Every Plane Produced in Next 20 Years to Boast FACC Jakovlje Plant Parts
June the 21st, 2022 - Every plane produced over the next 20 years will boast FACC Jakovlje plant parts from the recently opened plant just outside of Zagreb.
As Poslovni Dnevnik/Darko Bicak writes, over the next 20 years, 40,000 new aircraft will be produced worldwide, and in each of them there will be parts from the new factory of the Austrian-Chinese aerospace industry Fischer Advanced Composite Components (FACC), which opened on Friday in Jakovlje near Zagreb.
As Robert Machtlinger, Director of the FACC Group, explained, this is an investment of 15 million euros that will significantly increase the importance of the FACC on the global market.
Representatives of 42 nations
"When we started 30 years ago as a small company in Austria with 35 enthusiasts who started developing composite materials, we dreamed of becoming what we are now - a corporation with 3,000 people in 13 countries and last year's revenue of half a billion euros.
We currently have 170 aeronautical experts in the FACC Jakovlje plant factory in Croatia, by the end of the year there will be 250 of them, and in the next three years, there will be more than 700. With this latest opening, we now have a total of 15 factories across the world where people from 42 nations work, which shows how much of a multicultural environment we cultivate, and we're one that operates globally,'' Machtlinger said.
He added that their customers are from all over the world, and most companies come from the EU, China, India, the USA and Canada. Before the coronavirus crisis, which hit the entire aviation industry sector extremely hard, the company reached 750 million euros in revenue, and Machtlinger announces that they don't intend to stop with this factory in Jakovlje, but continue to look at expanding their business and operations.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, who attended the ceremonial opening and launch of the FACC Jakovlje plant, pointed out that this is an example of what every investment in Croatia should look like.
“The first contacts with FACC were established back in 2017, and shortly thereafter, many institutions, public and private on all sides, made a number of decisions. We're now witnessing the successful finalisation of this 15m-euro project and the creation of 700 new jobs,'' Plenkovic said.
He added that, in a conversation with FACC's leaders, he learned that they considered the location for this new factory in places in about 10 countries in Central and Eastern Europe, mostly EU member states, but Ukraine and Serbia were also in the game.
"Their assessment that Croatia was the best candidate, both for security, connectivity, EU integration and a reliable and secure way forward, has now proved prophetic because we are on the threshold of the Eurozone and of Schengen,'' stated Prime Minister Plenkovic.
Great potential
The new Jakovlje FACC plant, as they pointed out from the company itself, was designed in close cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute. The goal, they say, was to build the factory according to the most modern aspects of industrial production.
The possibility of a modular upgrade of this new FACC Jakovlje plant, integrated into the existing structure, was a fundamental prerequisite in its interior design. During the official opening of the factory on Friday, the next step in its expansion was announced. In the second and third phases, the area of the factory will triple, and this project will start immediately.
The FACC pointed out that the space for the development of the aerospace industry is huge and has so far been used only partially. This is supported by the fact that currently there are almost eight billion people in the world, and by 2050 the global population will increase to 10 billion.
According to current estimates, as many as 80 percent of the world's population has never flown, so it's clear that this will change in the coming period and there will be high demand for aviation technology, especially in Southeast Asia where air passenger growth is already most pronounced.
For more, make sure to check out Made in Croatia.
Zadar Digital Nomad Week Diary: Sixth Day Recap
June 21, 2022 - In the final days of the first-ever Zadar Digital Nomad Week, the workshops and keynotes have not stopped, and the sixth day of the program is highlighted by familiar faces, insightful workshops, and an entertaining game that will put our teamwork to the test.
I think that nobody can deny that, after several very intense days of activities, the program needed a kind of relaxation. And no, that did not mean that the very interesting workshops and keynotes would stop. On the contrary, the sixth day brought with it memorable sessions with many lessons. The program of that day was carried out almost entirely in the old town of Zadar. The sixth day of the Zadar Digital Nomad Week carried the slogan of Nomads + Worklife, and to do it justice, it was necessary that the day's workshops and keynotes be led by authoritative voices already known in the country.
