Kucinich, presidential candidate,  Blast Corporate Media

His grandfather came through Ellis Island from Croatia

A Shunned Kucinich Blasts Corporate Media
By PUENG VONGS Pacific News Service (12-19-03)

The campaign of presidential candidate Rep. Dennis Kucinich, an Ohio Democrat, has not garnered the same high media profile enjoyed by some of his Democratic opponents such as former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean and retired U.S. general Wesley Clark. ABC News has announced it will stop having producers travel full time with the candidate’s campaign. Kucinich says it is this kind of corporate control of media, industries and government that he will fight against as president. It is stifling free speech, he says.
There used to be monopolies in such industries as steel and shipping, but today the monopolies are “in media, energy, health care and banking,” Kucinich said.

“The media should not dictate presidential debates based on polls and endorsements. How can they tell voters who to vote for?” Kucinich said. He told an audience of ethnic media on Dec. 15 in San Francisco that he supports more community access in media and that he would go on with his grassroots campaign. “I’m the Seabiscuit of 2004,” he said referring to the legendary underdog racehorse that won the hearts and minds of Depression-era America.

The press briefing was co-sponsored by NCM, a national coalition of ethnic news organizations, the Media Alliance, the San Francisco Immigrant Voter Coalition, San Francisco Tabernacle Congregations, and Accion Latina/El Tecolote.

Kucinich is no stranger to battling corporate interests. In 1978, at the age of 31—the youngest mayor to ever govern a major city, Cleveland—he refused when the city’s banks demanded he sell Cleveland’s city-owned power company to a private group, which was partly backed by local banks. As a result of his decision, Kucinich lost office when the banks drove the city to a major loan default. It took 15 years before Kucinich returned to public office and he would be credited for resisting the corporate power grab and saving Cleveland residents millions on their electric bills.

Mei Ling Sze with the Chinese language television station KTSF in San Francisco asked Kucinich how he would proceed with the anti-terror campaign in Iraq a day after the capture of former Iraq President Saddam Hussein. Kucinich said he would use the opportunity to take U.S. troops out of Iraq, embrace the world community in efforts against terrorism and seek out the United Nations for leadership and peacekeeping troops. Kucinich also detailed plans to put Iraqi oil interests in a trust for the Iraqi people and eliminate “sweetheart” deals in Iraqi reconstruction for specific American companies. “The sons and daughters of middle class Americans are paying the price for this war,” he said.

Addressing concerns on the sagging economy, Kucinich said there is too wide a gulf between the “haves” and the “have nots.” “Some are doing well, others are not. The minimum wage is frozen at $5.15 an hour nationally.” He says he also opposes Republican efforts to reduce overtime.

In response to the recent Medicare reform approved by Congress, Kucinich said that the term “reform” was being used very loosely. “Every time you hear this administration use the term reform, get hold of your wallets, lock your doors, and bolt your windows” because special interests are coming to “raid your wallets.” He said the new Medicare plan would favor private insurers and allow pharmaceutical companies to charge Medicare whatever they want for drugs. It took cost containment out of the bill and hurts the program, he said.

Beatriz Ferrari, with Spanish language television network Univision asked Kucinich his view on U.S.-Mexico relations. “I propose to ‘take down the wall’ and encourage a new cooperation between Mexico and the United Sates,” he said. This would include canceling the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which only decreases wages for workers under threats of moving jobs overseas, Kucinich said. He would instead replace NAFTA with bilateral trade agreements, which take into consideration workers’ rights, human rights and environmental principles.

Kucinich also supports amnesty for millions of undocumented workers. For too long these “immigrants have been used to reinforce the wealth of private companies while being relegated to second class citizens,” he said. The workers are exploited as cheap labor and if they complain, companies only need to threaten to report their status to immigration officials. “We must change this system,” he cried. Additionally Kucinich said that he supports the controversial measure to offer drivers’ licenses to undocumented immigrants.

Kucinich stressed that his immigrant roots helped him understand the plight of immigrants in the United States. His grandfather came through Ellis Island from Croatia. The United States must continue to extend a light of freedom and hope to immigrants, he said, and he opposes any efforts that stands in the way including the Patriot Act. Kucinich is the only presidential candidate to vote against the Patriot act. “As president, I want to see again a connection from our heart to the hearts of the world,” he said.

http://www.berkeleydaily.org/text/article.cfm?issue=12-19-03&storyID=17954

John Holbrook : "Jamnica is the best water I have ever tasted".

