His death must not let us escape

Britain's responsibility for aiding his crimes

Subject: Independent' feature- Britain's responsibility

The Independent - 13 March 2006 - 1210 words - 31

Features
Milosevic's death must not let us escape Britain's responsibility for aiding his crimes

JOHANN HARI
It's hard to squeeze out even the most crocodile of tears for Slobodan Milosevic as he completes the tired character arc of tyrants throughout the ages - from zero to hero to Nero to a reviled grave. He died well-fed and well-clothed in his sleep, a luxury denied to more than 125,000 European men, women and children who died in the wars he stoked, poked and pioneered.
But the doors of justice for the crimes committed in the Balkans in the 1990s should not slam shut with Milosevic's coffin, nor with the handover of those indicted Serb butchers Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic. Today, there are men who helped and facilitated Milosevic's crimes at the heart of the British establishment. Indeed, these men are universally lauded as liberals and all-round Good Chaps. They have still not answered for their actions.
In the swell of patriotic self-congratulation following the death of Milosevic - we helped to oust him, didn't we? - many people will want us to forget the role played by the last Conservative government in the Balkan wars. They would like us to forget that at the height of the shelling of Sarajevo - a democratic city three hours from Heathrow - the Tories were so complicit in the killing that the bleeding Bosnian government seriously considered taking the British government to the International Court of Justice for aiding and abetting genocide.
To understand how this forgotten history came to unfold, you have to return to the early 1990s. Looking out on the fighting that broke out in the Balkans from the dusty offices of Whitehall, the ruling Conservative Party were - in John Major's words - "bewildered". They saw a bunch of foreigners with unpronounceable names killing each other for reasons that seemed to stretch back to 1389, and rather than enter into the tricky business of sifting the victims from the aggressors and supporting them, they fell back on their core prejudices. One was a belief that, as Malcolm Rifkind, soon-to-be Foreign Secretary, argued, "The furtherance of British interests ought to be the sole object of British foreign policy." Human rights? What human rights? Show us gas pipelines and corporate interests and then we're talking.
The other belief was a borderline-racist view that the Balkan people were maniacal savages who relished slaughter. Sir Peter Hall, ambassador to Belgrade, told John Major: "Prime Minister, the first thing you have to know about these people is that they like cutting each other's heads off." No point helping them - they're all mad.
In light of these principles, the Tories conveniently concluded that what was happening was a Balkan civil war where - the blue sing-song of the times - "all sides were equally to blame". Since there were no British interests at stake and nothing much could be done to stop naturally violent people from hacking away at each other, it was best to stay out, or even to hope for a strong Serbia to "discipline" the region and damp down the turmoil. Oh, and Britain should stop anybody else from foolishly intervening, of course.
This argument had a certain superficial (if repellent) logic, but it was based on a glaring error. This was not a three-way civil war between Serbs, Muslims and Croats with all sides committing crimes equally. It was a racist war waged by Slobodan Milosevic to establish from the ruins of the former Yugoslavia an ethnically pure Greater Serbia under his control, one that had been "cleansed" of its Muslim population.
There were real villains and real victims, not the incomprehensible tribal hodge-podge presented by the Tories. As Kofi Annan explained in his postmortem into the war, the Serbs' "central war aim [was always] to create a geographically contiguous and ethnically pure territory". Yes, when the Bosnian Muslims and Croat separatists responded to this fascistic Serbian agenda they did not always do so scrupulously, to say the least - but it is appalling to say this puts them on a par with the original and major criminals.
Confronted with this racist agenda at the heart of Europe - designed to crush the democratic, multi-ethnic republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina - it would have been terrible enough to stand by and do nothing. But the Tories, led in foreign affairs by Douglas Hurd, did something worse. They insisted on an arms embargo on the entire region to prevent weapons being sold to any side. In practice, this guaranteed that the Serbs' massive military superiority at the start of the war was maintained, and - in Annan's words again - it "effectively prevented the Republic of Bosnia and Herzgovina of its right under the Charter of the United Nations to self-defence".
Milosevic said at his trial that Hurd was in effect giving him "a green light" for the killing, and in a way he was right. Thanks to British policy, the Serbs could pound away at the Bosnian Muslims - killing thousands - and the Muslims could not fight back. Some British government spokesmen even started suggesting that the Bosnian Muslims were shelling themselves to get sympathy.
Whenever the governments of France, Germany and the US mooted an armed intervention - in line with the pleading of humanitarian agencies such as Oxfam - the Conservative government used its veto. People across the political spectrum - from the Republican senator Bob Dole to the Europhile Jacques Delors - identified Britain as the main obstacle to intervention. But we, the British people, should not be tarred with this appeasing brush: while Hurd obstructed international help for the besieged Bosnians, 67 per cent of the British people wanted British troops sent in to stop the slaughter.
The result of Hurd and Major's refusal to listen was mass death on our doorstep, a programme of killing so huge that even now - more than a decade later - more than 7,000 Muslim boys and men are missing, according to the Red Cross. When eventually British objections were overridden and Nato air-power was used in Bosnia in 1995, the killing ended, just as the bombing of Kosovo helped to precipitate the final fall of Milosevic in 1999. It could have happened years before, and saved tens of thousands.
And the stench gets worse. Almost as soon as Hurd had fallen from office, he jumped on a flight to visit Milosevic to try to persuade him to flog off Serbia's utilities to a British company paying Hurd a fat fee. Money motivated Hurd, it seems, where blood could not. Today, he and Malcolm Rifkind and John Major are thought of as kindly old liberal Tories without a trace of Balkan blood on their hands, and the acts of racist murder they facilitated are consigned to the memory-hole.
Yes, be angry that Milosevic dodged justice. But there are people far closer to home who bear responsibility for his killing-spree too - and there is still time to extract justice from them, if only we had the will.

