[Zvonimir]

I fully agree with Zvaci's observation and comment about comparison Yugoslavia and Germany ("Germany was united from within and traditionally divided from outside, Yugoslavia was created from outside, and divided from within").

Yugoslavia was artificial multiethnic state made without will of majority of people in every nation (Macedonia was probably exception). Only thing that kept state alive was strong Tito's dictatorship and his foul vision of new homogenous Yugoslavian nation. He was master in balancing between western powers of democracy and communistic powers from the east, and balancing between Serbian ultra centralistic stream and Croatian/Slovene federalist stream inside state. Even he in his last years realized that this melting pot was impossible to achieve so he turned towards vision of union of nation (constitution from 1974, only good thing he ever did for Croatian nation). After his death collapse of Yugoslavia was evident and it was only matter of time and matter of way and means by which it will be destroyed.

Almost same thing goes for first Yugoslavia (kingdom) only then dictator was Serbian king and world powers were different (democracy of Great Britain/France and Third Reich).

If someone can not learn from those two historical examples that it is impossible to have union between nations in this part of Europe because of bloody past and vast cultural differences than I rest my case because that person is blind and stupid or ignorant.

As for European Union goes, I am fully aware that Croatia when enters (it is only matter of time) will lose part of national sovereignty and that Croatia will be submitted to Brussels and I don't like it but it is only way to go because it would be disaster from economy to stay isolated in from everyone else in long run.

It is not question about being western or eastern because Croatia have been through all history part of western civilization. Yugoslavia didn't take it away from us and EU certainly wouldn't give back something we already have. In fact, I believe that best way for Croatian cultural development and preservation would be isolation from both Serbia (and other eastern neighbors) and EU but that possibility is unfortunately ruled out.