CROATIAN PARLIAMENT VICE-PRESIDENT ON CROATIAN ISSUES IN NEW YORK

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK, June 22 (Hina) - The Croatian national issue cannot be reduced only to Croats in the motherland, rather, Croatia must continue to foster strong connections with the Croatian Diaspora and take care of Croats in Bosnia, Croatian parliament vice-president Zdravko Tomac said in New York Saturday. #L# Tomac was the chief speaker at a celebration marking Croatia's Statehood Day at the Croatian Centre in the St. Cyril and Methodius parish in New York. Speaking to the gathered American Croats about Croatia's international position, Tomac said it was crucial that Croatia be admitted into the European Union by 2007, so as not to remain in the Western Balkans group of countries. New conflicts and divisions are being created in Croatia by a part of the media and politicians, Tomac said. He emphasised the importance of re-establishing a uniform democratic Croatia in which parties would not be enemies. Tomac believes that the Homeland War is being downplayed and some people from the country and abroad are trying to turn ex-Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's aggression on Croatia into an armed conflict. The values of the Homeland War need to be enkindled, he stressed. (hina) lml