News

8th, july 2008
All wildfires are under control
Five large wildfires began Monday afternoon afternoon in Sibenik-Knin  and Split -Dalmatian counties but are already under control.
The fires broke out in Solta, Supetar, Solin and Vodice and on the edge of Krka National Park.
They came within 200 metres of houses in a few areas, but fire-fighters managed to save them.
One 29-year-old fire-fighter was slightly injured when he slipped and fell. He was released from hospital after treatment.Thirty Croatian soldiers helped fire-fighters from Zadar near Sibenik. Croatian Times

1st july, 2008.
Zagreb sees construction surge
There was a huge increase in construction of new apartment buildings in Zagreb in the first quarter of the year.
The statistics section of the city Department for Strategic Planning and Development has reported that 1,080 apartments were constructed in the first quarter, 504 or 87.5 per cent more than during the same period last year.
The number of apartments under construction also increased to 7,460, compared to 6,288 in last year's first quarter.
The total value of construction work in Zagreb in the first quarter amounted to 2.5 billion kunas or 350 million Euros. Croatian Times

1st july, 2008.
Holiday changes Kovacs mind on retirement
Red Bull Salzburg midfielder Niko Kovac is not going into retirement from the Croatian national team.
Kovac, 36, had announced that he was going to retire from the national team after Euro 2008. However, after a week on holiday in Croatia, he has come to a different decision despite his age.
"I have been thinking about it and finally decided to play at least up to the end of this year", he told Croatian sports daily "Sportske Novosti."
He added that he would play in World Cup qualification matches against England, Kazakhstan and Ukraine.
"National team coach Slaven Bilic has pointed out how important it is that we all stay together. He has only good words to describe my play, and the other players as well as the fans want me to keep playing, so my decision is to continue to do so at least up to the end of this year. We'll see what happens next spring. I do not yet know what that will be," Kovac commented.Croatian Times

1st july, 2008.
Jadrolinija acquires new ferry
Croatian ferry operator Jadrolinija has bought a new ferry to run its routes between the major Adriatic islands and the mainland.
Jadrolinija bought the ferry, which was constructed eight months ago in Greece at a cost of 17.2 million Euros, as part of its fleet renewal program.
The ferry - named "Korcula" - will replace the boat named "Istra" on the Split - Korcula - Lastovo route.
The new ferry can transport over 700 passengers and almost 200 vehicles, an increase of 30 per cent in both categories over the old ferry's capacity.
A Jadrolinija official has noted that use of Korcula will make navigation of the route one hour shorter than before. Croatian Times

27th june, 2008
Kiwi-Croats celebrate 150 years
New Zealand's Ethnic Affairs Minister has lauded the country's Croatian community as its 150th anniversary comes up next month.
Chris Carter made the comments on Croatia's National day. The New Zealand Government announced they will be holding a major celebration to honour the contribution Croatians have made to New Zealand over the past 150 years. "The first settlers from what was then part of the Austro-Hungarian empire arrived in 1858 and over successive generations were variously known as Dalmatians, Yugoslavs and now identify as Croatians.
"Many succeeded in the harsh conditions of the gum fields of the Far North, working in strong family and community groups.
"Others started off our wine industry and are still associated with the best of New Zealand wines today," Carter said. The contribution of the Croatian community to New Zealand life has been considerable and across a range of endeavours, from sport, music, art, industry and academia.
To celebrate this contribution and to highlight Croatian culture, the 150th anniversary Celebration will be held on 29 July.
"Today is a special day for the Croatian people as it marks their National Day, when the modern nation of Croatia was formed in 1991. I warmly congratulate Croatia and its people, and in particular those of Croatian descent in New Zealand who I look forward to celebrating with at Parliament next month," Carter said. Croatian Times

