DELEGATES OF THE CROATIAN WORLD CONGRESS IN ZAGREB

Three-day session will be held in Zagreb on March 26, 27 and 28, 2003 with members from 30 countries. They are to discuss the grave position of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina,Vojvodina, Kosovo and other important issue. 

For more information please contact

Josip Ante Sovulj
Secretary 
Croatian World Congress
JSovulj@aol.com 

GLOBAL VOLUNTEERS FOR CROATIA

Working for a non profit organization in finance / accounting, I have spent years searching for a program that would benefit both Croatians and Americans. 

Global Volunteers, a nonprofit, nonsectarian organization for more then 20 years, works in emerging democracies and developing countries and communities in 18 countries, but not yet in Croatia. 

This program is free of charge to Croatians. American volunteers pay for the entire program and as US taxpayers, it is tax deductible. 

Short term volunteers spend their vacations of 2 or 3 weeks, teaching "conversational English" or number of other programs including business experience, work in libraries, orphanages, with elderly, disabled adults, building and painting projects, etc. No teaching license is necessary for this short term volunteering, but you do need a lot of good will to share your talent and money for Croatians. 

While the volunteers work on various projects in the morning, in the afternoon they are free to explore the country, go to the beach, meet with long lost relatives, etc. 

For this project to take off in Croatia, the following is needed: A group of people in Croatia has to decide a location, choose a program and sign up students and/or adults. They also need to send a formal letter to the Global Volunteers organization, inviting them into the community. For more information on Global Volunteers see www.globalvolunteers.org  or call toll free for a brochure 800-487-1074, fax (651) 482-0915. Global Volunteers organization is located at 375 East Little Canada Road, St. Paul, MN 55117-1628 USA

Please forward this information to everyone you know in Croatia.

Contact Katarina Tepesh tepeshk@aol.com 

JanicaWins Twice 

Janica Kostelic of Croatia, center, winner of a World Cupwomen's Slalom, celebrates on the podium with second placed Sweden's AnjaPaerson, left, and third placed Monika Bergmann of Germany, in Are, Sweden,Saturday, March 8, 2003. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

Kostelic gets fifthslalom victory, ends course jinx

By The AssociatedPress

ARE, Sweden — Janica Kostelic had already wrapped up the overall World Cuptitle before yesterday's race. So she took care of some unfinished business,winning at a place where she had never performed well.

Kostelic won her fifth World Cup slalom of the season, beating Sweden's AnjaPaerson by more than half a second.

Kostelic, the Olympic and world champion from Croatia, had a combined two-runtotal of 1 minute, 45.84 seconds on a course set by her father and coach, AnteKostelic.

"It was really nice to finally get a good result here," saidKostelic, who had never finished in the Top 10 on the course, the northernmoston the World Cup circuit. "I gave everything I had. This hill is not sochallenging, so you really must attack."

Sarah Schleper of Vail, Colo., was the top American finisher, taking 26thwith a time of 1:51.68.

Paerson, who won the giant slalom here Thursday for her first World Cup winon home snow, was second. More important, she moved into the same spot in theoverall standings.

Kostelic, who clinched the overall title Thursday, has also secured the WorldCup slalom title this season.

CopyrightŠ 2003 The Seattle Times Company

Bush chooses Croatia ambassadors 

Friday, March 7, 2003 

(03-07) 14:45 PST WASHINGTON (AP) -- 

President Bush has picked two career members of the Foreign Service to be the ambassadors of Croatia and Kenya, the White House announced Friday. 

Ralph Frank, now director of the State Department's office of career development and assignments, is moving to Croatia. William Bellamy, now principal deputy assistant secretary in the department's bureau of African affairs, is the president's choice for ambassador to Kenya. 

Previously, Frank was ambassador to Nepal and worked as deputy assistant secretary in the department's bureaus of personnel, administration and diplomatic security. His overseas assignments have been in Katmandu, Nepal; Warsaw, Poland; Medan, Indonesia; and Belgrade, Yugoslavia. 

Bellamy earlier was deputy chief of mission in Canberra, Australia, political officer in Paris and chief of the political section in Pretoria, South Africa. He also worked in Washington as political officer in the office of southern African affairs. 

