Mesic Confirms Visiting Kovacevic's Club, Doesn't Remember When
ZAGREB, Sept 25, 2020 - Former President Stjepan Mesic on Friday confirmed that he had visited a club owned by former Janaf CEO Dragan Kovacevic, who has been arrested in the Janaf graft case, but he could not recall whether that was during the coronavirus lockdown, noting however that they kept their distance.
"I don't remember when I went to the club, perhaps it was in the midst of the coronavirus epidemic. However, if you keep your distance, everything is all right, and we did keep our distance," Mesic told reporters on Friday when asked whether it was contentious that he went to the club during the lockdown.
Mesic claimed that visitors did not have to leave their mobile phones at the entrance to the club.
"We spoke normally. I did not see incumbent President Zoran Milanovic there during the lockdown. I went at the invitation of my friend, Janaf CEO, but I cannot recall the details," said Mesic.
He added that he did not see what was contentious about him going to a "friendly encounter with the director of a large company."
Minister says he visited Kovacevic's club
Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure Oleg Butkovic, too, said that he had visited Kovacevic's club twice, in June and August.
"In any case, since other senior officials, from incumbent President Zoran Milanovic to former president Mesic, had been there, I was curious to see what sort of club that was," said Butkovic and added that it is quite modest.
"I didn't leave my mobile phone at the entrance. I never part with it," he added.
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Split Open Nearly Here, Croatian Tennis Representatives Include Gojo, Ajdukovic, and Serdarusic
September 25, 2020 - The ATP Challenger Split Open is nearly here! Qualifications begin on Saturday, September 26, in Firule, and two days later, on Monday, September 28, the main tournament will start, which will last until Sunday, October 4.
On this occasion, a press conference was held today at the Cornaro Hotel in Split, where the director of the tournament, Ismar Moralic, revealed the latest information regarding the list of registered players, but also the name of the famous guest who will visit the tournament:
"We are honored to announce that a Viktor Troicki is coming, Damir Dzumhur will train in Split over the next few days, and the absolute legend Mr. Pat Cash is coming in the coaching role. He was last in Split in 1985 and is really looking forward to returning. I think this is great news for the first edition of the tournament."
The even better news is that the stands will be open to fans. Admittedly, not at full capacity.
"We have received confirmation from the Croatian Institute of Public Health that the number will be limited to 20 percent of the stand's capacity. We wish it were more, but we are happy that people will still attend the matches. We will organize the tournament according to the strict measures of ATP and HZJZ," said Moralic.
The final list of players will be announced later in the day, and the draw for the main tournament is scheduled for Sunday. Some of the registered tennis players are still playing Roland Garros' qualifiers, so that the list will depend on that.
We are waiting for the negative test results of all tennis players, and only then can we publish the final list. The first player below the line is Tommy Robredo, the former fifth-best player in the world. That speaks enough about the quality of the registered players," says Moralic.
There will be 32 tennis players in the main tournament, 16 in the qualifiers, and 16 teams in the doubles competition. Three invitations for the main tournament were given to local players Borna Gojo and Duje Ajdukovic from Split and Nino Serdarusic from Zagreb. The coach of the Croatian Davis Cup national team, Vedran Martic, who spoke on behalf of the Croatian Tennis Association as a tournament partner, said:
"I am a child of Firule, and I am happy that the tournament is being held since many are in trouble and canceling them, that's what Moscow did. We don't have many tournaments in Croatia at the moment, so this is the right step for us, especially since we mostly only had Futures, which is a higher level. In the main event, all players are between 100th and 200th place in the ATP rankings. There will be good matches, and the audience will enjoy it. Let's hope the weather serves us."
Martic pointed out how much the invitations will help Croatian tennis players.
"Gojo and Serdarusic would otherwise have to play qualifiers for a tournament like this, and Ajdukovic would not. Gojo played the Challenger quarterfinals in Romania this week, Duje won Futures last week, Nino is also playing well."
In addition to the Croatian Tennis Federation, full support for the tournament was given by the "Tennis Club Split 1950" in terms of logistics and workforce. Its president Ivica Kekez believes that this Challenger can and must be the beginning of a much bigger story:
"Next year or in two years, depending on the ambitions of the City of Split and the tournament organizers, we can become an ATP tournament similar to Umag. There is no reason not to. We have the infrastructure that we will further upgrade and make a basic arrangement, we are beautifully positioned, and we have the predisposition to become a small Monte Carlo."
Director Moralic also revealed that tickets for the main tournament would cost 20 kuna. From the quarterfinal matches starting on Friday, October 2, their price will increase slightly until the final, costing 50 kuna.
