Croatia launches new policy drive

Zeljko Trkanjec, the author of Croatia launches new foreign policy drive (9 March 2010) is full of praise for the new Croatian president and his policies of regional friendship and cooperation. In this context he mentions that the first Croatian president Tudjman's goal was the establishment of independent Croatia inside the borders of the so-called Banovina, but "with the help of the international community this 'dangerous' plan failed". Trnjavec oddly fails to explain that the Banovina was for centuries part of Croatia and was therefore accepted as such in 1939 in an agreement with the Prince Regent of Yugoslavia, Paul, a Serb.

Should one really wonder why the "international community" objected to Tudjman's reasonable proposal? Not really! What became quite obvious was strong leaning of some western countries, especially Great Britain and France toward

Serbia and anger at Croatia for wanting independence from Serbia, the nation which dominated in both Yugoslavias, the royal and Tito's communist one.

Therefore it is not surprising that the West is pleased with the new Croatian president, who is announcing "regional" friendship and cooperation, and the slavish acceptance of the "Western Balkans", an integration fostered upon Croatia by the EU. Yes, Croatians have been weary of Serbia which has not given up the idea of "Greater Serbia", and until it publicly states of having no intentions of ever again annexing other people's lands, Croatians have every reason to be cautious. That goes especially for the Croatian president and government.

Sincerely, Hilda Marija Foley, California, USA