onome sto stoji u sluzbi mira medju narodima. Papa navodi rijeci iz 5. poglavlja spomenutog saborskog dokumenta koji se odnosi na 'promicanje mira i izgradnju zajednice naroda'. Ne bez razloga u tom kontekstu Benedikt XVI. izrijekom citira rijeci o ulozi vojnika koje glase: 'Oni pak koji sluzeci domovini vrse vojnicku duznost neka se smatraju sluzbenicima sigurnosti i slobode naroda, i ako ispravno vrse tu duznost, istinski pridonose ucvrscenju mira' (GS, 79). Pomno citajuci papinu poruku nisam se mogao oteti dojmu da je pred njegovim ocima i u njegovim mislima bila i nasa aktualna hrvatska situacija koja se u svojoj najozbiljnijoj i najpresudnijoj komponenti upravo vrti oko pitanja istine o nasoj suverenosti i slobodi, nasem Domovinskom ratu, o glavnim akterima nase najnovije povijesti, ali i lazima i krivotvorinama koje se oko toga splicu i isplicu. Potrebno je utvrditi istinu o tome je li to bio Domovinski rat za slobodu i suverenu cjelovitost jednog naroda i drzave, ili pak 'zajednicki pothvat i plan zlocinacke organizacije', dakle djelo/nedjelo zlocinacke politike i generala zlocinaca, odnosno jesu li nasi branitelji zasluzni i casni hrvatski vojnici, casni duznosnici, junaci i heroji ili pak zlocinci, zlikovci/zlikavci. Bez te istine nema mira, bez te istine nema pravedne prosudbe, pa ma od kojeg suda, politicara ili povjesnicara bila proglasena. A istinu se ne trazi, istinu se ne priznaje, istinu se ne postuje. Istinu se, izgleda, zeli diktatom nametnuti. To je diktat 'medjunarodne zajednice', a ne pravorijek na temelju svih relevantnih cinjenica. Po tom diktatu neki tudjinci pisu nasu novu povjesnicu, ideoloski i politicki povijesni katekizam u reziji vladara svijeta. To je diktat orwellovskog 'Velikog brata' iz 'ministarstva istine'. Nazalost, u njemu sudjeluju i domaci koautori koji, kako primjecuje dr. Zdravko Tomac 'vrlo sustavno i agresivno provode novu titoizaciju, obnavljaju kult Tita i bratstva i jedinstva, idealiziraju Titovo vrijeme i bivsu Jugoslaviju, a destruiraju i kriminaliziraju Hrvatsku nastalu u Domovinskom ratu' (usp.: Z. TOMAC, Predsjednik protiv predsjednika, str. 173).Na tragu pisma pape Benedikta XVI. treba podsjetiti da je iz laznih postavki proizasla nacisticka 'istina', komunisticka 'istina', a odatle i druge 'istine' koje sluze za opravdanje nemilih ratova, ugnjetavanje naroda i krojidbu planova 'novog svjetskog poretka'. Te lazne ideoloske i politicke 'istine' izrodile su uzasne zakone u pojedinim rezimima, koji su upravo u tijeku XX. vijeka, koji je bio 'stoljeca ratova', prouzrocile stravicne zlocine. Po nacistickoj i Hitlerovoj 'istini' svi Slaveni, Zidovi, Romi i brojni drugi, proglaseni su nearijevcima i potom brutalno tretirani kao neljudi. Na osnovi neistine i lazi trebalo ih je pokoriti, istrijebiti, unistiti. Po lenjinisticko-staljinistickoj ideoloskoj 'istini' vodjeni su procesi nad milijunima ljudi, kad je cuveni drzavni tuzitelj Visinski fabricirao i iznudjivao dokaze. Te zrtve ideoloske mrznje napunile su Sibirske zatvore i rudnike, to je Solzenjicinov Arhipelag Gulag, to su svi nacisticki logori, to je Bleiburg, Krizni putovi, Jazovke i Maceljske sume, to je Stara Gradiska, Lepoglava, Goli otok i sva druga mjesta Titovih komunistickih progona, osuda. To je stravicni smrtopis izopacene ideoloske mrznje, povijesne lazi protiv Boga i covjeka, protiv brojnih naroda i vjera. Stoga dr. Tomac pise: 'Borba za istinu jest presudna. Istina je jedna