It's 9:00 am in Zadar, and one of Croatia's favorite digital nomads, Steve Tsentserensky, is speaking online about ''The Dark Art of Upwork''. Most of you might already know him, but for those who don't, Steve is a writer, video producer, and photographer who's created content for big and small brands with his company SBT Productions, and as a freelance writer. He's produced content for contestants on The Voice, adventure tourism companies, exchange-listed firms, and written for prominent outlets like CNBC and more while traveling. Despite it being almost 3 in the morning at his current location, Steve makes no secret of his enthusiasm to dig deeper into how to generate income anywhere in the world as a freelancer through the Upwork platform, and how to land your ideal jobs and clients.
Steve Tsentserensky
We headed to the next venue of the Zadar Digital Nomad Week, The Botanist, located on the west coast of Zadar's old town. It was Charlie Brown's turn to offer a great workshop on how to generate income as a writer through the Medium and Substack platforms. And I say great not only for a very valuable opportunity to listen to someone who continues to grow as a writer and on these platforms day after day but also because we were able to have an extensive Q&A session in which almost all attendees participated. A few days ago, the participants were sure they wanted to start their podcast as soon as possible, but now they were starting to lean more towards writing. That's how cool it was! Charlie gave a ton of advice on not only using Medium and Substack but also how to land the topics you can write about and progress faster.
Another great online session would follow, with another familiar face: Anna Maria Kochanska, the Chief Nomad at the Zadar Digital Nomad Week, shared her insights on the link between digital nomads and locals. Anna Maria is surely one of the digital nomads who has traveled the most places in the world, and she has been in contact with different cultures. How can a nomad authentically engage with its surroundings? In Anna Maria's own experience, it was better to distance herself from the rich people in hotels and yachts and get closer to people, both locals and other nomads, who could show her the destination she was at in its purest form.
Anna Maria Kochanska
After the online session, we headed to the Duke's palace, inside Zadar's old town, a renovated 16th-century palace, now hosting temporary exhibitions, music performances & events. It was the turn of perhaps one of the most particular, different, and entertaining activities in the Zadar Digital Nomad Week program. In the library, Tijs Berens from Skillup was waiting for us to participate in a virtual Escape Room. For those who are not familiar with the game, an Escape Room puts you in a place and situation where the main goal is clear: to escape. However, to do so requires skill, logic, and in this particular one, a lot of teamwork. The participants found themselves adrift in a spaceship, and in order to land safely, they needed to decipher the clues and resume communication with ground control. To achieve this, they had just 50 minutes. Despite the difficulties and even after thinking they couldn't figure it out, the team reestablished contact with ground control with 10 minutes to go. Success!
We continued with the virtual sessions and it was Kashlee Kucheran's turn to step forward! Kashlee, originally from Canada - is a dynamic speaker, and Travel Lifestyle Trendsetter. She lights up a destination if she drops its name. From Mexico, to Bali to Croatia (and most recently, Albania) Kashlee is with us today to discuss: The Rise of the Female Digital Nomad. According to Kashlee, what used to be a major man-dominated space is now changing. Partially because of more women entering tech and partially because the pandemic allowed many female-dominant jobs to go remote.
Kashlee Kucheran
To wrap up a great day in Zadar's old town, we now head to The Garden Lounge, where we are pleasantly surprised that some new digital nomads have dropped by to share a few drinks. For those who do not know, the Digital Nomad Association Croatia organizes monthly We{dn}esday events in different cities in Croatia, with the aim of creating an environment of sharing and networking between digital nomads who are currently in that location. Definitely an initiative that fitted perfectly at this point in the program.
For the latest news and features about digital nomads in Croatia, check out the dedicated TCN section.
A Foolproof Riva Brunch, Lunch, and Dinner Spot: Cool Off this Summer at Brasserie on 7
June 21, 2022 - It's the first day of summer, which can only mean one thing - we need to find the best places to cool off in Split. And one foolproof lunch spot that never disappoints? Riva favorite Brasserie on 7.
The summer solstice has hit Split as we celebrate the official start of a new season, though with the busy crowds in the city center since Easter weekend and temperatures hitting 30 degrees Celsius for what feels like months, summer never felt too far away this time around.
As we welcome back travelers from all parts of the world with tourism in full swing, we are reminded of the record 2019 season before the pandemic rattled our adventures. Our only issue now is finding a sanctuary in Split to kick back, cool off, and indulge - but Brasserie on 7 is perfect for just that.