27th june, 2008
Austrian owners of Zagreb 5* hotel deny sale
The Austrian owners of the five-star Regent Esplanade hotel in Croatian capital Zagreb have denied speculation that they are considering selling up.
The board of the hotel made the announcement when contacted by Croatian national daily Vecernji List. Austrian businessman Herbert Heselbacher invested 15 million Euros in reconstructing of the hotel in Zagreb's city centre. Split businessman Zeljko Kerum is reportedly interested in the hotel - one of Zagreb's oldest and most-beautiful. Although Kerum has refused to confirm the news, Zagreb daily Jutarnji reported that talks have been held over the past few months on the deal, which experts say would be worth more than 60 million Euros.
Kerum has opened 12 stores of his shopping chain "Kerum" in the Croatian Capital after founding the business in his native Split.
He has also bought a number of landmark cafes in the capital as well as a large building site in the city center.
Prime Minister Ivo Sanader has recently criticized Kerum for buying expensive yachts and cars while his workers suffer from low wages.
Zeljko Kerum denied to comment on whether he placed a bid. Croatian Times

23rd june, 2008
Croatian weekly goes bust
Croatian independent weekly Feral Tribune, a symbol of the free press for many in the country, has announced it will cease publication due to financial problems.
The editors of the 15-year-old paper said in Friday's issue that their troubles have now become "unbridgeable."
It says that the collapse of takeover negotiations with a Croatian media mogul contributed to the decision.
Feral Tribune, which also pursued in-depth investigative journalism, has struggled with finances for years.
Feral Tribune was particularly known for criticizing Croatian nationalists and investigating war crimes committed by Croats.
Croatian Times

19th june, 2008
Croatia opens two new EU accession chapters
Croatia has opened two more EU accession negotiation chapters following a conference in Luxembourg on the country's accession to the European Union.
Following the conference in Luxembourg it was stated the Croatia could reach its accession goals with the EU and open all the remaining negotiation chapters by the end of the year.
Foreign Minister and Minister for European Integration Gordan Jandrokovic said, "We have plenty of time and are expecting to open all the remaining chapters and then to close most of them during the French presidency this year.
Adding, "The Slovenian presidency hasn't slowed down us in any way."
Two benchmarks have been set for Croatian closure on Social Policy and Employment that include changes to the Labour Law and Workplace Health Protection and Safety law.
Croatia also needs to adopt an umbrella anti-discrimination law and a law on sexual equality. Croatia currently has 20 negotiating chapters open. Croatian Times

19th june, 2008
Croatian yacht shipyard launches new cruising racer
Croatian yacht building company AdBoats has announced to release a new model later this year. The new Salona 34 will be launched in August in the Adriatic port of Split.
The new Salona 34 has been described as having an attractive and elegant design that makes it bigger than one would expect from a 34-foot-long cruising racer. An open cockpit of a Mediterranean style is expected to be one of advantages of the new Salona yacht. Croatian Time

18th june 2008
Calls for proposals for the Research in Industry Grant open
Unity through Knowledge Fund has launched its 3C Research in Industry Grant call for proposals. The proposals will compete for subsidies that contribute for salaries and other costs of young researchers and professionals at the post doctorate level who want to participate within innovative projects in Croatian industry. Candidates may come from Croatian Diaspora or fromCroatian public research institutions.
The "3C Research in Industry" Grant supports engagement of young researchers and professionals with doctorate degree in Croatian enterprises.
The total Fund's contribution for the salary of a candidate amounts 120 000 HRK (ca. 16 500 EUR) yearly. The company should guarantee the matching funding to the salary of the candidate in additional minimum amount of 120 000 HRK (ca. 16 500 EUR) yearly. Therefore, the minimum monthly salary for the candidate amounts to 20 000 HRK.
The grant provides funding for salaries and other costs of young researchers and professionals at the post doctorate level who want to participate within innovative projects in Croatian industry. All companies with head office in Croatia may apply if the fulfil requirements from the Call. The deadline for application is September 15, 2008.
The Fund has been created by the Croatian Ministry of Science, Technology and Sports with the aim to use potential and establish cooperation between the Croatian scientific and professional Diaspora. The Fund finances collaborative research projects and knowledge-based business activities of expatriates and Croatian researchers, institutions and companies.
The Fund supports only those projects that create added values to Croatian economy and society, and those that stimulate transfer of knowledge and investments to Croatia.
Two Committees in charge of the Fund, which include the eminent scientists and experts, decide on the allocation of the support. They use assistance of the peer review of international independent experts. Total Fund's resources in the three years amount 5 million euros, with 75% from the World Bank loan. More information about the open calls, the Fund's procedures and already started projects can be found on the website of the Fund (www.ukf.hr) or of the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports (www.mzos.hr).
The Fund also supports other types of grants, aimed for cooperation with Croatian scientific diaspora, for commercialization of research, intellectual property protection and enhancing international mobility of Croatian scientists and experts. All supported projects contribute to the Fund's mission of unifying scientific and professional potential of Croatia and Diaspora in the development of the knowledge based society. (MZOS/HIC)

