CROWN - Croatian World Network

Ivica Kostelic wins experimental slalom

Ivica Kostelic of Croatia celebrates on the podium after winning a World Cup men's Knock Out slalom, in Sestriere, Italy, Monday, Dec. 16, 2002. (AP Photo/Claudio Scaccini)

Ivica Kostelic of Croatia, center, winner of a World Cup men's KO slalom, celebrates on the podium with second placed Giorgio Rocca of Italy, left, and third placed Truls Ove Karlsen of Norway, in Sestriere, Italy, Monday, Dec. 16, 2002. (AP Photo/Claudio Scaccini)

Croatia's Kostelic wins experimental slalom
By Andrew Dampf, Associated Press, 12/16/2002 15:26

SESTRIERE, Italy (AP) Croatia's Ivica Kostelic won a four-run, experimental World Cup slalom Monday night, overcoming strong back pain to edge Italy's Giorgio Rocca by 0.01 seconds.

Kostelic, the World Cup slalom champion, won in the night's final run. Norway's Truls Ove Karlsen was third, 0.25 seconds behind Kostelic in the final run.

The new format is designed to attract more TV viewers by keeping the winner unknown until the final run. The slalom winner usually is determined by the best combined time from two runs.

American Chip Knight finished sixth, 0.57 seconds behind Kostelic, improving on his seventh-place finish in the season's first slalom in Park City, Utah, on Nov. 24.

Bode Miller, the United States' top skier and a slalom specialist, was eliminated during qualifying.

Kostelic, who also had the best time in the next-to-last round, held his skis over his head in a victory salute while Rocca's wide smile quickly turned to a look of astonishment.

''I think it's the greatest win for me so far,'' he said. ''I can say I won two times today. I won against the pain and I won the race.''

The 23-year-old Croatian said he felt back pain during the morning warmup runs and had to be carried to the hotel.

''I couldn't imagine skiing or even finishing in the top 30,'' he said.

Despite the victory, Kostelic said he was not a fan of the new format.

''When there's only nine racers there's no interest in the final,'' he said. ''Instead of making the sport bigger, it makes it smaller.''

Following the afternoon qualifying session, which cut the field to 30 skiers, the first knockout phase Monday evening pitted the fastest skier in qualifying against the 30th, the second against the 29th, etc. One raced after the other, with the faster skier advancing to the next round and the slower one eliminated.

Then the remaining 15 skiers plus the three fastest ''losers'' of the round or ties for a total of 18 faced off in the same manner in the next round.

The nine skiers who made it to the final run started in reverse order of times. The competition reverted to a more traditional formula at this stage, with the fastest skier winning the race. Times were never carried through to the next round.

Kostelic beat Italy's Hannes Paul Schmid by 0.09 seconds in the first knockout round and edged Austria's Reinfried Herbst by 0.86 seconds in the second phase.

Several top contenders were eliminated in the first knockout round, including Norway's Kjetil Andre Aamodt and Austria's Benjamin Raich. Miller and Rainer Schoenfelder were eliminated in the afternoon qualifying. Schoenfelder won the only previous slalomthis season.

Sestriere, the main venue for Alpine skiing for the 2006 Turin Olympics, hosted an identical women's slalom Sunday, won by Sweden's Anja Paerson.

Ivica & Janica Kostelic - CroatianPride

Vatican lights up Christmas Tree from Croatia
Tue Dec 17, 1:16 PM ET

By PETER W. MAYER, Associated Press Writer

VATICAN CITY - Golden lights twinkled on a fir from a Croatian forest in St. Peter's Square on Tuesday as the Vatican (news - web sites) inaugurated its Christmas tree with a ceremony attended by Croatia's president.

Dancers dressed in traditional Croatian folk costume women in white, green and blue frocks, men in embroidered waistcoats whirled to the tunes played by a group of fiddlers before a young boy switched on the lights.

The 28-meter (71-foot), seven-ton tree from the Gorski Kotar region was decorated with glittering strands of tinsel and a typical Croatian Christmas tree ornament glass balls containing red, heart-shaped sweets.

Croatian President Stjepan Mesic came to Rome to formally present Pope John Paul (news - web sites) II with the tree. John Paul did not attend the ceremony, but received the president Monday.

Countries vie for the prestige of having one of their towering evergreens picked to flank a life-sized creche scene in the square.