John Holbrook in Sinj October 2003

Five time Grammy award winner and a famous sound engineer who recently visited Croatia with me, while recording new a cappella CDs and DVDs in surround sound (Klapa Sinj, Klapa Luka, Klapa Navalia and Klapa Lindjo),  found Jamnica to be his choice of water. Without me asking him anything, he said that Jamnica is better than Perrier and as well the best mineral water he ever tasted.

Nenad Bach

US Green Card Lotterey File Electronically by Dec-30-2003
 

State Department DV Lottery 2005 Ends December 30. FTC
Issues Alert The State Department has issued information and questions
and answers on the criteria and procedures for applying for
the FREE Diversity Visa Lottery for 2005. NOTE: Not all
nationalities are eligible to apply. The registration
period is November 1 through December 30, 2003. All
applications must be filed electronically, directly to the
State Department. The FTC issued a fraud alert concerning a
non-governmental website


Instructions:
http://www.travel.state.gov/dv2005.html

General:
http://uscis.gov/graphics/index.htm

Overview:
http://uscis.gov/graphics/services/residency/divvisa.htm

How to Participate:
http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/divlott.htm

Father, husband looked after his family


Tom Gersic

By Jerry Vondas
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, December 21, 2003

 

Although Tom Gersic had the reputation of being a fine baker, it was at Christmas that his baked goods were most in demand. Jann Bernhardt recalled how, as children, she and her sister Jill White, along with a legion of relatives, looked forward to dining on their father'sCroatian nut bread. Tom Gersic's mother had brought the recipe with her when sheemigrated from Croatia, then a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Thomas J. Gersic, of Etna, died on Friday, Dec. 19, 2003, in Concordia Lutheran Home, Cabot, Butler County.

"In those days, our family Christmas dinners were well attended," Bernhardt said. "Dad had nine siblings, and they would take turns holding the Christmas dinners at their homes.


"But no matter where the Christmas dinner was held, Dad always provided the Croatian nut bread," Bernhardt added. "And the recipe is still in our family today."

Mr. Gersic was one of 10 children in the family of Thomas and Anna Petric Gersic. The elder Gersic, like many Croatian men, was recruited to come to the United States and work at the Spang, Chalfant & Co. plant in Etna.

As a youngster, Tom Gersic left school at an early age, enlisted in the Navy and saw action during World War II.

Mr. Gersic remained in the Navy after the end of the war, and after his discharge in 1955, he married Thelma Hahn, a woman from O'Hara.

"Both Mom and Dad said it was love at first sight," Bernhardt recalled, "and they were devoted to each other up until the time Mom died in 1994."

Bernhardt recalled that her father was so devoted to their mother that he opted to work two jobs so she could stay home and raise their daughters.

Mr. Gersic's first job after his discharge and marriage was to dig graves at the old Etna Cemetery, which contains the graves of Civil War veterans. It was a job he kept through the years, even though he was employed for more than 30 years as a food processor for Armour Meat Co. on the North Side.

"Many of the graves Dad dug, he did by hand," his daughter said. "Our father was an easy-going and a pleasant man to know and to talk with, but when it came to work, he was all work.

"Dad wanted us to get a good education, and he was willing to work two jobs," his daughter said. "He worked the night shift at Armour and then dug graves during the daylight hours. He did it for years."

Although Mr. Gersic enjoyed bowling, watching Westerns on TV and socializing with friends at the Sharpsburg Veterans of Foreign Wars post and the Jockey Club of Etna, he spent most of his time at home, where he and his wife continually busied themselves with chores around the house.

"Dad had a garden, and he and Mom would process and can the vegetables that he grew," Bernhardt said.

His daughter also recalled what it was like walking along the streets of Etna with her father. "Dad knew everyone," she said. "It took us a long time to walk along Butler Street. Dad had to stop and talk to almost everyone that went by."

Mr. Gersic is survived by his daughters, Jann Bernhardt of Shaler and Jill White of Oakdale; granddaughters, Tammy Volpatti, Amanda Mennell and Nicole White; a brother, Raymond Gersic of Naperville, Ill.; and sisters Barbara Kiray of Greenfield and Mary Lou Robinson of Indiana Township.

He was predeceased by his wife, Thelma; brothers, Michael and Steven Gersic; and sisters, Katherine Cvetic, Anne Profozich, Margaret Arzberger and Lily Barrett.

Visitation is from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today and Monday at Worrell Funeral Home Inc., Main and Ninth Streets, Sharpsburg, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, with the Rev. Herbert L. Schumm officiating.

Interment will follow in Mt. Royal Cemetery, Shaler.

Jerry Vondas can be reached at jvondas@tribweb.com or (412) 320-7823.

