January the 18th, 2022 - Croatian biologist Martina Markov has decided to leave the safety of her job and enter into the often choppy waters of entrepreneurialism with her Green Stories project.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marta Duic writes, The Green Stories (Zelene price) written by Croatian biologist Martina Markov, PhD, are illustrated educational stories enriched with humorous elements, with their plots located in Croatia's beautiful national parks and nature parks.

These are all stories written with the desire to convey to the youngest readers among us the natural beauty of the nation's protected areas and rich cultural heritage. Finally, the project entitled "The Adventures of Marko the Seagull in the Parks of Croatia" followed, which was supported by the Croatian Tourist Board (CNTB/HTZ).

It all started for Croatian biologist Martina Makov way back in 2008, all because of an injured sea turtle who spent the Easter holidays at the home of Martina Markov on the island of Murter as it got its strength back.

Her son named the turtle Leonardo, which prompted this woman from Sibenik to become a writer and head her profession as a biologist down an educational path - Green Stories. Today, Markov's collection has a dozen picture books, whose heroes are all animal characters.

“It started out as an interesting hobby related to my profession, and became more serious when I decided to leave my safe job as a biologist at the Kornati National Park and throw myself into new challenges and become an entrepreneur. The company Eco Edu Media was founded in March 2021, and my publishing business began back in late 2019, within the family company Motonautika - Luke. The first six titles were published within that company. For now, I'm alone in the company, but I'm contracting the design and illustration, printing and other similar things.

For novice publishers, this tricky situation with the coronavirus pandemic requires a level of caution because there are many limitations, but I believe that the preconditions for hiring new employees will soon be created, so that I can relieve myself a little and focus more on my creative work,'' explained Croatian biologist Martina Markov.

Within The Adventures of Marko the Seagull in the parks of Croatia, a total of ten areas have been covered so far for young readers (children aged 7 to 10) - Telascica, Lake Vrana, Krka, Biokovo, Mljet, Lastovo, the Paklenica islands, Northern Velebit, Ucka and Brijuni. There are ten of them left for this age group, and it's now the turn of Risnjak, which has already been written and will be published by April, and then Plitvice Lakes, which will arrive at the end of June.

The Ministry of Science and Education has given consent for all of Markov's stories to be used within the education system, city/municipal libraries are slowly filling up with them, and Green Stories can now also be ordered through online.

In addition, Croatian biologist Martina Markov revealed, teachers and other educators already use them when working with children and consider them to be very educational. In addition to picture books, she has designed fun puzzles and memory cards with characters from her stories, and Green Stories already exists in English.

"Within the series, I'm also working on the picture story diary of Marko the seagull, which was prepared for older preschoolers and first-graders and which will be published at the end of January. My plans are to cover all of Croatia's ational parks and nature parks, and to adapt the contents to a wide range of age groups.

In addition to the educational aspect of Green Stories, I want to work on some accompanying educational games and other content that will increase the visibility of Marko the Seagull as an ambassador of Croatian parks and of the protection of nature in general,'' concluded Martina Markov.

For more, check out Made in Croatia.

ZAGREB, 17 Jan 2022 - Russia is absolutely sure that it would renew its strategic cooperation with the European Union sooner or later, and Croatia is playing an important role as a bridge between Moscow and Brussels, the former Russian ambassador to Croatia, Anvar Azimov, said on Monday.

Relations between Russia and Croatia prove that any country's membership of NATO and the EU is not an obstacle to improving relations, Azimov told Hina ahead of a meeting at the Russian-Croatian Friendship Association, which was also attended by Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Gordan Grlić Radman, at the end of his first meeting to Moscow.

We are very interested in improving our relations with EU members and we are absolutely sure that we will manage to renew our bilateral strategic cooperation with that alliance sooner or later because Russia and the EU are meant to be together, said the ambassador who left Zagreb in 2020 after five years.

In this regard, Croatia and some other European countries play an important role as a bridge between the EU and Russia, he underscored.

He said that the meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Gordan Grlić Radman was very open, friendly, and constructive and that the relations between Moscow and Zagreb were based on mutual trust and understanding of concerns.

We understand clearly that Croatia's foreign policy priorities are linked to Euro-Atlantic solidarity, but at the same time that is not an obstacle to Croatia's expansion of relations with countries like Russia, China, and India, Azimov said.

He said that Grlić Radman was one of the most successful European ministers, adding that he had cooperated with five Croatian foreign ministers, but that he had developed special relations with the current one.

I miss Croatia a lot, said Azimov.

For more, check out our dedicated politics section.

ZAGREB, 17 Jan 2022 - Finance Minister Zdravko Marić on Monday called on all stakeholders in the society, including media and major actors in the euro changeover in Croatia, to do their utmost to prevent anyone from using this process to "fish in troubled waters" and charge unfair and excessive prices.

Addressing a news conference at which he, together with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and Croatian National Bank (HNB) governor Boris Vujčić, outlined a draft act on the introduction of the euro as legal tender in Croatia, Marić underscored the obligation to display prices both in kuna and euro from 5 September through the whole of 2023.

