The other face of Croatia

Slavenka Drakulić, expert on international tribunals, accuses Croatia in The Guardian of keeping fascist traditions alive behind its innocent mask as a popular tourist destination. "If anti-fascism is stated in the constitution of the new Croatian state, if the law prohibits the inciting of national, religious and racial hatred, then what's the problem? The problem is the Croatian attitude to its own past. Documents and declarations are one thing, but reality is another. ... Before its 17 years of independence, Croatia was an independent state only once: between 1941 and 1945 - when it was ruled by a Nazi puppet government. ... Croatian politicians, especially Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, loudly promote European values and declare their commitment to join the EU. While such un-European behaviour as war crimes, terrorism and fascism might be legally banned, they are, in practice, tolerated and even nourished. Does the EU need this Croatia - a country that is showing the world only its pretty summer face, but keeping its dubious values hidden?"

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