Cynthia McKinney's Ties to Dalmatian Clothing

June 18, 2002
Cynthia McKinney's Ties to Dalmatian Clothing
A few years ago, President Clinton requested that Representative Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) attend high-level talks to open diplomatic ties with the new Democratic Republic of Congo. At the same time, she has assisted a number of Georgia-based companies in establishing and strengthening trade relations with African nations. This raises questions about the kinds of businesses McKinney supports, and whether the people of her Georgia district know the details. We've recently learned of the disappearance of dogs including Dalmatian puppies from across our nation, including DeKalb County, Georgia, McKinney's own home district. As it turns out, no two Dalmatians are spotted identically, making Dalmatian Puppy Coats, as well as other Dalmatian clothing, extremely valuable. Who stole the puppies? What has become of them? What kind of trade has McKinney promoted with African nations? And where did Representative McKinney get the Dalmatian Puppy Coat she proudly wears on her own congressional website? Sources on Capitol Hill say that McKinney could have visited the Dalmatian coast ofCroatia, which resembles a Dalmatian dog's back, the dots representing islands -- nearly a thousand of them. McKinney is believed to have viewed Disney's 101 Dalmatians on numerous occasions, and may own her own personal copy of the movie. So we want to know... what does Cynthia McKinney know about the Dalmatians, and when did she know it? Where did she get her own Dalmatian attire, and is she involved in making coats from Dalmatian puppies?

http://www.lindenreport.com/ac/archives/2002/06/cynthia_mckinne.html

http://www.house.gov/mckinney/

Welcome to my Web Site
This Web page has been set up to provide my constituents with an immediate Internet address for my newly elected office.

Stay tuned for my full featured Web site in the first session of the 109th Congress.

In the meantime, I hope you will contact my office if you have any questions or would like assistance with a Federal Agency.

You can reach me through either of my congressional offices:

Washington D.C. Address
320 Cannon House Office Building
Washington DC, 20515

Phone: 202-225-1605
Fax : 202-226-0691
4th District Address
North DeKalb Mall
2050 Lawrenceville Highway, Suite D-46
Decatur, Georgia 30033

Phone: 404-633-0927
Fax : 404-633-0968

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Phone: 404-320-2001
Fax : 404-320-3496

Bucks at best when Kukoc gets minutes

Just give him some time
By CHARLES F. GARDNER
cgardner@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Feb. 11, 2005
St. Francis - Call him Ten-minute Toni, if you must.

Toni Kukoc has been a key in some of the Bucks’ best victories.

The truth is, Milwaukee Bucks veteran Toni Kukoc has played so well lately that his time in the lineup has been extended to 15, even 27 or 33 minutes. And he is staying on the floor at the end of games, with the outcome on the line, and helping the Bucks win.

And that 10-minute bit? Well, that comes about because the Bucks have a gaudy 11-4 record this season when the 36-year-old forward plays at least 10 minutes in a game.

Kukoc has overcome a hip problem that sidelined him for 23 games earlier in the season, and is again showing the flair and passing skills that have endeared him to Bucks fans since his arrival in the fall of 2002.

It's no coincidence that the Bucks have won four of their last five games, giving them a chance to go into the National Basketball Association all-star break next weekend on a positive note. The Bucks play three more games before the break, starting tonight at home against the Atlanta Hawks.

"I think finally he's feeling a lot better physically," Bucks general manager Larry Harris said. "He's getting some consistent minutes to get into a rhythm.

"With all the other injuries that have taken place, it has allowed him to get back on the floor and play some major minutes."

Kukoc made the most of his opportunity when starter Desmond Mason was out with the flu on Feb. 1. The 6-foot-11 native of Split, Croatia, was inserted in the starting lineup at small forward and played 33 productive minutes, contributing nine points, six rebounds and five assists in the Bucks' 91-86 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Since then, Kukoc has come off the bench and provided a spark, along with fellow reserves Mike James, Zaza Pachulia, Keith Van Horn and Erick Strickland.

"We're getting used to each other," Kukoc said after the Bucks' practice Friday. "We had some injuries that kind of messed up the lineups. Lately, we're pretty sure when we go in what we've got to do. We're getting in the right positions, getting the chemistry right, and that's why we're winning games."

