The Mesic/Senader founded Croatian Caucus is trying to introduce a bill in the House International Relations Committee Subcommitte on Europe, that would recommend NATO membership for Croatia in exchange for turning in "the indictee."

According to the Subcommittee Chief of Staff that indictee is none other than General Ante Gotovina. This bill, HR 529, was put together by a lobbying firm hired by the Croatian government.

In addition to trading Gotovina for a recommendation, the main purpose of this bill is to try to persuade Congress to legitimize the highly politicized Kangaroo court at the ICTY.

The three sponsors of HR 529, Rep. Elton Gallegly, R-Ca; Rep. George Radanovich, R-Ca; and Rep. Peter Visclosky, D-IN, are all members of the Mesic/Senader originated and NFCA backed Croatian Caucus.

Phone Gallegly, Radanovich and Visclosky and tell them you are not only opposed to the ICTY and you strongly object to trading Gotovina's blood for NATO membership.

Rep. Gallegly 202 225-5811
Rep. Radanovich 202 225-4540
Rep. Visclosky 202 225-2461

You should also phone Marijan Gubic at the Croatian Embassy in Washington 202 588 8939, and tell him you are outraged by this attempt to trade Gotovina for a recommendation to join NATO.

House Resolution 529
Mr. GALLEGLY (for himself, Mr. RADANOVICH, and Mr. VISCLOSKY) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations RESOLUTION Recommending the integration of the Republic of Croatia into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. .....

Whereas Croatia's cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has improved significantly and Prime Minister Ivo Sanader has affirmed the Government of Croatia's commitment to cooperate fully and take all necessary steps to ensure that the remaining indictee is located and transferred to the ICTY; .....

(3) the Government of Croatia should be commended for the significant improvement in its cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and it should continue to take all necessary steps to ensure that the remaining indictee is located and transferred to the ICTY; These are excerpts from a flawed HR529. Majority of Croatian citizens are against integration into NATO. Croatian citizens feel betrayed by NATO in the case of General Ante Gotovina.

In 1995 Gen. Gotovina lead the Croatian Army, Croatian Defense Council and the Army of Bosnia Herzegovina to stop the genocide in Bihac. Days before this offensive the Army of Republika Srbska murdered over 7,000 men and boys in Srebrenica.

Due to public pressure the US government responded with airstrikes, but it could not stop the Serbian army. The Clinton administration utilized the Croatian army to stop the Serbs and bring them to the negotiating table.

After killing 200,000 and displacing 2,000,000 the Serbs were forced to stop the genocide and sign a truce.

General Gotovina acted with support and supervision from American officials.

An American soldier in this instance wouldn't even be considered for a courtmartial let alone an international court.

As majority of Croatian citizens do not support entry into NATO due to this betrayal by NATO the US government needs to address the Gotovina case with truth and not sweep it under a rug and hope it will go away.

Please call the sponsors of this bill and tell them:

As a concerned citizen I would appreciate a vote against HR529.

Majority of Croatian citizens presently don't support Croatia's entry into NATO until the truth regarding Gen. Gotovina and the offensive that stopped genocide is addressed.

Elton Gallagly 202. 225. 5811
George Radanovich 202. 225. 4540
Peter Visclosky 202. 225. 2461