The nominations must be confirmed by the Senate. 

prof. dr. Zarko Dolinar

3 ozujka 1920 - 9 ozujka2003

Dragi prijatelji i poznanici,

Napustio nas je nas Zarko u 82 godini zivota. I te kakvog zivota. Pajdas mogoca iz djetinjstva, a time postaje i moj pajdas, jer Zarko je mladji odnajmladjeg. Nekonformist prve klase. Covjek cije misli se tesko obuzdaju, aliinspiriraju. Analiticar, doktor nauka, vrhunski svjetski sportas, humanist,istrazitelj. Znatizeljan o svemu i svacemu. Kao danas se sjecam svih njegovihposjeta i razgovora. Od druzenja s John Lennonom do Mao Tze Tunga, Perona, iElizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatre i svakog covjeka kojeg je sreo na vlaku iliautobusu. Nijagara informacija, entuzijazma. Jos jedan dokaz da mala zajednicakao Hrvatska nije mogla ni priblizno razumijeti, a kamo li doseci kapacitet ipotencijal takvog genija. Neorganiziranog i smusenog i briljantnog. Takvi ljuditrebaju strukturu podrske da im se osigura baza s koje mogu kreirati ono stodrugima ne pada na pamet. Kolekcionar od autograma svjetski poznatih ljudi,slika i novcanica do gacica Hollywoodskih zvijezda (osobno kolekcijoniranih). OdPicassa do susjeda amatera. Prijatelj Charlie Chaplina i da ne nabrajam. Prijedva mjeseca dobio sam njegove pozdrave preko Jasenka Houre (Prljavo Kazaliste)koji mu je i u rodu (sto sam tada doznao), ni ne sluteci da se nebumo visevidjeli. Steta sto Zarko nije napisao memoare. Njegove kratke razglednice i dugapisma puna metafora govore volumene. U njegovu cast , novi design CROWNa ceimati kategoriju Bolje Humor Nego Tumor umjesto Humor and Wisdom.

Hrvatska je izgubila jednog od najboljih sinova.

Danas tugujem. Sutra nastavljam s CROWNom. Zarko je bio jedan od briljantnijhljudi na CROWNu.

Tvoj Caballero

Nenad Bach, New York 9 Ozujka, 2003

Dear friends

Today at age 82, Zarko Dolinar, left us. What a life ! My father's buddy fromchildhood and therefore my own buddy, because Zarko was youngest of all of us.First class nonconformist. Man who's thoughts was difficult to capture, but theyinspired. Analytic, doctor of science, world champion in table tennis, humanist,explorer. Curious about anything and everything. Like today, I remember all ourmeetings and long hours of conversation. Stories about his meetings with JohnLennon, Mao Tze Tung, Peron, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor and anybody andeverybody whom he met at the train or bus station. Niagara Falls of informationand enthusiasm. One more proof that small communities like Croatia couldn't evencomprehend the potential of this genius. Unorganized, upset minded andbrilliant. Such people need structure of support which gives them basis fromwhich they can create something that others don't even think about. He collectedeverything , from autographs of famous people, paintings (he was himself verygood one), numismatics...  to panties of famous Hollywood stars (personallycollected). From Picasso to the amateur neighbor. Charlie Chaplin's friend andthe list go on and on. Two months ago, I got personal greeting from him fromJasenko Houra (his cousin, I learned that, that day - from Prljavo Kazaliste -Rolling Stones of Croatia) not knowing that we'll not see each other again. Itis a tragedy that such a man didn't right an autobiography. His short postcardsand long letters,  full of metaphors, speak volumes. The column BetterHumor Than Tumor was a quote from Zarko and in his honor and memory, on the newdesign, that will be the category on CROWN. 

Croatia lost of one hers best son.

Today I mourn. Tomorrow I will continue with CROWN. Zarko was one of thebrilliant CROWN subscribers.

