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Article 8 The parties shall recognise that every member of a national minority has the right to manifest his or her religion or belief or to establish religious institutions, organisations and associations.
From the Jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Administration. Establishment of national minority associations is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia. By the provision of the Article 43 of Croatian Constitution, citizens are guaranteed the right to freely associate with the purpose of protecting their interests and promoting their social, economic, political, national, cultural, and other convictions and objectives. For this purpose, citizens may freely form political parties, trade unions and other associations, as well as join or leave the same. Freedom of association, in compliance with the Article 43 paragraph 2 of the Constitution, is restricted only by the prohibition of any violent threat to the democratic constitutional order and independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Republic of Croatia. Besides, the Act on Associations_(Official Gazette, No. 70/97 and 106/97), enacted at 15 July 1997, regulates the establishment of associations. Article 1, paragraph 1 of the Act regulates founding, structure, legal status and discontinuation of associations, as well as registration and cancellation of activities of foreign associations, if not otherwise provided by a special law. By the Article 2, paragraph 1 of the Associations Act, an association, represents any form of voluntary union of a number of citizens and legal entities seated in the Republic of Croatia, for the purpose of protection and promotion of their common ecological, economic, humanitarian, informational, cultural, ethnic and national, educational, social, professional, sport, technical, health, scientific and other interests and objectives, as well as their convictions, who without intention of making profit, adopt rules regulating establishment and activities of such associations, if not otherwise provided by law. Besides establishing associations national minority members form and join political parties. Forming a political party is regulated by Act on Political Parties (Official Gazette No 76/93 and 111/96). According to the Act on Political Parties, their free forming and continuous participation in shaping political will makes political parties an expression of the democratic multi-party system, which represents one of the highest values of the Croatian constitutional order. In Compliance with the constitutional freedom od association, by forming political parties the citizens are guaranteed the right to freely unite in order to protect their interests and promote their political, social, economic, national, cultural, and other convictions and objectives. Political parties are associations whose objectives set forth in their programmes and statutes are directed towards creation and shaping of political will and political activities of citizens. A political party may be established by at least 100 adult Croatian citizens of full legal capacity.
Constitution of the Republic of Croatia Article 43 "Citizens shall be granted the right to free association for the puposes of protection of their interests or promotion of social, economic, political, cultural and other convictions and objectives. For this purpose, citizens may freely form political parties, trade unions and other associations, join them or leave them. The right to free association shall be restricted by the prohibition of any violent threat to the democratic constitutional order and the independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Republic." Act on Associations Article 1 "(1) This Act regulates establishment, structure, legal status and cancellation of foreign association activities, if not otherwise provided by law. (2) Provisions of as Act do not apply to trade unions and employer associations with the exception of the Article 38, paragraph 5 and 6, the Article 41 of this Act, nor to political parties and religious communities. Article 2 "(1) In the sense of this Act, an association represents a form of voluntary alliance of several citizens and legal entities residents of the Republic of Croatia, who with the purpose of protecting and promoting their common ecological, economic, humanitarian, informative, cultural, ethnic and national, educational, social, professional, sport, technical, health, scientific, and other interests and objectives, as well as their convictions, without intention of making profit, observe the rules regulating the establishment and activities of an association, if not otherwise provided by law. (2) An association is a legal entity. An association becomes a legal entity when entered into the register of associations." Act on Political Parties Article 1 "(1) By their free establishment and continuous participation in the development of citizen political will, political parties are an espression of the democratic multi-party system as one of the highest values of the Croation constitutional order. (2) Through establishment of political parties the citizens are guaranteed the right to free association for the purpose of protection of their interests and promotion of their political, social, economic, national, cultural and other convictions and objectives. (3) Legal status, conditions, manner and procedure of establishment, registering and dissolution of political parties ale regulated by this Act. Article 2 "(1) In the sense of this Act, political parties are associations whose objectives set forth in their programmes and statutes are directed towards creation and shaping of citizen political will and political activities."