Back to headlines

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/tribnorth/news/s_171100.html

“FIND A GOOD CROATIAN GIRL”

I could not fit the cows on the plane.
Adam Eterovich in Zagreb, 1956-1958
San Francisco, California

My wife is a real Croatian-Zagrebcanka, Gospodja Danica Kralj. Papa in San Francisco told me to go to the
old country, stay a while, stay out of trouble, find a nice girl on the Island of Brac; I told him I
wasn’t looking for a nice girl. I looked around for two years. In Zagreb I visited the Korso Kafana,
Belgrad Bar, Kolodvor Kafana, Gradska Kafana, Dubrovnik Bar, Gradski Podroom Bar, Dubrovnik Kafana and
Saint Mark’s Church in December. This took one year and there were only three bars in town. Oh, I did try
to rent a car to see more, but Tito had the car on weekends.

Papa liked Tito, Stalin and Roosevelt-he wasn’t sure who was going to win, in fact, he had all their
pictures on the wall. It turns out he picked winners. In horse racing we call that Win, Place and Show.
Over here in San Francisco during World War Two they were locking up all Japanese, good or bad, and the
German and Italian fascists; they couldn’t find any Croatian fascists, naturally, so at that time Papa
figured Tito wasn’t that bad, then after the war when they were chasing communists, Papa became a
capitalist and showed his true colors. Money talks. The pictures came down. These old time stari
Dalmatinci were serious about politics. His motto was kako vitar puse, bandira vija. What does that mean
in English?

His advice was to find a good, young, big and strong girl from the Island of Brac(then known as a center
of culture, scholarship, wealth and a wonderful lifestyle) as they would listen, work and take care of you
in old age. There were a few things Papa didn’t tell me. Rocks, goats, sheep, more rocks, jack asses. If
they had a contest on who yells the loudest, a Splitcanka or a Bracanka, it would be a dead heat and nose
to nose. Good girls though, I enjoyed the bakalar dinners.

I like Zagrebcanka although they are not too good at listening. Danica’s mother was from Zagorje outside
of Zagreb. They had a strange way of speaking, Kaj-Kaj-Kaj instead of Co-Co-Co, and making wine. They
would make the wine one day, put it in barrels, and drink it the next. Danica’s father was from Slavonia,
no rocks, goats, sheep, jackasses, and as a dowry, I was only given ten acres of land, two cows, and
bedroom furniture because she was beautiful; I could have gotten fifty acres, ten cows plus household
furniture for her sister. This took one year and I ran out of money.

This was better than a Bracanka with a six inch tongue, muscles, 5’ 11’’ tall. Although I do miss the
bakalar, tripe, jonce na razojn, slone srdele, prsuta, kostredine, blitva, capula, ribe na gredele, boce,
treseta, briskula, zmul bevande i tamo na rivi cekat cu te drage.

I gave this all up for a pretty face.

The wedding lasted three days and I could not fit the cows on the plane.

Sjor Adam.
San Francisco, California

Hrvatski kulturni proizvod
 

Biskupic: "Pokušat cemo stvoriti i hrvatski kulturni proizvod, što temeljimo na nekoliko primjera mladih glazbenika, kao što jeNenad Bach u Americi, koji pokušava napraviti prodor etnoglazbe u svijet", rekao je Biškupi, dodavši da tu ubraja i sjajan nastup Tamare Obrovac s jazz glazbom izraslom iz istarske glazbene baštine.''

"Dužnost je Ministarstva kulture procijeniti sadašnje stanje i stvarati pozitivno ozracje za kulturu, a posebno omoguciti proboj hrvatske kulture prema svijetu", izjavio je novi ministar kulture.

Biškupic: Pokušat emo stvoriti hrvatski kulturni proizvod Objavljeno prije 2 sata NOVI ministar kulture Božo Biškupic izjavio je da e njegovo ministarstvo nastaviti provoditi strateške projekte koje je poela bivša vlada, ali i projekte koji su zapoeti u vrijeme vladavine HDZ-a.

Božo Biškupic, koji je bio ministar kulture i od 1995. do 2000., meu glavne zadae ubraja gradnju velikih kulturnih objekata - muzeja suvremene umjetnosti u Zagrebu, arheološkoga muzeja u Naroni i muzeja arheološkoga pracovjeka u Krapini. Dodao je da ce Ministarstvo nastaviti provoditi zapoete projekte u izdavaštvu, glazbi, kazalištu i filmu. Vrlo važnim Biškupi smatra otvaranje novih arheoloških parkova, te povezivanje turizma s projektima koji su ve odavno zacrtani, kao što su gradovi kulture te drugi slini važni projekti koji e pomoi razvoju hrvatskoga kulturnog identiteta. Nova ce se Vlada preko Ministarstva kulture, kako je rekao, znatnije skrbiti i za kulturu manjina, što je potpuno novo podruje. Biškupic drži važnim i program za poboljšanje statusa samostalnih umjetnika te materijalnog položaja zaposlenika u kulturi kojih ima oko 35.000.