Your Caballero

Nenad Bach, New York March 9, 2003

UMRO ZARKO DOLINAR 

Otisao veliki sportas i ljubitelj zivota 
Izvanserijski i iznimno uspjesan Zivot jednog od najvecih hrvatskih sportasa svih vremena prof. dr. Zarka Dolinara naglo je presjecen kratkom bolescu. U svicarskom Baselu 9. ozujka u 82. godini umro je nas proslavljeni stolnoteniski prvak. 
Kao 14-godisnjak Zarko se prihvatio ping-ponga nakon sto je na nogometu slomio nogu! Zbog toga je kod kuce bio prisiljen sjedeci igrati i to na stolu velicine 150 cm. Prvi njegov reket nije imao drsku, pa je Zarko podbocio drugu stranu reketa prstima i to je razlog sto se priklonio penholderu i tako igrao cijelog Zivota. 
U trezorima nase sportske povijesti ostat ce zabiljeZeno da je bio prvi Hrvat koji je osvojio medalju na Svjetskom prvenstvu (Kairo 1939.) i prvi hrvatski sportas uopce koji se okitio naslovom svjetskog prvaka! 
Zarko je ispunio vitrine vrijednim trofejima i nagradama s mnogih borilista, od prve nagrade broncane tintarnice do pehara i osam medalja sa svjetskih prvenstava. S partnerom Suboticaninom Vilimom Harangozom osvojio je Svjetsko prvenstvo 1954. u londoskom Wembleyu, i to je biser njegove karijere. Nanizao je jos 25 trofeja s medunarodnih natjecanja i turnira. 
S lakocom je igrao, nikad umoran ili iscrpljen, iako je nevjerojatno malo trenirao. U stolnoteniskoj areni lako ga se uocavalo onako snaznog i visokog s tradicionalnim zelenim sjenilom nabijenim na celo. Drzao se uza stol masuci sa svojim golemim reketom, daleko vecim od danasnjih uobicajenih reketa. Bio je majstor sjajnog refleksa i izvanredne anticipacije. Racionalni igrac, takticar velikog formata. U igri glavno mu je oruzje bilo snazan forhend-drajv, posebno paralele. Mogao je izvlaciti, dok nije dobio "zicer", pa bi onda raspalio lopticu po svim uglovima. Hazardnim udarcima zbunjivao je suparnike. Penholderasa Dolinara s pravom ubrajamo u pretece kasnijih tajfunskih napada Azijaca - Japanaca i Kineza. 
Zagreb je za rodenog Koprivnicanca postao i ostao grad njegove mladosti i grad najljepsih zivotnih trenutaka. Prof. dr. Zarko Dolinar bio je vrhunski sportas, ali i covjek snaznog intelekta, enciklopedijskog znanja, izuzetno elokventan sugovornik. Godinama se bavio znanstveno-istrazivackim radom. Njegovo ime imalo je tezinu u svjetskim znanstvenim krugovima. Humanist, vizionar, analiticar. Njegovu znatizelju, posebno posljednjih godina, privukla je genetika, ciji je vrstan poznavalac postao. Kao malo tko, imao je iznimno sirok dijapazon zanimanja... 
Tuzni smo i zalosni. Spusten je reket velikog majstora i neumornog globtrotera. S Dolinarom smo izgubili jednog od najvecih nasih sportasa, a njegovom smrcu mnogo je izgubio i svjetski i hrvatski stolni tenis. 