Thanks to British policy, the Serbs could pound away at the Bosnian Muslims and they couldn't fight back

j.hari@independent.co.uk 

(c) 2006 Independent Newspapers

Miles Raguz' Book Presentation New York City March 26, 2006

Join us in the Church Basement of Sts. Cyril & Methodius Church (41st Street, off of 10th Avenue) this Sunday, March 26, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. for a Round Table Discussion of Vitomir Miles Raguz' Who Saved Bosnia.

Mr. Raguz, who lived in New York for over a decade, has a unique perspective on the wars which devastated Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1990s. Mr. Raguz played an active role in lobbying efforts by the Croatian American community in 1990-91, before becoming, successively, an official with the Permanent Mission of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the UN, a member of the Bosnian Croat peace delegation at peace talks held in New York in March 1993, an advisor with the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Croatia to the UN, and the ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to NATO and the European Union.

His book is in large measure based on these experiences and his analysis of the events of the 1990s and after in the region are thought-provoking.
Mr. Raguz will discuss his work with Ambassador Herbert Stuart Okun and Wall Street Journal Editor Bret Stephens.

Ambassador Okun serviced as Special Adviser on Yugoslavia to former U. S. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance and Deputy Co-Chairman of the International Conference on the former Yugoslavia in which capacity he negotiated, among other things, UNPROFOR's mandate in Croatia. From 1993-1997 Okun mediated the dispute between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. He also served as Special Adviser to the International Commission on Missing Persons in the former Yugoslavia in 1996-1997. His diplomatic postings include Ambassador to the former German Democratic Republic (East Germany) and Deputy Permanent Representative and Ambassador to the UN. He currently lectures on international law at Johns Hopkins University and Yale Law School.

Bret Stephens is a member of the Editorial Board of the Wall Street Journal. From 2002 to 2004 Stephens had been editor of the Jerusalem Post, having the distinction of being the youngest editor of the paper in its history. Mr. Stephens has written extensively about issues related to the European Union and the Middle East.

Copies of the book will be on sale ($40 each) after the discussion.

Refreshments will be served.
 

Croatia joins EU renewable energy program
 

17/03/2006

(Brussels, DTT-NET.COM) - Croatia is the first country from the Western Balkans region to join the program of EU on renewable energy as today it signed the participation memorandum with European Commission.

Energy Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs and Croatian Vice Prime Minister, Damir Polančec signed today in Brussels a Memorandum of Understanding which paves the way for Croatia's participation in 'Intelligent Energy - Europe', the EU's programme to promote energy efficiency and the wider use of renewable energy sources.

