FORUM HRVATSKE SLOGE
(FORUM OF CROATIAN UNITY)
For Dialogue, Tolerance and Togetherness
The Forum of Croatian Unity (Forum Hrvatske Sloge), an Association of Citizens
for Dialogue, Tolerance, and Togetherness, was founded in Zagreb on October
26, 2001, and was registered on November 13, 2001. It held its Business Convention
in the European Hall in Zagreb, on December 19. 2001. The first National
Convention will be held at 6 P.M. on February 14, 2002 in the Lisinski Hall
in Zagreb
The Association brings together an impressive number of outstanding figures
from all walks (and parties) of Croatian public life, including former prime
ministers, ministers, ambassadors, current and former Sabor deputies, university
professors, museum directors, and professionals. To name just a few: Davorin
Rudolf, Zdravko Tomac, Franjo Greguric, Josip Juras, Ante Klaric, Vesna Skare-Ozbolt,
Ante Lauc, Osman Muftic, Vladimir Malekovic...
As stated by Dr Davorin Rudolf, the President of the Association, “the Forum
is not a political party. It is not based on any leftist or rightist ideology,
but on a program of peaceful, stable, progressive, democratic, and European
Croatia. Our goal is to contribute, among other things, to a consensus concerning
the key issues of Croatia and her future.”
At the Founding Assembly in October, there were about 50 people, including
the Canadian Member of Parliament of Croatian origin, Janko Peric, who strongly
endorsed the idea, and a number of well-known Croatian Americans. Partnership
between Croatian home and abroad is among the planks of the Association’s
program.
The Business Convention presented the Presiding Board of the Association:
Davorin Rudolf (President), Osman Muftic (Vice President), Josip Juras (Secretary),
Marina Vokic-Zuzul, Zdravko Tomac, Ante Klaric, Franjo Greguric, Mirko Barišic
(Members), and Ivana Pezo (Secretary to the Board).
The Convention elected the Governing Board of 77 members (with a proviso
of extending it up to 120 as the Association spreads throughout Croatia and
the world), the Committee of Control, and the Council of the Impartial; it
adopted eight committees (economy, human rights, legal system, Liberation
War issues, national security and internal affair, foreign affairs, health
and social security, and science, education, and culture). The ninth committee,
for relations between homeland and the Croats abroad was proposed, and also
adopted. This may be of a particular interest for the Croatian diaspora
as, in our opinion, partnership between Croats at home and abroad, a creation
of a Global Croatia, is a key to a stable and prosperous future of Croatia
and Croatian people.
The Forum has published a 39 page Program brochure. It is written in Croatian
and I will quote just a few spots to give you an idea of what the Forum proposes
to do.
The purpose of the Forum is “to promote and strengthen unity, political and
social dialogue, tolerance and togetherness; democracy, political pluralism,
legal state, and economic and social progress. It will support an optimal
state of human rights for everyone, and strengthening of international peace
and stability, in particular in Southeastern Europe.”
The creation of the modern Croatian state “is an act of historic proportions,
and we are proud of our Liberation War (1991-1996). Croatian defenders are
the glory of the Motherland… We demand a better future. Let us leave history
to historians.”
The goals of the Forum will be achieved “by working together in unity and
tolerance… Nobody will help us pull our cart out of quicksand…Our goal is
not power, but efficient functioning of the institutions of the state, and
decision-making which results in the best, most useful, and timely decisions.”
On Economy:
“… We will support activities that respect hard work, and fight sloth, and
economic irresponsibility…”
On Courts and Law:
“The slowness of Croatian courts is unacceptable… Courts must act according
to the laws, not serve as political arms of this or that party… We should
all be equal in front of the law…”
On Foreign Affairs:
“Croatian foreign policy must be decided in Zagreb, and not in foreign centers
of power…”
On the Hague Tribunal:
“We insist on the principle of individual guilt. Nobody should be tried twice
for the same cause… The Liberation War was a defensive war, and for Croatia
it was a just war.”
On Science and Education:
“We support bringing Croatian science and education system up to the European
standards as quickly as possible…”
On Culture:
“The Forum will systematically promote national cultural achievements…”
On the Media:
“We support free, professional and responsible public media in which there
is no room for hate-mongers, and informers…”
On the Youth:
“The young are the best educated section of the Croatian society. But as
things stand today they have no chance… We support jobs for the young, their
quick entering into the political system and the administrative structures;
we support development projects, fresh ideas, and creativity…”
ON CROATS ABROAD:
“The Motherland is the firmest link among the Croats all around the world.
By maintaining the dignity of the Croatian state, through patriotism and
promotion of trust into financial, economic, and political institutions of
the Republic of Croatia, by promoting efficiency of the legal system, and
through an ongoing dialogue, the links between homeland and the Croats abroad
will continue to be strengthened.
The Forum will propose eliminating bureaucratic barriers to investing of
the funds of the Croats abroad into the economy of the Republic of Croatia.
We will promote genuine care and political protection for the Croats living
in other states, in particular the constitutional rights and equality of
the Croatian people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, while fully recognizing sovereignty,
independence and territorial integrity of that state.”
.
On December 29, acting as the Chair of the Committee for Relations between
the Homeland and the Croats Abroad I have, additionally, published a position
paper on that topic. Here is a very brief summary:
In my opinion, without cooperation between the Croats at home and abroad,
without a Global Croatia, a Croatian world interest group in which we all
work for the benefit of all, there will be no safe and prosperous future
for Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Croatian people. Therefore,
we propose to inform and instruct the leadership of the Forum on important
issues in the area of the relations between the Croatian home and abroad,
our main goals being:
1. Strengthening political links between the Homeland and
the Croats abroad.
2. Stopping the sale of Croatia to foreigners by promoting
investment by the Croats abroad.
3. Creating mechanisms for understanding Global Croatian
culture, and for presenting a true picture of Croatian culture to the world.
4. Promoting timely transfer of knowledge and professional
experience from diaspora to the Homeland.
5. Creating a world-wide Croatian lobby to spread truth
about Croatia and the Croatian people.
Immediate issue: Representation of the Croats abroad in
Croatia in the light of the new electoral law which is being prepared.
I will have a chance to present, in five minutes, our
views at the Convention on February 15. Your input is most valuable. Please
communicate your ideas and views to vgoss@aol.com or at 919-732-7576.
Vladimir P. Goss
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