With Van Horn limited to about 15 minutes per game because of a foot injury, coach Terry Porter has used Kukoc more often at the small-forward position. The Bucks have been able to take advantage of some size mismatches, using the taller Kukoc to post up smaller defenders.

Kukoc scored a key basket late in the victory over Minnesota when he got the ball in post-up position against Timberwolves guard Sam Cassell.

"The other night in Toronto, we tried to use him as much as possible, because he had the advantage over Jalen (Rose), height-wise," Porter said. "We were just solid, and we tried to play out of his hands."

If Kukoc does get double-teamed in the post, he has the knack for finding the open man. And he is usually lethal when he has the ball in the open floor, with options on his right and his left.

"I am getting more assists from the three spot," Kukoc said. "I can see the floor better, I guess, and I have the ball more often."

Kukoc had four assists during the Bucks' 22-0 knockout run against Boston in the second quarter on Tuesday, as Milwaukee went on to an easy victory. Then he posted his best all-around game of the season with 10 points, eight assists and six rebounds Wednesday night in the Bucks' 110-107 victory at Toronto.

With Kukoc on the floor, Pachulia is taking advantage of some chances in the paint, and point guard Mike James is getting better looks from the perimeter.

James sank eight of 13 three-pointers against Boston, and he hit six of 10 overall (2 for 4 from three-point range) against Toronto.

"When he's in there with that Toni lineup, it gives him a chance to get other shots," Porter said of James. "He doesn't worry so much about trying to create his own, and he gets quality looks when he's in there."

Kukoc termed his hip about 75% healed but said he was not sure whether it would improve this season.

"It's not that I'm going to go out and play 35 minutes every night," he said. "But 20, 25 or 28 minutes, I think I can handle that.

"I actually feel pretty good right now, knock on wood. If it stays like this, everybody will be happy."


Rumor season:
With less than two weeks left until the Feb. 24 league trading deadline, rumors are everywhere.

A TNT report on Thursday said the Bucks and 76ers were considering a deal that would bring forward Glenn Robinson back to Milwaukee and send Van Horn to Philadelphia, where he played during the 2002-'03 season.

Van Horn is the Bucks' highest-paid player and is under contract through the 2005-'06 season, when he will make $15.7 million. The 32-year-old Robinson, who has not played for Philadelphia this year, is owed $12 million this season but is not under contract for next season.

The Bucks might be tempted to clear some room under the salary cap so they can make additional moves in the off-season or sign guard Michael Redd to a long-term deal.

Redd, who will be a free agent at the end of the current season, also has been the subject of intense trade speculation.

Harris said he expected to have numerous conversations with other NBA general managers in the next two weeks, but he stressed that he will not respond publicly to specific trade talk.

"It's that time of year, and there will be a lot of conversations throughout the whole league, no doubt about it," Harris said. "But I cannot comment on trade rumors."

From the Feb. 12, 2005, editions of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Get the Journal Sentinel delivered to your home. Subscribe now.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/buck/feb05/301097.asp

Queen of Croatia Delivers Third Gold

Janica Kostelic of Croatia plays with her gold medals after winning the women's slalom competition at the Alpine skiing World Championships in Santa Caterina, February 11, 2005. Kostelic of Croatia won the women's slalom at the world championships on Friday in a provisional combined time of one minute 47.98 seconds. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich 1

Janica Kostelic of Croatia shows her three gold medals she won at the World Alpine Ski Championships, in Santa Caterina Valfurva, Italy, Friday. (AP/Luca Bruno)

2/12/2005] - Queen of Croatia Delivers Third Gold
Janica Kostelic delivered a near flawless run on a course set by her father, Ante, and outskied Tanja Poutiainen to take the gold medal last night in slalom. With this, her third while in Bormio, she outdid even her last performance at the St. Moritz Worlds when she took gold in both slalom and combined. The 23-year old has amassed victories in 20 World Cup races and now has a total of nine medals between two World Championships and one Olympic Games, with only one of those medals being a silver. This queen of Croatian skiing clearly has a passion for all that is golden.

Tanja Poutiainen of Finland, the current overall World Cup leader, won the first slalom run but could not hold off the Kostelic attack brought on for the second run. The Finn was satisfied with her performance and was quoted as saying, "I think I really won the silver medal today rather than losing the gold one. It was really not easy, I was glad to make it to the finish." Poutiainen struggled on top but re-grouped for the bottom part of the course to maintain her spot on the podium.

