CROWN - Croatian World Network

Zoran Planinic, Croatia

Top draft prospects for the 2003 NBA draft are shown in these undated photos. They are: Kirk Penney, Wisconsin, G; Kendrick Perkins, Beaumont, Texas, F-C; Mickael Pietrus, France, G-F; Zoran Planinic, Croatia, G; Josh Powell, NC State, F; Rick Rickert, Minnesota, F; Luke Ridnour, Oregon, G; Quinton Ross, SMU, G; Theron Smith, Ball State, F; Tommy Smith, Arizona Smith, F. (AP Photo)

A Magna Carta for Strong Families

ZENIT - The World Seen From Rome Date: 2003-06-21

John Paul II Draws Attention to a 1983 Charter

ROME, JUNE 21, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II made two strong pleas this month in defense of the family. During his trip in Croatia, his homily for Pentecost Sunday had a special greeting for the families present at the Mass. The Pope recalled the crucial role played by the family in many aspects of society, and the need to support families based on a stable marriage.

Then on June 13, in a speech to participants in a congress organized by the Pontifical Council for the Family, he warned of "dehumanizing threats" against the family.

John Paul II called upon politicians to "to fully assume their commitment in defense of the family and to favor the culture of life." As a guideline for their action he suggested they use the "Charter of the Rights of the Family," published by the Holy See in 1983.

Family breakdown costs society dearly, as numerous studies demonstrate. A 2002 British government report, for instance, found that family breakup is the main cause of children running away from home, the Telegraph reported Nov. 29. Youngsters living with a stepparent are three times more likely to flee than those living with two birth parents, the report found.

Downing Street's social exclusion unit estimates there are 129,000 cases of children running away each year, involving 77,000 children. "The separation of parents, the formation of a stepfamily, or the difficulties that some lone parents face following a separation are points of stress for young people," the government agency said.

Indeed, children growing up in single-parent families are twice as likely as their counterparts to develop serious psychiatric illnesses and addictions later in life, according to a study in The Lancet medical journal, the Associated Press reported Jan. 24.

Swedish evidence

The study is important because it tracked about 1 million children for a decade, into their mid-20s. The study used the Swedish national registries, which cover almost the entire population and contain extensive socioeconomic and health information.

About 60,000 children were living with their mother and about 5,500 with their father. There were 921,257 living with both parents. The children were aged 6 to 18 at the start of the study, with half already in their teens.

Researchers found that children with single parents were twice as likely as the others to develop a psychiatric illness such as severe depression or schizophrenia, to kill themselves or attempt suicide, and to develop an alcohol-related disease. Girls were three times more likely to become drug addicts if they lived with a sole parent, and boys were four times more likely.

On the positive side, studies show that religion can help families stay together, the Washington Times reported May 8. A report released by the National Study of Youth and Religion at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill showed that adolescents aged 12 to 14 who are brought up in religious households are more likely than peers from nonreligious families to admire Mom and Dad, to not run away from home, to eat dinner with the folks and to have parents involved in their social lives.

"There is a consistent association across a variety of measures that more religiously active families with early adolescents in the household exhibit signs of stronger family relationships," said Christian Smith, study director and report co-author.

The four-year project, funded by the Lilly Endowment, began in August 2001 to research the role of religion and spirituality in the lives of American adolescents. The latest publication in the project is titled "Family Religious Involvement and the Quality of Family Relationships for Early Adolescents."

"Community of love"

The 1983 "Charter of the Rights of the Family" consists of a preamble and 12 basic rights. The preamble observes that even though the rights of a person are expressed as individual rights, they "have a fundamental social dimension which finds an innate and vital expression in the family." It also clearly defines the family as being based on the marriage of a man and a woman united in an indissoluble bond of matrimony, open to the transmission of life.

The preamble also explains why the family should be considered as possessing special rights. The family is a natural society, existing prior to the state or any other community, explains the document. But it is more than just a sociological phenomenon. The family is "a community of love and solidarity, which is uniquely suited to teach and transmit cultural, ethical, social, spiritual and religious values, essential for the development and well-being of its own members and of society."

The rights listed in the charter commence with the affirmation that "All persons have the right to the free choice of their state of life and thus to marry and establish a family or to remain single." The second right stipulates: "Marriage cannot be contracted except by free and full consent duly expressed by the spouses." And each partner in marriage enjoys an equal dignity and rights.

The next two rights deal with the theme of procreation. The spouses have an inalienable right "to decide on the spacing of births and the number of children to be born, taking into full consideration their duties towards themselves, their children already born, the family and society." This decision should be taken in accord with objective moral values, and exclude contraception, sterilization and abortion. The charter asks that public authorities and private organizations alike respect the freedom of couples in this matter.

