Dr Efraim Zuroff, founding director of the Israel Office of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, has been awarded the Order of Prince Trpimir with Ribbon and Star, by Croatian president Stjepan Mesić. The president’s signed certificate cites Dr Zuroff’s ‘outstanding contribution to the fight against historical revisionism and reassertion of the anti-fascist foundation of the modern-day Republic of Croatia and to establishment of good relations between the Republic of Croatia and the State of Israel’. The award was presented at midday on Monday 1 February 2010 in the palace of the president of Croatia in Zagreb. Sonja Biserko, president of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights, was also honored by the Croatian president.  Associated Press report here.  FULL TEXTof Dr Zuroff’s acceptance speech here. Photo: At the presidential palace in Zagreb on 1 February 2010.

Dr Zuroff is also celebrating the publication of his new book, Operation Last Chance: One Man’s Quest to Bring Nazi Criminals to Justice.  Order here.