Politics

ZAGREB, 3 January, 2021 - Of the 19 cities and municipalities in Sisak-Moslavina County, Petrinja, Glina, Sisak and Lekenik suffered the biggest damage, and Donji Kukuzari, Sunja, Hrvatska Kostajnica, Majur, Dvor, Topusko, Gvozd and Marinska Ves sustained extensive damage in the 29 December quake. The county prefect Ivo Zinic explained on Sunday that so far, the damage was reported on 8,928 buildings and structures. Of them, 20% are buildings completely destroyed or out of use anymore. Also, a quarter of the inspected buildings will need additional checks, and 54% of buildings checked by experts received a green label, which means that they…

ZAGREB,3 January, 2021 - President Zoran Milanovic said on Sunday that the government should declare a state of catastrophic emergency due to the 29 December devastating earthquake that hit Petrinja and other areas of Sisak-Moslavina County. "I do not know why a state of catastrophic emergency has not yet been declared. Those are important matters legally," Milanovic said in an interview with the N1 commercial broadcaster on Sunday. Milanovic explained that the declaration of a state of catastrophic emergency was necessary so as to define the command chain and to know who would disburse the money needed for addressing the aftermath of the…

January 3, 2021 – Sisak-Moslavina County Prefect Ivo Zinic visited little Daris, the first-born child in Croatia this year, and his mother Nataša Safić, at the Sisak General Hospital "Dr. Ivo Pedišić". As Hina reports, Sisak-Moslavina County Prefect Ivo Žinić and Deputy Mayor Roman Rosavec visited on Saturday the first child born in Croatia, accompanied by hospital director Tomislav Dujmenović. They congratulated the young mother on her own, but also on behalf of Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. Along with the occasional gifts, Prefect Žinić stated that this was a joyful moment in the whole agony. "This symbolic birth in the…

ZAGREB, 2 January, 2021 - Health Minister Vili Beros said on Saturday the ministry's task was to reorganise healthcare in the wider area hit by Tuesday's devastating earthquake, adding that it was necessary to adjust to the new circumstances and transfer patients to hospitals in Zagreb to "receive the adequate assistance." Speaking to the press while visiting the Sisak General Hospital, which sustained extensive damage, Beros thanked its staff for receiving 32 patients and conducting over 90 checkups since the tremor. Petrinja hospital temporarily unusable The minister said "unfortunately... the building of the hospital in Petrinja is temporarily unusable and can't be…

ZAGREB, 2 January, 2021 - The mayor of Petrinja, Darinko Dumbovic, said on Saturday that Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic had reassured him that there would be more money earmarked for this city which sustained extensive damage in the 29 December quake. Dumbovic's latest statement ensued after he earlier said that he would not take the allocation for Petrinja in the amount of 30 million kuna, claiming that that relief was being distributed along party lines. "We are human beings, we are not a stone. We must also react emotionally," Dumbovic, an official of the Reformists party, said adding that he had talked with Prime Minister Plenkovic…

ZAGREB, 2 January, 2021- Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic Radman on Saturday thanked the international community and Croatian emigrants for swiftly sending relief to those affected by a 6.2 earthquake in Sisak-Moslavina County, saying the government would not forget anyone affected. Visiting the area struck on Tuesday, he told press in Lekenik the government was "pleasantly surprised" by the swift response of the international community and Croatian emigrants. The government immediately requested the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, and more than half the member states responded in 24 hours, ready to help, said Grlic Radman. Austria sent containers, Greece…

ZAGREB, Dec 31, 2020 - The Agriculture Ministry has been coordinating activities with the relevant services in the areas hit by Tuesday's 6.2 magnitude quake in Sisak-Moslavina County to secure help in providing shelter for domestic animals and buying and distributing animal feed. The ministry noted that family houses and barns in the areas of Glina and Petrinja had suffered extensive damage and that the collection of information on the damage was continuing. Thirteen carcasses were removed on Wednesday, the ministry said, noting that if necessary, transport and accommodation would be secured to cater to 1,400 heads of cattle on farms in…

ZAGREB, Dec 31, 2020 - Deputy Prime Minister Boris Milosevic from the ranks of the Independent Democratic Serb Party on Thursday said that the first thing to be done is to secure containers and tents for temporary accommodation, for reconstruction to commence immediately and that those affected by the earthquake are relieved of paying contributions. "The first task is to ensure containers, tents and temporary accommodation and then to quickly start with reconstruction," said Milosevic, who arrived in Petrinja and visited the town and houses affected by Tuesday's earthquake. He said that account would be taken so that citizens affected by the earthquake…

ZAGREB, Dec 31, 2020 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Thursday he was looking at 2021 with hope and optimism, saying the discovery of the COVID-19 vaccine should make it unlike 2020 and that he expected Croatia's economy to grow 5% in 2021. Speaking to the press, Plenkovic said there was "a global consensus and everyone is crying out for a year like 2020 never to happen again." He cited German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who said 2020 was the most difficult year in her 15 years in office. "Then we, who also had an earthquake, can say that it wasn't the simplest for us either,"…

ZAGREB, Dec 31, 2020 - Croatia's national council for the adoption of the euro as legal tender held it eighth meeting on Thursday, appointing a steering committee for the implementation of the national plan to replace the kuna with the euro. The prime minister's adviser Zvonimir Savic was appointed chief coordinator of the steering committee, which will also include Stipe Zupan, State Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, and Michael Fauland of the Croatian National Bank (HNB). Six coordinating committees were also appointed, namely the Committee on cash exchange, the committee on legislative adjustment, the committee on the adjustment of general…