While it may be situated on Split's most famous street, this Riva favorite continues to impress year after year, with standout menus crafted by French American Executive Chef Alexandre Ange. And this summer is no different.
We already know all about the meal that made Brasserie on 7 famous - brunch. But with eggs benedict, brioche french toast, and shakshuka on the menu, we're not surprised. Brasserie also ensures options for guests looking to stay healthy on holiday, with acai bowls, yogurt and homemade granola, and 100% fresh fruit juices to keep you glowing and going in the summer sun.
The lunch and dinner menu honors local produce and modern takes on Dalmatian classics to add a touch of flair to your fare. The decadent prawn tartare is dressed with wasabi mayo, red pepper coulis & toasted nori, while the tangy and refreshing endive & citrus salad cools your palate with grapefruit, orange, red onion, and radish.
Mirela Rus
The Seafood Risotto standouts with a scampi bisque, prawns, clams, squid & parmesan, and the Smoked Fish “Carbonara” uses Adriatic fish, cream & parmesan to up an all-time classic. Those wanting to stick to the more authentic side of Dalmatian cuisine can enjoy the clams 'buzara', market fish, or grilled octopus.
And for the meat-eaters in the group? The 45-Day Dry-Aged Rib-Eye is adorned with roasted cauliflower, capers, almonds & black truffle bearnaise, and the Duck Confit is plated with gingered potato, roasted peppers, arugula & honey-mustard vinaigrette.
Chef Alexandre Ange also designs a weekly menu in addition to the la carte lunch and dinner dining, which evolves depending on what’s in season and available. Don't forget to check in with the waitstaff to find out what’s on this week!
And we haven't even gotten to the desserts...
You can explore everything Brasserie on 7 offers on their official website.
For more, check out our dedicated lifestyle section.
First Marian Shrines Spiritual Heritage Congress Held in Sinj
June 21, 2022 - The Marian Shrines Spiritual Heritage Congress was held from Friday, June 17 to Sunday, June 19, at the Shrine of the Miraculous Lady of Sinj and in the historic Alkarski Dvori building.
In addition to the congress part and presentations, a tour of the city of Sinj was organized for all participants with tourist guide Ivan Vuleta, a concert by the Brodosplit City Choir, and a trip to Vrlika with a history lesson by Miroslav Katić near the Church of the Holy Salvation.
The organizer of this congress for tourism and preserving sacred heritage was the Sinj Tourist Board, with the support and cooperation of the Shrine of Our Lady of Sinj and the Christian Business Club from Zagreb.
Representatives of Croatian Marian shrines attended the congress, but also representatives of Marian shrines of the Croatian people from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. After the introductory prayer of the host, Fr. Ante Čova, guardian and manager of the Shrine of the Miraculous Lady of Sinj, there were welcoming speeches by Miro Bulj, Mayor of Sinj, Stipe Čogelja, Deputy Mayor of Split-Dalmatia County and Gordana Nakić, Minister of Science, Education, Culture and Sports of Hercegbosna County.
Speakers at the first congress: the host, Fr. Ante Čovo, guardian and manager of the Shrine of the Miraculous Lady of Sinj, Rev. Domagoj Matošević, Rector of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Bistrica, Fr. Krunoslav Kocijan, Guardian of the Shrine of Our Lady of Trsat, Monsignor Antun Sente Jr., Rector of the National Shrine of St. Josip in Karlovac, Rev. Ivan Ereiz, manager of the Shrine of Our Lady of Voćin - Voćin, Rev. Ivo Čorić, manager of the Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy from the Bay of Kotor (Montenegro), don Jerko Vuleta, - manager of the Shrine of Our Lady of Zečevo - Nin and Mario Matijević, who represented the Shrine of Our Lady of Otok from Solin. Fr. Gabrijel Jurišić from Croatia, editor of the Kačić Proceedings, spoke about the connection between Marian shrines and the work of the Croatian Mariological Institute. All concluded that they are not afraid for the future of Marian shrines because Our Lady's beauty and love are never forgotten, and her help and protection remain woven into the hearts of pilgrims. Thus, both during the Covid pandemic and the earthquake, many people, gladly and with great faith, came to these shrines and sought the intercession of the Heavenly Mother.
Zdravko Tuba, guardian and pastor of the Parish of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Molve and national spiritual assistant, stressed that the development of religious tourism within the sanctuary requires the necessary supporting infrastructure.
