An Interview With Ina Vukic – “Future Member Of Croatian Parliament For The Diaspora”

Candidates for Croatian General Elections 4th and 5th July 2020 on
“Independent List Zeljko Glasnovic” for the 11th Electorate:
From left front row! Marko Juric, Zeljko Glasnovic, Ina Vukic, Mate Knezovic
Back row from left: Milena Matic, Tomislav Sunic, Marina Sunic-Zakman, Elizabeta Mađarevic, Srecko Telar
Candidates not on photo: Marko Perkovic, Martina Curic,
Franjo Miroslav Perkovic, Marina Sabljic, Kresimir Tabak.                    (CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE)

Interview by: Urbani Desničar

Translated into English from source

To describe Ina Vukic in a few sentences is an impossible task. She gave so much for the Croatian Homeland and the diaspora that I could write a book about it (in sequels). And what did she ask for in return? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! Her love for this country is something that is rarely seen. Starting from the war, until today. There are few in patriotic circles who have not heard of her blog: “Croatia, the War, and the Future”. But not to go into long texts about her here, all the information is available to you online. I am extremely honoured to have had her agree to an interview for my humble blog. In short, Ina Vukic has done more for this country and its promotion in the world than all previous Foreign Ministers combined. Free of charge. And that is why she deserves our deep bow of respect.

Croatian emigrants are completely discriminated against and that is a fact. 4.4% of Serbs in the Republic of Croatia (around 86 thousand) are guaranteed the same number of representatives as over 3 million Croats outside the Homeland. Given that the referendums are being stolen from us and it is difficult for us to gather a 2/3 majority in the Parliament, what is left for us?

If we read the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia, i.e. the part that looks at the law on the election of representatives for the diaspora and Croats of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) (Croats outside Croatia), then the current law on the Election of Representatives, in practice, greatly discriminates against the right of Croats outside Croatia to be adequately represented in the Croatian Parliament. From the inauguration of the Croatian Parliament in 1990 until 2010, Croats outside Croatia had 12 seats. These, and even more places, Croats outside Croatia deserve not only on the basis of their numbers, but also for their enormous share in the creation of the Republic of Croatia as an independent state. In 2010, a terrible injustice and travesty took place against Croats outside Croatia – their legs on which they stood with utmost sacrifice in the creation of modern Croatia in the 1990’s were simply and abruptly cut off.  Their seats in the Croatian Parliament were reduced to only 3! Well, I ask you, some 3,800,000 Croats up to the third generation live outside Croatia, and even more if we count the fourth and fifth – isn’t this the most blatant of examples of discrimination! A similar number of Croats live in Croatia and have 10 electorates, each has 14 seats in the parliament!! Discrimination against Croats outside Croatia – for sure, and that is catastrophic for Croatia and sad. I think that the best way is to assess the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia and assess whether or not the laws on the Election of Representatives in the Croatian Parliament are in accordance and commensurate with the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia? And you see, we are trying to achieve that right now. I am a member of a group of 30 Croats from the diaspora, who a few weeks ago submitted a proposal to the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Croatia for such an assessment.

You have done so much good for Croatia (especially during the war), that it is impossible to list them all. In 1995, Dr. Franjo Tudjman awarded you the “Homeland War Memorial” and the “Order of the Croatian Trefoil” Medals of Honour. Very few people know about this fact. Is it modesty or do you just think it was a moral obligation for you?

It is not a question of modesty because I deserved the medals with hard work and dedication, so I am proud of my merits for the Homeland and I thank God for giving me knowledge and strength for that. However, I am sad that Medals of Honour for the Republic of Croatia and the Homeland War are gathering dust in the drawers in the homes of people who deserved them with great sacrifice and dedication. No one would be happier than me if, at least at the celebrations of the Day of Croatian Statehood, these medals adorned the chests of those who deserved them in public. It seems to me that, thanks to the former communists (who were and still are in places of authority), who tried to criminalise the Homeland War and sent our heroes to The Hague (twisted political and false accusations of war crimes), that the medals became a matter of recipients’ personal pride rather than a matter of  national pride, which is what the medal should be.