Celebrating her 20th birthday on race day, Sarka Zahrobska from the Czech Republic found that the surprise awaiting her after blowing out the cake candles was a bronze medal. This is the first medal for the Czechs, and although Zahrobska has never been on a World Cup podium prior to yesterday, she has placed among the top ten on nine different occasions.

For the American squad, Resi Stiegler, Sarah Schleper, and Julia Mancuso finished 6th, 7th, and 8th respectively. With her now signature kitty ears adorning her helmet, young Stiegler was the strongest among the three and actually had a second run of 56.30 that beat the top three finishers. Had her first run not been sluggish and affected, like many skiers, by illness, Resi may have seen the view from the podium.


http://www.fantaski.it/ol/eng/home/leggonews.asp?id=244

If Croatian village floats their boat ...in Texas

McKINNEY – After more than a year of debate, McKinney City Council members Tuesday unanimously approved ambitious plans for an old-world Croatian village in suburban Collin County.

Snjezana Pavlovic, a Croatian hired by Mr. Blackard to supervise the authenticity of the project.

Developer Jeff Blackard will model the development on the village of Supetar, on the island of Brac, Croatia.

Jacquielynn Floyd
If Croatian village floats their boat ...

08:48 PM CST on Friday, February 11, 2005

McKINNEY – The intersection of Virginia Parkway and Stonebridge Drive, on my 6-year-old Mapsco, is a dead-end in the middle of nowhere.

I need a newer map. Suburban development in this region is not so much an advancing wave as it is a series of spontaneous combustions, exploding little insta-'hoods springing up from the prairie and radiating outward. At this pace, greater Dallas could cross the Oklahoma border before the decade is out.

This is a particularly interesting site: After a year of negotiation between city planners and developers, McKinney OK'd construction last week of what is being billed as an "authentic Croatian fishing village" here in the very heart of the 'burbs.

An artist's sketch nailed to a sign at the site shows an Old World cluster of stone buildings and cobblestone streets sloping gently to the lapping waters of a little lake. I guess it's pretty authentic, though they could probably fake it up and nobody would be the wiser, because not all that many of us here in Texas have first-hand knowledge of what a Croatian village is supposed to look like.

The Disney-esque whimsy might not appeal to everybody, but I like the idea, largely because it's a new option for how and where people might choose to live.

It reminded me of another just-constructed neighborhood I saw not long ago while on vacation to the wonderland that is Las Vegas. About 30 miles outside the city, plunked down on the desert at the edge of Lake Mead, there's a master-planned faux-Mediterranean hamlet called MonteLago Village, complete with stone pedestrian paths and cunning little shops, houses and apartments, water taxi, casino and a Ritz-Carlton hotel. The suburbs, they are a-changin'.

Not everybody is delighted, but suburban growth – the dreaded "sprawl" – shows no signs of letting up. Writing in The Washington Post, urban historian Joel Kotkin last week declared the suburbs not just our inevitable future but also our overwhelming present reality.

"Since 1950, more than 90 percent of metropolitan population growth in America has taken place in the suburbs," writes Mr. Kotkin, citing the appeal of their "space, quality of life, safety and privacy."

These amenities, of course, are what snobbish "urbanists" keep mocking as sprawl, conformity, paranoia and isolation. They ridicule the suburbs and the folks who live there, apparently believing you can shame people out of liking minivans and Olive Gardens and automatic garage door openers.

The numbers suggest that you can't. Certainly there's a silly pretentiousness in calling a suburban tract house a "villa" or a "garden estate," but no more so than marketing every downtown hamster box as an "urban loft."

Mr. Kotkin believes that there is a permanent but limited market – a "niche" – for people who want to live the gritty-but-glamorous urban life, walking their dogs on the downtown streets and hauling their groceries up in the elevator.

Fine by me. I think people ought to live where they're happy and comfortable. But I can't help but feel that an experiment like Croatia-in-McKinney is a gleeful little pie-in-the-face to the clichĂŠd but inevitable ridicule of the suburbs as "bland" and "conformist." Where you choose to live isn't necessarily a political statement – some people just want to make it that way.