The draft act also envisages some exemptions from this obligation when there are physical limits for such displays or excessive costs. Thus, stands in farmers' markets, newsstands, electronic displays at filling stations, or taximeters will be exempted from this obligation. Also, commodities with prices already printed on them will be sold until stocks last.

However, they are not exempted from issuing invoices and bills both in the kuna and the euro, Marić said.

The authorities today published guidelines for the adjustment of the enterprise sector during the process of switching to the euro.

The guidelines have been prepared by the coordinating committee for the adjustment of the economy and consumer protection, with the economy ministry at its helm.

Undue price rises forbidden

The document highlights the major principle that undue price rises in the euro changeover are forbidden.

Marić admitted that the whole matter had not been regulated by law and called on all actors to join in the fight against any undue price rises.

Fulfilling Maastricht criteria

The minister recalled that Croatia could enter the euro area on 1 January 2023, provided that it fulfilled the convergence criteria, and a final decision on the assessment of Croatia's performance is expected in July 2022.

One of the Maastricht criteria refers to sound and sustainable public finances, which includes trends in the public debt and deficit. Marić said that this was under control and that their reduction was being conducted at an adequate rate.

Also, concerning price stability as a criterion, the inflation rate cannot be more than 1.5 percentage points above the rate of the three best-performing member states.

Marić said that inflation trends should not undermine the entire process.

HNB Governor Vujčić also believes that the convergence criterion about price stability would be met.

The reference value for the inflation rate has never been under the average rate of inflation in the eurozone, Vujčić explained.

Prices of consumer goods and services in Croatia, as measured by the consumer price index, increased by 5.5% in December 2021 compared with December 2020, while in the whole of 2021 they rose by 2.6% year on year, the State Bureau of Statistics (DZS) said today.

Regardless of the acceleration of inflation in recent months, Marić said that Croatia's inflation rate was still rough around the average of the euro area or slightly below this average.

Last Thursday, Marić said that the government had revised its inflation growth projection for this year up to 3.5%, adding that VAT cuts were being considered as part of a set of measures aimed at buffering energy price hikes. Speaking to the press, Marić said then that the government was following developments with price hikes.

He said inflation accelerated in recent months and that its growth in December might exceed 5%, which would be visible at the start of this year.

That prompted the government to revise its projection to 3.5%, up from the 2.5% increase forecast earlier, he added.

The minister said that according to available data and expectations, higher inflation rates were expected in the first months of this year, "after which there should be a convergence to an average 3.5%."

Besides food, the main focus is on energy prices given the price trends of raw materials at the European level, he said, adding that the price of gas for households would be corrected as of 1 April.

He said the government would come up with a package or individual measures aimed at buffering the increase so that living standards were not affected in a major way.

For more, check out our dedicated politics section.

ZAGREB, 17 Jan 2022 - The main Zagreb Stock Exchange (ZSE) indices continued to rise on Monday, with the Crobex growing for the 17th consecutive day, and as many as five stock crossed the million kuna mark in turnover.

The Crobex increased by 0.75% to 2,187 points, reaching its highest level since March 2017, and the Crobex10 rose for the 6th consecutive day, by 0.89% to 1,331 points, reaching its highest level since 2009, when it was introduced.

Regular turnover was HRK 14.3 million, or HRK 3.6 million more than on Friday.

The highest turnover, of HRK 3.95 million, was generated by the stock of the HT telecommunications company. Its price went up by 0.27% to HRK 185.5 per share.

The Podravka food company stock turned over HRK 3.64 million, closing at HRK 706, up 2.32%.

The stock of the Turisthotel company generated a turnover of HRK 1.65 million. Its price remained unchanged at HRK 3,800 per share.

The preferred share of the Adris insurance and tourism group turned over HRK 1.17 million, closing at HRK 434, up 1.64%.

The Zagrebačka Banka stock also crossed the million kuna mark in turnover. Its price increased by 1.49% to HRK 68 per share.

A total of 44 stocks were traded today, with 19 of them recording price increases, 11 registering price decreases, and 14 remaining stable in price.

(€1 = HRK 7.521603)

For more, check out our dedicated business section.

ZAGREB, 17 Jan 2022 - The 39th edition of the Rijeka carnival started on Monday on the feast day of St Anthony the Abbot with the traditional ceremony of handing over the key to the city to carnival revelers, who even during the pandemic temporarily took over this seaport. 

At the formal ceremony, which due to the pandemic and epidemiological measures this year took place in the city administration building, present were Mayor Marko Filipović, director of the Rijeka Tourist Board, Petar Škarpa, the Carnival' longtime master Toni, his successor Sandi Pribanić and the Carnival Queen Dora Pilepić.

Director of the Rijeka Tourist Board, Petar Škarpa, recalled that the international and children's carnival parades were shifted to take place in Rijeka this summer because holding those central events of the Rijeka Carnival would now pose a health risk.

