Adriatic Institute for Public Policy and International Leaders Summit are joining international groups calling for the resignation of Croatia’s HDZ-Most cabinet minister Zlatko Hasanbegović for authoring book and publications and conveying public comments denying the genocidal scheme of the pro-Nazi Croatian Ustasha regime (1941-1945) and fueling anti-Semitism sentiment in the Balkan region.

A year ago, Adriatic Institute and International Leaders Summit’s Co-Founder Natasha Srdoc warned engaged citizens and leaders in the West about political party HDZ (Hrvatska demokratska zajednica - Croatian Democratic Union) stoking the flames of ultranationalism and the rise of anti-Semitism published online via The Huffington Post.  In November 2015, Adriatic Institute and International Leaders Summit jointly organized the First Jerusalem Leaders Summit with think tank partners in affirming the common civilization based on the rule of law, protecting life, liberty and private property and supporting Israel’s sovereignty.

In a statement released this week, Natasha Srdoc, co-founder of Adriatic Institute and International Leaders Summit said,

“The rise of anti-Semitism in Europe, Croatia and the rest of the Balkans is deplorable and must be boldy addressed by principled leaders.  Adriatic Institute and International Leaders Summit call for the immediate resignation of cabinet minister Zlatko Hasanbegović appointed by the HDZ-Most coalition. The European Commission, The European Parliament, Europe's national parliaments and the US Congress should freeze all taxpayer aid and support to Croatia and launch a review on Croatia’s EU and NATO membership.  The EU and NATO bodies have no room for those working on the revision of history and to deny that the Holocaust killed six million Jews on European soil.  Europe and the world must not forget the genocide of six million Jews.”

According to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Croatia’s pro-Nazi regime known as the Ustasha of the Independent State of Croatia (1941-1945), killed 32,000 Jews with 20,000 Jews murdered at the Jasenovac concentration camps, some 110 km (68.4 miles) from the capital Zagreb.   

“The rise of anti-Semitism in Croatia and efforts of those connected to the HDZ political party to apply a revision of history with attempts to remove the facts on the Holocaust which killed six million Jews should be denounced by strong rule of law nations and Western diplomats based in Zagreb,” said Joel Anand Samy, co-founder of International Leaders Summit. “The world cannot remain silent or look the other way.  Croatia’s President Grabar-Kitarovic who got her post through the HDZ political party, the HDZ- Most Coalition Prime Minister Tihomir Orešković and Deputy Prime-Minister Tomislav Karamarko must be held to account for not addressing this troubling issue and remaining silent on anti-Semitism in Croatia.  Anti-semitism is growing in Croatia with the cabinet appointment of Zlatko Hasanbegović to the HDZ-Most government and Croatia’s politicians mired in corruption are loathe to admit it.”

Last week on Friday, Israel-based Simon Wiesenthal Center through its Eastern European Affairs Director Dr. Efraim Zuroff issued a statement expressing concerns about Croatia’s cabinet appointment and calling for  Zlatko Hasanbegović to be replaced:

"The mere fact that Hasanbegovic publishes such trash, which he advertises on the website of the well-known white supremacist organization Stormfront, is sufficient reason to disqualify him from serving as a minister in the government of a European Union member in good standing. Even worse in the Croatian context, is the minister's blind refusal to recognize the genocidal nature of the Ustasha regime, and his disdain for the brave Croatian anti-fascists who fought against it. This absolutely baseless revision of the history of World War II and the Holocaust is totally outrageous and absolutely unacceptable.

"We urge the Croatian government to replace Mr. Hasanbegovic with a person suitable for the post of Minister of Culture who will bring honor and prestige to the post, rather than embarrass his country before the entire world."

The Adriatic Institute and International Leaders Summit are encouraging citizens in the United States, Europe, India and Israel to call and write elected officials to denounce Croatia’s government for turning a blind eye to ultranationalism and anti-Semitism and to freeze taxpayer aid to the Balkan nation.  Croatia is to receive over $20 billion in EU taxpayer aid for the period 2014-2020. 

adriaticinstitute.blogspot.co.il