For the first time, Croatian organisations will be able to take part in European projects and events financially supported by the programme. Commissioner Piebalgs welcomed the signature of this Memorandum of Understanding as a 'positive step towards stronger cooperation between Croatia and the UE in the field of Energy'.

With a total budget of €250 million, Intelligent Energy - Europe co-finances European projects, large-scale events, and the creation of local or regional energy management agencies in areas such as buildings, industry, transport, urban areas, consumer products, power and heat generation, and cooperation with developing countries.

So far, organisations from the EU Member States, plus Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Bulgaria and Romania could apply for financial support under the programme. Now, it will also be possible for Croatian organisations to submit applications under the next call for project
proposals, which will be published in May 2006 with a total budget of €55 million.

To date, the programme supports more than 200 European projects, over 30 energy management agencies, and 40 one-off events. The Commission has proposed an ambitious Intelligent Energy - Europe II programme, which will form part of the new 'Competitiveness and Innovation' Programme 2007-13. A decision on the details and final budget of this programme will be made later this year.

The Commission's 'Green Paper on Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy' underlines the need to develop a pan-European Energy Community. The EU has for some time been engaged in widening its energy market to include its neighbours and to bring them progressively closer to the
EU's internal market.

Croatia is one of the members of the Energy Community, which extends the Internal Market for Energy into South - East Europe. This means that the relevant acquis communautaire on energy, environment and competition will be implemented in that region.

http://www.dtt-net.com/en/index.php?page=view-article&article=1234&CMSSESSID=0b0628bb860d3042d193e5c568bf613f
 

James Bond Film to Feature Croatian Actress

ZAGREB, Croatia, March 14, 2006 – Even though it has been
decided that Goran ViĹĄnjic will not be the new James Bond,
an actress with Croatian roots, Ivana Milicevic, has secured a
role in the latest Bond movie, 'Casino Royale,' opening later
this year. Ivana, who has since 1983 lived in the U.S. with her
family, will play the role of Valenka, wife of the bodyguard of
the main villain in the film. The Croatian actress started her
career as a model, subsequently turning to acting and
appearing in popular TV shows such as Seinfeld, Felicity and
Buffy, but also in films Vanilla Sky, Jerry Maguire and
Resident Evil. Ivana may not be a new Bond girl – this honor
went to Eva Green – but her appearance in 'Casino Royale'
is definitely one big step forward for her career.
 

UK lifts visa regime for Croatia
 

01/03/2006

(London/Zagreb, DTT-NET.COM)- After more than 6 years the United Kingdom visa regime for Croatia will be lifted on 22 March 2006, the embassy in Zagreb announced on Wednesday.

According to the decision tourist, business and family visits for up to 6 months will NOT require a visa. Transit visas are abolished also and visas are not required for Croats who want to study for up to 6 months in the United Kingdom. Croats who intend to stay in the United Kingdom for a period of more than 6 months a visa will be required. However as with other non-EU citizens, Croatian citizens will be subject to immigration control on entering the UK and will have to satisfy the immigration authorities on entry that their visa complies with UK immigration law.
 

Kostelic breaks season points record

Mar. 19, 2006 12:00 AM

Janica Kostelic won the women's World Cup giant slalom finale Saturday at Are, Sweden, and broke the record of Pernilla Wiberg for the number of points in a single season. Kostelic, who clinched the World Cup overall title on Thursday, ended the season with 1,970 points after the last of 36 races. Sweden's Wiberg had 1,960 points in the 1996-97 season. The Croat needed to win Saturday's giant slalom to break the record. "That's cool, right?" Kostelic said. "Maybe next year someone will say '10 more points and we'll beat Janica's record.' It's good to be one of those people whose record has to be beaten. I'm on top now, so it's great." Anja Paerson clinched the World Cup giant slalom title by finishing ahead of Maria Jose Rienda Contreras. Rienda Contreras, who had hoped to give Spain its first World Cup title, had entered the race trailing Paerson by 45 points.

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/articles/0319sptbriefs0319.html

Kostelic breaks record

Most points for a single season
By ERICA BULMAN

Kostelic's brother criticizes Swedish organizers

Janica Kostelic of Croatia speeds down the course on her way to win an Alpine Ski World Cup Women's giant slalom, at the World Cup finals, in Are, Sweden, Saturday, March,18, 2006. (AP Photo/Enrico Lodi)
ARE, Sweden (AP) - Janica Kostelic won the women's World Cup giant slalom finale Saturday to break the record for points in a single season.

