State Dept letter

[Ivo Skoric]

Well, Maggie obviously has no clue about what Croatians at home 
and abroad really aspire to. She thinks that they aspire to Euro-
Atlantic integrations. Which is not all that wrong. But then she 
proceeds to check the items required for fullfillment of such 
aspirations, as they are defined by the State Department, not by 
the Croatian people. 

So, we read, ok, Racan did that well, and he did that well, but he 
still needs to do that and that, to make the country eligible to 
proceed with those integrations. In other words, she is merrily 
approving of Racan's sycophantic signing of SAA, his 
obsequiousness in the participation in the NATO war games, but 
she notes that there are still other difficult steps to be taken to 
demonstrate shared democratic values and standards. 

There is nothing in her letter that would give even a vague hint that 
they are prepared to accept Croatia in so-called Euro-Atlantic 
integrations under any other conditions but those that they 
dictated, with a complete disregard of the will of Croatian people 
and their elected representatives. However, how could that be the 
demonstration of democratic values and standards, if Racan does 
what he is commanded to do by the U.S. administration, in patent 
contravention of the wishes of the Croatian electorate? They force 
him to behave undemocratically, and only then they are prepared to 
give him a passing grade on the democratic values and standards. 
What hypocrites!

As for the three things still needed to be completed under the US 
plan for Croatia's democracy: encouraging refugees to return, 
transferring indicted war criminals to The Hague, and normalizing 
relations with its neighbors - I think she is factually wrong on two of 
the three. Racan's government normalized relations with its 
neigbors - it gave in on Piran bay to do that with Slovenia, it gave in 
on many things (war reparations, Sljivancanin, Perisic, Prevlaka, 
etc.) to do that with Serbia/Montenegro, and it gave up on Croats in 
Bosnia to do that with Bosnia, and there was never any problem in 
relations with Hungary, which makes all the neighbors accounted 
for. What exactly is her point there? I would definitely ask her to 
clarify that. Maybe her geography is not any better than her boss's.

Also, Racan's government relentlessly encourages refugees to 
return. They are not returning because they are fine where they 
presently are, or because they are scared of old neighbors that 
they mistreated, or because there indeed are forces in Croatia that 
are against their return - but Racan's government has nothing to do 
with that. This is like holding US government responsible for every 
NYPD or LAPD racial excess like Abner Louima or Rodney King.

So, it boils down to the delivery of Bobetko and Gotovina to The 
Hague. Again, Racan's government would do that at any time, if 
that would not weaken their already weak political position in the 
country. It really is a very sickening situation that Croatia is left to 
assert its sovereignty by witholding the transfer of indicted war 
criminals - being that everything else was already taken from her. I 
think Maggie needs to meditate on why is that so, a little.

ivo

ps - Racan, on the other hand, should say NO to NATO, reduce 
military spending, and decriminalize cannabis.

-/-

So, here is the State Dept. letter:

Dear Ms. Foley,

Thank you for your November 20 letters  to Secretary of State Colin
Powell and Nat. Security Advisor Dr. Condoleezza Rice, regarding
Croatia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations.  I have been asked to respond 
on their behalf. The democratic government of Prime Minister 
Racan has taken significant steps to resolve the country's 
outstanding post-war issues, strengthen its economy and advance 
the country's efforts to join euro-Atlantic institutions. Croatia's 
signature of a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU 
and its participation in NATO's Membership Action Plan are 
tangible symbols that international community recognizes these 
achievements. Membership in the EU and NATO requires not
only the economic and military compatibility of member states, bur 
also the demonstration of shared democratic values and standards. 
Therefore, it is crucial for Croatia to resolve its outstanding post-war 
issues -- to encourage refugees to return, to transfer those indicted 
for war crimes to the Hague and to fully normalize relations with its 
neighbors.

the Racan government, with the strong suppport of President 
Mesic, has taken some difficult steps toward this end, and by 
continuing to take such actions, will move the country further down 
the path towards full integration with the european community. I 
hope that the Croatian Diaspora will give its full support to their 
efforts. 

Sincerely,

signed: Maggie Nardi
Croatia Desk Officer