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Original scientific paper

Croatian Embassy in Canberra - 1977-1978 (Twentieth anniversary of its closing)

Ivan ČIZMIĆ ; Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar, Zagreb


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Abstract

A group of Croatian political emigres in Australia's capital
Canberra opened the Croatian embassy in November 1977.
This particular act resulted in a strong protest from the former
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The Australian government
did not recognize the Croatian embassy since it did not
represent the existing contemporary country. However, the
Croatian embassy continued its activities for almost two years
because at the time Australia did not have a law for closing it
down. After being passed in parliament and the senate, the Diplomatic
and Consular Mission Act took effect on 24th August
1978. This act banned the work of the Croatian embassy. Discussions
led among the representatives indicate how divided they
were in relation to former Yugoslavia and the political demands
of Croatian immigrants. After severallawsuits in the Australian
courts of justice started by representative Mario Dešpoja, the
embassy was finally closed down by judicial order:The Croatian
embassy had been in the centre of attention for almost two years,
not only in Australia, but in other countries with Croatian immigrants
as well, which was precisely the intention of its founders.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

31478

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/31478

Publication date:

30.4.1999.

Article data in other languages: croatian german

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