Ministarstvo se skrbi i za nacionalne parkove i parkove prirode, obnovu i zaštitu spomenika kulture i zaštitu nematerijalne kulturne baštine, primjerice tradicijske glazbe, obicaja i predstava, što je pod posebnom zaštitom UNESCO-a.

Biškupic ce se zauzeti i za decentralizaciju iz koje proizlazi ravnomjerna razvijenost kulturne infrastrukture te pristupanost kulture svima, a najavljuje i jau meunarodnu kulturnu suradnju.

Kulturna vijea, napominje Biškupi, moraju djelovati na osnovi svojih kreativnih prijedloga, a ne tako da se inovniki prebrojavaju programi, kako je bilo do sada. Za taj dio posla placeni su djelatnici Ministarstva, rekao je, najavivši kao novost osnivanje županijskih vijeca, kako bi ojacala decentralizacija u kulturi, što je jedna od važnih nakana Ministarstva.

Glede odgovornosti drži da je ona u prvom redu na prvom covjeku Ministarstva te stoga dosadašnja kulturna vijeca mogu biti korisna kad se izrauju strateški projekti i osmišljavaju prioriteti u pojedinim dijelovima kulture ili u cjelini.

"Pokušat cemo stvoriti i hrvatski kulturni proizvod, što temeljimo na nekoliko primjera mladih glazbenika, kao što je Nenad Bach u Americi, koji pokušava napraviti prodor etnoglazbe u svijet", rekao je Biškupi, dodavši da tu ubraja i sjajan nastup Tamare Obrovac s jazz glazbom izraslom iz istarske glazbene baštine.

Ministarstvo e se pobrinuti i za niske kamate za zajmove u knjižniarstvu i izdavaštvu te u onim dijelovima koji se nazivaju kulturnom industrijom, rekao je.

Po Biškupicevim rijeima donijet ce se rješenja za casopise u Hrvatskoj, odnosno za njihovo subvencioniranje.

"Dužnost je Ministarstva kulture procijeniti sadašnje stanje i stvarati pozitivno ozracje za kulturu, a posebno omoguciti proboj hrvatske kulture prema svijetu", izjavio je novi ministar kulture.


--

Vecernji List

Hoce li upravo kultura postati naš izvozni proizvod? Trebamo li se ipak okrenuti novom vremenu i tržišno osmisliti kulturu?
- Slažem se, hrvatska kultura može biti naš izvozni proizvod. Na primjer, ovih se mjeseci priprema velika izložba "Renesansa u Hrvatskoj", koja ce biti postavljena u Parizu. Sigurni smo da ce postici dobar odjek i ako tako bude, pobrinut cemo se da tu izložbu vide i drugi veliki europski gradovi. Poticat cemo tzv. kulturne industrije, a želja nam je i da se stvori hrvatski kulturni proizvod. Mislim da je to moguce najprije u glazbi. Svojedobno sam u tisku procitao da hrvatski glazbenik gospodin Bach, koji živi u SAD-u, pokušava okupiti etnoglazbenike i plasirati ih na inozemno tržište. Kao sjajan primjer takve mogucnosti spominjem i istarsku glazbenicu Tamaru Obrovac.
Hocete li dati novac za to?
- Hocemo. Takve cemo projekte sigurno pomoci.