The fifth article defends the right of parents to educate their children and to choose their schools for them. The charter expressly asks that children not be compelled to attend classes which are not in agreement with their own moral and religious convictions, particularly in the matter of sexual education.

Articles 6 and 7 of the charter deal with relations between the family and the state. Article 6 asks that public authorities "respect and foster the dignity, lawful independence, privacy, integrity and stability of every family." The charter not only criticizes divorce, but argues in favor of help for the extended family system.

Article 7 maintains the right of each family "to live freely its own domestic religious life under the guidance of the parents." This includes public worship and being able to freely choose programs of religious instruction, without discrimination.

The remaining articles deal with socioeconomic matters. Article 8 maintains that families have the right to be active in social and political functions, forming associations with other families and institutions. Article 9 calls upon governments to provide conditions that help families achieve a dignified standard of living. The matters mentioned range from the defense of property rights to social help in times of death or sickness, or help for children with special needs.

Article 10 calls for work to be organized in such a way that enables family members to live together. It also brings up the theme of a family wage, or some other means, such as family allowances, that will enable mothers not to be obliged to work outside the home, if they wish to dedicate themselves full time to family responsibilities.

Article 11 calls for families to have access to decent housing, "fitting for family life and commensurate to the number of the members." The last article asks that families of migrants be given the same rights and protection as other families.

Achieving these rights will likely take different forms around the world, but the ideals expressed in the charter remain a valuable guide for families, 20 years on.

Source: http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=37585

Ivan Merz, first Catholic to be beatified in Bosnia

BANJA LUKA, Bosnia-Hercegovina (AFP) - During his one-day visit to the mainly Orthodox Bosnian town of Banja Luka, Pope John Paul (news - web sites) II is to beatify 20th century Roman Catholic theologian Ivan Merz in the first such ceremony in the Balkans country which prides itself on its rich multi-faith heritage.

Catholic layman Merz, who devoted his life to religious revival in neighbouring Croatia, will be beatified in a once multi-ethnic northwestern Bosnian town, today seat of the Bosnian Serb entity, which along with the Muslim-Croat federation makes up post-war Bosnia.

It is expected that the ceremony during the pope's 101st foreign trip on Sunday will be attended by between 100,000 and 150,000 Catholic pilgrims, coming from all over Bosnia and Croatia as well as from Serbia and Montenegro.

Earlier this month the 83-year-old pontiff visited predominantly Catholic Croatia on his landmark 100th trip. His following visit to Banja Luka is hoped to contribute to better tolerance for the town's small Catholic community which shrank significantly during Bosnia's 1992-95 war.

Most of Merz's work as a Catholic intellectual was done in Croatia where he was considered a "pillar of the Church" despite his short life and there are not many reminders of his life in Banja Luka where he was born in 1896 and lived until the age of 18.

Only the house, part of the railway station complex, where his father was sent to run it during the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, still exists, but it was turned into an art gallery many years ago.

The turbulent past of the Balkans country situated on the ancient borderline between western and eastern Roman empires and ruled by Ottomans for centuries made Bosnia a unique blend of Catholic and Orthodox Christian and Islamic influences.

Although the country was an example of religious tolerance throughout centuries, the 1992-95 war which at times pitted all three ethnic communities against each other had strong religious overtones.

According to a 1991 census Muslims made up 40 percent of Bosnia's population of 3.8 million, while Serbs -- mostly Orthodox -- and Croats -- mostly Catholics -- accounted for 31 and 10 percent respectively. There are no available post-war figures.

A professor of French literature, Merz taught Croatian youth principles of faith in his free time, wrote numerous articles in the Catholic press and was engaged in promoting activities of various Catholic organisations in the country.

The horrors of war he experienced on the Italian front as a soldier in World War I incited Merz, brought up in a liberal family, to turn to faith and he took the vow of celibacy as a layman.

He died in Zagreb at the age of 31 with the reputation of a saint. After he passed away the bells of Zagreb cathedral rang to announce his death, although it was a custom only for the deaths of cardinals and bishops.

After his death a number of graces granted and prayers answered at his intercession were reported.

The first big miracle recorded by the Church happened in 1930 when 25-year-old Anica Ercegovic, suffering for six years from tuberculosis, arthritis and severe rheumatism, went home cured after visiting Merz's grave and saying prayers. She died in 1985, at the age of 80.The first big miracle recorded by the Church happened in 1930 when 25-year-old Anica Ercegovic, suffering for six years from tuberculosis, arthritis and severe rheumatism, went home cured after visiting Merz's grave and saying prayers. She died in 1985, at the age of 80.