In addition to representatives and managers of Marian shrines, the congress was attended by representatives of tourist boards. Joško Stella, Director of the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board, Matea Dorčić, Head of the Split-Dalmatia County Tourism and Maritime Office, Rujana Bušić Srpak, Director of the Vukovar-Srijem County Tourist Board, Jelena Stupalo, director of TZG Solin, Marija Dejanović, director of TZG Nin and Morena Smoljan Makragić, director of TZG Vodnjan, who addressed the participants through presentations and roundtables. The following representatives of fraternities and pilgrims shared their experiences in organizing pilgrimages: Fr. Domagoj Runje, who organizes a monthly a walk along the Path to Our Lady of Sinj together with Fr. Božo Vulet, Krešimir and Jelena Čeko from the Marjan Vow for the Homeland and Marija Pražen from Putevi Sv. Jakova- Camino Croatia.
Miroslav Katić, director of the Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments, Ante Jurčević, director of the Split Archaeological Museum, and Lino Ursić, from the Office for Tourism and Maritime Affairs of the Split-Dalmatia County, spoke about the sacral heritage. There was also Rev. Fr. Tomislav Korov, from the Đakovo-Osijek Archdiocese, who received his doctorate on the topic "Model of strategic management of religious tourism destinations," and Rev. Anđelko Katanec, Commissioner for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Tourists of the Zagreb Archdiocese.
Stipe Božić, the famous alpinist, representative, and longtime member of the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service, especially emphasized the value of themed trails, such as how the Our Lady of Sinj trail connects different destinations.
The Congress was moderated by: Fr. Domagoj Runje, Rev. Anđelko Katanec, Ph.D. Branimir Romac, Monika Vrgoč and Krešimir Prevendar.
The Marian Shrine Spiritual Heritage Congress - Sinj 2022 was held under the auspices of Split-Dalmatia County, the Croatian Tourist Board, City of Sinj, Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board, Alkar Knights Society, Vrlika Tourist Board, Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments in Split, Municipalities of Dicmo, Municipalities of Hrvace, Municipalities of Otok, City of Vrlika and Hotel Alkar.
You can find the photo album HERE.
For more, check out our dedicated lifestyle section.
4-Weekly TAP Lisbon-Zagreb Flights Running in July, Only Direct Portugal-Croatia Line
June 21, 2022 - The latest flight news to Croatia as 4-weekly Lisbon-Zagreb flights will run in July as the only direct line connecting Portugal and Croatia.
Portuguese national airline TAP Portugal will operate between Lisbon and Zagreb in July four times a week, reports Croatian Aviation.
Lisbon and Zagreb will be connected by a direct TAP line four times a week in July, every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. In this year's summer flight schedule, the Portuguese airline restarted the line between the two cities, and Croatia Airlines operated on it until the pandemic outbreak.
In July, the peak summer season, a total of 5,300 seats are available on 19 return flights on the only direct line between Croatia and Portugal.
TAP will use several different aircraft types on this line in July, the 106-seat Embraer E190, the A319, A320, and A320NEO.
According to currently available data, the Portuguese airline will operate between Zagreb and Lisbon until the end of this year's summer flight schedule, i.e., on October 29 this year.
Unlike major European hubs, such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and London, Lisbon has no major operational problems, so flights are mostly scheduled according to plan.
Zagreb International Airport recently released monthly statistics for May, when a total of 265,317 passengers passed through this airport.
In the first five months of this year, Zagreb exceeded one million passengers (a total of 1,006,473), while in the whole of 2021, there were 1,404,478. Compared to the previous two years, the positive recovery continues, so that in May this year alone, more than 265 thousand passengers arrived and were dispatched.
Most passengers arrived in Zagreb on Croatia Airlines, Ryanair, KLM-Air France, and Lufthansa Group airlines, which account for the largest share of total traffic from the Croatian capital.
Compared to May 2019, there were 46,000 fewer passengers in Zagreb last month. However, the positive trend is expected to continue in the coming summer months.
For more on flights to Croatia and other travel announcements, make sure to check out our dedicated travel section.
Croatia to Boost its LNG Capacity from 2.9 to 6.1 Billion Cubic Metres
ZAGREB, 20 June 2022 - Croatia will expand the capacity of its LNG terminal off Krk Island from 2.9 billion to 6.1 billion cubic metres, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said in Riga on Monday while attending the Three Seas Initiative summit meeting.
The Three Seas Initiative, launched by Croatia and Poland, is an informal political platform of 12 countries located between the three seas -- Baltic, Adriatic and Black -- with the aim of boosting their energy, transport and infrastructure connectivity.
Addressing the meeting in the Latvian capital city, PM Plenković said that the increased capacity of the LNG terminal to 6.1 billion cubic metres was far above Croatia's needs.
This increase will enable Croatia to become a regional energy hub, which is also beneficial to our neighbouring countries: Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Hungary said Plenković.
The premier also commented on transport connectivity and highlighted the pan-European 5C corridor from Hungary via Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina reaching the southern Croatian seaport of Ploče.
The Three Seas Initiative was born out of a shared interest in developing transport, energy and digital infrastructure connections on the EU’s north-south axis.
The initiative was launched in 2015 at the proposal of the then Croatian president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and her Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda.
The very first summit meeting was held in Dubrovnik in 2016, while the initiative's investment fund now stands at €928 million.
According to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken who addressed the summit meeting via video, new American contributions will raise this amount above a billion euros.
Plenković said that the Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund (3SIIF) is the most logical way for making investments in energy, transport and digital projects in Croatia.
The contribution of Croatia's development bank (HBOR) in this fund stands at €20 million. Croatia is currently proposing 11 projects to be funded under the 3SIIF-financed schemes.
Apart from Plenković, several heads of state or government arrived in Riga for the two-day event.
The executives of several Croatian companies, including Končar, the Luka Rijeka port, and Plinacro, are also taking part in the business conferences in Riga today and tomorrow.
Tourists from the countries covered by the Three Seas Initiative account for 40% of guests visiting Croatia.
This group of countries is interesting for Croatia, and furthermore, they are also part of our Central European identity, said Plenković.
During his visit, he will hold several bilateral meetings, including a meeting with Latvian President Egils Levits and Google Vice-President Karan Bhatia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the Riga event via a video link.
The next summit meeting will take place in Romania.
These countries: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia make up the initiative.
For more, check out our politics section.
Number of Unaccompanied Children Migrants on Rise
ZAGREB, 20 June 2022 - Croatia's ombudsman for children, Helenca Pirnat Dragičević and the UNHCR said on Monday that there had been headway in the protection of children asylum seekers lately in the country, however there were more and more unaccompanied minors arriving in Croatia.
During a round table discussion, held on World Refugee Day, Pirnat Dragičević ad UNHCR representatives highlighted the adoption of the protocol on the treatment of unaccompanied children migrants in 2018 and the recent amendments to the Foster Parenthood Law as positive things.
They also praised Croatian hosts for their heartfelt reception of Ukrainian refugees, including unaccompanied minors.
However, they said in a joint press release that there is still room for improvement, which requires the attention of all stakeholders, and they are pushing for the full adjustment of Croatia's child protection system with international principles and standards.
They also called for boosting translation resources for Ukrainian school-age children.
In 2020, Croatia registered 942 children asylum seekers, and in 2021, this number increased by 25% to 1,181. The number of unaccompanied minors seeking asylum has increased by 5%.
For more, check out our politics section.
307th Sinjska Alka Preparations Begin!
June 20, 2022 - The 307th Sinjska Alka will be held on August 7, 2022 - and preparations on the grandstand have already begun!
Sinjska Ulica Alkarsko trkalište has been closed to all traffic since Monday as they assemble stands for the 307th Sinjska Alka, which will be held on August 7 under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Croatia, Zoran Milanović, reports Slobodna Dalmacija.
The installation of the 5,200-seat grandstand and the dirt track on which Alkars will gallop atop Alkar horses should be completed by July 15 at the latest. On that day, the arrival of Alkars at the racetrack is planned to practice hitting their Alkar targets as the last phase of preparations for this year's celebration.
As every year, due to the closure of Alka Racecourse, motor vehicle traffic is diverted to other city streets.
Mario Šušnjara will make his debut in the role of the Alkar duke at this year's Sinjska Alka. Vojvoda Šušnjara invited 36 candidates, including several trainees, to prepare for this year's event. On July 1, they will complete the first part of the preparations through which they practice riding and adapting to the horses.
The Duke will then make the first selection, so about 30 candidates will remain in the further course of preparations. The last selection will be at the beginning of the Alkar week, when Šušnjara, with the help of Ivica Filipović Grčić, will determine 17 Alkar men who will compete to win the 307th Sinjska Alka, the Duke's adjutant, flag bearers and five flag attendants. The Alkar boys, led for the 17th year in a row by Ivo Vukasović Parin, will begin preparations at the beginning of Alkar Week.
Preparations for the Alka, Bara, and Čoja will be supervised by the Honorary Court, which includes Boško Vladović, President and members Dr. Tomislav Župić and Mladen Pletikosić Micko. Their task is to insist on observing the Alka regulations and customs that have been passed down for centuries and which make the Sinjska Alka.
For more, check out our dedicated lifestyle section.
Ex-Officials Aladrović, Tolušić, Žunac Being Questioned by USKOK
ZAGREB, 20 June 2022 - A former minister Tomislav Tolusic of the Croatian Democratic Movement (HDZ) was questioned on Monday by the USKOK anti-corruption office as a suspect in an alleged case of corruption while another former minister Josip Aladrović of the HDZ party is due to give his deposition on Monday afternoon.
Tolušić was accompanied by his defence attorney Ilija Stanić.
Before Tolušić was questioned, a former state secretary in the Ministry for Regional Development Velimir Žunac was also questioned whose defence attorney Fran Olujić said that Žunac had said he did not feel guilty however, he refrained from answering any of the prosecutor's questions.
Aladrović's defence attorney Nikola Mandić confirmed earlier to Hina that his client is expected to be questioned today. Aladrović is charged with favouritism on two occasions concerning employment in 2018 and 2019 while he was the director of the Croatian Pension Insurance Fund (HZMO).
Without revealing their identity, the prosecution said that this was an extension of a previous investigation of former Minister of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets Darko Horvat (HDZ), who, along with his assistant Ana Mandac, is suspected of illegally inciting four co-suspects to award HRK 2.6 million in grants to enterprises he was personally interested in.
Horvat and Mandac along with Tolušić and Žunac, former deputy prime minister Boris Milošević and the head of the ministry's department for areas of special state concern, Karica Mišković, are all suspects in this case.
The extended investigation into Aladrović also implicates the Mayor of Županja Damir Juzbašić, a former member of the HDZ, turned Independent candidate on the Homeland Movement's slate.
For more, check out our politics section.
NGO: Croatian Policies Marked by Violence Towards Refugees
ZAGREB, 20 June 2022 - Croatia's refugee policies are full of violence and human rights violations, Sara Kekuš of the Centre for Peace Studies (CMS) nongovernmental organisation said on Monday, World Refugee Day, recalling the need to build a more open, solidary and inclusive society.
"World Refugee Day is a reminder that we can make this society more open, more solidary and more inclusive," Kekuš told a news conference outside the government and parliament buildings.
She noted that state policies towards refugees should be solidary but were currently not and were actually full of violence and violations of human rights, including those of children as the most vulnerable group.
Ahead of a free screening of the documentary "Shadow Game", to be staged by the CMS at Zagreb's Tuškanac cinema on Monday evening, Kekuš introduced the film's protagonists - Sajid Khan from Afghanistan and Jano from Syrian Kurdistan, who experienced pushbacks on Croatia's border as unaccompanied minors.
Please treat all people, including children, equally, said Khan, who at the age of 15 found himself in a situation in which he had to cross the green border, walk through the woods and climb mountains and encounter Croatian police.
The film's director, Eefje Blankevoort, said that it was time to stop and look at what was happening not only on Croatia's but also on Europe's borders.
She said that while making the movie she spoke to many refugees who had experienced violence and violent pushbacks on European and Croatian borders.
A boy in the film, Mustafa, was pushed back 50 times and tortured on the border. Croatian police officers, 14 of them, tortured him, broke his arm and used a taser on him, she said.
As part of events marking World Refugee Day, the CMS and the Stress and Trauma Rehabilitation Centre will hold a panel discussion on unaccompanied children in Croatia at the KIC venue in Zagreb's Preradovićeva Street at 5 pm Monday.
For more, check out our politics section.