When you mention moral duty, it certainly stands for anyone who has in any way contributed to the success of the creation of the Croatian state. I was raised in a family, for which, from my memory, the independence of Croatia was of essential and vital importance. From my grandfather, my father and myself – the moral values ​​behind it were simply instilled in me, and they gave me and give me strength. And they also make me an exemplary Croat, not close to those who voted for the Istanbul Convention and for the devastation of human morality but close to those who raised and maintained us on solid feet. And now such amoral people from HDZ and SDP parties and their satellites are again competing in the elections for the Croatian Parliament!? The Croatian people, for whom Croatia and everything it represents resides in their minds and souls, will not give them such an opportunity to devastate Croatia further! Morally, economically and politically. The latter two sentences sound like a prayer to me – and it is a prayer!

By profession you are a psychologist, so I would ask you to give a brief diagnosis of the mental state of the nation? Sometimes I really have a feeling, that we are definitely not normal.

Disorientation! Cultural, moral and political. I do not see a clear true Croatian culture being emphasised in Croatia, and the Croatian public is often imposed upon with parameters of “culture”, many of which are unknown to most, foreign and even insulting. Corruption and nepotism create a form of morality (immorality), while honesty and living by Christian morality are constantly waging a war for supremacy in the hearts of many people. Political disorientation is particularly visible in an abnormally large number of political parties and movements. And in the deep sea of ​national vision and mission Croatia’s does not exist. Without a national vision, the nation is disoriented, and that is social psychopathology. The only cure in the case of Croatia is the expungement from the system of everything in the work of the state that is imposed from the former Yugoslavia and brings double standards in almost everything that makes our everyday life.

Is there still a national charge among emigrants and is anyone thinking of returning to the Croatia of today? Especially bearing in mind that a lot of people see the Diaspora only as an ATM.

Yes, it exists, and it is very strong – it envelopes love for Croatian Homeland. There are those who want to or who have already returned, and there are those who have returned and then after a couple of years changed their minds and returned back to the diaspora. Disappointment in among the diaspora is large. Simply put, the laws they encounter in Croatia serve more to repel than to attract return. Problems such as: bureaucracy, tax, investment, property law, health care regulation, etc., simply make the lives of returnees impossibly difficult and frustrating.

Your Blog is an inspiration to Croatians around the world. You also do humanitarian work, work, write, travel…. How do you manage to balance it all?

I sleep five to six hours a day when dear God permits, and I work most of the other hours. Over the week by day I work as in Sydney CEO of a large organisation for government funded services in mental health and disability. I have dedicated my professional life to the welfare of people who have disabilities, to do my very best in breaking barriers so that with support they can live as normal members of our society. And it is a very demanding and responsible job. In the evening, I work for Croatian truth for five to six hours, for the benefit of the Croatian name around the world, for humanitarian, scientific or cultural associations, I write articles in English and Croatian, etc. And this is repeated on weekends. I am a responsible and reliable person, and this is morally instilled in me because I come from a family where the value of a person is instilled in the work they do, honest work. So, balancing comes naturally. And this has been going on for more than thirty years.

General Zeljko Glasnovic is the only politician who actively and tirelessly works on connecting the Republic of Croatia and its diaspora, and at the same time he is not afraid to tell the truth. How much does his support mean to you and is there anyone else you would point out in that respect?

General Glasnovic never loses focus from what is important for Croatian emigrants and Croats in BiH, and that is very important to us. And that focus is the integration with the Homeland and the development of all relevant legislation and regulations by which this integration can successfully be achieved. Especially during the last parliamentary term, he advocated for the pensions of HVO (Croatian Defence Council) veterans. Thanks to his concern for Croats in BiH, in 2017 he brought the Croatian HDZ government to its knees (as it was threatened with collapse at the time) to agree to General Glasnovic’s conditions in return for his vote in parliament; one of General Glasnovic’s conditions was that the government expedite the payment of arrears of pensions to HVO war veterans and that the law on war veterans be put into procedure as soon as possible. I want to say here that these are all actions that demonstrate General Glasnovic’s specific and dedicated work for his constituency as Member of Parliament. Such engaged MPs are a rarity in the Croatian Parliament.