Source: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20030621/wl_afp/pope_bosnia_beatify_030621060823

If Croatia enters the EU by 2007 the others would obviously take longer

EU-BALKANS SUMMIT: THE 255 TRACE A ROAD MAP FOR THE AREA
(AGI) - Porto Carras, Greece, June 21 - "An eastern Balkan enclave" is not conceivable for the EU, according to the results of the first summit between the EU and Albania, Bosnia-Erzegovina, Croazia, Macedonia and Serbia-Montenegro which took place in Porto Carras, near Salonicco, where an agenda for the joining of these countries to the EU was decided upon. "It is a kind of road map with no dates set, which contains all of Europe's requests" starting from an increase in the fight against organized crime and corruption, which are the true "obstacles" to the stability and development in the area, explained the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Franco Frattini.

A positive sign came from the announcement made by Javier Solana which stated that Serbia-Montenegro and the authorities from Kosovo will begin a direct dialogue "on matters of reciprocal interest" by the end of July, which is the possible premise for the final definition of the Serb province's status.

The EU has confirmed 20 million euro extra to be added to the 4.6 million it had already allocated for 2004-2006 to help the economic and judiciary reforms in the eastern Balkans. If Croatia, together with Bulgaria and Rumania, managed to enter the Union by 2007 the others would obviously take longer. Yet the Union has guaranteed in the final document that "the future of the Balkans lies in the hands of the EU and the procedure's speed depends on the countries in the region".

"Europe's unification process will not be complete until the Balkan countries will have become EU members", said Romano Prodi. The President of the European Commission and asked "all the leaders of the area to work well and to continue the reforms, making sure that the necessary funds are allocated". Europe has already allocated abundant funds: more than 7 billion euro from 1991 for only 5 countries. Presently in the Balkan area 5.8 billion euros worth are invested in the stability pact for south-eastern Europe, between the Commission and the individual countries.

The summit, to which the leaders and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the 15 countries participated as well as the three candidates (Bulgaria, Rumania and Turkey) and the representatives of the eastern Balkans, will be repeated during Italy's turn to chair. Frattini announced that in the following summit there will also be a meeting among the Ministers of Internal Affairs so as to "make the stability and security policies more central".

The EU-Balkan summit took place on the last day of the Porto Carras meeting which was centered on the European Council which ended the Greek presidency and began the Italian one, officially to begin on July 1. The Premier, Silvio Berlusconi, and Frattini left for Rome in the late morning. (AGI)

Source: http://www.agi.it/english/news.pl?doc=200306211551-0066-RT1-EST-0-NF11,EU01&page=0&id=agionline-eng.oggitalia

JozaVrljičak

POVIJEST I AKTUALNOSTREVIJE STUDIA CROATICA

StudiaCroatica već 43 godine izlazi u Buenos Airesu i do sada je na panjolskomjeziku objavila tisuće stranica o hrvatskoj knjievnosti, povijesti,kulturi i politici. Urednitvo, kojem je na čelu neumorni Joza Vrljičak,izdaje tradicionalna izdanja na papiru, te elektronička izdanja na CD-ROM iInternet.

Godine 1959 u vrlo neizvjesnoj međunarodnoj situacijijedna skupina hrvatskih intelektualaca dravotvornih političkih emigranatau Buenos Airesu, Republika Argentina, odlučuje promijeniti svoju dotadanjupolitičku djelatnost prema unutra i okrenuti je prema vani, prema svijetukoji nas okruuje.

U tom krugu hrvatskih nacionalista počela je sazrijevatispoznaja o potrebi glasila koje bi se na jednom svjetskom jeziku suprotstavilobrojnim srbokomunističkim dezinformacijama i promicala autentičnusliku o hrvatskom narodu, njegovom povijesti, kulturi i legitimnim tenjama daivi u vlastitoj nezavisnoj dravi.

Inicijativom g. Ive Rojnice počeli su se sastajati uuredu doktora Radovana Latkovića. Nakon temeljitoga ispitivanja mogućnosti,odlučili su pokrenuti tromjesečnu reviju na panjolskom jeziku,najpogodnijem s obzirom na svoje boravite i na okolnost, da panjolski jeziknije samo jezik Argentine i velikoga dijela June Amerike, nego i jedan od rairenihsvjetskih jezika preko kojega bi mogli postići zacrtani cilj.

Izabrano ime, StudiaCroatica, imalo je označiti izdavački program koji bi, nadilazećipolitičku propagandu, stručno i dokumentarno obradivaopovijesno-političke, kulturne, socijalne i ekonomske aspekte Hrvatske ihrvatskoga naroda.

Ujedno, bilo je odlučeno iosnivanje jedne hrvatske kulturne ustanove, koja će biti ujedno ipokrovitelj časopisa, Hrvatskoga-LatinoameričkogaKulturnoga Instituta (Instituto Croata-Latinoamericano de Cultura) kaopokrovitelja revije.

Prvipredsjednik Instituta bio je dr. BoidarLatković. Financijsko pitanje bilo je brzo rijeeno, s obzirom da suurednici i pisci radili bez ikakve naplate, ad honores, a trokove tiskare iodpreme časopisa preuzeo je g. Ivo Rojnica i djelomično, u početku,i dr. Mate Luketa.

