From: 89ms1@eng.cam.ac.uk (M. Sablic)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.yugoslavia
Subject: Re: Croatian postage stamps
Date: 14 Apr 92 19:40:26 GMT
Organization: cam.eng

benedejc@husc10.harvard.edu (Andrej Benedejcic) writes:

>In article <1992Apr13.155350.12203@eng.cam.ac.uk> 89ms1@eng.cam.ac.uk (M. Sablic) writes:
>>
>>Right. I was referring mostly to the history of Rijeka, some of it applies to
>>Istria but as you said was under Austrian control.
>>
>> [lots of information about the history of the city of Reka deleted] 
>>
>>Satisfied ?

>Nope.  As you yourself pointed out, "you were referring mostly to the history
>of Rijeka."  I was talking about ISTRA.  And, quite frankly, I really don't
>care one way or another about Reka.

So you say I have brought up Rijeka! I seem to remember you talking about
TIGR or have you forgotten?
Anyway, although Rijeka is not itself in Istria I am pretty much familiar
with the neighbouring Istrian towns, and believe me, it is an insult
to these people when you tell them they are not Croats.

>>Istria belongs to Croatia because that is the way the border is drawn
>>of an internationally recognised state plus the fact that if given a
>>choice majority of people in Istria would vote to live in Croatia. If
>>you want that proven by a war, you can have it, but don't you think it
>>is a waste of money ?

>War?  Who said anything about war?  Given the present economic condition
>of Croatia, Istra will be more than happy to join Slovenia of its own
>accord.  As far as voting is concerned, I hear that HDZ didn't fare very
>well in Istra.

I did not hear of any Join-Slovenia parties winning either. Commies won
in RI as well so does that mean we want to join Slovenia? Italians could
also use the economic argument and it would be just as stupid. I think
that voting pattern has more to do with Istrians and people in Rijeka doing
well under the old system.

>>Please, note that all the people who came also left.

>So, how come that you remained?   

Sorry, I was not clear. I was talking about 'occupiers'.

>>I would be defending Rijeka.

>Yeah, right!  Ha, ha, ha!  You would be defending Reka in the same manner
>that you are defending Croatia right now . . . . 

Believe it or not but I'll probably get a call from Cro-army after I take my
finals this summer ... I never said I would volunteer.

>>Especially since Slovenes are hard to find
>>in Croatian Istria except as tourists (yes, there are some but very
>>few as a percentage of population). 

>And what makes you qualified to say that?  After all, you only know your
>town's history, whereas the history of the Istrian peninsula is pretty
>much "terra incognita" to you.  

Hm. so how come all these Slovenes do not show up in the census?

>>Rijeka in Croatia is a major port,
>>Rijeka in Greater Slovenia would be a poor relation of Kopar. 

>Who talks of Reka becoming a part of Slovenia?  We want land, not some
>shity city.  

As I said, you talked about Rijeka as a packet in TIGR.
SO, it is LAND you want. That is fine with me as long as you ask people who
live there weather they want to live in CRO or SL and respect their wishes.

>>So when it comes to your offer...dream on.  (not that
>>I have anything against Slovenes, always welcome as tourists.  Each
>>summer, when I go to Silba I get the impression that the island has
>>already been annexed ;-)

>You know, the history of ex-Yugoslavia shows that dreams have an interesting
>tendency of becoming reality.  ;-)

>Regards,

>Andrej

You have to be careful, so do nightmares.

Regards,

Mladen
--
Mladen Sablic, Pembroke College, Cambridge University, UK.
e_mail: ms145@phx.cam.ac.uk (JANET: ms145@uk.ac.cam.phx)
        89ms1@eng.cam.ac.uk (JANET: 89ms1@uk.ac.cam.eng) (Rx only)
--
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