Creating new housing options in the suburbs makes sense, when you study the direction our demographics are taking us. If that's where 90 percent of our population growth is taking place, they can't all be smug, robotic, intellectually stunted bigots.

Maybe they're just perfectly decent, regular people who like it there.

E-mail jfloyd@dallasnews.com 

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/localnews/columnists/all/stories/021205dnmetfloyd.3672f.html


Croatian village gets OK

Council backs 45-acre mixed-use development for Stonebridge Ranch
12:20 AM CST on Wednesday, February 2, 2005

By PAUL MEYER / The Dallas Morning News

McKINNEY – After more than a year of debate, McKinney City Council members Tuesday unanimously approved ambitious plans for an old-world Croatian village in suburban Collin County.

The replica village, located on 45 acres in Stonebridge Ranch, could raise city property values by $100 million, officials with the development said, with a mix of lofts, townhomes, shops and waterfront features.

"I expect the project to be everything you could ever anticipate it could be," said Don Paschal, a former McKinney city manager working as a consultant on the project.

"I think few people would argue that the entire Stonebridge Ranch project truly, at this point in time and in the future, will be the jewel of the entire Dallas-Fort Worth area."

Developer Jeff Blackard will model the development on the village of Supetar, on the island of Brac, Croatia.

He was joined Tuesday by a standing-room-only crowd of residents, most in favor of the project at the southeast corner of Stonebridge Drive and Virginia Parkway. It will be called Adriatica Village at Stonebridge Ranch.

"The most exciting thing for me is that there are thousands of years of history trying to be replicated in this project," said Snjezana Pavlovic, a Croatian hired by Mr. Blackard to supervise the authenticity of the project.

Ms. Pavlovic, who lived in Supetar and now lives in Kutina, Croatia, said Tuesday the project has already sparked interest among Croatian government officials.

Mr. Blackard said a groundbreaking should he held this month.

The plans have won strong support from many residents and outsiders but were opposed Tuesday by some area homeowners concerned about the economic impact of allowing apartments on land currently zoned for retail uses.

Others expressed concern about the development's impact on the adjacent lake, where an island, chapel and development are planned.

For months leading up to Tuesday, the fate of the project remained in doubt because of resident opposition and skepticism from some City Council members about the viability of Mr. Blackard's plans.

"I'm glad that he hung in there that whole time. I don't know of another developer in the world who would have hung in there," said council member Pete Huff.

The development will face 13-pages of stringent regulations to ensure it develops as envisioned – including regulations on the color palate of roofing materials and the type of stone used on buildings. The council will retain broad discretionary powers to review different phases of the village.

"This is the longest single zoning case I've worked on in the City of McKinney," Planning Director Brian James said on Monday. "I've probably spent more time on this one than I have on any other zoning case."

The regulations also require that varying amounts of commercial development be built as new residential development is added.

Up to a quarter-million square feet of commercial development could eventually be built along with 285 residential units, Mr. Paschal said.

"It's the most stringent ordinance this city has ever considered to date," Mr. Paschal said.

"While it's stringent, we believe that the components, managed well, are doable."

E-mail pmeyer@dallasnews.com 

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/collin/mckinney/stories/020205dnccovillage.77fef.html

EUR26.5 Million For Modernization Of Dubrovnik Port

Feb. 02 2005

As more and more cruise passengers flock to Dubrovnik – one of the most popular attractions on the Adriatic Sea – a €26.5 million EBRD loan aims to help modernize Gruz Harbour to meet the growing demand.

The loan is part of a plan by the Dubrovnik Port Authority to upgrade its facilities. Basic infrastructure will be modernized, including expansion of berth capacity to accommodate as many as three of the new generation of 300-metre cruise ships at one time.

EBRD First Vice President Noreen Doyle, speaking at a signing ceremony in the city, said the project will allow Dubrovnik to burnish its already enviable position as one of the most popular destinations in the Mediterranean tourism market.

The Bank’s investment in this public infrastructure will help create attractive business conditions for subsequent private-sector participation in the port’s development, Ms Doyle added. The second phase of the development will involve construction of all the facilities a modern passenger port should have, such as a passenger terminal, parking spaces for cars, leisure and entertainment facilities and a shopping centre.