Kostelic ended the season with 1,970 points after 36 races, surpassing former Swedish ski star Pernilla Wiberg's mark of 1,960 points in the 1996-97 season. Kostelic had needed to win the giant slalom to break the record.

Sweden's Anja Paerson finished seventh to clinch the World Cup giant slalom title. Her only remaining challenger, Maria Jose Rienda Contreras finished eighth. Contreras, who had hoped to give Spain its first World Cup title, entered the race trailing Paerson by 45 points.

It marked Paerson's sixth career World Cup title. She won the overall in the two previous seasons, and has one slalom and three giant slalom globes.

"When I stood up there before the second run I was tired," Paerson said. "But I thought this could be the last race in a long time so I just wanted to enjoy it and have fun and I did.


"I ended the season the way I wanted. I won the downhill here and won the giant slalom World Cup."

Croatia's Kostelic, who led after the opening run, finished with an aggregate two-run time of 2 minutes, 6.41 seconds.

Canada's Genevieve Simard moved from third into second in 2:07.02 with a strong second run. Austria's Nicole Hosp, who was second after the opening run, tied for third with Tanja Poutiainen in 2:07.95.

Paerson, who last year edged Kostelic by three points for the overall title, was runner-up with 1,662. Michaela Dorfmeister of Austria, who is retiring, finished third with 1,364 points.

Paerson topped the season-ending giant slalom standings with 586 points. Contreras was second with 537, while Kostelic finished third with 464.

Kostelic clinched the World Cup overall title on Thursday with a fourth-placed finish in the final super-G, and won the slalom title in Levi, Finland, last week.

AP Sports Writer Stephan Nasstrom in Are, Sweden, contributed to this report.

http://www.canoe.ca/Slam/Skiing/2006/03/18/1494198-ap.html
 

Janica osvojila Veliki kristalni globus,

slalomski globus i

postavila rekord u Svjetskom kupu

Skijanje, zavrsnica Svjetskoga kupa Aare, Svedska 15. do 18. ozujka 2006.