In the end, it could be said that it was because of this desire for unity and integration of all Croats wherever they live that Croatian emigrants gave themselves in the fight for an independent and democratic Croatia. Emigrants in developed democracies have learned what it means to have a representatives in Parliament and what to expect from them, so the way General Glasnovic works is within the sphere of such “team” work they are used to, and what is expected from a member of Parliament or Parliament. You see, we are convinced in the diaspora that it is necessary to DECOMMUNIZE the Croatian public space and public administration, laws and procedures and public services to the citizens, which are still poisoned by the remnants of the ENEMY COMMUNIST REGIME. Here, too, General Glasnovic never disappoints us, even when it means that the mainstream media in Croatia avoid him because of it. So, his support means a lot to us. We are aware that without the share of knowledge, skill and perseverance in love for the Homeland (and these virtues are present in abundance within the diaspora, even life for all Croats cannot progress in the foreseeable future. But official Croatia largely resists that reality. Unfortunately!

Who else besides General Glasnovic do you want to point out?

To achieve the goals that lie in the hearts and minds of Croats outside Croatia, then the people I want to point out as outstanding are all candidates on the “Independent List of Zeljko Glasnovic” for the upcoming elections in Croatia. I myself am among them. I carry this candidature with pride and conviction that General Glasnovic will continue to hold all of us high in the new parliamentary mandate and emphasise the importance that Croats from BiH and the diaspora have for Croatia.

P.S. By chance (or fate) I started this interview with Ms. Ina, as a link between the Homeland and the Diaspora, a humanitarian worker, a psychologist, a blogger but in the end I have to add another title. “Future Member of the Croatian Diaspora in Parliament”. I am absolutely sure of that. After seeing General Glasnovics independent list, I was at the same time delighted with the names on it, but also disappointed. Because out of 14 people on the list, only 3 can get into the parliament. Which is a real disaster, when you look at all the moral verticals and patriots on it. The General is unquestionable, and I personally think that Ms. Vukic can easily get in. Who will be the third doesn’t matter at all, because you just can’t fail. Unfortunately, there will be no room for 11 patriots. Which is all the more reason to URGENTLY seek changes to the Elections law. How can this be achieved? I really have no idea. Because if I did, the General would now be sitting on Pantovcak (Office of President of Croatia) instead of the FRANTIC KHMER. Still, it is important that things slowly change for the better and that instead of one, we will finally have 3 authentic patriots in Parliament. Because (without any insult to anyone) those two Covic’s “heroes” (HDZ in BiH) only came there for a salary, and they didn’t open their mouths for 4 years. So once again I thank Ms. Ina Vukic for agreeing to this interview and I wish her good luck and success in her new position. This also applies to all other candidates from “General Glasnovic’s Independent List”. FOR HOMELAND READY!

Ina Vukic, June 2020

ORIGINAL INTERVIEW TEXT BY URBANI DESNIČAR IN THE CROATIAN LANGUAGE FOLLOWS:

Opisati gđu. Inu Vukić u par rečenica je nemoguće. Toliko je toga dala za Domovinu i iseljeništvo, da bi o tome mogli knjigu napisati (i to u nastavcima). A što je tražila zauzvrat? APSOLUTNO NIŠTA! Njena ljubav prema ovoj zemlji je nešto što se rijetko viđa. Počevši od rata, pa sve do danas. Malo je onih u Domoljubnim krugovima, koji nisu čuli za njen blog: “Croatia, the War, and the Future”. Ali da puno ne dužim, svi podatci su vam dostupni na internetu. Izuzetna mi je čast što je pristala na intervju za moj skromni blog. Ukratko, gđa. Ina Vukić je više učinila za ovu državu i njenu promociju u svijetu, nego svi dosadašnji Ministri vanjskih poslova zajedno. Bez ikakve naknade. I zato zaslužuje naš duboki naklon.

1. Hrvatsko iseljeništvo je potpuno diskriminirano i to je činjenica. 4.4% srba u RH (oko 86 tisuća) ima zagarantiran isti broj zastupnika kao i preko 3 milijuna Hrvata izvan Domovine. S obzirom da nam Referendume kradu a 2/3 većinu u Saboru teško možemo skupiti, što nam preostaje?

