Open letter to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, August 2025 – in pursuit of historical truth:

Dear Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia,

I am writing to you from Sydney, where I, like many of our emigrants, have always treasured for my homeland in my heart and soul.

I am Marko Franović, one of those who left due to political disagreement with the former regime but never forgot where they came from. Today, I am addressing you with pride, but also with a heavy heart, because Croatia, our beloved country, stands at the crossroads of history and future.

First, I would like to express my respect for the decision to mark the 30th anniversary of Operation Storm with a magnificent military parade. I am also pleased that, with your presence, along with the members of the Government, you have supported the concert of our great singer Marko Perković Thompson. Thompson’s songs are not just music – they are the voice of our people, our struggles, and our victories. Seeing the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia standing with such symbols of unity gives us in the diaspora hope that Croatia has not forgotten who we are and why we fought. The parade, on the other hand, reminds us of the courage of our defenders, of the sacrifices they made so that we can live in freedom today. Thank you, Mr. Plenković, for recognising and supporting this.

But as much as I rejoice in these proud moments, my heart is heavy because of something that has haunted us for decades – the historical controversy surrounding Jasenovac. I cannot and will not remain silent while our people are constantly accused of genocide, while our history is distorted and used as a weapon against us. As I have already written in my previous articles, published in the domestic media, Croatia must not allow lies and political narratives to be imposed as truth. We are not a people that committed crimes on the level of genocide, and the accusations coming from pro-Yugoslav and Greater Serbia circles, motivated by political interests, must be refuted by facts.

In that sense, I would like to particularly highlight the work of Igor Vukić, a man who has dedicated his life to researching the truth about Jasenovac for years. In his works, such as the book Labour Camp Jasenovac, Vukić has clearly shown that the numbers of victims were often exaggerated for political purposes and that the context of the war and the actions of the communist regime after 1945 are crucial for understanding what happened. He is not a ‘revisionist’, as he is accused of – far from it – but a truth seeker who insists on historical facts, not myths. His argument, based on archival documents, shows that Jasenovac cannot and must not be used as a tool for the collective guilt of the entire Croatian people. I agree with Vukić that it is time to face the past, but on the basis of evidence, not propaganda. In my previous texts, I have often emphasised that Croatia is a small country, but with a great spirit. This spirit will not survive, however, if we allow ourselves to be constantly accused of something that is not the truth, or at least not the whole truth. Jasenovac is not just a Croatian topic – it is a topic that is used in international relations, regional politics, and even in internal conflicts within Croatia itself. Here, even on the day of this magnificent parade, foreign media mentioned that German tanks entered Zagreb as they did in 1941, at a time when Croatia is a member of NATO and soon the OECD, and the mythomania of Greater Serbia propaganda is constantly being brought up. That is why it is crucial that historical disputes be clarified once and for all. It is not about denying the crime, but about establishing the facts – how many people really died, under what circumstances, and who was responsible. Only the truth can bring reconciliation, both among ourselves and with our neighbours.

That is why, dear friends, I propose something concrete. As an expatriate who has made a certain fortune in Australia, I am ready to invest significant resources in this cause. I am offering one million dollars to finance an independent, international investigation into Jasenovac, which would include the roles of historians, archaeologists and forensic experts from different countries, in order to ensure impartiality. I want the truth, the historical truth, to be established. I am ready to cooperate with Croatian institutions, with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia Plenković and all those who want us to lift this burden from our shoulders. This is not a political move; this is my personal act of love for my homeland. Croatia is not just a country that I love – it is my life. Although I am far away, I think about it every day. Therefore, I ask you to support this initiative. Let our voice be heard, let the facts be heard. You have shown that you have the strength to make big moves – I believe that you can support this step as well. Together we can clear the name of our people and finally move forward, without the shadow of the past dragging us back. With respect and love for the homeland,

Marko Franović

Sydney, Australia

21 August 2025

Marko Franovic is an Australian Croatian, based in Sydney who is widely celebrated for his long-standing exceptional philanthropic activities in the betterment of the Australian and Croatian communities. Having fled the communist Yugoslavia and arriving in Australia in 1961 with asylum status due to political persecution and oppression under the communist regime throughout decades living in Australia Marko Franovic has managed to create a number of successful business enterprises and still, in his eighties, works every day, performing any work needed for the day in his several companies. The past four decades Marko Franovic’s life has been marked by extraordinary business success but more important to the communities by extraordinary gestures of generosity towards the Australian and Croatian communities. Marko is a philanthropist who, with his generous works, personifies the definition of this very word: a person who feels a deep love for humanity, who shows himself with practical kindness and helpfulness towards humanity. Marko is not only respected through his philanthropy but also through his activism for freedom of the Croatian people. He has integrated with obvious and extraordinary ease his business, philanthropic and civic commitments and has followed a standard for individual and corporate citizenship that reflects a great measure of what we look for in society and rely upon to maintain the preservation of generosity and kindness to others. Underlying his success in life is a determination and persistence for justice that is often present in persons of deep patriotic values. Marko is a Croatian patriot who pursued his personal goal to share his wealth with the needy in Australia but especially so for the establishment of democracy in Croatia and for the assertion of her independence from communist Yugoslavia.

Ina Vukic

Open letter to Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia from Marko Franovic in the Croatian language as published in Hrvatski tjednik 21 August 2025: