IVAN PAVAO II. I PRIZNANJE HRVATSKE
NIKOLA ETEROVIĆ
Sažetak
Jedan od prioriteta Svete Stolice u međunarodnoj zajednici jest promicanje mira. Na čelu s papom Ivanom Pavlom II., Sveta Stolica zauzimala se za mirno rješenje i sukoba nastalih prigodom urušavanja Socijalističke Federativne Republike Jugoslavije. Na početku je smatrala da bi tome mogla pridonijeti promjena ustroja SFRJ u konfederalnu državu. Ta je zamisao ubrzo nestala pred brutalnim nasiljem Jugoslavenske narodne armije i pobunjenih Srba, koje je izdašno pomagala Republika Srbija. Sveta Stolica postala je svjesna da bi priznanje neovisnosti Republike Hrvatske moglo zaustaviti tragičan rat koji je prouzročio brojne ljudske žrtve i velika materijalna razaranja. Ona se u tome pozivala na načela međunarodnoga prava, kao i na rezultate demokratskih izbora u Republici Hrvatskoj. U tom kontekstu, Sveta Stolica zauzela se za stvaranje međunarodnoga konsenzusa o priznanju Hrvatske, Slovenije i drugih republika koje ispune postavljene uvjete. U tom je procesu posebno bio važan Memorandum koji je državni tajnik Svete Stolce kardinal Angelo Sodano predao veleposlanicima zemalja KESS-a 26. studenoga 1991. s molbom da ga dostave dotičnim vladama. U njemu je izloženo sedam razloga zbog kojih bi trebalo pristupiti međunarodnom priznanju Hrvatske i Slovenije. Sveta Stolica priznala je te dvije države 13. siječnja 1992., dva dana prije zemalja Europske unije.
Ključne riječ: Ivan Pavao II.; Sveta Stolica; Memorandum; međunarodno priznanje; promicanje mira
O autoru
Nadbiskup NIKOLA ETEROVIĆ (Pučišća/Brač, 1951.) u Splitu je pohađao Nadbiskupsku klasičnu gimnaziju i Teološki fakultet, a studij završio u Rimu doktoratom iz teologije na Papinskom sveučilištu Gregoriana i magisterijem iz crkvenog prava na Papinskom sveučilištu Lateran. Zaređen je za svećenika u katedrali u Hvaru 26. lipnja 1977., a za biskupa 10. srpnja 1999. Završivši Papinsku crkvenu akademiju, od 1980. je u diplomatskoj službi Svete Stolice. Bio je djelatnik apostolskih nuncijatura u Obali Bjelokosti, u Španjolskoj i u Nikaragvi. Od 1990. do 1999. radio je u Državnom tajništvu Svete Stolice, Odjelu za odnose s državama. Papa Ivan Pavao II. imenovao ga je 22. svibnja 1999. apostolskim nuncijem u Ukrajini, a 10. veljače 2004. glavnim tajnikom Biskupske sinode. Papa Franjo imenovao ga je 21. rujna 2013. apostolskim nuncijem u Njemačkoj. Osim materinskoga hrvatskog jezika, govori talijanski, francuski, španjolski, engleski, njemački i ukrajinski, a služi se poljskim i ruskim jezikom. Autor je više knjiga i članaka iz teologije, prava, povijesti i umjetnosti, na raznim jezicima.
JOHN PAUL II AND THE RECOGNITION OF CROATIA
NIKOLA ETEROVIĆ
Abstract
One of the priorities of the Holy See in the international community is the promotion of peace. Headed by Pope John Paul II, the Holy See advocated a peaceful solution to the conflicts that arose during the collapse of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. At the beginning, they thought that changing the structure of SFRY into a confederation could contribute to this. This idea soon disappeared before the brutal violence of the Yugoslav People's Army and the rebel Serbs, generously aided by the Republic of Serbia. The Holy See became aware that it was the recognition of the independence of the Republic of Croatia that could stop the tragic war that caused numerous human casualties and great destruction. In this, they referred to the principles of international law, as well as the results of the democratic elections held in Croatia. In this context, the Holy See advocated for the creation of an international consensus on the recognition of Croatia, Slovenia and other Yugoslav federal republics that met the set conditions. In this process particularly important is the Memorandum that the State Secretary of the Holy See, Card. Angelo Sodano, submitted to the ambassadors of the KESS countries on November 26, 1991, with a request to deliver it to their respective governments. The Memorandum presents seven reasons for which international recognition of Croatia and Slovenia should be approached. The Holy See had recognized those two countries on January 13, 1992, two days before the countries of the European Union did.
Keywords: John Paul II; Holy See; Memorandum; international recognition; promoting peace
About the author
Archbishop NIKOLA ETEROVIĆ (b. 1951, Pučišća on Brač island) attended the Archbishopric Classical Grammar School and the Faculty of Theology in Split, and completed his studies in Rome with a doctorate in theology at the Gregorian Pontifical University and a master's degree in ecclesiastical law at the Lateran Pontifical University. He was ordained a priest in the cathedral of Hvar on June 26, 1977, and a bishop on July 10, 1999. After graduating from the Pontifical Church Academy, he has been in the diplomatic service of the Holy See since 1980. He was an employee of the Apostolic Nunciatures in the Ivory Coast, Spain and Nicaragua. From 1990 to 1999, he worked in the State Secretariat of the Holy See, Department for Relations with States. On May 22, 1999 Pope John Paul II appointed him the Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine, and on February 10 2004 the General Secretary of the Synod of Bishops. Pope Francis appointed him the Apostolic Nuncio in Germany on September 21, 2013. In addition to his Croatian native language, he speaks Italian, French, Spanish, English, German and Ukrainian, and uses Polish and Russian. He is the author of several books and articles on theology, law, history and art, in various languages.