Janica osvojila Veliki kristalni globus, slalomski globus i postavila rekord u Svjetskom kupu 17. ozujka. - Janica Kostelić treći je put u karijeri osvojila Veliki kristalni globus namijenjen ukupnoj pobjednici Svjetskoga kupa! Naslove je osvojila i 2001. i 2003. godine. Usto, Janica je ukupna pobjednica u slalomu, u kojem se od 2002. godine u svim utrkama u kojima je zavrsila obje voznje penjala na pobjedniÄ?ko postolje. No to nije sve. Snjezna kraljica je postala i apsolutna rekorderka po broju osvojenih bodova u sezoni. S 1.970 bodova prestigla je dosadasnju rekorderku Sveđanku Pernillu Wiberg, koja je 1997. godine skupila 1.960 bodova. To je sjajno. Lijepo je kad si ti taj koga svi zele 'skinuti'. Ovo je najbolji mogući zavrsetak sezone, zakljuÄ?ila je Janica. Janica na zavrsnicu stigla s 254 boda prednosti Janica je na zavrsnicu sezone u svedskom Aareu stigla s 254 boda prednosti ispred najveće konkurentice, domaće skijasice Anje Paerson. JaniÄ?in tim odluÄ?io je propustiti utrku spusta, kako bi se dobro odmorila za veliki finis. To je Anja iskoristila i u posljednjoj ovosezonskoj utrci spusta izborila 34. pobjedu u Svjetskom kupu. S novih stotinu bodova tri utrke prije kraja svedska je skijasica smanjila zaostatak za nasom Janicom na 154 boda. Sreća prati hrabre Anja ipak nije izdrzala pritisak lova na bodove. Sljedeći je dan u utrci superveleslaloma promasila jedna vrata u gornjem dijelu staze i ostala bez plasmana. Janica je sigurnom voznjom doskijala do izvrsnog Ä?etvrtog mjesta, s 87 stotinki zaostatka za pobjednicom, Austrijankom Nicole Hosp. Druga je bila jos jedna Austrijanka, Michaela Dormeister, koja je jos prije osigurala naslov pobjednice u superveleslalomu (i spustu), a treća Njemica Martina Ertl-Renz. 204 boda viska za novo slavlje S novih 50 bodova Janica je otisla na nedostiznih 1770 bodova, 204 boda vise od Paerson. Nakon sto je prosle sezone izgubila tijesnu borbu sa Sveđankom za samo tri boda, iako je zbog bolesti propustila velik broj utrka, ove sezone Janica je dokazala svoju superiornost i pitanje ukupne pobjednice rijesila dvije utrke prije kraja sezone. Veselje, ali i ozbiljnost do samoga kraja sezone Sretna sam, naravno da sam sretna, jer sad mogu uzivati u skijanju preostala dva dana. Nisam oÄ?ekivala da će se sve zavrsiti nakon danasnjeg super G-ija, Ä?ak ni kad sam Ä?ula da je Anja izasla sa staze, rekla je Janica i dodala da ne namjerava jos slaviti jer pred njom su jos dvije utrke. Veliki globus mozda nije tako Ä?aroban kao olimpijska pobjeda, ali je to konstantni play-off, koji se sastoji od 36 utrka u kojima moras biti dobar i zato je to sportski najvrjednija nagrada, rekao je JaniÄ?in otac i trener Ante. Demonstracija moći u slalomu S ukupnom pobjedom i slalomskim kristalnim globusom u dzepu, Janica je trećeg dana zavrsnice lezerno odvezla svoju najjaÄ?u disciplinu - slalom. Opustena i moćna Janica bila je sigurna u obje voznje i popela se na najvisu stepenicu pobjedniÄ?kog postolja. Drugo mjesto osvojila je Austrijanka Marlies Schild, a treća je bila Sveđanka Anja Paerson. Nove bodove osvojile su i Ana Jelusić plasmanom na 11. i Nika Fleis na 15. mjesto. Pobjedom u veleslalomu Janica zakljuÄ?ila sezonu Rekord Pernille Wiberg nasa je skijasica srusila na impresivan naÄ?in - drugom ovosezonskom pobjedom u veleslalomu, posljednjoj utrci sezone. Ponovno je ostvarila najbolje rezultate u prvoj i drugoj voznji. Drugoplasiranu Kanađanku Genevieve Simard ostavila je za 61 stotinku, a treće su mjesto podijelile Finkinja Tanja Poutiainen i Austrijanka Nicole Hosp. U sjeni JaniÄ?ina senzacionalnog uspjeha, veleslalomski kristalni globus osvojila je Paerson, koja je osmim mjestom pred svojim navijaÄ?ima pretekla izravnu konkurenticu Spanjolku Riendu Contreras. Cilj mi je bilo pobjedniÄ?ko postolje, a znala sam da ću imati prigodu i za pobjedu. Dva ovosezonska slavlja u veleslalomu ulijevaju mi jos veće povjerenje u sebe za sljedeću sezonu u toj disciplini, rekla je Janica, dodavsi: Bila sam opustena, a kad ne razmisljas previse i jednostavno odskijas najbolje sto znas, dobre stvari se događaju. Snjezna kraljica slavila u svih pet disciplina Svoju svestranost Janica je pokazala pobijedivsi ove sezone u svih pet disciplina (slalom, veleslalom, superveleslalom, spust, kombinacija) i ostvarivsi ukupno devet pobjeda, uz pet drugih i tri treća mjesta. U karijeri je ostvarila 30 pobjeda u Svjetskome kupu. Također, sezonu će zavrsiti među pet prvoplasiranih u svim disciplinama, s velikim i malim kristalnim globusom, te olimpijskim zlatom u kombinaciji i srebrom u superveleslalomu! KonaÄ?ni poredak u Svjetskom kupu 1. Janica Kostelić (HRV) 1970 2. Anja Paerson (Sve) 1662 3. M. Dorfmeister (Aut) 1364 4.  Nicole Hosp (Aut) 1112 5. Lindsey Kildow (SAD) 1067 6. Marlies Schild (Aut) 961 7. Kathrin Zettel (Aut) 872 8. Julia Mancuso (SAD) 755 9. A. Meissnitzer (Aut) 753 10. Elisabeth Goergl (Aut) 602     KonaÄ?ni poredak u slalomu 1. Janica Kostelić (HRV) 740 2. Marlies Schild (Aut) 550 3. Anja Paerson (Sve) 485 4. Kathrin Zettel (Aut) 399 5. Tanja Poutiainen (Fin) 320 6.  Nicole Hosp (Aut) 307 7. Therese Borssen (Sve) 248 8. Laure Pequegnot (Fra) 227 9. Lindsey Kildow (SAD) 214 10. Sarka Zahrobska (Čes) 206

