Orlanda Obad on confronting the past in Croatia

Yes to EU membership but an embarrassed silence when it comes to war crimes – these are the double standards evident in the attitude of Croat politicians, writes Croat journalist and political scientist Orlanda Obad. "Croatia's quest for EU membership and its confrontation with the less appetising events in our past are being approached as if they were simply a task set by Brussels to be carried out here in Croatia... In the eyes of the Croats, the handing over of Ante Gotovina to the Hague War Crimes Tribunal was something which the EU and international organisations forced us to do. Croatia simply obeys... Croatia will presumably only confront its past to the extent that is absolutely necessary for EU membership. This attitude makes noble political gestures, establishing the truth, and the writing of the combined history of the Balkan states an impossible task. The major parties remain silent about war crimes and will probably continue to do so in the future."

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