G. Rojnica nastavio je i nadalje,ne samo svojim novčanim doprinosima, nego je i kao osnivač i članprvoga i slijedećih uredničkih odbora, djelotvorno sudjelovao u raduRevije i Instituta.

Dao je, također, naraspolaganje obadvjema ustanovama uredske prostorije u sreditu Buenos Airesa(u ulici Carlos Pellegrini 743, treći kat). Naknadno se je priključiopomaganju Revije SC i g. Miro Kovačić i jo neki sporadičnidoprinosnici.

Osnivači revije ustrojili su ujedno i prvi uredničkiodbor, sastavljen od slijedećih osoba (abecednim redom): dr. AnđelkoBelić, dr. Milan Blaeković, Ivo Bogdan, dr. Ivo Hühn, Branko Kadić,Srećko Karaman, braća dr. Boidar i dr. Radovan Latković, dr.Mate Luketa, dr. Franjo Nevistić, prof. Vinko Nikolić, Ivo Rojnica,dr. Pero Vukota i naknadno, prof. Daniel Crljen, Milan Rakovac i LjeposlavPerinić.

Prvi glavni urednik bio je IvoBogdan, poznati hrvatski publicist, a prvi tajnik urednitva Branko Kadić,koji je ujedno bio i prevoditelj, jer je dobro vladao panjolskim jezikom kaonovinar koji je za vrijeme Nezavisne Drave Hrvatske bio dopisnik"Hrvatskoga naroda" u Madridu.

U mjesecu rujnu 1960 godinepojavio se je prvi svezak tromjesečnika StudiaCroatica na 96 stranica u čijem uvodniku je bilo istaknuto slijedeće:

"Ova je publikacijanamijenjena javnom mnijenju iberoameričkih zemalja, a posebice onima, kojise radi svojega poziva ili svoje dunosti bave proučavanjem stanja kojevlada u Srednjoj i Junoj Europi, područjima sada podvrgnutim komunističkomnasilju. Ova publikacija predstavlja autentični izraz prognanih Hrvata, međukojima se nalazi ne maleni broj intelektualaca, rtava komunističkihprogona. elja je inicijatora ove publikacije, da obavijesti slobodni svijet opovijesno-kulturnoj batini svoje stare domovine, o njezinim patnjama,zbivanjima i borbi koju vodi za slobodu i nezavisnost. U isto vrijemeinicijatore potiće i osjećaj zahvalnosti prema američkimrepublikama u kojima su nali svoju novu gostoljubivu domovinu."

Osim redovitog izlaenja revije StudiaCroatica, Hrvatsko-Latinoamerički Kulturni Institut i urednitvo StudijeCroatice su objavili na panjolskom jeziku jo i sljedeće tematskepublikacije, odnosno prave knjige: Bleiburkatragedija - Dokumenti o masovnom ubijanju Hrvata u komunističkojJugoslaviji godine 1945. (na400 stranica), Bosna i Hercegovina - Doprinosi za osvjetljavanje uzroka Prvogsvjetskog rata (na 344 stranice), Hrvatskai sadanja kriza u Jugoslaviji (publikaciju je napisao dr. Franjo Nevistić,a izdana je za vrijeme hrvatskog proljeća 1971. godine), Hrvatska i njezinasudbina (izdana 1977. godine), Poljičkistatut (knjiga izdana godine 1995., koju je preveo na panjolski jezik ikomentirao dr. Boidar Latković), DubrovačkiStatut Sedma knjiga, koju je isto tako preveo i komentiraodr. Boidar Latković.

Urednički odbor sastajao se je svake srijede,analizirajući političke događaje i suradnju za slijedećibroj revije. "Ne zaboravan mi je sklad i prijateljsko osjećanje kojeje vladalo u tom krugu ´u srijedu´. Podsjeća me na vrijeme, koje sam doiviou pododborima Matice Hrvatske u domovini", pie Radovan Latković usvojoj knjigi ivjeli smo i borili se za Hrvatsku, (Naklada Jurčić,Zagreb, 2001),

Krug ljudi oko revije StudiaCroatica i Instituta postao jeprimjer hrvatskoga nacionalnoga zajednitva, koje već prvih godinaemigracije osjećao kao temeljnu potrebu učinkovitoga hrvatskoga političkogadjelovanja.

Prvibroj Studia Croatica objavljen je zatromjesečje srpanj-rujan 1960., godine mučeničke smrti KardinalaStepinca. Broj je posvećen herojskom liku zagrebačkoga Nadbiskupa sdva priloga uglednih inozemnih pisaca, Francuza Ernest-a Pezet-a i ArgentincaMartin-a Aberg-a Cobo, uz političku razčlanbu glavnoga urednika IveBogdana.