Vlaho Durkovic, Manager of the Dubrovnik Port Authority, said the berth-extension investment is a crucial stage in the development of Dubrovnik as one of the must-see attractions in the Mediterranean area.

The EBRD support has also led to the mobilization of grants from the UK, US, Spanish, Dutch and Italian governments to pay for consultancy assistance for different stages in the development’s preparation.

Dubrovnik is internationally known for its numerous monuments, and the historic Old town is classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Because of its rich array of history, culture beauty, climate and location between Greece and Venice, Dubrovnik is recognized as an ideal cruise port.

The development of the tourism industry is key for Croatia’s economic progress given the sector’s huge potential, and the authorities are confident they can make the country one of the leading tourism destinations in Europe.

http://www.harolddoan.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=619

www.zadar2006.com 

HRVATSKE SVJETSKE IGRE - ZADAR 2006

Postovani gospodine Bach i citaoci CROWN-a

Radujem se da Vas danas mogu izvjestiti o pocetku nase sluzbene promocije.
Molimo Vas da objavite ovu vijest na Vasim stranicama, po mogucnost sa vizualnim linkom na Vasoj prvoj stranici. U prilogu Vam saljem nas promotivni materijal.

HRVATSKESVJETSKE IGRE - ZADAR 2006

CROATIAN WORLD GAMES - ZADAR 2006

JUEGOS CROATAS MUNDIALES - ZADAR 2006


www.zadar2006.com 

Zahvaljujem Vam se unaprijed i stojim Vam na raspolaganju za moguca pitanja.

Srdacan pozdrav iz Zadra

Jure Strika

jstrika@lycos.com

 

Antony Sumich studying to be a priest, looking for Parish

Zdravo,
Although Mr Saban (New NFL team coach) made a comment
about Bill Belichik (Coach of the N.E. Patriots) &
himself beings Croats, I wonder if Belichik is. The
name is not Croatian, and it would have to be some
sort of a derivative to be so.
Do you know anymore about this?
If so, could you drop me a line please?

On another note. I am a seminarian studying to be a
Catholic priest. I am in a Seminary in Nebraska of all
places (I know, I know), and last year under obedience
from my superiors I had to go looking for benefactors
to help with my tuition. I wrote a letter to the 50
Croatian parishes in the USA and Canada. Unfortunately
I received NO replies! Not even a negative reply.
Actually I was not asking the parishes to support me.
My letter clearly stated that if any individual would
be interested in helping a seminarian of Croatian
descent, then they could contact me. It was a bit sad
actually. I thought that Croatians would be a bit more
polite here in the US. Anyway, just thought I'd tell
the story. Perhaps you have some suggestion for what I
could try?

Keep up the good work, your site is very informative
and helpful.

Bog i Hrvati,
Antony Sumich
antonysumich@yahoo.com

Dear Anthony,

I hope that you will get few emails from Croatian priests and as well Croatians around the world.

We should be able to host you either here in New York or anywhere where Croatians live.

Good Luck and feel free to contact me to inform you directly to our religious and community leaders. To CROWN readers: Please feel free to help Anthony in which ever way you can.

I thank you for that,

Nenad
 

MASS IN HONOR OF BL. ALOJZIJE STEPINAC

A solemn mass in honor of Bl. Alojzije Stepinac will
be celebrated at 7pm on Tuesday, February 8th 2005 at
Our Lady of Victory Church, 4835 MacArthur Blvd.,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20007.

 

The main celebrant of the mass will be Rev. Francis
Moloney, S.D.B., S.T.L., S.S.L., D.Phil., the Dean
of the School of Theology and Religious Studies
at the Catholic University of America. Rev. Moloney is
a world renowned scripture scholar and has served
several years on the Papal Theological Commission in
Rome.

Besides the various priests from The Washington area,
other priests in concelebration include Rev. Dr. James
McCann, S.J., Director of the Office to Aid the Catholic
Church in Central and Eastern Europe, at the United
States Conference of Catholic Bishops; Rev. Paul Lee,
Pastor of Our Lady of Victory Parish; and Rev. Damir
Stojic, Pastor of the Croatian Pastoral Mission.