"I believe that it is accessible to everyone, and it will guarantee quality tennis," added Moralic and thanked everyone who made the tournament possible, which was not an easy task in such corona conditions.
"We only received confirmation on August 1 that the season continues. In just seven weeks, we organized the tournament. Thanks to the City of Split, Split-Dalmatia County, the tourist boards of the City of Split and Split-Dalmatia County, TK Split 1950, the Public Institution Sports Facilities... It is no small thing to organize such a large international tournament in such a short time," concluded Moralic.
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Istria County Marks Its Day With Special Assembly Session
ZAGREB, Sept 25, 2020 - The Istria County Assembly held a special session in Pazin on Friday to mark Istria County Day, observed in memory of the historic decision of 1943 to join Istria with the parent country Croatia.
Assembly chair Valter Drandic said those days were crucial for Croatia's modern history, describing antifascism as "a beacon and lasting civilisational commitment of Istria residents."
President Zoran Milanovic, who attended the session, said that so far Istria had dealt with the fight against the coronavirus epidemic very successfully and reasonably, setting a good example to other counties.
Croatia to get back to 2019 level in two years' time
Milanovic noted that Croatia would start recovering from the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic but would need at least two years to get back to the level of 2019.
He said that the economic decline in Q2 had been significant, around 15%, and that the decline in Q3 would also be considered but that Croatians would simply have to accept it.
Speaking of the importance of the decisions of 77 years ago on the unification of Istria and Croatia, Milanovic said they were "a cry conveying the wishes and expectations of generations of Istria people."
"We very often ignore the fact that tens of thousands of Italians lived here in Istria and they did not see those changes as something good for them and left the country. Those facts should be repeated because they are true, they are consequences of a bloody and difficult war in which victories were won under the red star which today rightfully causes many dilemmas," said Milanovic.
Minister: Big investments for Istria's greater economic development
An envoy of the prime minister, Transport, Sea, and Infrastructure Minister Oleg Butkovic spoke about several major investments in Istria that will contribute to the county's further development.
In that context, he cited the European Commission's having approved amendment of the concession agreement with the Bina Istra company to include work on the construction of a second tube of the Ucka tunnel.
"The purpose of the many investments is to raise the level of economic activity in Istria as well as improve transport connectivity between Istria and the rest of the country," he said.
Acting county head Fabrizio Radin presented a letter of commendation to the county COVID-19 response team, pointing out that its work showed how "a decentralised country should function, delegating duties to lower levels of government."
Before the county assembly session, wreaths were laid at the central monument in the Park of the People's Uprising in Pazin.
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Doctors Call on Croatians to Get Vaccinated Against Flu
ZAGREB, Sept 25, 2020 - The directors, Krunoslav Capak of the Croatian Institute for Public Health (HZJZ), and Alemka Markotic of the Infectious Diseases Hospital on Friday appealed to citizens to get vaccinated for the flu, underlining that in combination with the coronavirus it could cause serious complications.
A flu vaccine is arriving in the second week of October and this year we have secured 700,000 doses, said Capak presenting a public health education campaign - #PREVENTION and not #COMPLICATIONS on the occasion of World Pharmacists Day marked September 25.
The flu vaccine is not mandatory and its price this year is HRK 95 for a flu shot, however, citizens considered to be at risk can be vaccinated free of charge.
Capak is convinced that there will be a huge interest in flu vaccinations this winter considering that the entire world is asking for "an extra dose."
He added that the vaccine is not 100% efficient however it protects from serious complications 100% and it would be good for as many people to be vaccinated as possible.
Risk groups included people over the age of 65 and people with chronic diseases: heart, kidney, diabetics, pulmonary obstructions, oncology patients, and those with transplants, and anyone whose immune system has been compromised.
All health personnel has access to free vaccination as well as all personnel in aged care facilities. Other citizens will be required to pay vaccination costs.
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You Think I'm Thrilled That My Ministers Went to the Club? PM Tells the Press
ZAGREB, Sept 25, 2020 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Friday that he was not pleased that three of his ministers had visited the club of former JANAF CEO Dragan Kovacevic during the lockdown when all bars were closed and citizens were advised to avoid large gatherings.
"I think the same as you do. You think I am thrilled? You should ask around a bit more about who was there and when. I don't know, but you look into it," Plenkovic said in response to questions from the press after a meeting of the parliamentary group of his Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party.
Asked if he considered it a problem that his ministers had gone to the club during the lockdown, he said that there were also some more senior officials who frequented the place.
"I asked all my ministers at the cabinet meeting and three of them said they had been there. They had also said this in public, which was the first time I heard about it. Why do you think that I as the prime minister should know where any of them has their lunch or dinner, who they socialise with. That's not realistic, it's beside the point," Plenkovic said.