http://www.vecernji-list.hr/OBZOR/2003/12/27/Pages/zavrsit.html

BOŽO BISKUPIC, NOVI MINISTAR KULTURE, GOVORI O KULTURNIM PROJEKTIMA SANADEROVE VLADE, STATUSU UMJETNIKA I PREDSTAVLJANJU HRVATSKE KULTURE U SVIJETU
Završit cemo Muzej suvremene umjetnosti
NATO, EU, PDV, rodiljske naknade..., sve su to prioriteti Vlade. A gdje je kultura? Na repu dogadaja i interesa i ove vlade?
- Nije, niti ce biti! Vec je u predizborno vrijeme HDZ dao jasno na znanje u svom programu, ali i u predizbornim govorima, da kulturi pridaje veliko znacenje. Kultura je važna za Hrvatsku, a za Hrvatsku demokratsku zajednicu jedan je od prioriteta. Hrvatska Vlada našu ce kulturu pomagati i promicati u zemlji i svijetu.
Hocete li raditi velike rezove u samom ministarstvu, strukturi, nacinu rada? Mislim prije svega na kadrove.
- Nekih ce promjena biti. Prije svega, u Ministarstvo kulture vracena je zaštita prirodne baštine i hrvatski ured UNESCO-a, koji je sada u vanjskim poslovima. Znaci, promijenila se struktura ministarstva i neke ce službe trebati spojiti, a neke možda zahtijevaju nove ljude. Promislit cemo, u Ministarstvu ima dovoljno strucnih i iskusnih ljudi, koji ce uz ministra osmisliti i izgraditi sustav što efikasnijeg djelovanja. Premijer je u nastupnom govoru u Hrvatskom saboru govorio o potrebi smanjenja državne uprave i ministri ce slijediti primjer i ispuniti obecano. Naravno, ništa nece biti na štetu djelatnosti.
Hoce li Ministarstvo kulture biti rame za plakanje, odnosno, mjesto gdje ce balerine, glumci, slikari, pisci, galeristi i mnogi drugi dolaziti po još koju kunu?
PDV na knjigu smo ukinuli
Vas su neki optužili da ste kulturi na vrat natovarili PDV za knjigu?
- Na žalost, cini se da neki vaši mladi kolege nisu upucni u tu problematiku pa su pisali da je u vrijeme ministra Biškupica uveden PDV na knjigu. Tocno je, PDV je uveden u vrijeme premijera Valentica, a stupio je na snagu godinu dana poslije, kad je došla vlada premijera Mateše. Mi smo se u Ministarstvu kulture gotovo tri godine trudili oko tadašnjeg ministra financija i 1999. postigli da se PDV na knjigu ukine.

- Ministarstvo ce zasigurno biti mjesto susreta. Umjetnici ce dolaziti kao što su to cinili i u mom prijašnjem mandatu. Iznosit ce svoja videnja, osvrtati se na probleme i nuditi rješenja. Vrata ce im uvijek biti širom otvorena. Obici cemo uskoro Hrvatsku i razgovarati s umjetnicima i djelatnicima u kulturi te se najprije suociti s problemima i s njihovim rješenjima. Vec sam obavio razgovore s nekoliko procelnika za kulturu u pojedinim velikim gradovima. Oni ce biti medu prvima s kojima cu u Ministarstvu sa svojim suradnicima razgovarati o suradnji na velikim projektima, a isto tako želim da medu prvim sugovornicima budu i intendanti svih nacionalnih kazališta. Jedan od naših prvih zadataka je ispunjenje obecanja poboljšanja materijalnog statusa samostalnih umjetnika. Vratit cemo ih za pocetak u status koji su imali i 2000. godine, a nakon toga nastojati, ovisno o gospodarskoj situaciji, taj status i poboljšati. Vama je poznato da im je Ministarstvo financija u prošloj Vladi smanjilo prava 50 posto, tako da su nakon 35 i više godina rada odlazili u mirovinu sa 800 kuna.
Što cete tu konkretno napraviti?
- Vratit cemo doprinose na razinu na kojoj su bili! To znaci iste mirovine kakve su bile i prije smanjenja, a s vremenom i poboljšanje. To, naravno, ovisi o boljim proracunskim mogucnostima.
Ostali prioritetni potezi?
- U kulturi ima oko 35.000 zaposlenih djelatnika, o cijem materijalnom položaju i statusu skrbi i Ministarstvo kulture. Ovih je dana potpisan sporazum sa sindikatima djelatnika u kulturi. Nisam ga još vidio, tek sam drugi dan u Ministarstvu, ali mislim da su neke obveze u korist djelatnika u kulturi ucinjene. Nastavit cemo sve dobre programe, a posebno važne kapitalne strateške projekte, od kojih su neki zapoceti još u vrijeme bivše HDZ-ove vlade.
Da bi netko mogao uspješno kormilariti brodom punom slikara, pisaca, balerina, pjevaca..., potrebno je da ih razumije u dušu, ali i da poznaje sve tajne politike. Jer kulturnjaci svih profila vrlo su osjetljivi ljudi, veliki zaljubljenici u ono što rade, te cesto idealisti kojima je svijet politike sasvim nerazumljiv. Zbog svega toga Božo Biškupic po mnogima je gotovo idealan ministar je odlicno poznaje i snalazi se u osjetljivom svijetu kulture, ali i u interesnim politickim vodama. A to je i te kako važno, jer za kulturu je potreban i novac za koji ce se Biškupic boriti na sjednicama Vlade, ali i vladajucoj stranci. Možda ce tom vrsnom poznavatelju likovne umjetnosti, te zaljubljeniku u glazbu, koji ima vrlo važna poznanstva u vrhovima europske politike i kulture, uspjeti da pokrene naše kulturu što oni koji od nje i za nju žive željno ocekuju..

