DAY 144 - ZAGREB AND ANOTHER COUNTRY SIGNS UP TO IMPLEMENT THE TRUCE

13 September, 2011

Total: 1404.14 miles Total: 2,760, 481 steps

The timing of my visit to Zagreb proved challenging for the reason that there was far too much going on with Usian Bolt and Real Madrid, both in town—but it was challenging politically too for the opposite reason that parliament had not yet resumed from the summer recess and with an election in the offing politicians were wishing to maximise the time in their constituencies. I had however met the president and the prime minister at the 20 Anniversary celebrations, so it was an opportunity to meet with a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration—Aleksandar Heina (pic—right). I was accompanied by HMA David Blunt (left), who had arrived for the meeting in great style on his three wheel electric tricycle resplendent in Union Jack livery.

David opened the meeting, after the formalities, by informing Aleksandar that the Olympic Truce had the support of the entire British government from the top downwards and they were offering the Olympic Truce, and myself as a champion of it, every possible support. It was an impressive introduction, so even for a ‘B-team’ politician, it was difficult to miss the opportunity to advance the cause and this proved to be the case – not least because Aleksandar was receptive to the message and intrigued by the possibilities of the Olympic Truce. As is often the case now, I am finding that conversations are moving on from “what is the truce?” to “what can we do to implement the truce?” Moreover, as a result of having many such conversations, it was possible to present a menu of possible responses for the Croatian government to consider.

Without doubt the idea which generated greatest interest was the idea of using the banner of the truce to award scholarships from different community backgrounds in Kosovo to study in Croatia. There was also discussion as to whether the truce or the wider topic of peace-building through sport, could be on the agenda of the prestigious Croatian Summit which is held each year in Dubrovnik and focuses on Southeastern Europe policy issues. It was a workmanlike and focused conversation and made all the more so by the fact that it wasn’t led by big picture politicians, but by David and Aleksandar who know how to get the wheels of policy turning.

The previous evening, I had attended a reception for the Swiss Club—a Swiss trade promotion event organised by the Swiss embassy and had an unexpected response to an introduction when  Frederik Vahlquist, Swedish Ambassador said “You must be Elizabeth’s brother.” I responded proudly that I was indeed and Frederik went on to explain how he had become good friends with the family during the time that my brother-in-law John Powell had been on a posting there through the NAO. He had been following my progress closely since I had left Greece—there were jokes that the Swedish Intelligence Network must be in very good shape, “yes” he replied, but the “Anglican Intelligence Network is in even better shape.” John, Liz and their family had attended, and probably been responsible, for half the congregation of the small Anglican church in Zagreb.

Another mutual friend, Drazen Glavas, had kindly managed to set up a meeting with one of the very few parliamentarians in town–Marijana Petir, MP and Vice president of the Croatian Peasants Party (HSS). Marijana had organised a tour of the wonderful parliament building in St Mark’s Square followed by lunch in the member’s dining room. There is a natural understanding amongst politicians, especially as the election is in the offing, and a mixture of fear and hope that is unmistakable. Although young Marijana had taken a number of courageous stands during her time in parliament on moral issues and had won respect for that in most quarters, her positions have come under attack from some other areas, as is so often the case.

We talk at length about how to remain true to your values and yet at the same time be effective as a politician. It is a very difficult dividing line and one that I have been on both sides of on many occasions. I was surprised to learn that in the Croatian parliament they did not give members free votes on moral issues, as is the case most of the time in the UK. As a former Whip, I regard it as a huge thing to vote against your party on any matter because the electorate have in general voted for the party rather than the person and they therefore have a right to expect that their views will be represented. This is especially the case in the terrible system in Croatia, which some people advocate for the UK, where the proportional Party List system puts the power in the hands of those who SELECT the list, rather than those who ELECT the list.

Marijana is an honest, hard working and conscientious member of the Croatian parliament and I hope that this fact will be remembered by the HSS when they come to assemble their list for the December elections and that they have the good sense to abandon whipped votes on moral matters to avoid needlessly bringing MPs’ into conflict with their party.