Ako pročitamo Ustav RH, odnosno onaj dio koji se osvrće na zakon izbora zastupnika za iseljeništvo i BiH (Hrvata izvan Hrvatske), onda sadašnji Zakon o izboru zastupnika naoko i u praksi, naveliko diskriminira pravo na zastupništvo Hrvata izvan Hrvatske u Hrvatskome saboru. Od inauguracije Hrvatskog sabora 1990. godine pa do 2010., Hrvati izvan Hrvatske su imali 12 zastupničkih mjesta. Ta, pa i više mjesta, Hrvati izvan Hrvatske zaslužuju ne samo po svojoj brojčanosti, nego i po svom udjelu u stvaranju Republike Hrvatske kao samostalne države. 2010. godine se dogodila grozna nepravda i travestija protiv Hrvata izvan Hrvatske, jer su im podsječene noge na kojima su stvarali Hrvatsku 1990-tih. Zastupnička mjesta u Hrvatskome saboru su im srozana na samo 3! Pa molim vas, izvan Hrvatske živi nekih 3,800,000 Hrvata do treće generacije, a i više ako brojimo i četvrtu i petu. Sličan broj Hrvata živi i u Hrvatskoj a imaju 10 izbornih jedinica! Diskriminacija protiv Hrvata izvan Hrvatske – sigurno, i to je katastrofalno za Hrvatsku i žalosno. Mislim da je najbolji način ući u sam Ustav RH i ocijeniti jesu li ili nisu Zakoni o izboru zastupnika u Hrvatskome saboru, sukladni sa Ustavom RH? I to vidite, upravo sada nastojimo postići. Članica sam skupine od 30 Hrvata i Hrvatica iz iseljeništva, koja je prije nekoliko tjedana položila prijedlog Ustavnom sudu RH za takvu ocjenu.

2. Toliko ste toga dobroga učinili za Hrvatsku (posebice za vrijeme rata), da je nemoguće sve nabrojati. Dr.Tuđman vas je 1995. nagradio “Spomenicom Domovinskog rata” i “Redom hrvatskog trolista”. Vrlo malo ljudi zna za tu činjenicu. Je li u pitanju skromnost ili jednostavno smatrate da vam je to bila moralna obveza?

Nije skromnost u pitanju jer sam odličja zaslužila velikim radom i ustrajnosti, pa sam ponosna na svoje zasluge za Domovinu i Bogu zahvalna što me podario znanjem i snagom. No, žao mi je što odličja za zasluge za Republiku Hrvatsku i Domovinski rat skupljaju prašinu po ladicama u domovima ljudi, koji su ih zaslužili velikim odricanjem i požrtvovnosti. Nitko sretniji od mene kada bi barem na proslavama Dana hrvatske državnosti ta odličja u javnosti krasila prsa dobitnika istih. Čini mi se da je zahvaljujući bivšim komunistima (koji su bili i koji još jesu na mjestima autoriteta), koji su iz petnih žila pokušavali kriminalizirati Domovinski rat a naše heroje poslati u Hag (uvijenim političkim i lažnim optužbama za ratne zločine), došlo i do toga da su odličja postala osobni ponos primatelja a ne nacionalni ponos, što su stvari i trebala biti.

Kada spominjete moralnu dužnost, to sigurno stoji za svakoga koji je na bilo koji način pridonio uspjehu stvaranje Hrvatske države. Odgojena sam u obitelji, kojoj je od mog pamćenja samostalnost Hrvatske bila od bitne i životne važnosti. Od mojeg dide, moga oca i mene same – moralne vrijednosti za time su jednostavno usađivane u mene, i davale su mi i daju snagu. A čine me i uzornom Hrvaticom, nikako bliskom onima koji su glasali za Istanbulsku konvenciju i za devastiranje ljudskog morala, koji nas je na čvrste noge dizao i održao. I sada se takvi amoralci iz HDZa i SDPa i njihovih satelita, opet natječu na izborima za Hrvatski sabor!? Hrvatski narod kojem je hrvatstvo i sve ono što ono predstavlja u mislima i na duši, neće im dati takvu priliku da Hrvatsku devastiraju i dalje! Moralno, gospodarski i politički. Ovo zadnje mi sliči na molitvu, to molitva i jest!