Na primjer?
- Muzej suvremene umjetnosti. Natjecaj je bio završen, izabran projekt, 1999. godine, a šest dana uoci ovih izbora zakopan je i kamen temeljac. Sve je to išlo malo presporo, dobro je da je temeljac postavljen i projekt cemo nastaviti. Nastavit cemo i radove na muzeju krapinskog pracovjeka i što skorije ih dovršiti. To je svjetsko nalazište i bit ce to jedan od iznimno znacajnih muzeja u ovom dijelu Europe. Treci veliki kapitalni projekt jest arheološko nalazište u Naroni, u Svetom Vidu. Muzej smo poceli kao projekt i dovršit cemo ga.
Ali osim tih kapitalnih projekata, postoji niz malih sitnih apetita i problema s kojima se ljudi iz kulture svakodnevno susrecu, koji ih lupaju po glavi i koji su za njih nerješivi. Znate li zapravo što ljude najviše tišti? Hocete li im pomoci?
- Najcešce ljude tišti materijalni položaj i mi cmo im ga nastojati olakšati.
Hocte li imati malo više novca s obzirom na vaš osobni vrlo utjecajan položaj u Vladi i HDZ-u? Hocete li malo više lobirati za svoju struku?
- Naravno da cu lobirati za svoje ministarstvo i za sve djelatnosti koje ono pokriva, mislim da je to legalno i legitimno. Premijer dr. Ivo Sanader je covjek koji razumije problematiku kulture i od njega ocekujem podršku.
Znaci, imate vezu kod premijera?
- Mislim da vezu, po prirodi posla, imaju svi ministri. Važno je da imamo podršku premijera, ali i razumijevanje i suradnju s ministrom financija, posebno jer namjeravamo pojacati medunarodnu kulturnu suradnju.
Mislite li samo na medudržavnu razmjenu?
- Ne samo na to. Mislim, primjerice, na prijevode hrvatskih autora na svjetske jezike. Važno je pomoci prevodenju hrvatskih autora i tiskanju njihovih djela u svijetu, kako bi se i novija, ali i starija hrvatska književnost prepoznala kao relevantan cimbenik europskoga kulturnog prostora. Mislim, na primjer, i na glazbu kojom uz likovnu umjetnost najlakše promicemo hrvatsku kulturu. Nastupi hrvatskih glazbenika na svjetskim pozornicama ili hrvatskih umjetnika u svjetskim muzejima naš su prioritet. No necemo samo nuditi svoje, prihvatit cemo isto tako programe kulture iz drugih zemalja.
Hoce li upravo kultura postati naš izvozni proizvod? Trebamo li se ipak okrenuti novom vremenu i tržišno osmisliti kulturu?
- Slažem se, hrvatska kultura može biti naš izvozni proizvod. Na primjer, ovih se mjeseci priprema velika izložba "Renesansa u Hrvatskoj", koja ce biti postavljena u Parizu. Sigurni smo da ce postici dobar odjek i ako tako bude, pobrinut cemo se da tu izložbu vide i drugi veliki europski gradovi. Poticat cemo tzv. kulturne industrije, a želja nam je i da se stvori hrvatski kulturni proizvod. Mislim da je to moguce najprije u glazbi. Svojedobno sam u tisku procitao da hrvatski glazbenik gospodin Bach, koji živi u SAD-u, pokušava okupiti etnoglazbenike i plasirati ih na inozemno tržište. Kao sjajan primjer takve mogucnosti spominjem i istarsku glazbenicu Tamaru Obrovac.
Hocete li dati novac za to?
- Hocemo. Takve cemo projekte sigurno pomoci.
Hocete li se zauzimati za elitizam u kulturi?
- Zauzimat cu se za vrhunsku kvalitetu, ali i za decentralizirano upravljanje kulturom. Za manje sredine pojedini su programi vrlo važni, a odlucivanje iz centra ne bi im dalo šansu. Stoga im treba pružiti mogucnost na drugi nacin. Nema podjele na elitizam-neelitizam, nego na kvalitetu i specificnosti u pojedinim sredinama.
Znaci li ta decentralizacija i prebacivanje financiranja u te manje sredine?
- Treba pripremiti zakone kako bi dio sredstava od kojih se financira kultura došao i u lokalne sredine, da mogu same odlucivati o raspodjeli. Dobar je primjer ovakva nacina raspodjele sustav financiranja uz pomoc spomenicke baštine - 60 posto prikupljenih sredstava ostaje lokalnoj samoupravi, a 40 posto ide u fond solidarnosti pri Ministarstvu financija, iz kojega se obnavljaju i drugi spomenici kulture.
Koristi li Zagreb uopce dovoljno svoje kulturne potencijale?
- Hrvatska je zemlja na raskržju Mediterana i srednje Europe, a Zagreb je njezina središnja tocka. Tu se može uciniti puno više.
Primjer?
- Dobar je primjer Muzej za umjetnost i obrt, koji radi kvalitetne i velike izložbe, ali njih još treba plasirati barem u velike gradove susjednih država, npr. u Bec, Budimpeštu, Ljubljanu ili Milano. Veliki zagrebacki izložbeni prostor Klovicevi dvori sjajno su mjesto za ugošcivanje medunarodnih izložbi. Jedini je problem osiguranje, koje je vrlo skupo za izložbe poput Van Gogha ili D?rera. Kad bismo taj problem mogli riješiti, vjerujem da bi redovi za takve izložbe, kakve vidamo u Parizu, bili i u Zagrebu.
Sponzori kao rješenje?
- Vec sam poceo razgovore s vodecim ljudima velikih hrvatskih tvrtki o sponzoriranju kulture. Ima odjeka, i to mi daje nadu da cemo s njima potpisati ugovore.
Kada?
- Po mogucnosti uskoro.
Zbog festivala bilo je puno tenzija. Hoce li tu biti nekih promjena?
- Festivali imaju znacajnu ulogu u kulturi i turistickom gospodarstvu. Turizam to, na žalost, nije dovoljno prepoznao. U Italiji ministarstvo turizma cak upravlja velikim festivalima. Razgovarat cemo s ministrom zaduženim za turizam i nadamo se da ce više ulagati u programe kulture nego dosad. Za bolje prepoznavanje objekata spomenicke baštine Ministarstvo je dužno izraditi registar spomenika kulture. To je dug službe zaštite iz prošlih godina. Dat cemo im rok od šest mjeseci u kojem su ga dužni završiti i objaviti.
Hoce li biti novih festivala?
- Vec sam prije pet godina predlagao, a za to cu se zauzimati i dalje, da Osijek osnuje festival operete. Veliki centri, Bec, Zagreb i Budimpešta, koji njeguju taj žanr, na zajednickoj su zemljopisnoj i kulturološkoj razini s tim istocnoslavonskim središtem i verujem da ce rado suradivati.
Hocete li se izboriti za dodatne olakšice za kulturu?
- To ovisi o cjelokupnoj gospodarskoj situaciji, ali ima jedan problem koji želim riješiti s ministrom financija. Rijec je o opterecenjima - PDV-u i carini - koja, kad hrvatske institucije kupuju nacionalnu spomenicku gradu u inozemstvu, opterecuju državni proracun.
Darko Ðuretek

