News   7th seminar in the framework of “Identity and Embrace” Project     From 24th to 29th of August 2007, in Fužine, Gorski Kotar, seventh “Identity and Embrace” seminar was held. The seminar dealt with issues of identity, prejudices – about others and about oneself, and focused on opening one’s minds and promotion of tolerance.   Participants were pupils of First High School in Vukovar, the school with high interethnic tensions since Serbian and Croatian classes were placed in the same shift. Lecturers were Croatian writers and journalists, as well as mediators and religious people: Drago Pilsel, Drazen Glavas, Amir Hodzić, Boris Gunjević and Predrag Matvejevic, Croatian most translated writer.   Lecturers have encouraged young people from Vukovar to question attitudes and opinions that are not discussed, at least not openly, in their community. Lecturers also encouraged participants to question themselves, especially concerning with uncritical adoption of general attitudes and consequences this has on their life.   The seminar was very attractive to media. Both Rijeka daily Novi list, as well as Croatian National Television (HTV) presented it on more than one occasion.   Stjepan Mesic, President of Croatia, has for a second year in a row given audience to leaders and participants of  Identity and Embrace, and expressed support for such a project and its approach to intercultural issues and reconciliation. President Mesic promised even more solid support in the next year, as a possible lecturer also.   go back...