From the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Administration: By the provisions of the Article 15 of Act on Associations, the register of associations is kept by:
By the provision of the Article 7, paragraph of the Act on Political Parties, the register of political parties is maintained by the Ministry of Public Administration. From the Jurisdiction of the Office for National Minorities At 5 December 1990 the Croatian government passed the Decree on the enactment the Office for National Minorities (Official Gazette, No. 52/90), regulating the scope of the Office's activities, basic features of its internal organisation, status, authorities and responsibilities of its director. At the meeting of 30 April 1991, the Government of the Republic of Croatia passed the resolution nominating the head of the Office for Relations between the Nations and ethnic Groups. At the beginning of September 1991 the Office started to recruit professionals and to collect information from the bodies and institutions previously responsible for national minority issues. Paralelly, representatives of ethnic and national communities or minorities and their organisations were informed on the authority and scope of the Office's activities. Full coordination of the office's activities was achieved by mid November 1999, when the required specialists were engaged. In July 1991 by the amendments of the Decree the Croatian government changed the name of the Office to the Office for Relations Between Nations and Ethnic Groups (Official Gazette, No. 36/91). In August 1995 the amendment of the same Decree changes the Office's name into Office for Ethnic and National Communities and Minorities (Official Gazette, No. 62/95), and in October 1998 the Croatian government passes a Decree on the National Minorities Office (Official Gazette, No. 132/98) giving the office its present name, scope and contents of work. By the Decree the Office departments were nominated, as well as activities and tasks of individual departments, management and rough number of officials and employees. The Office for National Minorities also performs other tasks in line with the policy of equal national minority rights in the territory of the Republic of Croatia as well as their rights in the frames of the Constitution and the law, suggests measures for achieving these rights, prepares proposals for providing funds to assure achievement of national minority constitutional rights, gives proposals and opinions on financing needs of certain national minorities and their associations, and performs other tasks entrusted to it.
From the jurisdiction of the Office for National Minorities When in 1990 the Republic of Croatia became an independent state, the status of national minority whose institutions and associations assemble one or two national minority groups was gained by: Italians, Czechs and Slovaks, Hungarians, Ruthenians and Ukrainians, as well as Cultural and Performing Society of the Jewish national minority "Miroslav Salom Freiberger", and Serb Cultural Society "Prosvjeta". In the course of 1991 the national German and Austrian minorities also established their societies. In 1991 following the proposal of the Ministry of Education and Culture the Croatian government budgeted the funds for programmes of national minority society. After establishing the Office of National Minorities, the Croatian government gradually implemented the model for achievement of national minority rights in order to preserve and develop their identify (ethnic, cultural, linguistic, religious), whether individually, or in association with other citizens. By this model ethnic rights are achieved through authorised, regular institutions of the Republic of Croatia, professionally and administratively responsible for individual domains of social life of all citizens, Croatians and members of national minorities alike. By the model the cultural and ethnic identity of a national minority members is protected and developed as well as their integration to the Croatian society. Ethnic rights that cannot be achieved through activities of authorised governmental institutions, are achieved through financing cultural programmes of divers non- governmental national minority associations and institutions, providing an additional protection from assimilation. Ethnic rights of national minorities are exercised through organisation, co- ordination and professional supervision in the field of:
Italians - From the state budget the Croatian government finances ethnic of four non-governmental Italian minority associations: Italian Union, Newspaper publishers "Edit", Centre for Historical Research - Rovinj and Italian drama, Rijeka. The Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Slovenia finance activities of these associations and institutions in 80:20 ratio, except for the Center of Historical Research, Rovinj, which is financed in 70:30 ratio. Italian Union is the central association of Italian minority group, founded in Rijeka in 1943. Newspaper publishing house '*Edit", Rijeka issues or the members of Italian minority in the Republic of Croatia and Slovenia as well as for subscribers in Italy (based on agreement between Italian Union from Rijeka and People's University