Odposebnoga značenja bilo je izdanje cijeloga godita 1963., na 390 stranicau obliku knjige pod naslovom La Tragediade Bleiburg Bleiburka tragedija, s obsenim povijesno-političkimanalizama događaja koji su predhodili ovoj tragediji i dokumentima zločinapočinjenih u Bleiburgu i na "putovima smrti".

Potrebnoje istaknuti, da je to bila prva dokumentarna knjiga o kolektivnom pokoljuHrvata u komunističkoj Jugoslaviji 1945. na jednom stranom jeziku, panjolskom,sa saetcima na panjolskom, njemačkom, francuskom, engleskom ihrvatskom.

Zanimljivoje spomenuti, da je naslov ove knjige, LaTragedia de Bleiburg Bleiburka tragedija - bio prihvaćen naknadnou hrvatskoj publicistici kao opći naziv tih tragičnih događajasvibnja 1945.

Drugovano izdanje predstavljaju četiri broja SC godine 1965., objavljena kaoknjiga na 344 stranica pod naslovom Bosniay Herzegovina - Aportes al esclarecimiento del origen de la Primera GuerraMundial (Bosna i Hercegovina Prilozi za objanjenje uzroka Prvogasvjetskoga rata), povodom pedesete godinjice atentata u Sarajevu naaustrijskoga prijestoljonasljednika Franju Ferdinanda i njegovu suprugu Sofiju(1914.- 1964.).

Knjigaobuhvaća tri velike studije: PitanjeBosne i Prvi svjetski rat Ive Bogdana; Bosnai Hercegovina - hrvatske pokrajine o. Dominika Mandića (s opsenim saetkomna engleskom) i Politička povijestBosne Pere Vukote, uz radove Franje Nevistića, Milana Blaekovićai jednoga suradnika iz Hrvatske pod pseudonimom (J. G. Fratija).

U okviru tematske raspodjele StudiaCroatica je objavljivala i sve djelatnosti Hrvatskog-Latinoameričkog Kulturnog Instituta, kao i njegova sudjelovanja, naprimjer, na Svehrvatskom kongresu u New Yorku 1962. godine i u Hrvatskomnarodnom vijeću od 1975. godine do obnove suvremene hrvatske drave.

Institut je osim istraivanja Bleiburke tragedije istraivao isudbinu američkih zrakoplovaca zarobljenih u NDH za vrijeme rata 1941-1945godine. Rezultati toga istraivanja potakli su američkog povjesnicaraMichaela McAdamsa da istraivanje dovri i 1980 godine objavi knjigu podnaslovom Allied Prisoners of War inCroatia 1941 - 1945, koja je posluila hrvatskim dravnim vlastima u svomodnosu sa Sjedinjenim Američkim Dravama.

Nedugo iza ovih prvih uspjeha StudiaCroatica je doivjela teki udarac, smrt Ive Bogdana, uzrokovane okrutnimatentatom agenata Ozne 1971. u Buenos Airesu.

Alinisu se dali pokolebati.

Glavno urednitvo preuzeo je dr.Franjo Nevistić, a nakon njegove neočekivane prerane smrti, 1984., bioizabran dr. Radovan Latković za glavnoga urednika Studia-eCroatica-e i predsjednika Hrvatskoga-LatinoameričkogaKulturnoga Instituta, dunosti koje vrio do kraja 1994.

Istodobno, dolo je i dopromjene tajnika urednitva. Za novoga tajnika bio izabran Ljeposlav Perinić,koji je vrlo učinkovito obavljao tu dunost također do kraja 1994.

Kao glavni urednik, dr RadovanLatković uspio je proiriti krug suradnika i s piscima iz Domovine (DubravkoHorvatić i drugi).

Napose je bila zapaena suradnja dra. Franje Tuđmana,esej "Stjepan Radić i hrvatska povijest" (SC 1988., vol. 4, S.291.), suradnja za koju je osobno dobio privolu prigodom susreta s drom Tuđmanomu Torontu.

Povodom 33. obljetnice neprekinutoga objavljivanja revije StudiaCroatica, objavilo se izvanredni svezak s raznim podatcima o djelovanjurevije tijekom toga razdoblja.

Prema ustanovljenim podatcima, u razdoblju 1960.-1992. proirilose preko revije poznavanje hrvatske kulturne batine i tenje hrvatskoganaroda za samoodređenjem u neovisnoj suverenoj dravi besplatnim slanjem Studia-eCroatica-e na 134 ustanova (sveučilita, knjinice) po kojima jerevija postala pristupačnom irokom krugu čitatelja u 37 drava:

Argentina, Australija, Austrija, Belgija, Bolivija,Bosna-Hercegovina, Brazil, Bugarska, Costa Rica, Čile, Ekvador, Engleska,Francuska, Guatemala, Honduras, Hrvatska, Izrael, Italija, Japan, Kanada,Kolombia, Mađarska, Mexico, Njemačka, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, PuertoRico, Rumunjska, Rusija, Santo Domingo, Sjeverne Američke Drave, panjolska,vedska, vicarska, Urugvaj, Venezuela.

estero junoameričkih predsjednika, koji su sa svojimpristankom primali Studiju Croaticu, među prvima su priznali RepublikuHrvatsku.

