[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 35 (Thursday, March 24, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 24, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
 CROATIAN LEADERS SHOW SUPPORT FOR DOBROSLAV PARAGA AS LEGAL PRESIDENT 
                    OF THE CROATION PARTY OF RIGHTS

                                 ______


                      HON. JAMES A. TRAFICANT, JR.

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 24, 1994

  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to take this opportunity to share 
a letter with my colleagues on behalf of Dobroslav Paraga, an 
opposition leader in the Croatian Parliament who was democratically 
elected the President of the Croatian Party of Rights. Attempts by the 
Tudjman government to deprive him of his elected right to function in 
this capacity have resulted in the following letter of protest.
  Let us not forget how far Croatia has yet to come in granting 
democratic rights to its own citizens. The United States can be of 
great assistance in supporting progress in this area in its 
negotiations with the Croatian Government.
  At this point, I wish to include the text of the letter which 
follows:

    Letter of Support to the Croatian Party of Rights and Its Legal 
                      President, Dobroslav Paraga

       I condemn the unconstitutional and unlawful decision by the 
     Ministry of Administration of the Republic of Croatia which 
     has named persons it authorizes to represent the Croatian 
     Party of Rights. Such a decision is in violation of the law 
     on political parties in Croatia as well as the statutes of 
     the Croatian Party of Rights.
       In the interest of democracy and parliamentarism in Croatia 
     I ask that the authorities make correct application of laws 
     governing this case. I think that it is extremely unethical 
     that the Croatian government and its ministers interfere in 
     the work of political parties such as they have done with the 
     Croatian Party of Rights. I also think it is unethical that 
     the courts, whose main function is to protect civil rights, 
     have ignored the appeals of those whose civil rights have 
     been violated.
       With this letter I am expressing my concern for the state 
     of democracy in Croatia, as well as my support for the legal 
     and legitimate representatives of the Croatian Party of 
     Tights in their struggle for democracy, and a State based on 
     law and unobstructed political party activity. These are the 
     rights of all citizens regardless of their political 
     affiliation.
       I agree that this letter with my signature may be made 
     public.
       The following is a list of the signatories to the above 
     letter:
       1. Miko Tripalo, President of Soros Foundation, Vice-
     President of Croatian Helsinki Committee, Representative of 
     Croatian Parliament.
       2. Danijel Ivin, Member of Presidency of Croatian Helsinki 
     Committee
       3. Vjekoslav Vidovic, retired President of Supreme Court of 
     Croatia
       4. Dragutin Lesar, President of Association of Independent 
     Unions of Croatia
       5. Boris Kunst, President of Zagreb Chapter of Association 
     of Independent Unions of Croatia
       6. Dr. Semso Tankovic, President of Party for Democratic 
     Action in Croatia
       7. Hans Peter Rullmann, Publisher of ``Hrvatska Domovina'' 
     newspaper, President of German-Croatian Society
       8. Dr. Marko Veselica, President of Croatian Christian 
     Democratic Union
       9. Vladimir Jakic, Head Secretary of Croatian Helsinki 
     Committee
       10. Izet Aganovic, Professor at Zagreb University, 
     President of Merhamet for Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina
       11. Dr. Ivo Banac, Professor at Yale University
       12. Dr. Ivo Goldstein, Professor at Zagreb University
       13. Ivan Zvonimir Cicak, President of Croatian Helsinki 
     Committee for Human Rights
       14. Dr. Juraj Plenkovic, Professor at Zagreb University
       15. Dr. Slobodan Lang, Croatian Ambassador for Human Rights 
     and Professor at Zagreb University
       16. Slavko Goldstein, Editor of ``Novi Liber'' magazine

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