from Trieste) the following newspapers: daily newspaper "La Voce del Popolo" in circulation since 1944, children's magazine "Arcobaleno", founded in 1948 under the name of "Il Pioniere�, journal "Panorama" founded in 1952 as a replacement for some previous journals, a three-monthly literary review "La Battaba" founded in 1964, and once a year "Scuola Mostra" a teacher's journal. �EDIT" also publishes textbooks for schools teaching in Italian language. Italian national minority has a Center for Historical Research in Rovinj, engaged in historical, sociological and culturological research. The Croatian government co-finances 70% of salaries of the Center's 10 employees. The Center has been active for more than 30 years, and since 1996 its library has the status of the Depositary library of the EU. Italian drama is a professional theatrical institution of the Italian minority operating at the National thetre �Ivan Zajc" in Rijeka. It consists of an ensamble, opera, ballet and drama. Czechs - The Croatian government finances the ethnic programmes of two non- governmental Czech minority associations. These are Czech Union in the Republic of Croatia from Daruvar, and newspaper publishers "Jedbota" also from Daruvar. The Union was founded in 1994 under the name of Union of Czechs and Slovaks and till 1992 it operated as an integral organisation of the Czech and Slovak national minority. After dissolution of Czechoslovakia the organisation split up into two national unions. Thus, since June 1992 the Union of Czechs operates separately. The Union assembles 22 "beseda", Czech cultural societies. For informative and publishing programme of the Czech minority is covered by the publishing agency "Jednota", founded in 1946 and seated in Daruvar. It publishes a weekly "Jednota", a monthly "Detsky koutek" and two almanacs �Eeskty lidovy kalendar� and "Prehled". Slovaks - Slovak minority members left the Union of Czechs and Slovaks in June 1992 and registered their own non-governmental association � the Slovak Cultural Society, seated in Nasice. In 1998 the Slovak Cultural Society changed its name into Union of Slovaks, assembling 10 branches and three cultural clubs. From the budget the Croatian government finances three programmes of the Slovak national minority, i.e., informative, cultural amateurism and cultural events. Within informative part of their programme the Slovak minority members publish a monthly newspaper-"Pramen". Hungarians - The Croatian government finances the ethnic programmes of four non-governmental Hungarian minority associations. They comprise: Union of Hungarians in the Republic of Croatia from Osijek, Democratic Community of Hungarians of Croatia from Osijek, Society of Hungarian Scientists and Artists in Croatia from Zagreb, and "Huncro", publishing agency from Osijek. The Union of Hungarians in the Republic of Croatia is a non-governmental organisation assembling the Hungarian minority members since 1949. Many years of the Union's experience are based on promotion, preserving and development of Hungarian cultural amateurism in Croatia. In 1999 the 50th anniversary of the first paper in Hungarian language will be marked. The Democratic Community of Hungarians of Croatia, Osijek, was established in 1993. It has been engaged in cultural amateurism and cultural events, and it assembles several Hungarian cultural societies. The "Huncro" publishing agency has been in charge of information dissemination and publishing since 1996, issuing a weekly "Uj Magyar Kepes Ujsag", a monthly "Horvatorszagi Magjarsag", a paper for children "Barkoka", and "Rovotkak, an almanac. Society of Hungarian Scientists and Artists in Croatia from Zagreb operates since 1997. It is active in the fields of social research and providing electronic data for cultural clubs and other non-governmental Hungarian associations. To preserve and promote their culture and traditions the Croatian Hungarians operate through a number of cultural and performing societies the most prominent of which are MKD "Ady Endre" from Zagreb, and MKD ''Nepkor'' from Osijek. Ruthenians and Ukrainians - the Union of Ruthenians and Ukrainians in the Republic of Croatia was established in Vukovar in 1998. The two minorities have marked 30 years of activities and of return to the reintegrated area of the Republic of Croatia - the Croatian Podunavlje. Croatian government financially supports their informative and publishing activities, as well as cultural amateurism and cultural events. Ruthenian and Ukrainian minorities fulfil their cultured amateurism and cultural events programme through eight traditional cultural societies, some of which marked 30 years of activities. Serbs - From the State Budget the Croatian government supports divers ethnic programmes of several non-governmental associations of the Serb minority. These include: Serb Cultural Society "Prosvjeta"Zagreb, Community of Serbs in the Republic of Croatia seated in Zagreb, Serb Democratic Forum seated in Zagreb, Union of Serb Qrganisations from Zagreb, Initiative for the Serb National Congress from Zagreb, and Joint Council of Municipalities from Vukovar. The central and the oldest association of the Serb minority are the Serb Cultural Society "Prosvjeta� Zagreb, established