17th june 2008
Croatian EU Accession will help BH Croats says EU
Croatia joining the EU will help Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina (BH) most but they must have protection within BH, according to the European Union Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana.
Further progress on the integration path towards the European Union and exchange of experience of that process represent the best chance for Croatia to help Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Croats in BH must have someform of protection mechanism within BH, and not by neighbouring countries - Solana said in an interview on Monday.
At yesterday`s signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) in Luxembourg, Solana pointed out that Croatia has progressed more towards the EU than BH has, which he said was clear evidence that every country can progress at its own pace.
He said the Croatian experience will be very useful for BH, as well as other countries in the region.
Croatian Times

17th june 2008
Croatian inventors clean up at US expo
Croatia's inventors have helped affirm the country as a centre for innovation after winning 24 awards at this year's INPEX trade show, America's largest Invention and New Product Exposition.
Eight of the awards took first place, six came second and six came third, with four special recognition awards.
INPEX provides a venue for the exhibit of inventions and for networking with companies interested in licensing, marketing or manufacturing new products.
The show in Pittsburgh, Pennyslvania featured 2,100 exhibits from the United States and 20 from other countries.
Croatia participated for the 15th time in a row, represented by 17 inventors and entrepreneurs.
The Croatian Inventors Association and the Zagreb Inventors Association received recognition for their successful collaboration.
Neven Markovic received an "Ambassador" award for the best-organized national exhibit and Zagreb's Economic Office Director Ladislav Prezigal was the recipient of a gold medal from the city of Pittsburgh.
Croatian Times

16th june 2008
Croatian scientist wins protein discovery award
Croatian scientist Ivan Djikic has received an award of 100,000 kunas (14,000 Euros) from the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sports for his co-discovery of protein Rpn13.
It may prove useful in efforts to combat cancer and neuro-degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
A professor of biochemistry at Goethe University Medical School in Frankfurt, Germany, Djikic has said that he will donate the money to Split Medical University and to the Mediterranean University for Life Sciences (MedILS) in Split.
It will be used to subsidise the scientific work of students at those institutions. Dikic has helped coordinate work at MedILS's Tumor Biology Laboratory since 2005.
Djikic and Croatian scientist Koraljka Husnjak announced their discovery of the new protein in an article in a scientific journal.
Croatian Times

16th june 2008
A hundred Croatian flags stolen from Knin celebrations
Residents of the Southern city of Knin are in outrage after the decorative flags put up in the town centre to celebrate the city day were stolen.
A police spokesman said, "Unknown parties stole around one hundred Croatian flags Tuesday night in Knin."
The flags were on street-light poles on the three main streets of the city as decorations for the celebration of Knin's city day.
The police say that they are not sure if the flags were stolen by football fans who were  trying to get their hands on more flags to celebrate Euro 2008. The police have noted that the flags were not torn off but carefully removed from the poles.
They estimate that damage amounted to around 4,000 kunas or 550 Euros.
Croatian Times