3. Po profesiji ste psiholog, pa bi vas zamolio da date kratku dijagnozu mentalnog stanja nacije? Ponekad stvarno imam osjećaj, da definitivno nismo normalni.

Dezorijentacija! Kulturna, moralna i politička. Ne vidim jasnu istinsku hrvatsku kulturu, pa se po javnom prostoru nameću parametri “kulture”, od kojih su mnogi većini nepoznati, strani pa i uvrijedljivi. Korupcija i nepotizam stvaraju jedan oblik morala (nemorala), dok poštenje i život po kršćanskom moralu stalno vode rat za prevlast u srcu naroda. Politička dezorijentacija osobito je vidljiva u nenormalno velikom broju političkih stranaka i pokreta. A i u dubokom moru nepostojanja nacionalne vizije i misije. Bez nacionalne vizije i nacija je dezorijentirana, a to je društvena psihopatologija. Kojoj je jedini lijek u slučaju Hrvatske, izbacivanje iz sustava svega onoga u radu države što se nameće još iz bivše Juge, i donosi duple standarde u gotovo svemu što nam čini svakodnevnicu.

4. Postoji li još uvijek nacionalni naboj među iseljenicima i razmišlja li itko o povratku u ovu i ovakvu Hrvatsku? Pogotovo imajući na umu, da dosta ljudi Dijasporu vidi samo kao bankomat.

Da postoji i veoma je jak. Ima onih koji se žele ili koji su se već vratili, a ima i onih koji su se vratili i onda nakon par godina predomislili, I vratili se natrag u iseljeništvo. Razočaranje u iseljeništvu je veliko. Jednostavno zakoni s kojima se susreću u Hrvatskoj, više služe odbijanju nego privlačenju povratka. Problemi poput: birokracijskih, poreznih, investicijskih, imovinsko-pravnih, uređenja zdravstvene zaštite itd., jednostavno čine život povratnicima nemoguće teškim i frustrirajućim.

5. Vaš Blog je inspiracija Hrvatima diljem svijeta. Bavite se i humanitarnim radom, radite, pišete, putujete…. Kako sve to uspijevate balansirati?

Spavam pet do šest sati dnevno kad dragi Bog dozvoli, a ostale sate većinom radim. Preko tjedna po danu na svom radnom mjestu, glavne i izvršne direktorice (CEO) (velike organizacije u Sydneyu za mentalno zdravlje i invaliditet, financirane od strane Australske vlade). I to je vrlo zahtjevan i odgovoran posao. Navečer po pet do šest sati radim za Hrvatsku istinu, za dobrobit hrvatskog imena po svijetu, za udruge humanitarnog, znanstvenog ili kulturnog karaktera, pišem članke na engleskom i na hrvatskom itd. I to se ponavlja i vikendom. Odgovorna sam i pouzdana osoba i to je moralno usađeno u meni, jer potječem iz obitelji gdje je vrijednost osobe usađena u radu, poštenom radu. Pa tako balansiranje dođe prirodno. I to tako traje već više od trideset godina.

6. General Glasnović je jedini političar koji aktivno i neumorno radi na povezivanju RH i iseljeništva, i pri tome se ne boji reči istinu. Koliko vam znači njegova potpora i postoji li još netko koga biste istakli?

General Glasnović ne gubi fokus od onoga što je bitno za hrvatsko iseljeništvo i Hrvate BiH, i to je nama vrlo važno. A to je integracija s Domovinom i razvoj svih relevantih zakona i uredaba kojima se ta integracija uspješno postiže. Posebno se tijekom proteklog saborskog mandata založio za mirovine branitelja HVO-a. Zahvaljujući takvoj njegovoj brizi za Hrvate BiH, 2017. godine je doveo do toga da je HDZ-ova vlada (kako joj je tada prijetila propast), pristala na uvjet generala Glasnovića da za uzvrat za njegov glas u saboru, vlada požuri sa isplatama zaostataka mirovina braniteljima HVO-a,  te da se zakon o braniteljima stavi što žurnije u proceduru. Hoću reći da su to sve postupci koji pružaju dokaz, da general Glasnović kao saborski zastupnik konkretno i učinkovito radi za dobrobit Hrvata koje zastupa u saboru. Tako angažrani zastupnici su rijetkost.