od temeljnih vrijednosti demokratskog drustva. Zato ce narod koji dopusti krivotvorenje svoje povijesti, prije ili kasnije, izgubiti sposobnost suvereno odlucivati o svojoj buducnosti' (usp.: Z. TOMAC, Predsjednik protiv predsjednika, str. 162).U medjunarodnoj literaturi i vojno-politickom pojmovniku, kad je rijec o dogadjajima na nasim prostorima obicno se govori o sukobima na Balkanu. To je preblag izraz za brutalne dogadjaje, za sve poginule i usmrcene, prognane, nestale, silovane, zatvorene, ranjene, za sve porobljene i ponizene ljude, za sve ono sto je poruseno i spaljeno, za sva etnicka ciscenja, za sve bombe, mine, bojna kola i oruzja koja su upotrebljavana. To je preblag izraz za toliki naboj mrznje, za masovne grobnice i sabirne logore, za Vukovar, Srebrenicu, Sarajevo, Dubrovnik i Pristinu i sva druga mjesta i gradove, za toliko krvi, smrti i pepela!Kroz minule godine trazilo se, nalazilo i rabilo razlicite sintagme za opis i izricanje dogadjanja na Balkanu. Zabiljezeni su nazivi: bratoubilacki ratovi, etnicki sukobi, gradjanski rat, plemenski rat (tribalizam), nacionalisticki sukobi, osvajacki rat, revansizam, vjerski fundamentalizam, balkanska posla, drevne etnicke razmirice, plemenske osvete, stara neprijateljstva (atavizam), krizarski ratovi, humanitarna intervencija, janjicarski ratovi, treci balkanski rat, itd. A Samuel P. Huntington tvrdi: «Rat u Bosni bio je rat civilizacija», pa pokusava tu svoju hipotezu opisati i dokazati (usp.: The Clash of Civilisations, hrv. prijevod, str. 353 i 356). Nasuprot tome filozof Alain Finkielkraut kaze: «Teza o ratu civilizacija je potpuna glupost» (usp.: intervju u Novom listu, 5. X. 1997., str. 28).Povijest poznaje mnoge i razlicite ratove: osvajacke i obrambene, kolonijalne, svjetske, ideoloske, bratske, plemenske, gradjanske, revolucionarne, partizanske, vjerske, stogodisnje, tridesetogodisnje, sedmogodisnje i brze ratove (Blitzkrieg), pustinjske, morske, atomske i nuklearne ratove, ratove zvijezda, psiholoske, hladne, diplomatske, spijunske, mafijaske ratove, pa konacno i rat protiv rata. ©to se je od svega toga dogodilo na Balkanu? Jesu li to bili sukobi ili ratovi? Tko je to zapoceo, tko prouzrocio, tko vodio, proveo, sudjelovao i dovrsio?cini se da jedno ipak stoji: naime, sve sto se na Balkanu dogadjalo, nikada nije bilo proglaseno (definirano) pravim ratom te sluzbeno i pravno od medjunarodnih instancija tako nazvano i kategorizirano. Jer, «Zapad je, kao vrhovni krizni manager, sebi pridrzao vlast definicije nad konfliktima» (usp.: Zborno djelo koje je uredila Dunja MELcIc, Der Jugoslawien – Krieg. Handbuch zu Vorgeschichte, Verlauf und Konsequenzen, Westdeutscher Verlag, 1999., str. 11). A upravo su zbog toga nastali ociti propusti i prouzrocene posljedice tog propusta. Ujedno, upravo stoga, sva ta pomutnja u govoru, s velikim zlim posljedicama koje su otuda proizasle. Svjetska je politika najprije zakazala jezicno, nije se znalo kako nazvati te dogadjaje, i stoga Hans Magnus Enzesberger u jednom clanku pise: «Vjerojatno se radi o jednoj povijesnoj novosti» (usp.: Franz SCHIRRMACHER, Der westliche Kreuzzug. 