NYTimes did an article guide through weekend in Zagreb. I would hardly write it better myself :-)

Read it here...

So, how you Clarkies are doing?

No comment, just standing behind written in this article:

Divided, dysfunctional, a black hole, corruption heavily embedded, a space that we cannot afford to leave because it’s too destabilizing if we do, but we cannot push forward toward full statehood, either. That, I think, is the danger.

http://www.rferl.org/content/Helsinki_Commission_Urged_To_Renew_US_Engagement_In_Western_Balkans/1602962.html

This has been strategic goal of Croatian governments ever since 1991., no matter if we speak of conservative or progressive ones. Just to make a point here - all parties elected into Croatian parliament have been setting NATO and EU memberships as a strategic goals (so called "pro-EU-and-NATO" political parties).

I myself am happy that this finally happened, but my feelings are best summarized by the end of the Reuters article on the subject:

In the end I've decided to translate whole Gotovac's speech from the August 30th 1991.

To give you context, speech is held on a protest organized by the organization later (or even already at that time) named “Wall of love” which organized mothers whose sons found themselves serving Yugoslavian army at the time war in Yugoslavia (Slovenia and Croatia at first) began. Mothers organized themselves in attempt to bring their children from the army so they aren't forced to battle against their neighbors and families. Since at that time, less than a year military operations started, it was clear that Yugoslav army was acting very biased and instead of separating conflicting groups in attempt to bring peace it already attacked only “rebel” Croatian cities (but mostly civilian targets since Croatian forces weren't armed properly at that time), it made all sense in the world to pull out all Croats out from the army.

Lot of civil organizations joined in effort to organize that protest. It was held in front of the command building for Yugoslavian “5th Army district”, which covered Zagreb and better part of central and northern Croatia (“army districts” were defensive entities in Yugoslavia, which, as far as I can remember, weren't organized strictly within each federal entity, but they've covered more or less similar areas of Yugoslavia by size). Besides being a command spot for a good part of Yugoslav army, the building in front of which protest was held also has a significant role and symbolism in Croatian modern history.

Among others, members of Croatian P. E. N. held speeches that day, out of which Gotovac's speech became legendary and marked one era in Croatian history.

Here it is...

For some odd reason these last weeks I often remember Vlado Gotovac: Croatian dissident from communist era, essayist and poet, philosopher and politician.

It might be conncected with the 18th anniversary of Croatian independence, who knows. Gotovac was one of those people dreaming independent Croatia, and then he was struck with all the wrong we did along the way and was one of the loudest critics of nationalist regime era in the 1990s.

This might turn out to be somehow pathetic entry, but I’m sure you’ll forgive me. :)

My fellow Clarkies, my friends Americans, my neighbours Citizens of the world… Last week my homeland Croatia turned 18! Yes, 18 years already passed since the worldwide recognition of Croatian independence. Sure, as far as I know, in terms of US of A legislation we still couldn’t even buy drinks legally, but hey, that’s why we’re European country! :)

Anyway, there are no more excuses for childish mistakes, we have to start acting at least as reponsible as a drunk student!

I knew this feeling of the change we can believe in was somehow familiar... :)

Today I've bumped across something on my music player's playlists, I don't know if this song was anything big in the US, but in Europe it was definitely not only a huge hit but a symbol of the time when it was written.

Hola people. :)

I just stopped by to make an appeal to all of you to go and vote. I know that some of you feel indifference concerning these elections after all the ups and downs Clarkie movemet faced during this year. And I can fully understand and respect that feeling.

I've been often referencing to Bosnian problems after the Dayton agreement didn't live to its modernization. Some of you who read all of my blog entries will remember how at least once I've called out for a revision of Dayton peace agreement in order to finish the work which has begun with it, which brought peace to Bosnia. Back then I've wrote, if I remember correctly, how the job is half done.