Tom Lantos 1928-2008
| National Federation of Croatian Americans (NFCA) PRESS RELEASE “NFCA is Saddened by the Passing of Congressman Tom Lantos of California” FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 12, 2008 Washington, DC: The National Federation of Croatian Americans (NFCA) is saddened by the passing of U.S. Representative Tom Lantos (D-CA), the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives. Chairman Lantos was a friend to the Republic of Croatia and to the Croatian American Community. He was a progressive leader for democratic change around the world and a steadfast supporter of the expansion of human rights for all people regardless of the type of government that they chose. NFCA’s President, Mr. Ed Andrus, called on Congressman Lantos in his office when the NFCA was actively campaigning in early 2005 for the creation of the current Congressional Croatian Caucus. Mr. Andrus found that the Congressman was very informed on and supportive of the Republic of Croatia. A pleasant man, Congressman Lantos invited Mr. Andrus into his personal office and discussed the NFCA and the proposed Croatian Caucus, which he later joined as a Founding Member. His wife and political partner, Annette, was with him as was his cute little white lap dog, a constant companion. The Human Rights Caucus, which Congressman Lantos also was a Founding Member, had invited the NFCA to testify on the matter of Croatian minority rights in the Vojvodina region of Serbia/Montenegro (as it was known at the time) in 2004. NFCA National Treasurer Zvonko Labas was welcomed to present testimony and answer questions regarding new approaches to the ongoing problems of Croatian minority rights in the Vojvodina region. Soon thereafter, new Prime Minister Ivo Sanader of Croatia met with Serb President in Belgrade and signed several partnership agreements, one of which guaranteed ethnic minority rights in Vojvodina. Later, Congressman Lantos was one of the Congressional leaders as Ranking Democrat on the House Committee on International Relations, as the Committee was known at the time, who helped drive to passage H. Res. 529. This important ‘Sense of Congress Resolution’ and Congressional foreign policy statement for the United States, which was originally initiated by the NFCA, commended Croatia for her democratic reforms, ongoing progressive military policy changes, and called for an invitation for Croatia to join NATO at the earliest possible date. Very late that evening when H. Res. 529 was finally passed on December 14, 2005, Congressman Lantos was still standing on the House Floor to testify very strongly on Croatia’s behalf. Although he will now never see Croatia join NATO, the good that Congressman Lantos contributed in this important regard will be long remembered by the NFCA, the informed Croatian American community, and, we do believe, the people of the Republic of Croatia. The NFCA and Croatia’s skilled diplomatic community in Washington will all miss his consistent support of Croatia and the expansion of democracy and political stability throughout the Balkans. In addition, the United States will miss his great leadership, especially as Chairman of the important House Foreign Affairs Committee. The NFCA is a national umbrella organization of Croatian American groups that collectively represents approximately 130,000 members. For additional public affairs information, please call Mr. Joe Foley, NFCA Government and Public Affairs Director, at (301) 294-0937, or Mr. Ed Andrus, NFCA President, at NFCA Headquarters at (301) 208-6650, or by email at NFCAhdq@verizon.net. For recent NFCA newsletters, important NFCA membership and chapter information, and other Croatian American news please visit the NFCA’s Web Site at www.nfcaonline.com National Federation of Croatian Americans (NFCA) 2401 Research Blvd, Suite 115 Rockville, MD 20850 PHONE: (301) 208-6650 FAX: (301) 208-6659 E-MAIL: nfcahdq@verizon.net WEB SITE: www.nfcaonline.com |
Formated for CROWN by Nenad Bach
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Distributed by www.Croatia.org This message is intended for Croatian Associations / Institutions and their Friends in Croatia and in the World. The opinions / articles expressed on this list do not reflect personal opinions of the moderator. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, please delete or destroy all copies of this communication and please, let us know! Or simply…enjoy and spread the word and good vibrations.