Izvor: http://sport.hrt.hr/htvsport/izdvojeno/06/janica_velikigl.html

Lynne Yelich

ZASTUPNICA U KANADSKOM PARLAMENTU – POCASNI GOST NA HRVTASKIM SVJETSKIM IGRAMA U ZADRU

www.lynneyelich.com

www.zadar2006.com

Lynne Yelich, treca generacija kanadskih Hrvata i zastupnica u kanadskom Parlamentu s odusevljenjem se odazvala na poziv da bude pocasni gost Hrvatskih svjetskih igara u Zadru ove godine. I ako je gdja Yelich treca generacija Hrvata, vrlo je ponosna svojim hrvatskim porijeklom sto i istice na poslovnoj internet stranici na kojoj uz kanadski barjak, stoji i hrvatski!

Lynne Yelich zivi sa suprugom Matt-om i kcerima Aleana-om i Ivanom u malom prerijskom mjestu Kenaston, u Provinciji Saskatchewan. Kenasto je nekad bio jaka hrvatska zajednica. Hrvati su ovamo doselili pocetkom dvadesetog stoljeca iz Lovinca u Lici i uglavnom se bavili poljoprivredom.

Lynne Yelich je Hrvatsku posjetila samo jedan put, 1989. godine, i to je putovanje bilo katalist osjecaja koje je vec odavno gajila prema Hrvatskoj. «Po dolasku u Liku osjecala sam neku duboku povezanost, osjecaj prpadnosti. Kao da sam vec tamo bila, a Lovinac sam poznavala samo iz prica prenesenih od mojih pradjedova na moje djedove i roditelje.» kaze Lynne Yelich. «Taj je posjet ucvrstio moju bliskost s Hrvatima, ne samo u Kanadi, vec svugdje po svijetu.Osjetila sam da je to moj narod.' O Hrvatskim svijetskim igrama rekla je slijedece: «Kad sam cula sam za 'Hrvatske svjetske igre' koje ce se ovog ljeta odrzati u Zadru, bila
sam istinski radosna da ce se omoguciti mladima rodjenim izvan Domovine da se upoznaju, druze i da razvijaju zajednicke interese za sport. Uvjerena sam da je to najbolji nacin povezivanja Hrvata s Domovinom i medjusobno. Nasa kci Ivan se je prijavila za kosarku i nasa ce cijela obitelj putovati u Zadar na Igre. Nadam se da ce se Igre nastaviti svake godine ili barem svake druge godine. To bi mogao biti jedan prekrasan pocetak zajednicke suradnje i stvaranje hrvtaskih veza po cijelom svijetu.'

Katrina Pejakovic, Ottawa

Ottawa
Parliamentary Office

715 Confederation Building
House of Commons
Ottawa
Ontario
K1A 0A6

Yelich.L@parl.gc.ca 
613-995-5653
 

Matko Marusic
Editor-in-Chief
Croatian Medical Journal
Zagreb University School of Medicine
Salata 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Phone: + 385 1 4566 782; fax: ++ 4590 222
mmarusic@mef.hr 
www.cmj.hr 
Visit the web site of the Croatian Medical Journal - www.cmj.hr  for the free full text of all articles.
Croatian Medical Journal is the window to the best health research in developing and newly emerging countries.

Looking for Croatian Americans.
Trazim zainteresirane Hrvate koji su zivjeli ili zive u SAD-u.

Please scroll down for English

Postovani,

Radim doktorat iz Amerikanistike na ELTE Sveucilistu u Budimpesti i pisem
radnju o Hrvatima u SAD-u. Trenutno trazim zainteresirane koji su zivjeli ili zive u SAD-u
u vezi kratke anonimne ankete preko email-a. Bilo kakav savjet je dobrodosao.

