Proposals from North America - Advisory Council

PROPOSALS OF THE AMERICAN AND CANADIAN MEMBERS TO THE ADVISORY COUNCIL TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA FOR CROATS OUTSIDE OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

The American and Canadian members to the Advisory Council hereby propose that the Advisory Council formally adopt the following resolutions and present them to the Croatian Government for its consideration:

1.                 RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE PROMOTION OF THE CROATIAN LANGUAGE AND CROATIAN LANGUAGE SCHOOLS

WHEREAS, promoting the knowledge of the Croatian language to children of Croatian immigrants is necessary to ensure continued ties between future generations and the Homeland;

AND WHEREAS, proper schooling is also required to for those families who plan to return to Croatia;

AND WHEREAS, the current level of schooling of the Croatian language is not under any proper educational supervision and comes with no financial or other support from Croatia;

AND WHEREAS, the number of children receiving instruction in such schools in Canada and in the United States is in decline;

AND WHEREAS, a demonstrable need exists to promote the teaching of Croatian to adults, including scholars, professionals and business persons.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the Advisory Council propose that Croatian government:

(a)       undertake measures to standardize and professionalize instruction in Croatian language schools with proper oversight and training of teachers and the provision of necessary texts and other materials as well as financial assistance;

(b)       examine the possibility of standardizing the use of modern communication and technological tools (such as Skype) to promote the teaching of the Croatian language in Canada and the United States; and

(c)       engage in the promotion of the teaching of the Croatian language include programs designed for adults, including for scholars, professionals and business persons, both for those who have family ties to Croatia and for others who seek to establish business, financial, commercial and/or cultural ties with Croatia.

2.                   RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE PROMOTION OF CROATIA AMONG TEENAGERS AND YOUNG ADULTS IN CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES

WHEREAS, it is in the interests of Croatia and its emigrants to promote understanding about Croatia to the descendants of such emigrants;

AND WHEREAS, other countries, such as the State of Israel, have developed or encouraged the development of programs whereby teenagers and young adults are given the opportunity to travel to the Homelands of their ancestors at a nominal or reduced cost.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the Advisory Council propose that the Croatian government undertake an examination regarding the feasibility of developing a program whereby teenagers and young adults are given the opportunity to travel for nominal, reduced or subsidized expense to Croatia as a means of facilitating future exchange programs.

3.                   RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE PROMOTION OF BUSINESS IN CROATIA AND THE INSTITUTION OF DIRECT FLIGHTS.

WHEREAS, there have been many failed attempts at connecting the numerous successful business, professional and educational leaders in the Diaspora with their counterparts in the Homeland;

AND WHEREAS, these failures, as well as other problems faced by potential investors in Croatia, have led many members of the Diaspora business community to turn their backs on looking to Croatia as a place where they would wish to risk any investment;

AND WHEREAS, the implementation of direct, non-stop flights between Croatia and the Americas, Australia, New Zealand and Asia will lead to increased tourism and investment and the maintenance of ties between overseas Croatian communities and the Homeland.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the Advisory Council proposes that the Croatian Government:

(a)     establish and publicize its national strategic investment and industry priorities.  The Croatian government is encouraged to form new or strengthen existing advisory councils or chambers of commerce which would have as their goal: (i) promoting investment in Croatia among the Diaspora, (ii) promoting the sale of Croatian goods and services abroad, and (iii) providing advice to Croatia in connection with establishing a positive investment climate which welcomes businessmen and women from the Croatian Diaspora;

(b)     promote micro-investment in the country;

(c)     institute a program allowing for individuals to make small investments in companies such as INA and HAC; and

(d)     undertake immediate steps to implement direct, non-stop flights between Croatia and the Americas, Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

4.                 RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE PROMOTION OF CROATIA AMONG RETIREES.

WHEREAS, increases in living costs has made the prospect of retiring abroad attractive for many Americans and Canadians;

AND WHEREAS, the modification of Croatia’s current tax structure may provide further incentives for retirees to relocate to Croatia.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the Advisory Council suggest that the Croatian government:

(a)       explore how it can promote itself as a retirement destination among the members of the Croatian Diaspora, including, among other things, examining the need to build and operate senior living facilities, nursing homes and hospices which are geared toward the needs and desires of members of the Diaspora and are in keeping with their expected standard of living; and

(b)       explore and implement means by which pensions and other retirement funds paid to retirees in Croatia from abroad are provided with favorable tax treatment.

5.                  RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE GENERAL PROMOTION OF CROATIA

WHEREAS, Croatia has never seriously undertaken an educational and promotional campaign aimed at Western, English-speaking elites but has generally left such tasks to a handful of volunteers;

AND WHEREAS, Croatia needs to engage professional lobbyists and others to better promote Croatia, such promotion to include burnishing Croatia’s image which had been gravely distorted during the Homeland War;

AND WHEREAS, culture remains a primary means by which a country can promote itself.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, that the Advisory Council suggest that the Croatian government undertake an examination regarding the feasibility of establishing Croatian information and cultural promotion offices in leading global metropolises, which offices shall be charged with: (i) the promotion of Croatian culture, including achievements in the arts, literature, scholarship in the humanities and sciences, music, sports and popular entertainment (e.g., by sponsoring or organizing exhibitions, shows, arts festivals, translations, lectures and cultural exchanges); and (ii) consistently promoting Croatia’s interests and values, in each case directed toward the non-Diaspora citizens of other nations.

6.                  RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS.

WHEREAS, since 2000 the voting rights of members of the Diaspora have been subjected to a continued diminution in contrast to trends in other European Union countries which have promoted political representation of their Diasporas;

AND WHEREAS, the requirement that members of the Diaspora cast their votes physically at a consulate or embassy of the Republic of Croatia has caused hardship for those who do not live in proximity to such a consulate or embassy;

AND WHEREAS, Croatia’s demographic trends require that it look to its Diaspora to assure future population growth and stability.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, that the Advisory Council suggest that the Croatian government undertake such constitutional and legal changes as may be required to:

(a)        designate one or more members of the Sabor as being the representatives in the Sabor for members of the Diaspora residing outside of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro;

(b)       allow for voting by the members of the Diaspora by mail and/or via the internet with a paper trace; and

(c)        simplify the method by which a member of the Diaspora may become of citizen of Croatia, including through the elimination of extensive testing requirements.