VIDEO: I Feel Pity for Jewish Community in Croatia

I feel pity for the split the Jewish Community in Croatia had three years ago. Meanwhile, it is a big celebration for the anti-Semites.

ZAGREB, CROATIA – The Israeli Ambassador to Croatia, Schmuel Meirom, gave an interview for Javno in which he spoke about the 60^th anniversary of Israel, relations between Israel and Croatia and the victims of the Jasenovac concentration camp and Bleiburg, among other things. 

Your Excellency, can you briefly describe relations between Croatia and Israel since you have been Ambassador here?

We have been here as an Embassy for three years and since then we have felt a big boost in our relationship in all fields, in culture, economy, security, tourism, everything. There are no outstanding issues between our two countries.

We had three visits of President Mesic to Israel, the last one was a week ago. Also, Prime Minister Sanader was in Israel in 2005, so there was an exchange of politicians, an exchange of cultures, and exchange of everything. I would say that the relationship between both countries is excellent.

How are you satisfied with the events marking the 60^th anniversary of Israel here in Croatia? 

They were very good. First of all, we organised ourselves one big show of a kibbutz group, a contemporary dance group. We also held a reception and throughout the year we are holding several events relating to the 60 years of Israel, mainly in the cultural field. We will have in Varazdin in September a big baroque festival and most of it will be dedicated to the 60 years of Israel. We are organising several other events: exhibitions, dance groups and so on. Of course, in the media you can see lots of articles about Israel and I can say that I am quite satisfied with that.

What is your view of the Jewish Community here in Croatia? 

This is a tiny community and I feel pity for them for the split they had three years ago. I would see it as, I would say, a tragic event for such a tiny community to have such a split between them.

In the Jewish Community there are two rabbis and a split, as you said, on the one hand Ivo Goldstein and on the other Ognjen Kraus. What are the reasons for this?

As I said, I feel pity about that. I am not entering into the reasons, I am totally neutral. I have very good relations with both sides and I hope that one day they will reunite and that everything will be okay. Meanwhile, it is a big celebration for the anti-Semites and all those who hate the Jewish community. For them it is a big celebration and that is also a pity.

When are you expecting the new synagogue to be built in Zagreb? Will it be at the same location as it used to be? Have you seen any blueprints for it? 

This has nothing to do with the State of Israel. I am representing the State of Israel and the synagogue is not in our jurisdiction. It is a matter for the Jewish Community. I am not involved in it and I do not like to be involved in it. It depends on the communities and what they decide, also on the Government of Croatia. I am not entering into this. Of course, I would be very satisfied if there is a new synagogue in the same place where the old one was before. And I think that this is the intention of both communities.

Why do you think the synagogue has not yet been built? 

Because of that split that we talked about. It devotes them to give each other a hand and to rebuild it. Everybody has put up some obstacles and wants to be the chief constructor or something like that. That is why I think that it is in the situation that it was before.

Have you heard about the polemics between Croatian politicians and the Church regarding Jasenovac and Bleiburg? 

I heard something. I think that a representative of the Church would be in Jasenovac, of course, because this was a big crime of Croatia and it should not be forgotten. Of course, now we have a new Croatia, other people, other generations, but you and we should not forget those things in order that history does not repeat itself. I think that the Church should also take on the position to have a representative there.

In Jasenovac? 

In Jasenovac, of course.

What are your views regarding the victims of both Jasenovac and Beliburg? 

Well, both were somehow crimes. But of course, you cannot compare them because in Jasenovac there were totally innocent people and many of the victims of Bleiburg were, after all, criminals. Not all of them, of course. I also condemn what the Partisans did in Bleiburg. This should not have been done in that way. They should have gone to court and had justice. But what happened happened and of course, it is a pity, but nothing compared to what happened in Jasenovac.

What of your thoughts of Croatian singers, such as Thompson? Have you heard any of his songs? Have you had any of his songs translated for you? 

Only one, which was and anti-Semite song, but as far as I heard, he is not singing this song any more. He sang it once in the past. But this is not the main problem with him. His concerts attract lots of people who are in the radical right wing, wearing Ustasha uniforms and making (Ustasha) salutes, shouting slogans of the Ustasha and this I see as a very big problem.

Do you still see a link between the new Croatia and the Independent State of Croatia (NDH)? 

Of course. These people who are saluting and shouting, maybe they are missing this time, I do not know. Most of them belong to the young generation, but they got their education at home, at school, I do not know where. Some of them, I am sure, do not even understand what all the slogans and uniforms mean. But others, unfortunately, do understand and the fact is that this (Thompson’s) concert and only this concert attracts such people and I do not understand why.

Are you familiar with the role of Cardinal Stepinac in World War II? 

Yes, they told me something about his deeds, that he saved some Jewish families, but on condition that they convert. So you can look at it from both sides.

Do you think Cardinal Stepinac would deserve to receive the Righteous title? 

Actually, no. Because of the condition that he made. If you want to save a human life, you have to save them without asking what religion they are. The fact that he wanted to convert them as a condition is not under the criteria for Righteous Among the Nations.

What do you think Croatia needs to do in order to be fully joined with other European countries?

Actually, Croatia is already part of other European countries. Not as a member of the European Union, of course, but it is a matter of time. I believe that in two years Croatia will be a full member of the European Union and in a few months it will be a member of NATO, so I do not see any difference any more between Croatia and other European countries.

Do you think anything needs to change in Croatia? 

Of course, lots of things that are now under negotiation between Croatia and the European Union. Mainly the judiciary system and there are some other things that should be corrected according to the values of European union countries and I fully agree with this.

You can watch the interview HERE