The celebration drew some 200 hundred people to the square, a few waving Croatian flags others clapping time with the music.

After their meeting the pontiff announced that next year he would visit Croatia, a mainly Roman Catholic country in the Balkans. The visit is expected to take place in May or June.

The 82-year-old Polish pope began the Christmas tree-lighting ceremony in 1982, the first year the Vatican had a tree. For the four previous centuries, popes were Italian and Italy does not have a Christmas tree tradition.

Sretan Bozic - MerryChristmas

A man waves a Croatian flag in front of 28-meter (71 foot) tree from a forest in the Gorski Kotar region, Croatia, minutes after the decorations were lit up during a ceremony with Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican (news - web sites), Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2002. Croatian President Stjepan Mesic met Pope John Paul (news - web sites) II on Monday, Dec. 16 in a private audience at the Vatican. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Where Do You Come From?

I come from the stories my mother never told me
and the black-and-white photographs
buried deep in drawers
I come from the grandparents and great-grandmother
I never knew
from Croatian names, Katica, Antun, Marija
I never heard my mother say
soft Croatian words
I learned from strangers
I come from unspoken memories that flew to her in the night
from mornings
she sat at our Colorado kitchen table, counting,
starting with her thumb, jedan, dva, tri, etiri, pet, est…

I come from her olive skin
from her despair and deep laugh
from the village beside the Sava River
where I have never walked
where she was born
in a house I have never seen
from the mornings she awoke thinking
of her parents lying beneath the Mirogoj earth.
I come from the hospital on the hill
where she spent a teenage winter with TB
that wouldn’t leave her lungs
alone, lingering for years.

I come from her green eyes, warm hands
and strong legs, which carried her up steep steps
beside the blue funicular up
to Gornji Grad, up to school, breathless.
I come from the mornings
she turned around and stared
at her city
Zagreb.

--Catherine Kapphahn

Catherine Kapphahn

Bio:
Catherine Victoria Kapphahn was born to a Croatian mother and American father. She spent her early childhood in Alaska, Peru, Singapore, Spain, and Indonesia. Eventually her parents settled down along the Front Range Mountains of Colorado. At twenty she packed her bags and moved to New York City. Less than two years later her mother died of cancer, and Catherine lost the last woman in her family and her last connection to Croatia. Afterward, she attended Hunter College, where she began writing about her mother. Presently she is finishing her MFA in Nonfiction Writing at Columbia University, where she is writing the story of her mother’s death and the story of her life. She continues to explore the relationship between writing and healing, and is a strong believer that stories can help people through unbearable times. She has taught writing workshops at Hunter College, The Harlem Educational Activities Fund, Globe Institute of Technology, and Double Discovery Center at Columbia University. She teaches inner city high school students and immigrants from all over the world. Catherine is a founder of Six Degrees, a writing group of six women working on their first books. She lives in New York City with her husband René Georg Vasicek, also a writer, and their dog, Sonja.

If you would like to help Catherine with her research, she would be delighted to hear from you. She is searching for Zagreb-specifics from the1941-1954 period, and would also like to correspond with people who have any memories or experience with tuberculosis. Her e-mail address:cvkapphahn@aol.com . If you e-mail her, she promises to send you a small list of her Zagreb questions.

Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic, left, talks to Pope John Paul II during a private audience at the Vatican (news - web sites), Monday, Dec. 16, 2002. The pontiff announced he plans to visit Croatia next year, telling the visiting president he will stop in at least in four cities in a trip expected in the spring. (AP Photo/Filippo Monteforte, Pool)

Croatia's president Stefan Mesic, left, presents Pope John Paul II with a typical Croatian Christmas decoration shaped as an heart, during a private audience at the Vatican (news - web sites), Monday, Dec. 16, 2002. The pontiff announced he plans to visit Croatia next year, telling the visiting president he will stop in at least in four cities in a trip expected in the spring. Person at centre unidentified. (AP Photo/Filippo Monteforte)

NA PREVLACI HRVATSKAZASTAVA
Poluotok Prevlaka od jucer, 15. prosinca pod punim jesuverenitetom Republike Hrvatske

Na hrvatskoj Prevlaci zavijorila je hrvatska zastava, apromatraci UN-a odlaze nakon desetogodisnje misije. Tocno u podne, uz zvukehrvatske himne, podignuta je hrvatska zastava na cetiri mjesta na Prevlaci na glavnoj porti, zgradi zapovjednistva misije, kuli i svjetionika.