PORUKA HRVATIMA IZVAN DOMOVINE:

"Vaša je ljubav ugradena u temelje hrvatske slobode."

24. prosinca 2003.
Hrvatice i Hrvati,
svima vama izvan domovine, vašim obiteljima i vašim najmilijima želim blagoslovljen i sretan Božic i uspješnu i plodnu Novu 2004. godinu. Božicni blagdani predstavljaju vrijeme ljubavi, nade, mira, obitelji i Božjeg blagoslova.
Neka ovo božicno vrijeme bude svima vama vrijeme za radost, jer smo i uz vašu pomoc, Hrvatskoj vratili nadu u dostojanstvenu buducnost. Jucer je novoizabrani Hrvatski sabor u kojem voljom hrvatskih biraca HDZ ima vecinu, imenovao hrvatsku Vladu kojoj imam cast biti na celu. Zajednickim trudom, predanošcu i ljubavlju prema domovini, hrvatskom narodu i svim gradanima Hrvatske, možemo od naše domovine uciniti zemlju prosperiteta.
Ocekujem na tom putu i vašu nesebicnu pomoc. Ocekujem vaše djelatno sudjelovanje u hrvatskom društvenom, politickom i gospodarskom životu. Hrvatska Vlada i hrvatske društvene institucije bit ce vam u tome na usluzi. Vaša je ljubav ugradena u temelje hrvatske slobode.
S poštovanjem,

dr. Ivo Sanader
predsjednik Vlade RH i predsjednik Hrvatske demokratske zajednice

Dubai and Croatia seek to boost trade relations

28 December 2003

DUBAI - Abdul Rahman Ghanim Al Mutaiwee, the Director General of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry yesterday received at his office Dr Ivica Tmic, Ambassador of Croatia in Cairo, accompanied by a delegation from the embassy in order to develop bilateral economic and tourism relations between Dubai and Croatia.


