Croatia: Information on the Association for a Yugoslav Democratic Initiative (UJDI)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 December 1993 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | HRV15880.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Croatia: Information on the Association for a Yugoslav Democratic Initiative (UJDI), 1 December 1993, HRV15880.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad4324.html [accessed 1 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The Association For a Yugoslav Democratic Initiative (UJDI) applicaiton to register as a citizens association was denied in April 1989 (Borba 11 Apr. 1989; Belgrade Domestic Service 10 Apr. 1989). The Croatian authorities stated that the application was rejected because the manifesto and program documents of the UJDI were political (ibid.).
In the months leading up to the independence of Slovenia and Croatia, when a number of political parties and organizations were being formed in Yugoslavia, the UJDI was reportedly the only one "claiming to be a nationwide opposition party" (Keesing's Jan. 1990, 37173). The UJDI was the only opposition group banned by the Croatian authorities (Reuters 21 Nov. 1989).
The UJDI was established in Belgrade in 1989 when it accepted the manifesto and statute of the Zagreb branch of the UJDI (Tanjug 18 Apr. 1989). The Belgrade branch of the UJDI is headed by Nebojsa Popov (Gazeta International 6 Dec. 1990; Political Handbook of the World: 1992 1992, 866).
For additional information on the UJDI, please consult the attached articles and refer to Response to Information Request HRV15889.E of 3 December 1993.
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Belgrade Domestic Service [Belgrade, in Serbo-Croatian]. 10 April 1989. "Democratic Association Refused Registration." (FBIS-EEU-89-067 10 Apr. 1989, p. 60)
Borba [Belgrade, in Serbo-Croatian]. 11 April 1989. "Democratic Association to Appeal Status Ruling." (FBIS-EEU-89-071 14 Apr. 1989, p. 45)
Gazeta International. 6 December 1990. Wlodzimerz Sochacki. "Yugoslavia: The Nationalists' Time Has Come." (NEXIS)
Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. January 1990. Vol. 36, No. 1. "Yugoslavia: Collapse of Federal Communist Party Congress."
Political Handbook of the World: 1992. 1992. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.
Reuters. 21 November 1989. Andrej Gustincic. "Yugoslavia Indecisive as Eastern Europe Heads for Reform." (NEXIS)
Tanjug [Belgrade, in English]. 18 April 1989. "'Democratic Initiative' Association Established." (FBIS-EEU-89-074 19 Apr. 1989, p. 48)
Attachments
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 19 September 1989. "In Brief: Yugoslav Democratic Initiative Denied Registration." (NEXIS)
. 17 April 1989. "Party and Government; Croatian SAWP on Democratic Initiative." (NEXIS)
Belgrade Domestic Service [Belgrade, in Serbian]. 10 April 1989. "Democratic Association Refused Registration." (FBIS-EEU-89-067 10 Apr. 1989, p. 60)
Borba [Belgrade, in Serbian]. 11 April 1989. "Democratic Association to Appeal Status Ruling." (FBIS-EEU-89-071 14 Apr. 1989, p. 45)
Gazeta International. 6 December 1990. Wlodzimerz Sochacki. "Yugoslavia: The Nationalists' Time Has Come." (NEXIS)
Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. January 1990. Vol. 36, No. 1. "Yugoslavia: Collapse of Federal Communist Party Congress."
Political Handbook of the World: 1992. 1992. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.
Reuters. 21 November 1989. Andrej Gustincic. "Yugoslavia Indecisive as Eastern Europe Heads for Reform." (NEXIS)
Tanjug [Belgrade, in English]. 18 April 1989. "'Democratic Initiative' Association Established." (FBIS-EEU-89-074 19 Apr. 1989, p. 48)