Source

http://www.dubrovnikportal.com/html/body_n14clanak.shtml?clanak=5763.2

Haydn

Croatian

Sluala sam vecernji koncert na KUSC, Los Angeles, koji vodi Jim Svejda, najpoznatiji host i muzikolog. Najavio je jednu Haydnovu kasnu simfoniju te je rekao "it is interesting how the man, who practically invented the symphony, returned to his roots in a symphony late in life, using a Croatian tune", ili tako nekako u tom smislu. To me silno razveselilo, pa sam mislila da ce svima biti drago cuti.
Iva

I was listening to an evening concert on KUSC, Los Angeles, conducted by Jim Svejda , best-known host and musicolog. He announced a late symphony by Haydn and said: "it is interesting how the man, who practically invented the symphony, returned to his roots in a symphony late in life, using a Croatian tune", or words to that effect. It pleased me so much, I thought that all of you would like to hear it too.
Iva

Janica our Pride

Elegant

Croatia's Janica Kostelic, right, the women's ski World Cupleader, with her mother Mariza after taking fourth place in a special 'knockout' slalom race being introduced at the World Cup circuit for the first time atSestriere, Italy, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2002. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Croatia's Janica Kostelic clears a pole on her way to take fourthplace in a special 'knock out' slalom race being introduced at the World Cupcircuit for the first time at Sestriere, Italy, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2002. (APPhoto/Alessandro Trovati)

BOOM TIME FOR ARMS DEALERS AND THE 'BALKAN MAFIA'?

Hrvatski Vjesnik (Australia) - The New Generation

English Supplement

6 December 2002

The Serb arms for Iraq scandal and a Balkan crimeconference in London have revealed the ongoing failureof international policy in the South East Europeregion, especially in regard to Croatia. Dogmaticregional policies based on apparent nostalgia for theformer Yugoslavia have not only been an abjectfailure, but could in fact pave the way for criminalactivity and further security concerns for theinternational community. A rethink is required.

The Serbian firms Orao in Bosnia-Herzegovina andYugoimport in Serbia have been doing business withIraq; supplying Iraq with weapons in what appears tobe an extensive trade. Furthermore, there are concernsthat information provided by the Yugoslav military onthe NATO Kosovo campaign has assisted the Iraqimilitary in dealing with US and British aircraftenforcing the no-fly zone. General Wesley Clark, thecommander of the Kosovo campaign has expressedparticular concern over this.

He is right to be concerned; for Serbia can still dodamage. NATO currently has a regional policy for the"Balkans" as outlined by Lord Robertson in his speechon 24 June. Unbeknownst to many, Serbia has a key rolein formulating this policy by being a full member ofNATO's two key policy committee's on the matter; theSouth East Europe Security Steering Group (SEEGROUP)and the South East Europe Common Assessment Paper onRegional Security Challenges and Opportunities(SEECAP). No doubt the Serb military now have a betterinsight into NATO - and thus US/UK - military thinkingthan they did before.

Given the Serb's role in arming Iraq, and thepossibility of war involving US/UK forces, it is nonetoo intelligent to have the Serb military at thecentre of NATO policy making. Serbia should beunceremoniously jettisoned from SEEGROUP and SEECAP.

As can be seen, regional military thinking is not inthe West's interest. But despite the failures of theprevious two Yugoslav states, the dogma that dictatesthat the ex-Yugoslav countries should be re-united insome way is strong.

The International Crisis Group (ICG), which hasinfluence on policy making, builds on such dogma inits latest report on Macedonia. ICG advises both theEU and NATO to turn Macedonia into some kind ofregional security centre. The Krivolak militarytraining centre is proposed as a possible regionaltraining centre. No doubt the recent Macedonianinitiative on training centres with Albania andCroatia was largely inspired by this ICG idea.

Part of the rationale for making Macedonia thisregional security centre is that Yugo-nostalgic dogmaagain. ICG says, ".. unlike Bulgarians or Romanians,most Macedonians can communicate with Serbs, Croatsand Bosnians in their own language, and have otherbonds and more frequent contacts with their formercountrymen."

Serbia has proved itself to be an unreliable securitypartner; they have been arming Saddam Hussein. The ICGhave themselves done a report on this; but dogma getsin the way of the obvious conclusion that "regionalcooperation" may assist countries such as Serbia thatare in league with states like Iraq.