Al Mutaiwee said: "Croatia is one of the regions that interest us, especially after it witnessed relative economical and political stability. We are looking forward to establising firm relations with your country, and are ready enough to push forward the cooperation with you for the favour of our two countries."

The Croatian ambassador said his country gives priority to create a strong cooperation with Dubai through such visits, as Dubai during this significant era of its contemporary history is considered as the globe economy crossroads, in the light of its positive tremendous leaps in all fields.

He pointed out to his keenness to visit DCCI as it is deemed one of the controlling nerves of that economy, in addition to his visits to The Civil Aviation Authority and Ports & Customs for the same purpose.

Al Mutaiwee said the Chamber took the initiative to invite many parties in several countries - of that having no consular or diplomatic representation in the Emirate - to establish contact offices or commercial agencies in Dubai. Further to the positive response of these countries to the Chamber's initiative, offices already established and its number reached 56, and some of them were upgraded into higher level of representation. Following to the success achieved by those offices, much of relevant countries had enough motives to establish consulates or embassies purposely to enlarge the range of cooperation with Dubai in continuation to reinforce that success. This is also positively can be applicable to Croatia that is missing the commercial or diplomatic representation in Dubai.

The ambassador said: "We, in Croatia are considerably looking to that matter, and after all what I've seen of the comprehensive progress in all fields within a secure and firm economic environment". He continued : "I together with the members of accompanying delegation are strongly convinced to raise the matter up to the concerned authorities in Croatia, and move from the perception to the execution phase in order to establish an existence for our country in Dubai."


http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/business/2003/December/business_December658.xml&section=business

In the fifth year and a second one on the website

Dear All,

December 25th 2003. Two years on website and in a fifth year of CROWN's (Croatian World Network) existence. 750.000 hits (amazing, isn't it). Approximately 500.000 this year. Over 2200 published letters in two years. A lot of work and a lot of pride and joy as well. I thank you for being the inspiration for me to go on. I hope to make a change this year to a new platform that will allow 10 other writers around the world to regularly participate with their submissions. Goal for this year is to make CROWN daily e-magazine. Which means, changes will be done on a daily basis. If we connect the dots that are missing and that is financing and talent. For writing and technical staff. I am bypassing number of technical difficulties for the last 6 months and it is very much time consuming and nerve wrecking. New site will be located onwww.Croatia.org which will lead you today to CROWN as it is.

I thank you for your kind letters and wishes. I am amazed how much it means to you. We are making a progress every day. I want to thank again Eugenij Lezaja for creating the whole structure of CROWN, Marko Puljic for more consistent work on CROWN this year, our sponsors "Adriatic Travel", "Heart of Croatia Gifts", "Artificial Intelligence Design", "Enconet", "Nenad Bach Music Ltd", "Croatia Travel", "BRAMSON ORT College" and all of you who participate with your submissions and contributions. CROWN already became a significant website with a consistent readership and therefore, I will look for more strategic partners in advertisement. Numbers are proven for years. Runway was a long one. It's time to fly.

I needed a brake this days, so my letter is short. Enjoy Christmas, Holidays, Hanukah, Kwanzaa or whatever you do believe or not.

I wish you Merry everything and

A Thousand Years of Peace on Earth !
 

Nenad Bach
Editor in Chief
Glavni urednik
CROWN

Croatian World Network - www.Croatia.org
Hrvatska Svjetska Mreza

Sretan Božic i Nova Godina !

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year !

Froehliche Weihnachten und ein glückliches Neues Jahr!

Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!

Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année!

Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo !

Chestita Koleda i Shtastliva Nova Godina !

Veseloho Vam Rizdva i Shchastlyvoho Novoho Roku!

Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva i s Novim Godom !

Afvcke Nettvcakorakko !

Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun!

Rőőmsaid Jőulupühi ja Head uut aastat!

Hyvää Joulua or Hauskaa Joulua - 0nnellista uutta vuotta!

Kellemes karácsonyi ünnepeket és Boldog újévet!

Pax hominibus bonae voluntatis!

Linksmu Kaledu ir laimingu Nauju metu !

Jovi talshpivdi un Vondzist uto aigasto !

Wesolych Swiat i Szczesliwego Nowego Roku!

Glćdelig Jul og godt nytĺr !

Boas Festas e um feliz Ano Novo!

Craciun fericit si un An Nou fericit!

Bonu nadale e prosperu annu nou!

Feliz Navidad y Próspero Ańo Nuevo !

God Jul och Gott Nytt Ĺr !

Vesele Vianoce a stastny novy rok

Vesele bozicne praznike in srecno novo leto

Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan !