Dear Nenad, It was both a personal and professional pleasure to see you in San Francisco last month. As we discussed, the profound experience of walking through the mined vineyards of "Ground Zero in Vukovar" and "Ground Zero in New York" during the same month of September 2001 is an image etched in my mind forever. The conclusion in my heart is that terrorism knows no borders, and the phantom enemy of a landmine represents the most primitive form of terror to innocent Croatian farmers and families who yearn for the dignity to cultivate their fields. Each landmine removed is a victory against a cowardly act of silent terrorism. Death lurks in the fertile soils of Croatia, and we must engage the world to assist us in removing these deadly seeds of destruction that sow seeds of hatred for future generations. As we turn the page to a new year, Roots of Peace is delighted to report that we are currently demining the Bibijne Vineyard located near the coastal city of Zadar. According to the International Trust Fund (ITF), the CROMAC contract was signed on December 7, 2001 through funds raised by Croatian-born Miljenko Grgich at the 25th Anniversary Celebration of the Paris Tasting hosted at Domaine Chandon in the Napa Valley. We are also proud to announce that our initial donation of $30,000 was matched by the US Government to support our efforts totally $77,000 in demining funds for the Bibijne Vineyards...now that's a special "global toast to peace" for the new year--from MINES TO VINES! Jody Williams, 1997 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, joined Dr. Dijana Plestina and my son, Brooks, in September 2001 as we toured these mine affected vineyards while meeting with the local farmers, whose sole desire was to cultivate these bountiful vineyards. We shared the fruits of the first harvest season of the new millennium with these Croatian vintners, and remain deeply proud that we are now able to return mines to vines in the village of Bibijne. We donated these RoP funds in honor of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on United Nations Day--October 24, 2001--and are delighted to see these funds leveraged by the US Government, ITF, and CROMAC in such a prompt, effective manner to accelerate demining. As we discussed, I would like to plan a traditional "Blessing of the Grapes" ceremony during the Spring planting season, when Croatian-born vintner Miljenko Grgich will be traveling back to his homeland in early June 2002. I would like to propose that we have an ecumenical blessing with leaders of the Catholic, Orthodox, and Muslim Church at a special Roots of Peace event entitled "Ground Hero" honoring all the public-private partnerships that contributed to our efforts to plant the roots of peace. Such an event would inspire global citizens to replicate this model in mine affected regions throughout the world--whether the grapes are fermented or not! Your gift of music could be incorporated into this worldwide celebration, and of course, the voices of local children singing cultural songs would add to the humanitarian efforts of this special day...deeply inspiring future generations in the spirit of hope! Please let me know your thoughts, as we weave this global trellis of peace together! With Kindest Regards, Heidi Kuhn distributed by CROWN - www.croatianworld.net - CroWorldNet@aol.com Notice: This e-mail and the attachments are confidential information.If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this e-mail and the attachments is strictly prohibited and violators will be held to the fullest possible extent of any applicable laws governing electronic Privacy. If you have received this e-mail in error please immediately notify the sender by telephone or e-mail, and permanently delete this e-mail and any attachments.
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