3 January 2010
In a scenario CBR previously considered, Ivo Josipovic and Milan Bandic have gone
through to the second round. HDZ candidate Andrija Hebrang did not get through. We take a look at implications for the ruling HDZ as well as looking at a campaign that is now turning a little personal. Josipovic currently has
a strong lead over Bandic in the opinion polls. We consider if Bandic can win.
Pictured: Milan Bandic at a first round rally in Velika Gorica
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27 December 2009
Follow our live Croatian Presidential Election news service today on Twitter. There is no need to sign up for Twitter - just click here to see this free service. We will be going into high gear at about 2100 GMT /2200 CET.
Ivo Josipovic (pictured) is very likely to come first in the vote, thus going to the second round. The question is, who will come second and join him in the second round? Looks likely to be either the Mayor of Zagreb, Milan Bandic or independent candidate, businessman Nadan Vidosevic. Or will there be an upset? Join us on twitter to find out.
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24 December 2009
“I am a fan of transparency - that is how to explain myself.”
Vesna Skare-Ozbolt (pictured) is a familiar face on the Croatian
political scene. She was an adviser to President Franjo Tudjman for a number of
years and handled the negotiations over the reintegration of Eastern Slavonia
into Croatia, its having been occupied by Serb forces. She won a seat in the
Sabor for the Democratic Centre and was Minister of Justice in Ivo Sanader’s
cabinet. She is now running for President, in the elections due to be held on
27 December. In our interview, she tells us why she is running, her views on
Prime Minister Kosor and the EU. Of particular importance to investors are her
views on transparency and corruption in public life.
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19 December 2009
Former Royal Navy Commander and keen sailor Mike Forbes gives his view on yet another Croatian bureaucratic problem for tourists and visitors to Croatia. This time it concerns sailing, a major income generator for the country - could government rules damage this?
Pictured: A Croatian police vessel pulls up by a yacht
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16 December 2009
With the first round of the Presidential elections coming up, Slavica
Habjanovic takes a look at the style of the main candidates
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28 November 2009
The
Croatian Presidential race is now well under way. It is an election that is not
unlike that for the Mayor of London, in that the public favours outsiders. This
has been shown by the entry of Zagreb mayor Milan Bandic into the battle. Much
will depend on the factors affecting support for conservative/centre-right
candidates.
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28 November 2009
CBR covered the
extradition process of Milan Spanovic form the UK. Spanovic had fled a
conviction in Croatia for war crimes against Croats. He was arrested in the UK
in 2006, and a lengthy process of extradition began, one that illustrated
certain double standards being applied against Croatia. Our features can be
seen here and here . He was extradited to Croatia earlier this year.
As an extra feature, and
by way of an update, we present the Institute of War and Peace Reporting's report
on his trial in Croatia.
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24 November 2009
Recent changes in categorization rules have caused some problems for a number
of foreign owners of property in Croatia. Barry Napier tells us more in this
extra feature.
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13 November 2009
Despite negative predictions due to the
financial crisis, the Croatian tourism season has gone well - outdoing other
destinations. How did Croatia achieve it? We caught up with Croatia’s Minister
of Tourism, Damir Bajs, at the major World Travel Market event in London to find out.
Mr Bajs spoke to us about the strategy used and how success will be maintained for next year. We
also discussed tourist infrastructure privatisation and more.
Picture: Damir Bajs (left) at the WTM meeting with
Talib Rifali, General Secretary of the United Nations World Trade Organisation.
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28 October 2009
The major Croatian brewing firm Zagrebačka Pivovara, producers of the popular Ožujsko beer, is being taken over. Current owners Anheuser-Busch
InBev are selling its Central European operations to CVC Capital partners in a
deal worth up to approximately USD 3 billion. How will this impact the Croatian
brewer? CBR takes a quick look.
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20 October 2009
Can Croatia learn from the economic experience of Britain
under Margaret Thatcher? Robin Harris, one of her advisers, certainly thinks
so. On 16 October Mr Harris gave a presentation regarding the financial crisis to the Zagreb
Stock Exchange Conference which also explored how Croatia could benefit from economic policies pioneered by Lady Thatcher. CBR is delighted to bring his speech to you –
essential reading for all those considering how to improve Croatia’s economic future.