Zdenko Uzorinac 

prof. dr. zarko dolinarrodio se u koprivnici 3.07.1920. godine od oca jakova i majke franjice.otac jakov bio je apelacioni sudac i ugledna javna licnost. majka franjicapotjece iz ugledne sportske obitelji fridrih koja je hrvatskom narodupodarila nekoliko izuzetnih sportasa i intelektualaca. diplomirao je naveterinarskom fakultetu u zagrebu 1948., gdje je i doktorirao s tezom osobitostiredukcije lisnjace (1959). od 1961. radi u zavodu za anatomiju medicinskogfakulteta u baselu. izvanredni je profesor medicinskog fakulteta(1969.–1985.), te predavac na stomatoloskom fakultetu (1978.–1983.) u baselu.dolinar je po svom predavackom opusu u neku ruku rekorder je je imao pravoexkatedralne nastave (venia docendi) na 5 fakulteta (humana medicina, veterina,stomatologija, farmacija, fakultet za sport i fizicku kulturu). uz anatomiju,bavio se istrazivanjima s podrucja histologije, patologije, embriologije igenetike, a znanstvene radove objavljivao u hrvatskim i strucnim inozemnimedicijama. sportsku karijeru zapoceo u novom sadu 1934., nastavio u ljubljani(1935.–1936.) i u zagrebu (otac je kao sudac cesto mjenjao mjestasluzbovanja). velik utjecaj na njegov odgoj imali su i salezijanci u ljubljani izagrebu (na kneziji) gdje je zarko uz vjeronauk ucio i prve udarce reketom.odusevljenje salezijancima i njihovom utemeljitelju, don boscu, drzi gajos danas. vec nakon mature seniorski je prvak jugoslavije u stolnom tenisu.prvi je hrvat koji je na svjetskom prevenstvu svih sportova osvojio tri medalje;broncanu, srebrnu (kairo, 1939.) i zlatnu (u igri parova s v. haranggozom 1954.u londonu). od 1939. clan je HASK-a, kojem donosi prvenstvo upojedinacnom natjecanju za hrvatski kup u bjelovaru 1941. iste godineosvojio je prvo mjesto i na medjunarodnom turniru u berlinu. Od 1941. do1945. visestruki je prvak NDH i reprezentativac u devet medjudrzavnih meceva (protivslovacke, madjarske, njemacke i rumunjske). jedan je od utemeljitelja prvesvjetske sportske federacije swaythling club international (stockholm,1967.) koja se bavi posrnulim sportskim sampionima. kao kolekcionar skupiobogatu zbirku umjetnickih predmeta, likovnih djela, te rukopisa i autograma(preko 7000). kolekcionarska strast proteze se na jos desetak raznih kolekcija.poznat je i njegov rad na humanitarnom polju. jos kao gimnazijalac spasavao jezidove za vrijeme progona u drugom svjetskom ratu, cime je odlikovan najvecimizraelskim priznanjem za nezidove; yad vashem. dobitnik je i povelje henryadunanta, utemeljitelja crvenog kriza. suosnivac je pri osnivanju hrvatskezaklade protiv raka u domovini i postaje predsjednik njezinog glavnog odbora(1970.). suosnivac je prvog ogranka matice hrvatske u svicarskoj i njezinpredsjednik (basel, 1967.), predsjednik, a potom i pocasni predsjednik HKZ-eu svicarskoj (1989.), te osnivac almae matris alumni croaticae AMACHbivsih sveucilistaraca (zürich 1989.). pocasni je gradjanin nekoliko gradova, auz aloisa mocka jedini pocasni gradjanin svog rodnog grada koprivnice.nekoliko klubova u svijetu, poglavice stolnoteniskih nosi njegovo ime. sretao sesa mnogim velikanima ovog stoljeca (glumci, sportasi, knjizevnici, slikari,disidenti, politicari...) a sudbinski je bio vezan za sva tri hrvatska nobelovca.s ivom andricem; dok je ovaj jos bio diplomat u berlinu, a s lavoslavomruzickom i vladimirom prelogom u svicarskoj. pogotovu je imao jedanprisan odnos s ovim potonjim, kojeg smatra svojim velikim uciteljem iprijateljem. iako je proputovao vise od 150 zemalja i nekoliko puta obletiocijelu kuglu zemaljsku i kretao se u najvisim krugovima, nikad nije zaboravljaoi "obicne" ljude. uvijek se odazivao na pozive kad god su mu totermini dozvoljavali i svojim prisustvom uveseljavao mnoge "feste".svojim snaznim i melodicnim glasom mnoge je podsjecao na vec zaboravljenehrvatske pjesme; stare paljetkove slagere, domobranske pjesme, bunjevacke, aogotovo pjesme iz doba banovine.

Izvor: http://www.hrvati.ch/osobe/dolinar/dolinar.html

Pray for our Hilda

Dear Friends,

I want to ask you on a personal level to please remember me in your
prayers. I just came back from my eye doctor - he is a Glaucoma
specialist, he informed me after some tests that my Glaucoma has
progressed. The left eye already has lost some peripheral vision, which
I already knew from before, but now my right eye has gotten worse too.
Don't have to tell you that it depresses me. Blindness to me is worse
than death - it is a living death. Not to see another sunset, all the
beauty of nature, our grandchildren growing, reading, all the things one
enjoys in life are mostly visual - at least to me. I would not have
become a painter if seeing and appreciating beauty would not have meant
that much to me. Please pray that science comes up with a cure, or at
least stops the progression. My first eye drops for it have not worked,
now the doctor is trying others, there is also the possibility of a laser
operation, with 74% success in stopping progression - but I don't know
what happens to the other 26%, if it makes the situation worse, possibly
blindness, than I would be 
reluctant to have it done. What miserable choices!