41 Positionen zum Kosovo-Krieg, DVA – Stuttgart 1999., str. 28). Ili se pak s Robertom Spaemannom moze govoriti o semantickom triku, jer se ne govori o ratu, nego o sukobu, a «rat je, kao i mir, jedno pravno stanje, iako manje radosno» (usp.: Der westliche Kreuzzug, str. 151). A buduci da po toj semantici nije bilo nikakva rata, nema ni ratnog prava, nema agresora, nema ratnog pobjednika, nema ratne stete, a nazalost, naposljetku ni pravog zavrsetka rata, niti pravednog mirovnog sporazuma. Sve se strpalo u jedan te isti kos, sve strane i sudionici bili su podjednako proglaseni krivima, a to znaci i podjednako neduznima, svi jednako zlocesti i jednako odgovorni. Otuda, i stoga, zbunjenost, pomutnja, neistina, nepravda. Ovo je za Europu bila prigoda, ali ona je izabrala jednaku distancu prema svim zaracenim stranama. Stoga je reakcija i akcija Europe tijekom citavog trajanja konflikta bila preslaba i stizala je prekasno (usp.: Der Jugoslawien - Krieg, str. 464). Medjutim, moze se, a i treba drukcije misliti. Stravicni sukobi na Balkanu nose i imaju u sebi sve vidljive znakove rata, stovise jednog svjetskog rata, iako geografski ogranicenoga, u minijaturi. Napadnuti su samostojni narodi i neovisne, suverene drzave, okupirani su teritoriji, postojao je agresor, a na drugoj strani branitelj, bili su poznati ratni ciljevi, ratni stroj je bio u punom pogonu, sa svim sto u to spada i sto to znaci. Nikakav slucajan sukob, nego jedan pravi pravcati rat! Mnoge svjetske organizacije i drzave sudjelovale su u tome: UNO, NATO, EU, OSCE, pravoslavni blok drzava, Islamska liga. U Hrvatskoj, BiH, Albaniji, Makedoniji i Kosovu bili su i jos se uvijek nalaze vojnici iz raznih drzava. Bio je to fragmentarni i ogledni predlozak Treceg svjetskog rata u globalnoj strategiji determiniranog kaosa. A taj se rat ne vodi vise po prirucniku austrijskog generala Karla von Clausewitza (1780 -1831), nego po novim strateskim smjernicama velikih sila koje ratove izazivaju, vode i njima upravljaju. Odbaceni su i prekrojeni klasicni pojmovi jus ad bellum, bellum justum, jus in bello, jus post bellum (pravo na rat, pravedni rat, pravo u ratu, pravo nakon rata), pa oni danas imaju posve novo i sasvim drukcije znacenje, tumacenje, zagovornike i nositelje.Nakon nemilih i tragicnih dogadjaja na nasim prostorima koji su se zbivali pred ocima svjetske javnosti i uz veliku izravnu ukljucenost brojnih drzava i svjetskih organizacija, nastupilo je vrijeme redefiniranja onoga sto se i kako se dogodilo. Na visokim razinama, nama cesto nepoznatima i nedostupnima, stvorene su i diktirane politicke i pravne odrednice po kojima se dogadjaji u ovoj regiji trebaju prikazati i kategorizirati kao svojevrsni gradjanski sukob u kojem su suprotstavljene strane podjednako odgovorne. Stoga se brise pojam 'agresija i agresor' kao i 'obrana i branitelj'. Sukladno tome uspostavljeno je medjunarodno sudiste koje ce procesuirati 'zlocince' s jedne i druge sukobljene strane. Po tom diktatu odbacuje se naziv 'branitelji Domovinskog rata', a uspostavlja kategorija 'sudionici u zlocinackom pothvatu'. Slijedom toga i nije bilo 'Domovinskog rata', a vojni i politicki duznosnici se nisu borili za obranu, slobodu i suverenitet svoje drzave, nego su bili zdruzena 'zlocinacka skupina' koja je smislila, planirala i izvrsila 'zlocinacki cin'. Ona je to ucinila posebno na podrucju 'Srpske krajine' te na prostorima druge drzave, to jest Bosne i Hercegovine. Sudskom presudom, koja bi usvojila ove kvalifikacije Haaskog tuziteljstva, definitivno bi se iz povjesnice hrvatskog naroda i kolektivne svijesti nacije trebala brisati sintagma 'Domovinski rat', a na politicko-pravnom planu uslijedile bi sankcije i reparacije za izvrseni 'zlocinacki pothvat'. Kao posljedica i ovjekovjecenje