Robin Harris (pictured) is a former prime
ministerial adviser to Margaret Thatcher, the author of the acclaimed
'Dubrovnik – A History' and is consultant director of Politeia. For his services to culture he has been
awarded Croatia’s Order of the Morning Star.
CBR would like to thank Robin Harris for his kind permission
to publish his speech.
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15 October 2009
Croatia’s tourist sector is
of central importance to the Croatian economy, and indeed for many investors in
Croatia. Croats themselves will thus have a particular insight into the strengths and weakness of
their own industry. A survey by market research firm MindTake asked Croats
their views, effectively providing valuable insider knowledge for those
interested in Croatia’s tourist industry.
CBR looks at the responses – which whilst positive also contains a
warning for the industry.
Pictured - Sutivan, a popular holiday destination on the island of Brac
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21 September 2009
The blockade of Croatia’s EU negotiations by Slovenia has ended with an agreement between Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor
and her Slovene counterpart Borut Pahor, announced on 11 September. It has been
hailed as a breakthrough – but has run into criticism within Croatia. CBR looks at the situation.
Pictured: Jadranka Kosor and Borut Pahor. Photo courtesy of Vlada.hr
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15 September 2009
With Croatia in recession, the Croatian government has taken
tough economic measures. Much has
depended on this year’s tourist season – a severe drop in tourism this year
would be problematic for the economy and could spell the end of the governing
coalition. CBR takes a look at the situation.
Pictured - Pula
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3 September 2009
The island of Vis is often regarded as a beautiful island to visit, in
regards to the usual Croatian offerings such as sun, sea and food. Vis also has a militarily strategic position, and through the ages seen a
military presence, including a brief occupation by the British, some of
whose forts remain. Much less known is that during the communist period
the authorities constructed around 17 secret military complexes. They
were built by Yugoslav dictator Tito to withstand nuclear strikes and
keep out cruise missiles. Saddam Hussein hired the same builders to
construct his own such complexes.
CBR editor Brian Gallagher was shown around some of these facilities and considers
that the Vis authorities are perhaps missing an economic development
opportunity.
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27 August 2009
We briefly update the case of Milan Spanovic. Mr Spanovic has been the subject of an extradition process from the UK, due to his having been convicted of war crimes in Croatia.
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21 August 2009
CBR contributor, and frequent traveller to Croatia and other ex-communist states John Pindar, gives his view on Croatia and Hungary.
This summer I travelled to Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Hungary. Luckily for me, I had three weeks at my disposal. Croatia Business Report readers, of course, might appreciate some comments from me concerning where Croatia and Bosnia currently 'are'. But there is a different journalistic opportunity: making some observations about EU member Hungary compared with neighbouring current non-EU member Croatia.
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7 August 2009
How has the recession affected the views of the Croatian public towards their finances and the economy? CBR takes a look at a recent opinion survey.
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15 July 2009
“She (Jadranka Kosor)has the chance to become the Iron Lady of Croatia.”
“This misuse of EU membership by Slovenia is a scandal.”
"...Slovenia would never stand up against negotiations only on its own.
There must be somebody in the background, but I do not know who."
Bernd Posselt MEP is Bavarian Christian Social Union foreign affairs spokesman in the European Parliament and President of the Paneuroepan Movement in Germany. He is the group rapporteur on Croatia for the European People’s Party.
He has been outspoken about the recent resignation of Prime Minister Ivo Sanader. CBR asks him some questions on the resignation - and he gives us his considerable insight.
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13 July 2009
As many who do business with Croatia have found out, local politics are an important factor there. Top Australian Croatian columnist Slavica Habjanovic gives her personal view on the results of the recent local elections in Croatia, with a particular focus on Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandić and the newly elected independent mayor of Split, the businessman Željko Kerum.