in 1944. The society promotes and preserves the Serb cultural identity through the programme of cultural amateurism and cultural events of 23 sections and four independent societies. In the frames of its informative and publishing progamme the Serb Cultural Society "Prosvjeta" publishes two bimonthly papers "Prosvjeta" (Education) and "Novosti"(News}, a monthly paper for children "Bijela peela" (White Bee),and three annuals: "Ljetopis SKD Prosvjeta", "Kalendar SKD Posvjeta" and "Artefakti". The publishing segment prints the poetry and literature written by Serb authors, as well as the history of Serbs in the Republic of Croatia. Community of Serbs in the Republic of Croatia, Zagreb, has been active since 1992. It publishes ''Nas glas''(Our Voice), an monthly newspaper. Serb Democratic Forum, Zagreb, operates since 1994 and within its informative programme it publishes "Identitet''(Identity), a monthly. Initiative for the Serfb National Congress, Zagreb, was established in 1997 and has electronic journal "Alkion" on the Internet. The Croatian Government also supports special programmes of the two Serbian non-governmental associations offering professional help in the process of rebuilding the civil trust. These are Joint Council of Municipalities from Vukovar, and Union of Serb Organisations from Zagreb. Germans and Austrians � From the State Budget the Croatian Government supports ethnic programmes of six non-governmental associations of German and Austrian minority. These include: Union of Germans and Austrians of Croatia, Qsijek headquarters; Community of Germans of Croatia, Zagreb; German Ethnic Community, Qsijek; Association of Austrians in Croatia, Zagreb; National Union of Germans in Croatia, Zagreb; and "Deutsches Wort� publishers from Qsijek. A significant place in promotion and preservation of the German and Austrian identity belongs to their bilingual newspaper - -the' Deutsches Wort ". The said associations fulfil their programme of cultural amateurism and cultural events by staging performances of choirs from Vukovar, Pakrac and Qsijek, and of the Agram dance group. Each year the scientific gathering �Germans and Austrians in Croatian Cultural Circle� takes place. Jews - The Croatian government assigns funds from the state budget to the support of ethnic programmes of the Jewish community and of the cultural society Miroslav Salom Freiberger" from Zagreb. The Jewish Community assembles majority of the Jewish minority members. It organizes informative, publishing, educational and cultural activities, ranging from the publishing of "Ha-kol'' newspaper to the Hebrew courses and "Talmud-Tora" workshop. The majority of cultural events are organised by the society "Miroslav Salom Freiberger" and the vocal group "Lira". The cultural and performance society "Miroslav Salom Freiberger accommodates a dance group "Or Sems" and a vocal and instrumental group ''Zozeri'' performing traditional Jewish dances and songs. Slovenes - Since 1992 the Croatian government supports four cultural societies of Slovenes active in the frames of the Union of Slovenian Societies in the Republic of Croatia. These are: the cultural and performing society "Slovenski dom", Zagreb; Cultural and Educational Society "Bazovica" Rljteka, Cultural and Educational Society "Triglav" Split and choir "Sibenik" (in the frames of the society). Cultural amateurism and cultural events programme of these societies comprises the performance of mixed choirs and organisation of exhibitions, forums and anniversaries. In the frames of informative programme a bulletin and a four-monthly paper "Novi odmev" in Slovenian is published. Albanians - Since 1992 the Croatian government financially supports the informative, cultural amateurism and cultural events programme of the Union of Albanian Communities in the Republic of Croatia, a non-governmental association seated in Zagreb. The Union issues a monthly "Informatori" in Albanian language. Beside the Union of Albanian Communities the cultural amateurism and cultural events are also the programmes of the Albanian cultural society "Shkendija" from Zagreb. " Shkendija " promotes Albanian folklore and music in folk-dance, drama and music sections. Union of Albanian Communities in the Republic of Croatia prepares forums, exhibitions and marks anniversaries of Albanians renowned for preserving the Albanian cultural, religious and linguistic identity. Bosnians-Muslims Since 1992 the government of Croatia financially supports the cultural amateurism of the Muslim cultural and performing society "Preporod", which in 1999. changed its name to Cultural Society of Bosnians of Croatia "Preporod", Zagreb. Since 1998 the programme of the Bosniac National Community of Croatia, Zagreb, has been supported as well. Both associations are engaged in studying the historical, artistic and social development of Bosnians - Muslims, they co-operate with governmental bodies and cultural and scientific institutions, and organise forums, exhibitions, cultural performances, round table discussions and literary evenings. The Cultural Society of Bosnians of Croatia "Preporod", issues "Behar", a two- monthly; "Behar Journal", a monthly; and "Jasmin", a three-monthly. The Bosniac National Community of Croatia