Kako je već spomenuto, prva tri glavna urednika Studia-eCroatica-e bili su Ivo Bogdan, dr. Franjo Nevistić i dr. RadovanLatković. Koncem godine 1994 urednitvo preuzimlje magisterJoza Vrljičak, a u uredničkom odboru se nalaze escribanaJasna Bulat, Mira Dugački, dr. Maja Lukač-Stier, dr. Silvio Rajman, in.Ante Turica, dr. Marija Vrljičak-Sutter, lic. Carmen Vrljičak, dr. IvaVidić i dr. Jadranka Smajić, a dopisnici su dr. Mateo MartinićBero (Chile), Ksenija Horvat (Venezuela), dr. Vinko Grubiic (Kanada), dr.Francisco Javier Juez Galvez (panjolska), te magisterMate Marčinko, dr. Vladimir Dugački, prof. Domagoj Ante Petrić,Darko Mauranić (Hrvatska) i prof. Christophe Dolbeau (Francuska).

Krug čitatelja Studia-eCroatica-e se znatno proirio i internacionalizirao, uključenjem Studia-eCroatica-e u Internet (http://www.studiacroatica.com), to je ostvario aktualni glavni urednik u prosincu 1996.

Studia Croaticaima na svom Web site 60.0 Megabytes (to znači 60.000.000 slova i to jenajveći Hrvatski Web site na hrvatskoj dijaspori.

Ima nekih 6.000 stranica revije (polovica od onih koji su seizdale kroz ovih 43 godine), plus nekih 2.000 stranica s raznim knjiga na panjolskom,engleskom, francuskom, i hrvatskom. Naj noviji material to se jestavio na Internet je Sveto Pismo na hrvatskom (prijevod od Tomislav-a Dretar-a)

Mjesečnose čitaju oko 100.000 stranica, tako da StudiaCroatica je danas jednog od najčitanijih hrvatskih časopisa naInternetu. Web site dobiva posjeta od svih zemalja na svjetu, a naj cečijeposijetitelji su iz panjolske, Meksika, Argentine, Hrvatske, Chile i Kolombia.

God.2000, povodom 40. obljetnice neprekinutoga objavljivanja revije Studia Croatica, objavio se je jedan CD-ROM sa materialom koje tegodine se je već bio stavio na elektroničku formu.

Dodanas je izdano na papiru145 brojeva revije StudiaCroatica na vie od 12.000 stranica.

Zavrijeme sadanje redakcije broj onih osoba i Institucija, koji besplatnoprimaju Studia-u Croatica-u krećese oko 500. Tu su Narodne i Sveučiline Biblioteke, diplomati, novinari,znantvenici i ugledne osobe.

Upravonaj noviji broj revije je posvečen Marku Maruliću. Najnoviji "panjolskiMarulić" pojavio se zahvaljujući istaknutom panjolskom klasičnomfilologu, slavistu i kroatistu, profesoru na Komplutskom Sveučilitu uMadridu, Francisco-u Javier-u Juez-u Galvez-u, jedan od najpoznatijih marulologaizvan Hrvatske, te argentinskom nakladniku da bi pripremio "ediciónespecial" buenosaireskoga časopisa, Galvez je preuzeo viestruke zadaćeurednika, priređivača, autora i prevoditelja s drevne Marulićevečakavice, s njegova humanističkoga latinskog i mletačkogatalijanskog i francuskog jezika.

Mnogičestitaju Reviji, pa i sam Nadvojvoda dr Otto von Habsburg čestitao Studia-u Croatica-u i pokazuje svoju ljubav za Hrvatsku.

Znakovitoje, da Studia Croatica nije samo vanosredstvo informiranja međunarodne zajednice, nego da obavlja vanuinformativnu djelatnost i unutar one generacije hrvatskih emigranata Argentine,Chile-a i Latinske Amerike općenito, koja slabo, ili nikako, poznajehrvatski, pa im je poznavanje hrvatske povijesti, kulture i nacionalnih tenjahrvatskoga naroda postalo pristupnim tek preko revije StudiaCroatica, na panjolskom jeziku.

Časopisodigra vanu ulogu u ivotu Hrvata na junoameričkom kontinentu. Samomčinjenicom da izlazi na jednom od svjetskih jezika njegovo se značenjeproirilo i na ostali dio svijeta. Tome su pridonijeli i kvalitetni prilozi izpera hrvatskih intelektualaca koji su se poslije 1945. zatekli u svojevrsnojmetropoli hrvatske političke emigracije Buenos Airesu.