Na koncu konca, moglo bi se reći da je zbog tog priželjkivanog zajedništva i integracije svih Hrvata ma gdje živjeli, hrvatsko iseljeništvo i sebe dalo u borbi za neovisnu i demokratsku Hrvatsku. Iseljeništvo u razvijenim demokracijama se naučilo što znači imati svojeg zastupnika u Saboru i što očekivati od toga, pa je način rada generala Glasnovića unutar sfere takvog “timskog” rada na koji su navikli, i što se i očekuje od zastupnika u Saboru ili parlamentu. Vidite, uvjerenja smo u iseljeništvu da je neophodno DEKOMUNIZIRATI Hrvatski javni prostor i javnu upravu, zakone i procedure i javne usluge građanstvu, koje još i dan danas truju zaostaci NEPRIJATELJSKOG KOMUNISTIČKOG REŽIMA. I tu nas general Glasnović nikada nije razočarao, pa čak kad to i znači da ga mainstream mediji u Hrvatskoj izbjegavaju zbog toga. Dakle, njegova nam potpora puno znači. Svijesni smo da bez udjela znanja, umijeća i ustrajnosti u ljubavi za Domovinu (a te vrline iseljeništvo posjeduje u izobilju), ni život za sve Hrvate ne može napredovati u predvidljivoj budućnosti. No službena se Hrvatska uveliko opire toj realnosti. Nažalost…

Koga još osim generala Glasnovića želim istaći? Za ostvarenje ciljeva koji leže na srcu i umu Hrvata izvan Hrvatske, onda su to svi kandidati na “Nezavisnoj listi Željka Glasnovića” za dolazeće izbore u Hrvatskoj. Među njima sam i ja, što nosim s ponosom i uvjerenjem da će General Glasnović i dalje u novom saborskom mandatu, držati sve nas i isticati važnost koju Hrvati iz BiH i iseljeništva imaju za Hrvatsku.

ps. Igrom slučaja (ili sudbine) započeo sam ovaj intervju sa gđom. Inom, kao sponom Domovine i Dijaspore, humanitarnim radnikom, psihologom, blogericom….ali joj na kraju moram dodati još jednu titulu. “Buduća zastupnica hrvatskog iseljeništva u Saboru”. U to sam apsolutno siguran. Nakon što sam vidio nezavisnu listu Generala Glasnovića, u isto sam vrijeme bio oduševljen imenima koja se na njoj nalaze, ali i razočaran. Jer od 14 osoba sa liste, samo 3 prolaze dalje. Što je prava katastrofa, kada pogledate koje se sve moralne vertikale i Domoljubi nalaze na njoj. General je neupitan, a osobno smatram da će i gđa. Vukić bez problema proći dalje. Tko će biti treći uopće nije bitno, jer jednostavno ne možeš faliti. Nažalost za 11 Domoljuba neće biti mjesta. Što je razlog više da PODHITNO tražimo promjene Izbornog zakona. Kako to napraviti? Stvarno nemam pojma. Jer da znam, sad bi sjedio na Pantovčaku umjesto MAHNITOG KMERA. Ipak, važno je da se stvari polako mijenjaju na bolje i da ćemo umjesto jednoga, konačno imati 3 autentična Domoljuba u Saboru. Jer (bez ikakve uvrede) ona dva Čovićeva “junaka” su samo dolazila po plaću, a 4 godine usta nisu otvorili. Zato još jednom zahvaljujem gđi. Ini Vukić što je pristala na ovaj intervju i želim joj puno sreće i uspjeha na novoj funkciji. Ovo se odnosi i na sve ostale kandidate sa “Nezavisne liste Generala Glasnovića”. ZA DOMOVINU SPREMNI!