From Latin comes the noun lobium, which in English is 'lobby'. Lobbies are entrances in hotels, or parliamentary assemblies. The meaning of the word evolved to include the people who stand in the lobbies, 'lobbyists' who 'lobby' legislators to represent their special interests. Thus, lobby became a verb, not just a noun. Verbs suggest action and so logically you cannot have a lobby group unless it actively lobbies
The former Croatian Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Zdravko Tomac, gave lobbying a new dimension when he 'nearly crashed into' Lord Carrington on the footpath before he met him at the entrance to the building in London , where they had a meeting scheduled. In his book, 'The Struggle for the Croatian State', Tomac reveals how he lobbied Lord Carrington, in November 1991, with the help of wealthy Croats in England, in order to counteract what he calls, ' Lord Carrington's fascination by Milosevic ', (pub. By Profikon, Zagreb , 1993, pages 383-399).
Croats often write that Croatia needs professional lobbyists who copy the Jewish model. In 'Nova Matica', in my article, ' Croats and Jews: From 19 th Century Nationalism to Modern Statehood ', I have analysed how Croats abroad have behaved differently to the Jewish lobbyists because their historical experience has been totally different (pub.in Zagreb , No. 9, 1993). The Jews and the Croats are not the only groups in the world who need to lobby and I suspect that each group needs their own unique approach.
What about the oppressed Scots for example. On a scale somewhere between the Republic of Ireland , or the State of Israel, and 'British' Scotland , is the current status of the Republic of Croatia . The former are fully established recognised states, and the latter Scotland is still struggling to get back its own parliament, as promised by British Prime Minister Blair. (note: at time of writing this article in 1998) Croatia has been recognised internationally in name, but in practice Croatia has to fight on every level for acceptance. The status of Croatia in the world is reminiscent of the recognition of the rights of the African Americans, whose civil rights exist on paper but in the hearts and minds of many they are still not equal or fully integrated into the society around them.
If the Croats think they have trouble, then consider the Scottish plight. Scottish soldiers are good enough to be sent to Northern Ireland, or the hills around Sarajevo, however when its contemporary heroes like Sean Connery are due to get a knighthood it is denied because of his open support for the Scottish National Party. Actor Mel Gibson's appearance near election time in Scotland , following the legendary 'Braveheart' success story was not appreciated either. There have also been endless logistical problems in the move to open the Scottish parliament, including the order that 'English' ceremonial guards must be present. The last time a Labour Government in Britain promised Scotland a parliament it never eventuated. (See Scottish papers, the 'Scottish Banner', and 'The Daily Record', for 1997 and 1998.)
It has been suggested that the famous Croatian writer Marko Marulic (1450-1520), 'probably wrote in Latin in order to reach as wide an audience as possible'. The use of Latin in the Croatian Diet to 1848, and by Croatian writers, was probably a double-edged sword, just as the use of English by Croatian lobbyists is today. (see 'Klokan Magazine', Feb. 1994, NSW, in article 'The Contribution of Croatians to Western Culture') Just as the use of Gaelic has rapidly declined, the same danger exists for the Croatian language. Nevertheless, in the case of 'lobbying' it is obvious that the English language must be used.
The importance of the availability of information about Croatia in the English language cannot be stressed too much. When I first came to Melbourne and married a Croatian migrant, it was the books published in English about Croatia , given to me by Father Kasic which first raised my consciousness about the immense suffering of Croatian people. Those first books donated to me by Father Kasic filled the gap in information about Croatia , and gave an historical and political dimension to emotional accounts told to me by a generation of young Croatian immigrant workers.
The new English Supplement (in Melbourne 's Croatian Herald ) is a long overdue initiative in Australia because information in the English language about Croatia is still a paramount issue. Much valuable work is being done on the internet about Croatia but there is always room for more information in other mediums. The new generation badly needs a video club in order to improve the technical quality (eg. Camera work, presentation, etc.) of Croatian community television programmes in Australia . Other issues which should involve the editorial team and readers include cultural maintenance, the encouragement of links between Croatia and Australia for this generation and the next, and trade between Australia and Croatia
The new generation of Croats should also involve themselves in mainstream global issues such as the banning and clearing of landmines, the environment and monitoring or participation in multicultural and immigration policies and publications. One important issue which the new generation should familiarize itself with is the trials at the Hague Tribunal which at this stage deals only with cases in the former Yugoslavia or Rwanda .
The whole argument for a Croatian lobby in Australia , as elsewhere, begs the question, 'what is it that we are lobbying for?' Firstly Croats in Australia lobbied for recognition of Croatia . Also they lobbied for an end to the war in Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina. Bilateral relations between the two countries, Australia and Croatia , are in hand, so what is next on the agenda?
Due to the concentration of the West's mainstream print media's ownership being in a few hands, Croatian migrants should focus on printing their own information in English and distribute it. Everyone must know a lecturer, a local politician, a concerned friend or neighbour, a librarian, a school teacher, or even a journalist, etc. who would appreciate more information about Croatia than what they see on the 6.30 news, or read during their morning coffee break. Investigate their special interest areas and inform them on relevant issues about Croatia .
Dr. Tomac's account about the chance meeting with ' Lady Net ', in London , who was the Slovenian-born wife of Prime Minister Thantcher's Minister of Defence is a case in point. Lady Net, according to Tomac had already been lobbying for recognition of Slovenia and Croatia . (Tomac) Obviously any additional moral support or information she received would be invaluable
Since January 1998 a newspaper from Zagreb in English is available entitled, 'Croatia Weekly' (note: no longer available in 2005) which contains everything the mainstream media censors in the West. Anyone who knows someone who would be interested, or who would benefit from reading this paper should make the effort to pass it on to them regularly. Lobbying does not have to be difficult.
I will close with the appropriate words of T. Dean Reed, an American speaker at an international Symposium held in Zagreb in 1996, published in 1998, " . I do not believe that Croatia's role has been made known, has been communicated, has been explained clearly and correctly to the vast millions of Americans who know little about your country . I submit that Europe, the United States and the world do not know what you have done, what you have sacrificed, and what you have achieved . Many of our journalists do not really know . I must ask how can you 'not' communicate? How can you achieve any of your goals without communicating? My concern, and it should also be yours, is that if you do not tell the world about Croatia , someone is going to do it for you. The vacuum will be filled --- and filled with false information." (see ' Croatia as a Stabilizing Factor for Peace in Europe ', pub. By Croatian Centre of Strategic Studies, Zagreb , 1998, pages 39-46.)