Also in attendance there will be various dignitaries,
the Minister of Culture in the Republic of Croatia Mr.
Bosko Biskupic and his wife Ljerka; the Ambassador of
the Republic of Croatia to the United States of
America His Excellency Mr. Neven Jurica and his wife
Dunja; and, Member of the Croatian Parliament Mr.
Mario Zubovic and his wife Dora.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the death of
Bl. Stepinac, it we will be our honor if you join us
to commemorate this hero and martyr of the Church.
There will be a reception in Hess hall after the mass.

Rev. Damir Stojic
 

NFCA


NATIONAL FEDERATION OF CROATIAN AMERICANS SPEARHEADS DRIVE TO FORM CONGRESSIONAL CROATIAN CAUCUS

 

Washington, D.C. (February 3, 2005). The National Federation of Croatian Americans (NFCA) welcomed the official establishment of the Congressional Croatian Caucus which was formally announced at a reception hosted by theNFCA at the Rayburn Congressional Office Building on Capitol Hill last Tuesday evening. Approximately 150 invited guests attended the reception which featured an assortment of Croatia's finest wines and excellent Croatian cuisine created by Chef Ivo Svircic and provided by the Croatian Embassy. TheNFCA reception was funded in part by special donations from Mike Grgich, Jure Sola, Tony Peraica, Janet Robert and Jamie Coleman.

The bipartisan Co-Chairs of this new Caucus, Rep. George P. Radanovich (R-CA) and Rep. Peter J. Visclosky (D-IN), welcomed all those present and discussed their long-standing desire to establish this important association of Members of Congress interested in promoting Croatian-American relations. That both Co-Chairs are of Croatian descent gives even further emphasis to this historic event for the Croatian American community.

Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-CA) also addressed those present, noting that he too has a personal connection to Croatia through his daughter-in-law, a native of Split. Congressman Gallegly in particular noted his deep appreciation of Croatia's beauty which he experienced first hand when his son and daughter-in-law recently renewed their marriage vows there. Rep. Gallegly will chair the Europe Subcommittee of the House International Relations Committee in the 109th Congress.

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) gave a short but powerful speech in which he spoke about his personal involvement in Croatia's struggle to gain independence and freedom for its people. He said he admired the strength and resolve of the Croatian people during this difficult period.

The Croatian Ambassador to the United States, Neven Jurica, said a few words about Croatia's determination to join Euro-Atlantic institutions and viewed the creation of the new Caucus as a step toward fulfilling that goal. Ambassador Jurica also welcomed a number of honored guests from Croatia, including Bozo Biskupic, the Minister of Culture, and Dr. Mario Zubovic, a member of the Croatian Parliament.

NFCA President Edward A. Andrus gave remarks on behalf of the Croatian American community thanking the bipartisan Co-Chairs and Founding Members while pledging to support the Caucus as it engages on important matters relevent to the community and the Republic of Croatia. He noted that the structuring of the Caucus was a government relations task which demanded much effort and many resources, not only from the NFCA but from other individuals and organizations. Mr. Andrus specifically mentioned the assistance provided by the Croatian Fraternal Union, Dr. Frank Brozovich, the former President of the Croatian American Association (CAA) and Honorary Consul of the Republic of Croatia, and Cook County Commissioner Anthony J. Peraica, a former board member of theNFCA and President of theCAA's Illinois Chapter. Mr. Andrus also recognized in the audience the presence of Dr. Jasenka Piljac from Zagreb, who coauthored an English language book on the Croatian origins of the Zinfandel grape which the NFCA will be presenting to all 41 of the Founding Members of the Caucus as an expression of its appreciation for their efforts on Croatia's behalf. (A copy of the "Zinfandel" book can be ordered fromNFCA Headquarters for $ 35.)

In addition to the four Congressmen who spoke, thirteen other Congressmen, both members and non-members of the Croatian Caucus made an appearance at the reception: Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA), Rep. Judy Biggert (R- IL), Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA), Rep. Phil English (R- PA), Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL), Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA), Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), Rep. Rick Larsen (R-WA), Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL), Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), Rep. Nick Joe Rahall (D-WV), Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), and Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI). The event was also attended by scores of Congressional officials and staff members, representatives from the State Department, leaders of the Croatian-American community from throughout the United States, a number of prominent Croatian-Americans in the Washington, D.C. area and Dr. Thomas P. Melady, former US Ambassador to the Vatican and Senior Dipolmat in Residence at the Institute of World Politics. Tony Butala of "The Lettermen" singing group and members of the press were also present.