Puno bi mi znacila Vasa pomoc.
S postovanjem,
Anita Brkanic
anitab@pronet.hu


Dear Sir/Madam,

I'm currently undertaking a PhD at ELTE, Budapest and looking for Croatian Americans willing to contribute to my PhD dissertation by participating in a short, annonymus, email survey. Any advice on how to reach more people is welcome.

I would greatly appreciate your help.
Kind regards,
Anita Brkanic
anitab@pronet.hu


CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH

Title of Study: Croatian Diaspora in the US

You are asked to participate in a research study conducted by Anita Brkanić for her doctoral dissertation. Anita is a PhD student in the American Studies Department, ELTE University, Budapest, Hungary, and she is working under the supervision of Prof. Tibor Frank.If you have any questions or concerns about the research or you would prefer to complete a paper copy of the survey, please contact Anita Brkanić  ani_hu@yahoo.com  OR anitab@pronet.hu .
The purpose of the study is to look at the situation of the Croatian community in the United States today. Participating in this study will give you an opportunity to share your experiences as a Croatian living in the United States. You will also help increase our understanding of the identity and experiences of individuals of similar background. Any information that is obtained in connection with this study and that can be identified with you will always remain strictly confidential and will be disclosed only with your permission. All survey answers are safely stored and can only be accessed by the researcher. No risks or potential discomforts are expected from your participation in this study. You can decide whether to participate in this study or not. If you choose to be in this study, you may withdraw at any time without consequences of any kind. You may also refuse to answer any questions you do not want to answer and still remain in the study.

Thank you for your time and your help,

Anita Brkanić

Please answer the questions below if you understand the information provided for the study as described herein and you agree to participate in this study.

Age:
Place of birth:
Profession:
Number of years spent in the United States:

1. How do you view the present situation among Croatians in the US in terms of its leadership and organization? What are the most important positive/negative issues that the Croatian community in the US is dealing with today?
2. What, in your opinion, is the difference between the different generations of Croatians living in the US in terms of their identity and the level of attachment to the home country?
3. How much effort do you think is invested by the Croatian community to maintain their Croatian identity in the US today? What changes, if any, should be made?
4. To what extent is the younger Croatian generation in the US familiar with Croatian traditions, customs, holidays, language?
5. How do you see the prospect of the Croatian American Community in the USA? Do you see any important changes taking place in the future?
6. In your opinion, how did the achievement of Croatian independence influence the Croatian American community? Which generations, in your opinion, were most affected by the change?
7. What do you think is the general image of Croatia/Croatians in the US today?
8. If you visited Croatia in recent past years, how would you explain the general situation in the country today?
9. Would you consider returning to Croatia either permanently or temporarily? Why? / Why not? Please explain.
10. Please feel free to add anything or make any comments about your experience as a Croatian living in the US that you think would be relevant to this survey.

Thank you!

Thank you very much for your reply. Below are a few words about me.
I have also attached a more detailed CV as well as the survey itself. Please
let me know if you have any questions.

I really appreciate your help.
Puno hvala!!
Anita

About me…

I am currently undertaking a PhD in American Studies at ELTE University in
Budapest, Hungary with special emphasis on emigration and cultural diversity.
I have completed part of my studies in Turku, Finland and have also been doing
research at the Human Rights and Social Justice Research Institute in London
where I worked with immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees - mostly from
Afghanistan and Iran. While studying, I worked as a journalist for Business
Hungary, the official magazine of the American Chamber of Commerce in
Budapest, as well as Diplomacy and Trade magazine. I have also written
articles for the Croatian Glas Slavonije covering Hungary’s accession to the
EU. While in Budapest, I often provide translation and interpreting services
to the Croatian National Tourist Board representative office in Hungary.
I am also in the process of publishing and article on Croatians in the US (in
Hungarian) which will hopefully be available in spring 2006.
In my PhD dissertation I plan to study how the Croats pursued their Croatian
American identity adventure. Many Croatian Americans have found a balance
between having a strong American identity and still preserving a clear public
profile as people of Croatian descent. The purpose of this study is to look at
the situation of the Croatian community in the United States today.
Contributing to this study will give the participants an opportunity to share
their experiences as Croatians living in the United States....

op-ed: Anita Brkanić's CV & Survey in MS Word upon a request from her.