Argentinski Hrvat Joza Vrljičak (Buenos Aires, 1947) jeekonomski stručnjak, prevoditelj i dobro pozna informatiku. Čestoposjećuje Hrvatsku, gdje prijateljuje s nizom intelektualaca i kulturnihdjelatnika. Vrljičak je studirao na Université de Montréal - LoyolaCollege, te Concordia University, u Kanadi. Govori panjolski, hrvatski,engleski I francuski. Potpredsjednik je Međudrutvenog odbora hrvatskihudruga i ustanova u Argentini. Vlada Republike Hrvatske odlikovala ga je Redomhrvatskog pletera.

Vrljičak dobro poznaje povijest i aktualnost hrvatskezajednice u Argentini i sudijeluje u raznim hrvatskim udrugama.

Joza Vrljičak - Our Croatian Pride (op -ed)

"What goes around, comes around"!

To: newsonline@bbc.co.uk
Date: Sat, 21 Jun 2003 20:28:30 -0700
Subject: Uncertain future for Croatian Serbs

Dear Editor:

The article about the Croatian Serb refugees in Serbia was quite
interesting but is in need of some clarifications.

First, calling the Croatian Krajina region the "Krajina Serb Republic" is
a misnomer. The rebel Croatian Serbs gave it this name, but no country in
the world (except Serbia) recognized it as a legitimate entity.
Of the 11 1/2 % Serb population in pre-war Croatia, including the Serb
army personnel and families, only some 4% lived in the so-called Krajina
where they constituted a majority in some villages. These Serbs'
ancestors fled the Ottoman Turk conquest several centuries ago and
settled in Croatia's Krajina, which was at the time part of the
Austro-Hungarian Empire. Krajina simply means "borderland" as it was the
border between the West and the Ottoman Turk Empire.

Further, the article states that some Serb refugees do not want to return
to Croatia "because of what they have suffered during the war". The more
likely reason for not wanting to return is remembering the suffering they
caused from 1991 - 1995 to their Croatian neighbors, with atrocities, the
killings of thousands, the ethnic cleansing of several hundred thousand
and the looting and burning of their homes. Since the area's liberation,
the returning impoverished Croatian refugees have no other place to
settle than in the existing Serbian homes. It is the classic: "What goes
around, comes around"!

Sincerely,

Hilda M. Foley
National Federation of Croatian Americans
13272 Orange Knoll
Santa Ana. CA 92705
714 832-0289

Preserving Croatian Heritage

We are a group of people supporting the preservation of Croatian culture and tradition in our communities, in our homes and in our church.

The Croatian community here in Central PA. came into being in the 1890's. Most of the Croatian people that migrated to this area ended up in Steelton, and the community grew.

In the early days, a Croatian priest came to the area to minister to the Croatian Catholic community and in 1898, he was given permission to establish the second Croatian Catholic church in America. On October 28, 1898, the church was dedicated in a solemn ceremony to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The church and the parish came to be known as St. Mary's .

The Bishop of Harrisburg contacted the Franciscan Friars for Croatian speaking priests to serve the faithful. They served the parish until the suppression in 1995.

In 1954, Fra. Vilim Primorac, a Croatian Franciscan assigned to our parish, realized that the traditions brought here by the Croatian immigrants were still very much alive. He wanted to add more of the Croatian culture to these traditions and started the musical song and dance group known as 'KOLO CLUB MARIAN'. The group is still in existence today.

Rudy Pavlick
P.O. Box 7585
Steelton, PA 17113
Phone: 717-939-9411
Fax: 717-939-1050
hrvata@worldnet.att.net

The Traditional St. Mary's Picnic will be held at Cibort Park in Bressler,
PA on Sunday, August 3, 2003. This picnic has been continued by the St.
Mary's Preservation Society since the suppression of our Croatian parish and
the diocesan takeover of our Croatian church, the second Croatian chruch in
America.

Anyone travelling thru the area is welcome. There will be roast lamb and
roast pork on the spit, right at the park. Continuous music by tambura and
polka bands and plenty of refreshment. There is plenty of off-street
parking and no admission charge. Directions to the park can be e-mailed by
contacting hrvata@worldnet.att.net.

Our website address is; http://community.pennlive.com/cc/stmarys .

Sincerely,
Rudy Pavlick
hrvata@worldnet.att.net

The Archbishop of Zagreb and Cologne held a joint service

ARCHBISHOPS OF ZAGREB, COLOGNE CELEBRATE JOINT MASS The Archbishop
of Zagreb Josip Bozanic and the Archbishop of Cologne Joachim Meisner held a joint service on the occasion of Corpus Christi in front of the Cologne Cathedral on Thursday. Several thousand faithful attended mass, including several hundred local Croats. After a procession down Cologne streets, the 45th anniversary of the Croatian Catholic Mission's activity in Cologne was celebrated.

