Zagreb, April 11, 2000 (IKA) — The head of the Zagreb branch of Caritas, Jelena Brajša, was honored for peace and humanism by the International League of Humanists and proclaimed a world humanist on Tuesday, April 11, at the Hotel Panorama in Zagreb. Attending the award ceremonies was a delegation from the International League of Humanists, including one of its founders and honorary president-for-life, Academic Ivan Supek; the president of the movement and its Permanent Executive Committee, Helmut Moritz; and the general secretary, Zdravko Šurlan. Explaining the reasons for honoring Jelena Brajša for peace and humanism, Zdravko Šurlan called her a Croatian and European Mother Teresa who has given her heart to those in the greatest need, adding: “To speak about Jelena means to speak about peace and love, which is increasingly rare today. She has provided a mother’s love to many children and brought joy back to their lives. To find a person such as Jelena is to find a genuine treasure. Her entry into this world organization will greatly enhance it.” He also pointed out that her work has been in accordance with the fundamental principles of the League, which are the safeguarding and restoring of human dignity and the safeguarding of human rights. Zdravko Šurlan and Academic Ivan Supek acquainted those present with the founding of the International League of Humanists, its work and goals. Ivan Supek noted that the League had been established during the cold war years when ecological hazards threatened. He also said that since the League was established, its goals have been to reduce the gap between the rich and poor and to create a new economic system that would be in harmony with ecologic and social values, for which the greatest obstacles are the militaristic and nationalistic-chauvanistic countries. The president of the League, Helmut Moritz, said that we need people of good will such as Mother Teresa and Jelena Brajša, adding that the International League of Humanists is not the first but the eleventh organization to honor Jelena Brajša for her work. Thanking all those present, Jelena Brajša said that we must first create peace in our own hearts and then in the world. In the musical portion of the program, the performers were the baritone Josip Lešaj accompanied by the pianist Ante Milić, Tomislav Brajša, Tatjana of the Blessed Alojzije Stepinac Home for Children of Brezovica, and the soprano Gertruda Munitić.