and the Cultural Society of Bosnians of Croatia "Preporod" promote the Bosnian identity by organising forums, round table discussions and exhibitions, literary evenings, as well as trough performances of "Bulbul", a girls' choir. Romanies - The government of Croatia financially supports the informative, cultural amateurism and cultural event programmes of Romany associations since 1992. The Union of Romany Associations of Croatia, Virovitica, operates since 1994, and the Community of Roumanies of Croatia, Zagreb, is active since 1997. In the frames of their informative programme the association publishes two newspapers: ''Romengo Akharipe" and "Romengo AEaeipi�, a Romany paper in Bajak, AEaeipi and Croatian languages. In the frames of the Union of Romany Associations of Croatia there are three cultural and performing societies, engaged in promotion of the Romany culture and folklore. Each association organises celebrations on the occasion of the International Romany Day. In the past period, several Romany associations were either registered or they changed their name or address. The majority of members belong to the Union of Romany Associations of Croatia. The Croatian government financially supports a special programme for Romanies: integration of Romany children in the educational system of the Republic of Croatia. Montenegrins - Since 1992 the Croatian government financially supports the informative, cultural amateurism and cultural event programme of the non-governmental association of Montenegrins - the National Community of Montenegrins of Croatia, Zagreb. Montenegrins in the Republic of Croatia promote their culture through cultural societies and community that preserve traditions and achievements of Montenegrins, in particular of those whose creative work is integrated in the Croatian culture. The National Community of Montenegrins of Croatia publishes "Facta Monelienegrina", a bimonthly, while in the frames of their cultural amateurism and cultural event programme they organise exhibitions, forums, and national wheel dances, and mark significant anniversaries. Macedonians - Since 1992 the Croatian government financially supports the informative, cultural amateurism and cultural events programme of the Community of Macedonians in the Republic of Croatia. Five Macedonian cultural societies organise folk dances and music groups, exhibitions and forums in the frame the of cultural amateurism programme. These are: MKD "Ilinden" Rijeka, MKD "Krste Misirkov" Zagreb, MKD "Braaea Miladinovci� Osijek; MKD "Makedonja" Split and MKD �Koea Racin" Pula. The Community of Macedonians publishes "Makedonski glas" (Voice of Macedonia), a three-monthly paper in Macedonian language. Financing their informative and publishing activities, cultural institutions (libraries, theatre, museum and archives), cultural events and cultural amateurism depends on the development of associations and institutions as well as on preconditions of their programme accomplishment. To the financing of the said programmes the amount of HRK 20.097.336 was assigned from the 1997 StateBudget. By the resolution of the Croatian government, in 1997 the amount of HRK 800.000 was assigned from the current reserves of the State Budget to the "1997 programme of establishing, revival and development of Serb associations and institutions in Croatia". Out of this amount HRK 500.000 was allocated to the Union of Serb Organisations engaged in a constructive co-operation with authorised state institution and for the program of civil trust rebuilding, HRK 200.000 to the Ministry of Culture for museum activities and protection of cultural monuments, and HRK 100.OOO To the National and University Library for setting up the network of libraries. From 1998 State Budget an amount of HRK 22.000.000 was assigned to the national minority programmes, and upon revision of the budget this amount was increased to HRK 1.200.000. Since the first amount proved sufficient for a rational fulfillment of the programmes, additional funds allocated upon budget revision were fully directed to the revival of national minority cultural institutions in the war-destroyed areas, as a necessary precondition for national minority reintegration. In 1998 the Croatian government financed two special programmes as elaborated in the Report on Article 4, paragraph 2. The list of national minority associations, 34 of them registered, is given in the preamble, page 22 and 23. The amount of HRK 23.334.248 was assigned by the 1998 State Budget to national minority associations. In the Republic of Croatia there are 77 (seventy-seven) political parties. Political parties joined by national minorities include: 1. Democratic Alliance of Albanians of Croatia, seated in Zagreb, Tkalciceva 59,