He referred the press to the ministers Tomislav Coric, Oleg Butkovic and Josip Aladrovic to ask them to explain why they had gone there, noting that he did not know and that this was not something he should know.
He added that they should also ask the State Inspectorate why they had not checked the club. "As far as I could see in the media, they said they did not go there because that place is not registered as a catering establishment."
"What is very important in this whole story is the astonishment of the President and some of the former presidents who were quoted by some dailies yesterday as experts. That is a novelty to me and a much bigger thing than those who are astonished that the government, the State Attorney's Office, USKOK and police act in accordance with the law," the prime minister said, adding that at issue here was the separation of powers into three branches of government and compliance with the law. "That is crucial, of course, along with suspicions of corruption."
Asked to comment on the opposition's initiative to set up a parliamentary inquiry commission to look into the influence of the executive branch on the work of independent judicial institutions, Plenkovic said that he did not need an inquiry commission to understand "who is astonished by what." He said that as soon as the opposition decides on the exact scope of that commission, the HDZ and their coalition partners would consider the proposal.
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Blind Mountaineer Feruco Will Walk 1100 km Long Route!
September 25, 2020 - Blind mountaineer Feruco Lazaric (65) will walk an 1100 km long route of the Via Adriatica trail, accompanied by a friend and guide, reports 24sata.hr.
Blind mountaineer Feruco from Svetvincenat in Istria, set off on an adventure of a lifetime on Thursday morning. With his friend Sergio Ostović (65) and guide Zlatko Mihocek-Torpedo (61), he plans to walk about 1,100 kilometers on the Via Adriatica trail.
However, the guide will accompany them to Brela when the duo continues their journey with the mountaineering association Mosor from Split. It is a trail that stretches from Cape Kamenjak in Istria to Dubrovnik and Prevlaka.
"We left Prevlaka on Thursday, although it was planned to start hiking on Wednesday. However, due to the heavy rain, we started a day later. We plan to walk about 30 kilometers a day, but it all depends on the weather that day. I was preparing for this adventure for about two months. The weather is beautiful now, and even though I don't see anything around me, I can smell the sea, nature, and all my other senses working to their fullest. It's beautiful, and it's an indescribable feeling. There are no limits and no "I can't do it". I can do anything I want if I am persistent enough," Feruco said while walking the planned route.
He even sang to his friends with joy at one point, but in the end, he still needed to focus on breathing and losing as little energy as possible.
The excitement is great, all three admitted, and the boys, who, as they say, are in their best years, will do their best to complete the entire planned route in about fifty days. Guide Zlatko walked this route last year, so the guys know what will be waiting for them on the way.
"The night before we set off, we slept very little from excitement. However, the excitement has now passed, and we need to walk. On the first night of arrival, we slept in Mokosica and had a great rest. As we walk, each of us carries around 18 kilograms of equipment on our backs. There are tents, about three liters of water every day, food, a stove, a sleeping bag. Everything we need," Sergio explained.
Blind Feruco walks in such a way that one hand is placed on the guide's shoulder, and in the other, he holds a stick that helps him to walk the path. He embarked on this adventure thanks to his friend Sergio, and although he initially admitted it, he hesitated and decided that despite his blindness, he could walk almost 1,100 kilometers.
Feruco went blind about twenty years ago, and before that, he lived with high myopia, which eventually grew into ablation, retinal detachment.
"My blindness is a blessing to me in a way. I consider myself a happy person because, despite my blindness, I enjoy life to the fullest. People who see and move through the woods, for example, mostly look at people around them, how they are dressed, what they do... I listen to the sounds around me, the singing of birds, and the sound of leaves. It is an invaluable treasure, and other senses had to be discovered because of the sight I lost," Feruco explained.
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Losinj, Rovinj and Zadar Listed Among Top 50 Global Destinations
As Morski writes on the 25th of September, 2020, reputable professor and tourism expert Terry Stevens has included Zadar, Losinj and Rovinj in his new book "Wish you were here" among the top 50 global destinations. The new book from this famous "veteran" of the tourism industry which covers over 200 pages provides a unique insight into what makes a tourist destination excellent.
''The fact that the world-renowned tourism expert Terry Stevens has included as many as three Croatian destinations among the top 50 global destinations confirms the positive image that Croatia enjoys on the international tourism market, and is also a recognition to all valuable Croatian tourism workers,'' said Croatian Tourist Board Director Kristjan Stanicic, congratulating Zadar, Losinj and Rovinj for their placement on the list.
Based on 40 years of work in the tourism industry in over 55 countries, Professor Stevens' book explains how good destination management and professional and hospitable tourism workers are the most responsible for the success of a destination.
