(E) EU/British politics and how it impacts on Croatia
Ok, important links re EU/UK for Croatia First: EU tells candidate countries (not Croatia) that they will get less subsidy than W Europe. Reality is asserting itself. Believe me, when croatia - as part of "Western Balkans" - ever gets anywhere near joining the EU they will get zip.
Secondly: Tory leader Ian Duncan Smith (IDS) gives a speech about "realism" in foreign policy as opposed to Blairs nonsense. This could be good or bad news. IDS was anti-Serb in the past. HDZ (as tories sister party) would do well to approach him over the SAA. EU empire building etc. Tories are VERY suspicious of EU especially any foreign policy. But do the HDZ have the wit to see the opportunity to make the SAA an issue? Doubtful.
Full speech: http://www.conservatives.com/show_news_item.cfm?obj_id=23874&speeches=1
A popular myth is Britain is anti-croat cause because Brits don't like catholics (IRA, CofE etc etc). Fundamental misunderstanding which has cost Croatia a lot. Britain is secular. Sure, there are one or two nutters out there but they are the exception. Croat bashing tends to have secular reasons; socialist ones, fear of German influence etc. Hence you see those who support the IRA also supporting Serbia. France is Catholic but that's not been much help, again secularism, not religion. The following article on the CofE should convince doubters about religion in the UK; just read the first couple of paragraphs.
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