OPEN LETTER TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE CROATIAN INFORMATION CENTRE

Croatian Information Centre - 31 August, 2000

This letter was sent out as part of the Croatian Information Centre press cuttings service. I wrote it due to recent negative press comment on the Croatian Information Centre, an organisation and staff (especially in Split!) I have respect for.

 

 

Dear Mr Beljo

I have read with some concern comments made about the Croatian Information Centre (HIC) in the Croatian press. This is why I am writing this open letter to you.

In particular the implication that those who use its services are HDZ connected has disturbed me.

In regard to myself - as a member of the Diaspora - this is most certainly not the case. I am a member of the British Liberal Democrat party - a sister party of the HSLS in European politics. Furthermore, I am on record in Liberal Democrat News - the weekly journal of the Liberal Democrats - as welcoming the new government. In particular I expressed pleasure at the presence of HSLS ministers in a Central European government. I also stated that the new government should be supported by membership of Croatia in Nato's Partnership for Peace programme and the receipt of EU aid. Clearly, I am not HDZ orientated. Given this, what I now have to say should be take seriously.

In the United Kingdom I have refuted much Serbian propaganda against Croatia via letters to the press and the occasional article. It must be understood that in the United Kingdom that the "Krajina" Serbs are regarded as innocent victims of the Croats, with no mention made of the horrors perpetuated against the Croats. I have had letters published in British newspapers and magazines such as The Independent and The Guardian refuting this and other Serbian propaganda. I have also written a couple of articles on Croatia in Liberal magazines, again refuting Serbian propaganda and portraying Croatia in a positive light.

The HIC have been absolutely invaluable in helping me to do this. Every day I receive email news reports and press articles on Croatia from them. Without this service, I would have no idea what is going on in Croatia and it would hamper my work. Furthermore, I have purchased English language books on Croatia from HIC which have been highly informative.

On my visits to Croatia the Split branch of HIC have been extremely helpful and welcoming, enhancing my visits considerably with information on Dalmatia and providing a friendly service.

Apart from services for me, I am aware that HIC have provided a contact point for foreign journalist visiting Croatian cities such as Split. The value of this cannot be underestimated. Most foreign journalists have been fed a diet of Serbian propaganda along the lines of "Croats are Ustashe" etc. Their contact with HIC may well be the only time they hear from a Croatian perspective.

I am certainly not conversant with all the various political intrigues that are going on at the Croatian Heritage Foundation. What I can say is that from my experience HIC is the only Croatian organisation that promotes Croatia in any way at all. It probably does more for Croatia overseas than the entire Croatian diplomatic corps put together.

As is well known outside - if not inside - Croatia, the Croats do not promote themselves, allowing Serbian propagandists and sympathisers to say what they like. This has contributed significantly to Croatia´s international problems over the last ten years.

Recently, Croatia Weekly, the only Croatian English language weekly aimed at a non-Croat audience and which promoted a positive image of Croatia was closed. This was a disturbing step back for Croatia. No country can have a successful political, diplomatic and economic future if it refuses to promote itself.

The short-sighted closure of Croatia Weekly has made the work of the HIC all the more important. Its staff have done much for Croatia, and this should be recognised and HIC's work should be expanded. There should be HIC offices in London, Paris, Washington and Brussels.

HIC staff have done much for Croatia, more than any other Croatian institution. Their efforts should be recognised by the Croatian government and people.

 

Yours sincerely,

Brian Gallagher