Fritch man visits close to native home

By KEVIN WELCH Globe-News Staff Writer

His parents were separated in the chaos of World War II, and he remained in Bosnia, with his mother and grandmother. In 1960, Eck Spahich left his native country to join his father for the American way of life in Dumas.

Now a real estate agent living in Fritch, Spahich hasn't returned to his homeland since. But he did get close this summer.

Spahich inherited his mother's home in Tuzla, Bosnia, upon her death in September 1990. Overseeing the probating of her will long-distance was difficult at the outset, but became increasingly so.

Within one year, the region was torn by violence when Bosnia, Croatia and other states declared independence from Serbian-dominated Yugoslavia.

Eight years later, complications remained.

A huge backlog of court cases from the communist era delayed the probating of the will of Spahich's mother. Finally, in the summer of 1997, the will was probated, and Spahich began negotiations with a potential purchaser for the home.

He did not return to the country he left for America, due to continuing hostilities. Instead, when Spahich finally sold his mother's home, he completed the deal in the neighboring country of Croatia.

"I regret not going to Bosnia, but it's still a combat zone," Spahich said. "There was also the possibility of robbery, because they look at Americans as wealthy, and you have to get approval from the central bank to take money out of the country. It would have meant big-time problems."

Spahich went to Zagreb, Croatia, during the last week of September to meet the attorney who wanted to buy the home. He stayed with a cousin and her husband for about two weeks, taking in the changes since communism ended.

"The economy is at a standstill, but there is the potential of tourism and exports to help," Spahich said. "This is a post-war situation where industry's slowed and jobs are scarce."

Historically, it is not unusual for warfare to complicate life in the Balkans.

Humans inhabited the region for at least 4,000 years. It has been carved into various countries and republics since its early history. It has been invaded numerous times by armies, including the Romans and Turks.

The situation hasn't calmed much in recent years, with ethnic and religious tensions persisting in the area.

Today's Croatian media mostly is controlled by the state, Spahich said.

"In the news, I thought it was interesting that they thought we (Americans) were mistreating our president by bringing his private life into the public," Spahich said. "There is a lot of sensationalizing and yellow journalism. They are experiencing some freedom, but not responsibility."

There were signs of American culture creeping into the Balkans in the form of television shows in English with Croatian subtitles, and food establishments such as McDonald's and Hard Rock Cafe.

"I didn't go to any of those places," he said. "I stuck with the native stuff that I haven't tasted in the 38 years I've been gone."

Some of the foods he ate were crawfish, chevapchichi (spicy ground meat rolled into a sausage shape, grilled and put inside a flat bread), and the sweet, layered pastry baklava.

After completing the real estate deal, Spahich made his way back to his home in Fritch.

"I never dreamed I would be returning to the country I'd left as a young boy," Spahich said. "But I was just as excited to come back. I couldn't go back into history. If I lived over there, I would be in trouble because I'm very outspoken."

When conditions stabilize, Spahich said he plans to return to Tuzla with his wife and children. But he sees the turmoil in nearby Kosovo as a continuation of the dangerous conditions that kept him from his hometown.

"I don't feel they can resolve the crisis," he said. "Yugoslav president (Slobodan) Milosevic is doing the same thing there that he did in Bosnia. I don't know why they expect him to keep his word there."

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