Political parties are non-profit organisations financed from membership fees, voluntary contributions, publishing activities, sale of promotional material, organisation of party events, state budget, budget of the local self-government units, and profits of companies in their ownership. A part of financial support to political parties, whose candidates were elected to the Croatian parliament, is allocated from the State Budget on an annual basis and in proportion with the number of their representatives in the Croatian Parliament (Saber). National minority associations are financed on the local level in accordance with local budgets. Thus, for instance the Zagreb County, which includes municipalities surrounding Zagreb, supports the Association of Romanies; The Count of Istria on the level of both municipalities and the county supports the Italian community, the County of Split and Dalmatia supports the Macedonian cultural society, the Hungarian democratic community, the cultural society of Bosnians of Croatia "Preporod", the Slovenian cultural society "Triglav"; The County of Osijek and Baranja supports the Union of Germans and Austrians, Osijek branch, Cultural society of Slovaks from Nasice and Albanian community; The County of Koprivnica and Krievac supports the Hungarian Democratic Community; The Bjelovar-bilogora county supports the Czech associations; The Sisak-moslavina county supports the Romany association, Czech Beseda, cultural and educational society of Ukrainians and cultural society of Slovaks; The county of Vukovar and Srijem supports associations of Ruthenians and Ukrainians, associations of Serb national minority and Slovak associations. The amounts of all the above financial supports range between 5 and 20 thousand Kuna per association. An exception is the amount of HRK 1.749.800 assigned to the Italian community by the County of Istria. It should be noted that the counties in the eastern Slavonia and Baranja were exposed to the longest occupation during which a major part of economy was disabled, and therefore these counties cannot allocate high amounts to the national minority associations. At the same time, the County of Istria is one of the most developed counties in Croatia. From the Jurisdiction of the State Commission for Relations with Religious Communities Up to now religious communities were not financed from the State Budget. From the Croatian 1999 State Budget HRK 500.000 is assigned to religious organizations. The amount will presumably be distributed amongst 12 organisations. A more detailed information is not available since the resolution on distribution on the relevant amount has not yet been passed.
From the Jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Administration: More than 30 national minority associations operate in the territory of the Republic of Croatia, and are entered into the register of associations maintained by this ministry. Assets of an association consists of funds collected from membership fees, voluntary contributions and gifts, lotteries, proceeds from their lawful activities, subsidies from the state, municipality, town and county budgets and funds, their movable or immovable and other property rights (Article 23, paragraph 1 of the Act on Associations). From the Jurisdiction of the State Commission for Relations with Religious Organisations Minority Council, a non-governmental organisation, co-operates with national minority representatives in the Croatian parliament. However, it is not an alternative institution of minority representatives, but rather a complementary one. The Council monitors the implementation of the policy of preserving, promotion and protection of national minority rights, considers problems and takes positions on all proposed bills and regulations, submits taken positions, requirements and proposals to the Parliament and the government and to their bodies for consideration and resolution, and co-operates with all governmental and international community bodies. The members of the Jewish community has been elected the Council's president, and the member of the Czech community its vice president. The Office for National Minorities has requested commentaries of all the national minority associations with respect to the implementation of the Framework Convention on the National Minority Protection in Croatia. A summarised overview of the most typical commentaries of national minority associations is given below. - In the opinion of some associations certain problems still remain to be resolved on the level of local administration, specially wife respect to office space and financing on the local level ((German National Community, Osijek). - Despite a high level of rights guaranteed by the Croatian Constitution and international documents ratified by the Republic of Croatia, the practical exercise still meets with some difficulties (Serb Democratic Forum, Zagreb, Serb National Council, Zagreb, Prosvjeta, Zagreb). - Many Ruthenians and Ukrainians from Vukovar and its surroundings cannot return to their homes destroyed or burned during Serbian aggression. Croatia lacks funds for their rapid reconstruction while promised and expected .support from the international community (which failed to timely stop appalling destruction and genocide), is either insufficient or missing. An additional problem is that the houses which were undamaged cannot be used, since they were inhabited by Serbs during the occupation of Croatia (Union of Ruthenians and Ukrainians, Vukovar). - The number of national minority parliamentary seats should be increased to include a Slovene representative (Union of Slovenian Societies in the Republic of Croatia, Zagreb).
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