Zagreb 17 March 2008
Safely back in Zagreb after 5 days in stormy, rainy, cold (when isn't it) England. Attended an excellent workshop/conference on 'Emergent Publics' at the Open University (
Catching up with the news:
* Croatian Government has decided to withdraw its Ecological Fisheries Zone against boats from EU member states Slovenia and Italy. So much for unity within the governing coalition which is not yet 6 weeks old! the HSS (Croatian Peasant's Party) voted against but will remain in the Government. Anyway, the zone was of little real use in the absence of adequate patrols but was more a symbol of national pride! Seems EU membership negotiations are more important although these have really slowed as the Government struggles with opening benchmarks which are a new feature of the accession process. I would really no longer bet on completing talks by 2009 and being invited to join in 2010. If these deadlines are missed then there is a new Commission and a new parliament and the delay could be even longer.
* Gotovina trial begins at the ICTY in the Hague. As I read coverage in (quality) English newspapers, I realise the gap between Croatian perceptions and how others see Croatia. I am not arguing, of course, that all Croats support Gotovina but I do think that the vast majority would squirm at the apparent suggestion that his case is like that of Karadzić and Mladić who remain on the run, of course. I suppose I want to hold onto the fact that the military actions in Croatia in 1995 were different in some way from the conduct of the Bosnian Serb leadership from 1992 to 1995.
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