te presude jamacno bi u dogledno vrijeme u Kninu mogao niknuti memorijalni muzej i spomenik o 'srpskom holokaustu'. Sukladno tome u sredisnjoj BiH bi mogao nastati drugi memorijalni spomenik o 'bosnjackom holokaustu'. U tom kontekstu, kao posljedica nametnute i lazne krivnje, hrvatski bi entitet u BiH, odbacen i zaboravljen od svoje maticne zemlje, naroda i drzave, bio sveden na etnicku i vjersku manjinu, postao bi 'hrvatsko-katolicki milet', koji bi doduse uzivao pravo 'zasticenih gradjana – sticenika' (zimije) medju islamskim Bosnjacima, placao bi podanicki porez (dziziju) i pokorno zivio u svom getu kao gradjani drugog reda.Postovani branitelji!1. Hvala vam na pozivu i mogucnosti da kao covjek i svecenik smijem i mogu pozdraviti suglasnu odluku Udruga proizaslih iz Domovinskog rata, da se general-pukovniku Anti Gotovini, sada uzniku Haaskog tribunala, dodijeli casni naslov 'Junak Domovinskog rata'. To je zasluzeno i pravicno priznanje za njegovo zivotno vojnicko djelo. Neka mu bude na ponos i utjehu, na poticaj da se casno i muzevno drzi i odrzi u nemilom sudskom okrsaju u kojem treba braniti i obraniti sebe i svoju Domovinu. Podrska njemu osobno ujedno je i podrska svim visokim duznosnicima i casnicima Hrvatske vojske i Hrvatskog vijeca obrane koji su u procesu sudjenja, bilo da se brane sa slobode ili kao uznici. 2. Smatram da je posve razvidno kako se kroz sudjenje pojedincima smisljeno i ciljano smjera na osudu cjelovitog politickog i vojnog vrha Hrvatske tijekom Domovinskog rata, napose kroz vojno-redarstvene pothvate 'Bljesak' i 'Oluja'. To dokazuje toliko puta ponavljana sintagma 'zlocinacka organizacija'. Stoga je to ustvari sudski proces i tuzba PROTIV HRVATSKE. Zalosna je cinjenica da je takva tuzba dobrim dijelom satkana od iskaza i optuzbi iz Hrvatske, od prodanih dusa i antihrvatskih revansista. Zacudjuje preslaba obavijestenost i svijest o cemu se zapravo radi i koje su sve moguce posljedice toga.3. U teskim i zamrsenim narodnim i medjunarodnim sudjenjima, tuzba i presuda nikada nisu lisene snaznog politickog utjecaja. Stoga je ovo politicko, a to hoce reci i ideolosko sudjenje, jer su cinjenice podvrgnute diktatu svjetskih politickih, vojnih i gospodarskih mocnika. Vec su davno Rimljani rekli Summum jus summa injuria, i time dali do znanja da pozitivno pravo i pravednost nisu jedno te isto, da se ponekad istjerivanje vrhunskog prava pretvara u vrhunsku nepravdu. Povijesno iskustvo svjedoci da su ljudski sudovi i sudista, pozitivno pravo i zakonske presude, bezbroj puta bile neistinite, pogresne. Samo je Bozji pravorijek istinit i vjecan.4. Institucija svjedoka i svjedocenja stara je koliko i institucija suda i sudaca. Biti svjedokom je casna i odgovorna duznost u sluzbi istine. To zacijelo vrijedi i za svjedocenje pred Haaskim sudom. No, oduvijek je bilo presudno je li svjedok pouzdan, vjerodostojan, istinit. Nazalost povijest poznaje i brojne lazne svjedoke i lazna svjedocenja, poznaje svjedoke dodvorice i izdajice, placene svjedoke, osvetoljubive svjedoke. Najtragicnije je kad se izdaja pretvara u optuznicu. Kako se ne sjetiti biblijskih krivokletnika i tuzitelja iz knjige proroka Danijela (Dn, 13,42-64) ili pak Jude koji je poljupcem izdao Isusa (Lk 22,48), ili laznih svjedoka u procesu protiv Isusa pred Velikim svecenickim vijecem (Mk 14,55-59; Mt 26,60), a napose rimskih vojnika koji su bili potkupljeni od starjesina da daju lazno svjedocanstvo – i 'oni uzese novac