News about those carnival parades will be released as soon as their new dates are set, depending on the epidemiological situation.

Mayor Filipović thanked the master of the Carnival Toni for his invaluable contribution to the Rijeka Carnival, and he wished the new master luck.

Master Toni said that it was time for him to retire and that it was time for the Carnival revelers to choose his successor and their representative. Therefore, according to his decision, "the acting master of the Carnival" will be Sandi Pribanić of the Draške Maškare carnival group.

Also, master Toni decided that Dora Pilepić, who was selected last year, would again carry the title of the Rijeka Carnival Queen.

According to the city administration, carnival events will be held with a minimum number of participants and with adherence to COVID-19 protocols.

For more, check out our dedicated lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, 17 Jan 2022 - The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has awarded Marinko Pozder, convicted in absentia for war crimes committed in Škabrnja, a compensation of €4,000 for non-pecuniary damage and €2,000 for the costs of the proceedings due to the violation of his right to a fair trial, ECHR has reported.

ECHR notes that the court's decision is final.

Pozder was convicted in absentia in 1998 and sentenced to 20 years in prison for war crimes against civilians in the village of Škabrnja in the Zadar hinterland, after which he called for a retrial in 2012 which was rejected by the Supreme Court.

The ECHR determined that Pozder participated personally in the early stages of the investigation against him prior to being released from prison and exchanged as part of a prisoner exchange agreement.

Hence he had some knowledge about the proceedings against him, however, he was never subsequently called to trial nor did the Croatian authorities inform him that the proceedings were continuing against him, the court said and added that it could not conclude whether Pozder attempted to avoid the trial or whether he waived the right to appear before a domestic court.

For more, check out our dedicated politics section.

ZAGREB, 17 Jan 2022 - Croatia's EU entry was difficult because it was necessary to make up for the lost war years, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Monday, adding that some could not appreciate that today.

Speaking at the Zagreb Faculty of Law on the topic "Croatia's international position: from independence to new challenges and opportunities," he recalled Croatia's difficult path to the recognition of its independence during the Greater Serbia military aggression and later on to EU membership.

"Entering the Union was a process that was anything but simple... In the 90s, unlike other Central and Eastern European countries, we were left completely on the margin."

As we were dealing with occupied territories, refugees, and the war damage, he said, Central and Eastern European countries were becoming financial investment centers.

That fact, Plenković added, created a distance between those countries, which were making fast progress towards the Union, and Croatia, which was trying to catch up.

Trust between old and new Europe

He said the key element for EU enlargement was trust between "old" and "new" Europe. "The key element is trust between Europe's East and West. It isn't written anywhere, yet it's the key to everything."

Plenković recounted an exchange with a British diplomat who said, "You leaders of Eastern and Central Europe pretend you are ready, we in the West pretend we want you."

Croatia's EU accession in 2013 "was very demanding, very difficult. When I look at some political actors today, even the public, I almost have the impression that some people don't appreciate that," he said.

Plenković went on to say that the Schengen and euro areas were the only "deeper" structures Croatia should join and that decisions on that would be made soon.

"We are entering Schengen at a time when Schengen is not what we would like it to be, to freely cross borders... Today, because of three elements - the migration crisis, terrorism, and COVID - it's the opposite. Internal controls are everywhere and the goal is to protect the EU's external border, prevent terrorism, and put the pandemic under control so that we can go back to free movement as it used to be."

For more, check out our dedicated politics section.

ZAGREB, 17 Jan 2022- Croatian National Bank Governor Boris Vujčić said on Monday that inflation might be the most serious potential "cost" of introducing the euro, however, this year, that influence on the total inflation rate could be less than 10%, so he believes this isn't something to be overly bothered about.

Vujčić added that the rest of the inflation will be generated from entirely different sources, primarily the prices of energy. He expects that the first half of this year will see strong inflationary pressure whereas "deflating" is expected in the second half.

Vujčić said that the best prevention against prices increasing is competition, adding that state intervention is only justifiable where monopolies exist. In the months prior to and after introducing the euro, consumers have to avoid those who increase their prices and buy from those who don't, he said, believing that the best protection against price increases is showing prices in both kuna and euro.

With regard to losing monetary sovereignty once Croatia enters the euro area, Vujčić recalled that the central bank has been maintaining a fixed exchange rate since the 1990s.

Hence, it is not using it actively as a monetary policy instrument, considering that a 10 percent depreciation of the kuna against the euro, due to the high level of ''euro-zation'' of the economy and households, the debt for all sectors in Croatia would increase by more than HRK 50 billion whereas appreciation of the kuna would disrupt the Croatian economy's competitiveness, that is exports, said Vujčić.

He revealed that fairly reliable data indicate that citizens are holding as much as HRK 36 billion in cash. He called on citizens to deposit cash in banks which would facilitate conversion once Croatia enters the euro area.

(€1 = HRK 7.5)

For more, check out our dedicated politics section.