Indeed, for the project of creating a West Balkanstructure of some kind, Serb transgressions areroutinely overlooked. So far, Serbia has not faced anyreal sanctions over the arms scandal; in fact theCouncil of Europe's delay in admitting Serbia isprimarily about the lack of speed in adopting a newconstitution with Montenegro, rather than suchtrifling matters as arming Saddam Hussein orsheltering war criminals such as Ratko Mladic.

Indeed, the British Foreign Office's sanctions againstCroatia for not handing over General Bobetko to TheHague - whilst leaving Serbia alone for worse - lookmore hypocritical and foolish than ever. It certainlyis not in the British interest; Serbia suppliesmilitary aid to Iraq, whom British troops may end upin a war with whilst Croatia stops such aid byimpounding the Boka Star, the ship carrying militarysupplies to Iraq. Who is Britain's real ally here?

Then we have Balkan organised crime. A recentconference in London - reported all over the world -was held to discuss the matter. British Home SecretaryDavid Blunkett stated that "The Balkans have becomethe gateway to Europe for organised criminals". TheIndependent reported that Albanian crime gangs aretaking over London's vice trade. Furthermore, it wasreported that Bosnia-Herzegovina was a major transitroute for illegal immigration.

Remarkably, EU regional policy will facilitate allthis crime.

As I written before, the EU has a Stabilisation andAssociation Process, which involves all members of theformer Yugoslavia minus Slovenia plus Albania - the"West Balkans". Articles 11-14 of the Stabilisationand Association Agreement (SAA) Croatia signed withthe EU clearly state that agreements must be madebetween the SAA that includes matters such as: a freetrade area, mutual concessions concerning the movementof workers and capital. All of which will assist armsdealers, illegal immigration rackets, terrorists, vicegangs and any other organised crime racket you canthink of.

Bizarrely, Croatia appears to be going along withthis. At the recent NATO summit, Croatia agreed towork closely with Albania and Macedonia - damagingCroatia's image no end - in the future. The Albanianpresident called for "free movement of people". TheCroatian presidential adviser Tomislav Jakic said thatthe countries would jointly seek to abolish currentvisa restrictions. Given Croatia's far superioreconomy to the other SAA states, the movement ofpeople will be a strictly one way process.

Currently, Croats are not featuring in the headlines.It is not Croat gangs that running prostitutionrackets in London. It is not Croats dominating thearming of Saddam Hussein. Yet, by forcing a defacto"open borders" policy onto Croatia in relation to itsneighbours, Croatia will not only suffer the effectsof crime gangs, but these people will have a newjumping off point into Europe. The internationalcommunity no doubt will provide some assistance inpreventing criminals from moving into the EU, but thefact is with more opportunities provided for criminalsto move into Croatia, there will be that many morecoming into the EU.

Further, Croatian association with the "West Balkans"will do Croatia damage; fewer people will wish toinvest in country associated with politically unstableSerbia and Macedonia. It may even effect tourism.Image is all; Croatia may be relatively crime free butby being closely associated with the crime ridden"Balkans" tourists may start going elsewhere. Animpoverished Croatia will be less able to combatcrime, again not in the West's interest.

The international community must abandon its regionalpolicy at once. These countries should be treatedindividually on their merits. By insisting on somekind of federation in the region, criminal activitywill be the main beneficiary. Criminals will be ableto extend themselves far more into Croatia -and thusinto the neighbouring EU. Dogma thus takes precedenceover reality, with abysmal results.

The international community's regional policy in SouthEast Europe is a disaster for the future. It currentlyhelps countries such as Serbia to arm dubious statessuch as Iraq, and it will help Balkan crime gangs toflourish in Western Europe. The effect on thecountries of the region will be disastrous.

But is sanity prevailing? As I conclude this, it isreported that in Vienna, the EU commissioner forenlargement, Guenther Verheugan, has stated thatCroatia under no criteria belongs to the WesternBalkans and should be excluded from it. Further,Croatia should be viewed as a possible candidate forthe second round of enlargement. The Austrianchancellor is agreeable on this as well.

Croatia is likely to apply for EU candidate status; aWall Street Journal article pointed out that thiswould force the EU to choose between individualaccession to the EU or the West Balkans as a group.The EU and the international community should useCroatia's application as an opportunity to quietlyditch the whole regional cooperation/West Balkansconcept.