Speaking after the event, NFCA President Edward Andrus reiterated the importance of the establishment of the Caucus and the NFCA's role in same. "There had been talk for some time about the need to establish a Caucus. The NFCA had a number of discussions concerning the idea with Congressmen Radanovich and Visclosky and their staffs. They all expressed their enthusiasm and we worked closely with their staffs in order to contact members of Congress to encourage them to join the Caucus as Founding Members. In this regard, not only did we rely on our own members but we teamed with non-members as well to have them reach out to their Congressional contacts. After all, while theNFCA played the key role in moving this concept forward, the Caucus itself is not a creature of theNFCA but is something from which the entire Croatian-American community and the Republic of Croatia will benefit."

In further discussing how the NFCA will work with the Croatian Caucus, Mr. Andrus said that theNFCA now has the enhanced ability to communicate with a group of Congressmen who have expressed a keen interest in issues related to Croatia. "Up until now, doing effective lobbying in Congress has been hampered without the Caucus. We had to concentrate on approaching individual Congressmen when we had some ideas or issues related to improving Croatian-American relations and the status of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Vojvodina. Now we have a group which on its first day of existence consists of almost 10% of all members of Congress. This will, we hope, allow the NFCA and the Croatian-American community as a whole the ability to more effectively present their views to Congress and have Congress as a whole take those views under serious consideration."

Mr. Andrus noted that the establishment of the Caucus will now actually require the NFCA and Croatian Americans to "step up to the plate" in a more consistent manner. "We now have this most efficient means to have Congress listen to our concerns, and there are many of them. Croatia's entry into NATO and other Euro-Atlantic institutions continues to encounter difficult obstacles which our elected Representatives can help to remove. Our community must become more engaged to make use of this opportunity and in that regard I urge all Croatian Americans to join us in further building on what I believe to be one of the greatest successes the NFCA has had to date."

The 41Founding Members of the Congressional Croatian Caucus are as follows:
Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA) - Co-Chair, Rep. Peter Visclosky (D-IN) - Co-Chair, Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA), Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH), Rep. Ben Chandler (D-KY, Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL), Rep. Bud Cramer (D-AL), Rep. Joe Crowley (D-NY), Rep. John Duncan (R-TN), Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY), Rep. Phil English (R-PA), Rep. Mike Ferguson (R-NJ), Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-CA), Rep. Paul Gillmor (R-OH), Rep. Luis Gutierrez (R-IL), Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA), Rep. Melissa Hart (D-PA), Rep. Maurice D. Hinchey (D-NY) Rep. Tim Holden (D-PA), Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA), Rep. Darrel Issa (R-CA), Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA), Rep. Rick Larsen (R-WA), Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-OH), Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA), Rep. Dennis Moore (D-KS), Rep. Harold Rogers (R-KY), Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Rep. Steve Rothman (D-NJ), Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL), Rep. Rob Simmons (R-CT), Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA), Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL), Rep. Lynn Woosley (D-CA), Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), and Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA).

The NFCA is a national umbrella organization of Croatian-American groups which collectively have approximately 130,000 members.

For more information, please call Joe Foley, (NFCA) Government Relations Director, at 301-294-0937 or Erik Milman, theNFCA's Director of Development, at the NFCA's headquarters in Washington at 202-331-2830 or by email at NFCAhdq@aol.com.

Croatia puts into operation its first wind farm

 

A view of a wind farm in Mardyck, France. Croatia's first wind farm, located on the central Adriatic island of Pag, began generation, the economy ministry said.(AFP/File/Denis Charlet)

Fri Feb 4,12:06 PM ET Science - AFP

ZAGREB (AFP) - Croatia's first wind farm, located on the central Adriatic island of Pag, began generation, the economy ministry said.
The system, worth some 6.5 million euros (8.4 million dollars), cmprises seven windmills, each of which is expected to generate about 15 million kilowatts of electricity per year. Croatia is building its second wind park, which is to be put into service later this year, near the central coastal town of Sibenik. It is also planning to build wind farms on the southern island of Vis and in the central town of Obrovac.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050204/sc_afp/croatiaenvironment_050204170613