Posao u Hrvatskoj

Citao sam raspravu s naslovom 'BIG FAT ...', pa evo kako stvari
izgledaju iz perspektive agencije za potragu za kadrovima u Hrvatskoj.

Predstavljam Selectio (www.selectio.hr), najvecu hrvatsku tvrtku te
vrste, a dio nase grupe je i MojPosao (www.moj-posao.net) za koji ste
vjerojatno culi.

E sad, mi imamo dosta mandata na razini uprava (top management) i
iako do sada nije bilo previse prilike za ex-patriote na toj razini,
ipak ima sve vise hrvatskih tvrtki (u stranom vlasnistvu) koje upravo
takve traze. Konkretno i primjerice, mi sada imamo mandat za (Deputy)
CEO jedne velike hrvatske firme za koju se bas trudimo naci takvog.
Takodjer i direktora proizvodnje za jednu veliku hrvatsku firmu gdje
bismo isto rado nasli ex-patriota.

No, iskreno, ne znam za vise od nekoliko takvih do sada slucajeva,
ali u svakom slucaju bit ce ih sve vise, a nasa agencija ce u svakom
slucaju takav nacin rada promovirati: Hrvatska vapi za dobrim
managerima, narocito na najvisoj razini (ako se osjecate dobrim
managerom, a zelite se vratiti u Hrvatsku, slobodno mi se javite na
nb@selectio.hr).

S druge strane, imamo kontakte s mnogo nasih odlicnih ljudi u
financijama u Americi i Europi. Nazalost, s njihovim znanjem i
standardom place na koji su navikli, prilika za njih ovdje nema puno.
Netko s relevantnim iskustvom u investicijskom bankarstvu ili
naprednom konzaltingu svoja znanja uglavnom ne moze iskoristiti ovdje.

Takodjer i drugim strukama ispod vise managerske razine je nazalost
slicna situacija.

Pozdrav,

Nenad Bakic
verteks1@yahoo.com

Repopulate Rural Croatia?

Hey Everyone!

I found this interesting article on the Internet, and I remember reading some articles about renewing the economies of the Islands in the Jadran. I'm wondering if there is any formal organization in Croatia trying to bring people back to the islands (or any other rural areas) to restart the their local economies. Does anyone know?

-Marko

Rural Spain welcomes immigrants
By Michael Voss
BBC correspondent in Aguaviva, Spain

Much of the current debate in Europe over immigration focuses on how to limit numbers.

But in parts of rural Spain, where many villages are in decline because of depopulation, attracting immigrants is seen as a life-saving solution.

Until recently, the village of Aguaviva was a community in decline. It lies in the desolate hills of Teruel, one of Spain's poorest provinces.

For years, the young had fled to find work in the cities. Only the old remained.

Yet today the village school is alive to the sound of children. Pupil numbers have doubled, an extra teacher has been taken on.

The reason why the school is thriving is that the village decided to boost its population by attracting immigrants from abroad.

Initially they turned to South America, advertising in newspapers in Argentina, offering free flights and a job for families with children willing to live and work here.

Integrated

Now, less than half the pupils in one pre-school class are Spanish - the rest are immigrants from South America and Eastern Europe.

According to their teacher, they all get on well together.

"I'm really surprised at how well the children from Aguaviva have taken to the immigrants," she said.

"I think each local child has a close personal friend who has come from another country. There aren't separate groups, they all mix together very well."

The Martinez family were the first immigrants in Aguaviva, arriving from the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires, three years ago.

Marcelo Martinez said violent crime and a collapsing economy persuaded him to give up a struggling small business to become a school bus driver.

His wife, Gilda Mazzeo, still speaks with emotion about how well they were received.

"There were families who took us in and treated us as one of their own, as family," she said. "For us at least it's been a positive experience. We feel wanted and loved."

Difficult transition

But not everyone has adapted so well.

Most of the work on offer is on construction sites.

Initially, the village recruited from Argentina in the hope that speaking Spanish would help make integration easier. Many though came from big cities and have since left, unable to handle village life.

Luis Bricio is the mayor of Aguaviva. It was his idea to save the community through immigration.

"We made a big mistake because successful integration doesn't depend on the language, nor is it guaranteed by a shared Hispanic heritage," he said.

"What really matters is the work ethic and that the skills they come with match the sort of jobs we can offer here.

"In many ways, the East Europeans have adapted better than the South Americans."

Many of the more recent arrivals are from small Romanian communities and appear to be settling well.

Now word has spread and the village of Aguaviva has become headquarters for a national association to repopulate rural Spain.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3002928.stm