Love,
Hilda

WOMEN’S DAY USA invites you to

The 10th Annual International Women's Day Celebration

Theme: "Where We Have Been and What We Can Become..."
Time: 6:30 p.m. Event
Date: March 8, 2003
Place: "The Yard" 1414 Lincoln (Santa Monica Blvd) enter behind
Warszawa Restaurant.
Cost: By Donation

RSVP: 310-276-1607

More info regarding IWD: www.womensday.org 
Publicity: PRoctor & Associates – International Public Relations 310-271-5847

"Where We Have Been and What We Can Become..." is the theme for the 10th Annual uplifting event on March 8th. As in past years, we will pay tribute to a select group of women who have made a positive and lasting contribution to our society by virtue of their achievements in various fields, including the arts and politics. This year we will once again feature moving presentations of poetry, literature and film.

Program Guests:

Bonnie Abaunza, Director, Amnesty International 
Donzaleigh Abernathy, Actress, "Gods and Generals", author, speaker and daughter of Reverend Dr. Ralph Abernathy
Nenad Bach, Croatian composer, performance video with Martin Sheen, Michael York, Ellen Burstyn, Indigo Girls
Sarah Clarke, Actress, "24"
Dar Dixon, Actor
Mira Furlan, Actress, "When Father Was Away On Business", "Babylon 5"
Agapi Stassinopolous, Actress, author
Beata Pozniak, Actress, "JFK", "Young Indiana Jones"

Program will include a special message from Governor’s Davis

NATO: A CLUB WORTH JOINING?

VIEWPOINT FROM LONDON
Brian Gallagher
Hrvatski Vjesnik No. 955 - 21 February 2003

'Viewpoint from London' is my new fortnightly column
in the Australian Hrvatski Vjesnik. Future pieces will
also appear on Croatiafocus.com.


The approaching war with Iraq has created serious
Divisions within NATO, the European Union and the
United Nations.

Without going into the rights and wrongs of the war
against Iraq, or the manoeuvring within NATO, it is
important that the implications of these divisions for
Croatia is considered.

NATO operates on the principle that an attack against
one is an attack against all. However, the French and
Germans were able to prevent NATO from preparing to
help Turkey in the event of an attack by Iraq.

The question must then be asked, if Croatia joins
NATO, and is attacked - let us say by Serbia - would
NATO come to her aid? Quite possibly not, it seems.
During the 1991 war, Britain and France prevented any
help to Croatia. If they considered it in their
interests, they could veto help for NATO member
Croatia in the future.

Certainly, the British attitude to Croatia has not
changed; witness how they - and the Dutch - suspended
ratification of the EU- Croatia SAA agreement because
of the Bobetko affair.

We should not believe then that Britain, France - or
any other NATO state for that matter - would not in
pursuance of their own interests prevent NATO military
aid to Croatia if she needed it.

Quite apart from that, the United States will clearly
not rely on NATO for a long time to come. The Kosovo
campaign's NATO divisions did not please the
Americans; after the Turkey debacle they will be less
inclined to take NATO seriously.

Without United States support, NATO is a talking shop.
And without even the assurance of guaranteed help,
would NATO then be a club worth the expense of
joining?

As for the EU, the common foreign policy is
non-existent. Further, French President Chirac's
outburst against the Vilnius 10's statement of support
for the United States - including Croatia -
demonstrates that he expects total obedience from
these countries as a price for joining the EU. 

The Iraq crisis has shown that countries act in their
own interests, regardless of "united" rhetoric.
Whatever Croatia does, in relation to joining the EU
and NATO, it must recognise this fact. And it must
also recognise that some NATO/EU member's interests
may be quite hostile to Croatia's. 



Š Brian Gallagher 

Edited for CROWN by Ivo Bach

CroatiaBecame a Member of the CEFTA

CROATIA • Croatia became the eighth member of the Central European Free Trade Association(CEFTA) March 1, making the market of more than 100 million people more accessible to its products, the economy ministry said. "This agreement should increase Croatian merchandise trade and enable its companies to boost their presence on the markets of CEFTA members with over 100 million people and $400 billion [11.6 trillionKc] combined gross domestic product," a ministry statement said. 

Edited for CROWN By Ivo Bach