i ucinise kako bijahu pouceni' (Mt 28,11-15).5. Pod svodom ove dvorane Hrvatskog novinarskog doma, nije moguce zaobici i cinjenicu da je uz Haaske optuznice protiv Hrvatskih generala i visokih casnika HVO podignuta optuznica i protiv nekolicine hrvatskih novinara. No, iz ovog se doma nije cula zauzeta rijec i prosvjed u njihovu obranu i zastitu. Uzalud novinarski eticki kodeks, utaman pozivanje na slobodu pisane i govorne rijeci, uzalud priziv na demokratska prava gradjana, uzalud smrt Sinise Glavasevica i Gordana Lederera. Izgleda kao da se ovdje brani samo lijevo krilo medijskih poslenika koji dodvornicki i sluznicki ubojitim medijskim streljivom i prepoznatljivom jakobinskom gorljivoscu promicu i podupiru tzv. proces 'detudjmanizacije', odnosno, tocnije receno, 'dekroatizacije'. Ne sluzi im na cast!6. Sudske procese i osude koji nose pecat politicke i ideoloske obojenosti treba promatrati u velikom povijesnom kontekstu, jer povijesni pravorijek nadvladava pristrane i jednostrane zakone i osude. To pokazuju neki primjeri iz nase hrvatske i vjerske proslosti: · Godine 1391. u Jeruzalemu je na okrutnu smrt po islamskom zakonu osudjen ©ibencanin Nikola Tavilic – a Crkva ga proglasila blazenim i svetim.· Godine 1616. po zakonima kalvinisticke antikatolicke osvete u Kosicama je podnio mucenicku smrt Marko Krizevcanin – a Crkva ga proglasila blazenikom i svecem.· Godine 1671., 30. travnja, po zakonima Habsburske Monarhije u Beckom Novom Mjestu pogubljeni su hrvatski rodoljubi ban Petar Zrinski i markiz Franjo Krsto Frankopan – a Hrvati ih postuju kao simbol rodoljublja i kosti su im prenijete u zagrebacku katedralu.· Godine 1946. na komunistickom procesu i sudistu kao ratni zlocinac i klerofasist osudjen je Alojzije Stepinac – a Crkva ga proglasila blazenikom i nadamo se uskoro svecem.7. Duboko boli i zabrinjava cinjenica da se Domovinski rat, a narocito hrvatski branitelji i hrvatska vojska sustavno prikazuju u negativnom svjetlu, da se u tako kratkom vremenskom roku urusio domoljubni etos. Treba njegovati nacionalni ponos, raditi na sveopcoj nacionalnoj konsolidaciji i strategiji, promicati nacionalne vrjednote kako bi Hrvatska, kao relativno mala nacija, uzmogla sacuvati svoj prepoznatljivi identitet u globalnim bespucima svjetske moci. Stoga jos jednom citiram rijec dr. Tomca koji kaze: 'Bolje je sacuvati obraz i dostojanstvo, sacuvati istinu o Domovinskom ratu, suprotstaviti se politici koja zasluzne ljude krivotvorinama pretvara u zlocince, nego uci u Europsku uniju u kojoj cemo biti tretirani kao zlocinacki balkanski narod' (usp.: Z. TOMAC, Predsjednik protiv predsjednika, str. 196).8. U svemu tome smatram da Crkva u Hrvatskoj ima svoju posebnu zadacu i poslanje. Oslobodjena od bilo kakvih politickih i klerikalnih pretenzija, u duhu Evandjelja mira i ljubavi Isusa Krista te smjernica koje su izrecene na II. vatikanskom saboru, kao i u duhu enciklika papa XX. stoljeca (kao sto su Populorum progressio, Pacem in terris, Mater et Magistra, Gaudium et spes i brojnih drugih), u duhu netom objavljene enciklike pape Benedikta XVI. Bog je ljubav, Crkva je pozvana da se angazira na svim podrucjima od zivotne vaznosti za konkretnog covjeka, a to znaci i za covjeka koji pripada i tvori odredjeni narod, naciju, drzavu. Ponekad se stjece dojam kao da se Crkva odvec povlaci u bontonsku sutnju, da je iznenadjena ili zastrasena pred trendovima neoliberalizma, antikonfesionalizma, prerusenog ateist