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4 July 2009
In the wake of Prime Minister Ivo Sanader’s resignation as Prime Minister, Croatian President Stipe Mesic has given the mandate to form a government to Deputy Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor. Sanader had recommended Kosor for the role. CBR takes a look at Croatia’s new Prime Minister to be, and her chances of success in her new role.
Photo courtesy Vlada.hr
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2 July 2009
CBR gathers a comprehensive twenty points that cover this major political event:
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1 July 2009
In a shock move, Ivo Sanader has resigned. At a press conference this morning, he announced he was stepping down from politics altogether. He told the media that “My job has been done, my political life ends now.”
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12 June 2009
CBR’s criticism of the British Foreign and Commonwealth’s Office (FCO) warnings to travellers about crime and ‘terrorism’ in Croatia has been vindicated by the FCO’s revision of its travel advice to Croatia.
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10 June 2009
We talk to Dr Zlatan Frohlich, Dean of the International Graduate Business School (IGBS) Zagreb. It is one of Croatia’s leading business education institutions. Dr Frohlich is also a senior research fellow at Zagreb’s Institute of Economics as well as being President of the Zagreb Chamber of the Economy. We ask him about the development of business schools in Croatia, the establishment of IGBS, business education in the state sector, bureaucracy and corruption in Croatia and more.
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30 May 2009
CBR’s recent article ‘ What the BBC could tell Croatia about crime - in Britain’ has received coverage in the Croatian media as can be seen here (English) and here (Croatian). Further, another opinion has been raised similar to that of CBR’s – essentially that crime and corruption in Croatia is no worse than in much of the EU.
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20 May 2009
We provide updates on previous stories – The Operation Maestro
corruption case regarding the Croatian Privatisation Fund and the
extradition progress from the UK of Milan Spanovic, wanted in Croatia on war crimes charges.
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17 May 2009
The BBC and the British Foreign Office caused a furore in Croatia during April. The BBC broadcast a documentary and published an internet article alleging that Croatia is ‘cursed’ by crime and corruption. The Foreign Office published travel advice suggesting that travellers take care whilst going to Croatia. The BBC’s criticism could be more favourably directed at Britain itself – especially considering high crime levels and the unfortunate expenses scandal devastating Parliament. In light of what is currently going on in London CBR wonders again if Croatia is not corrupt enough for its critics?
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12 May 2009
We update topics covered previously: the Slovenia-Croatia dispute and Crime in Croatia
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16 April 2008
Why should Charles Tannock, a British member of the European Parliament, read this book? Why would the use of 'Serbo-Croat' for Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina,
Serbia and Montenegro when they join the European Union create practical difficulties for the EU? CBR's editor answers these questions in his review of 'A Historical Outline of Literary Croatian/The Glagolitic Heritage of Croatian Culture by Branko Franolic and Mateo Zagar'
Originally featured in issue 2 of Most/The Bridge, published by the Croatian Chaplaincy, London.
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13 April 2009
Croatia officially joined NATO on 1 April, fulfilling one of Croatia’s long held ambitions. Ever since independence, Croatia has sought to join NATO. There are two
reasons for this. Firstly, security. Given the realities of Serbian
aggression, the country had more reason to join than other countries.
Secondly, Croatia fulfils an ambition of being part of the West, rather
than the ‘Balkans’ – there is a powerful symbolism in this. Indeed, the political significance is arguably as important as that of the extra security membership brings. It
certainly gives Croatia a certain stature, increasing its confidence.
It's been a tricky road that Croatia has travelled to NATO - CBR takes a look at what it means for Croatia.
Photo courtesy Vlada.hr
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5 April 2009
Standard & Poor’s, the credit rating agency, has recently downgraded Croatia’s local currency sovereign currency rating, leading to negative comment in the media. CBR takes a closer look, with views from S&P analyst Ana Mates. Is the Standard & Poors’s view all bad news?
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1 April 2009
Croatia is not only a desirable destination for tourists. It’s an attractive place to hold conference, business seminars and so on. We talk to Marin Rinčić (pictured), the CEO of Rina Travel, one of Croatia’s leading destination management companies. We ask him about the events organisation sector in Croatia, and what it offers overseas business.
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