Disputing Tito’s legacy

Press, 30 December 1985, Page 16

Disputing Tito’s legacy

From NZPA-Reuter in Belgrade

The Yugoslav Parliament has stepped into a controversy over the legacy of the late Marshal Tito after an inheritance claim by his widow on real estate, cars, and other items worth millions of dollars. In an apparent move to block the claim, Parliament has legislated that all objects presented to Tito “as a token of esteem” during his 35 years as Yugoslav leader were deemed public property. The Yugoslav news agency Tanjug said this covered Tito’s archives, gifts he had received during his years in power, hunting

trophies, his art collection, and “other objects.” The move by Parliament came after Jovanka Broz, aged 61, Tito’s wife for 28 years until his death in 1980, filed a claim in a Belgrade court for a vast array of Tito’s property and goods that she argued constituted his personal effects. The Justice Minister, Mr Borislav Krajina, told Parliament that Jovanka claimed a country house, a vineyard and an orchard on the Adriatic Island of Vanga, cars, boats, coaches and horses, medals and decorations, paintings, and

other objects “of inestimable cultural and historical value.” Mr Krajina said Jovanka’s claim covered “virtually everything” in the Belgrade residence of the late communist leader, now a memorial museum, and in other residences on the Brioni Islands and elsewhere. Tito’s two sons by previous marriages, Zarko and Misa, had supported part of her claim, Mr Krajina said. Tito, the founder of the modern Yugoslav communist state who died in May, 1980, aged 87, had a well-known love of luxury.