''We're proud of the new success of our destination, which is a wider entity - Zadar and Zadar County, as it is recognised globally. The author emphasises the area's turbulent history, but also fascination with the recovery of Zadar, which rose to its full glory. Old and new, Roman excavations and Basic's ingenious installations are of interest to many travellers and that's exactly what attracts them the most. In addition, the author notes that Zadar is still a place that preserves the authenticity and it showcases Croatia, and not just tourism,'' said the director of the Zadar County Tourist Board, Mihaela Kadija.
Professor Terry Stevens is the founder and CEO of the multi-award winning international travel consulting firm Stevens & Associates which is based in Wales. His company has worked in over 50 countries around the world specialising in destination development and marketing.
The director of the Rovinj Tourist Board, Odette Sapac, is especially pleased that Rovinj, as the leading Croatian destination, has been recognised in this foreign publication among the 50 best global destinations. Sapac pointed out that the author praised the positive direction of the development of Istrian tourism, at the same time presenting the long history of Istria and Rovinj, as well as their rich gastronomic and accommodation offers.
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Flights to Croatia: Air Serbia Maintains One Route to Croatia in October
September 25, 2020 - The latest news for flights to Croatia as Air Serbia maintains one route to Croatia in October.
Croatian Aviation reports that Serbian national airline Air Serbia has announced its flight schedule for October this year. Two lines will stop operating - to Dubrovnik and Split.
This summer, Air Serbia operated to Split, Dubrovnik, and Zagreb. Due to the impact of the pandemic, lines from Belgrade to Pula, Rijeka, and Zadar were canceled. Under normal circumstances, Air Serbia operated to Adriatic airports until the end of the summer flight schedule, but this year, that will not happen. Air Serbia will stop operating to Dubrovnik by the end of September, and the line to Split will be canceled at the beginning of October.
Air Serbia will land in Dubrovnik today for the last time this season. On the last flight, a B737-300 aircraft (capacity of 144 seats) was announced. Thus, Air Serbia will conclude operations on the Belgrade - Dubrovnik route for this summer season.
On the Belgrade - Split line, the last flight was announced for Sunday, October 4, and one flight is available before that date, on Friday, October 2. In last year's summer flight schedule, this line operated throughout October. Still, due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic or reduced demand, the company decided to cancel it earlier than planned.
The only Air Serbia route that remains in traffic in the winter flight schedule to Croatia is the line between Belgrade and Zagreb. Although there were 10 flights a week on this route, Air Serbia plans 3 flights per week in October this year, every Monday, Friday, and Sunday in the evening. ATR72 aircraft with a capacity of 70 seats have been announced on this route.
Air Serbia has very often canceled certain departures on flights to Croatia in this year's summer flight schedule, so it remains to be seen whether the three flights per week to Zagreb will take place according to current announcements.
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No Road Fatalities Recorded in Croatia on Day Without a Road Death
ZAGREB, Sept 25, 2020 - No road fatalities were recorded in Croatia on this year's Day Without a Road Death, which put Croatia among 16 member states of ROADPOL, the European roads policing network, which have successfully achieved the goal of this campaign, the Ministry of the Interior said in a statement on Friday.
"Stay alive and save lives!" was the slogan of this year's ROADPOL Safety Days campaign, conducted across Europe from 16 to 22 September. The purpose of the campaign was to reduce the number of road deaths and its focus was on the Day Without a Road Death, which was held on 17 September, the statement said.
As many as 16 countries achieved the set goal, recording no road fatalities on that day. Apart from Croatia, these were Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland and Portugal. However, 33 people were killed in road accidents in other member states.
Despite the current situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic, ROADPOL members managed to organise 336 events in 18 countries where police officers and public figures appealed to the public to observe traffic rules.
In Croatia, between 14 and 20 September, police stepped up checks for the unlawful use of mobile phones and other electronic device while driving, reporting 1,373 offences involving the use of mobile phones and 17 offences involving the use of other electronic devices.
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Croatia Confirms 223 New Coronavirus Cases, Five Deaths in Last 24 Hours
ZAGREB, Sept 25, 2020 - In the last 24 hours, 223 new coronavirus cases and five COVID-19-related deaths have been registered in Croatia, bringing the number of active cases to 1,226, the national COVID-19 response team said on Friday.
Among the active cases are 273 people receiving hospital treatment, of whom 22 are on ventilators.
In the last 24 hours, 5,414 tests have been carried out, 192 infected people have recovered, and 8,898 people are currently in self-isolation.
Since February 25, when the first case was confirmed in Croatia, 15,795 persons have been diagnosed with COVID-19, 266 have died and 14,303 have recovered.
A total of 284,449 people have been tested to date.
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