Politics

ZAGREB, May 12, 2020 - Opposition parties in parliament on Tuesday criticised the 2020 budget revision, saying that it does not give any answers for the period after June when job-keeping measures will expire, and warned of a possible sudden increase in unemployment. "The revision is gauged for the period until June 15 and does not provide any answers as to what will happen after that. That is when the key measure to preserve jobs expires," said Branko Grčić (SDP), asking what would happen with the 500,000 jobs after June 15. "Where is the decision to extend that measure for…

ZAGREB, May 12, 2020 - The 33rd Croatian army contingent (HRVCON) was sent to Kosovo on Monday to join NATO's KFOR peace mission in Kosovo, Croatia's Defence Ministry said. The contingent was seen off by Commander Boris Panić, who underscored that Croatia has participated in the peace mission in Kosovo since 2009 with personnel and two helicopters. "The contingent is completely prepared to conduct its duty in the field of operation and I am certain that it will represent the Croatian Army and Croatia in this mission in a dignified manner," Panić said. The commander of the 33rd contingent, Colonel…

ZAGREB, May 12, 2020 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on Monday said that when the parliamentary majority adopts a decision on the parliamentary election, the State Electoral Commission (DIP) will make its decisions and consult with the Institute of Public Health on possible recommendations. "We in the parliamentary majority will agree on that when we assess that the epidemiological circumstances are appropriate, which I think they are, and after that we can make a decision about that in the parliament. In any case, it is in DIP's remit to organise the election and it will make its decisions on that.…

ZAGREB, May 11, 2020 - Homeland Movement leader Miroslav Škoro and representatives of the Croatian Sovereigntists party signed on Monday a coalition agreement on joint participation in the coming parliamentary election. Škoro told a press conference that after the agreement with the Bloc for Croatia his Homeland Movement had also reached an agreement with the Croatian Sovereigntists to run in the elections together. "We are extremely pleased. We still want talks to continue so that everyone seeking change in Croatia can join this political camp," Škoro told a press conference. "Croatia wants all of us to be together and finally…

ZAGREB, May 11, 2020 - A shipment of protective equipment arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday as a donation from Croatia and was received by Bosnia's Foreign Minister Bisera Turković and Croatia's Ambassador in Sarajevo Ivan Sabolić. The shipment consists of protective masks and glasses, visors, tents, sleeping bags, blankets and medicinal alcohol. Speaking to Hina, Ambassador Sabolić said that the shipment was confirmation of Croatia's readiness to help its neighbour in the current crisis too. He recalled that Croatia had previously helped health institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Mostar University Hospital, for example. Croatia is continually earmarking…

ZAGREB, May 11, 2020 - Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) leader Krešo Beljak said on Monday that the Restart Coalition had never been in negotiations with the MOST party and denied that he had offered cooperation, following an agreement with Social Democratic Party (SDP) chief Davor Bernardić, to the MOST Party. "The Restart Coalition (SDP, HSS, GLAS, HSU, SNAGA) has never been in negotiations with MOST nor did I say that I had offered them cooperation following an agreement with the president of the SDP," Beljak posted on Twitter. I will not comment further on various fabrications on this topic, since…

ZAGREB, May 11, 2020 - The Israeli Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Sunday condemned a plan to hold a memorial mass for the Bleiburg victims in Sarajevo, saying that it constituted a dangerous and destructive attempt to equate the victims and perpetrators of World War II Ustasha crimes. Attempts to depict all WWII victims in the same way are not only unfair but are also extremely dangerous and destructive for the process of reconciliation to which all nations should aspire, the embassy said in a statement. A clear distinction has to be made between the victims who without any…

ZAGREB, May 10, 2020 - Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have protested to North Macedonia following the publication of a commemorative postage stamp showing a map of WWII Croatia which included parts of present-day Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. North Macedonia has issued commemorative postage stamps as part of the "North Macedonia in the EU" series ahead of Europe Day, including one dedicated to Croatia as the current president of the Council of the European Union. The stamp shows a map of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH), the Nazi puppet state that existed during the Second World War. Serbia…

ZAGREB, May 10, 2020 - About 86 tonnes of protective medical equipment intended for the Croatian healthcare system and other services fighting the coronavirus epidemic was flown to Zagreb from Shanghai, China, on Sunday morning, the government said. It was the seventh, and for now last, shipment from China, delivered by an SF Airlines aircraft. Further supplies would be brought by land and sea. The latest shipment included 80 tonnes of disinfectant and face masks which the Croatian government bought from the Sinopharm company, as well as six tonnes of donations, including ventilators, face masks and visors provided by the…

ZAGREB, May 10, 2020 - Croatian Culture Minister Nina Obuljen Koržinek took part on Saturday on the occasion of Europe Day in an online seminar co-organised by Europa Nostra and Europeana which addressed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cultural heritage. Participants also discussed recovery prospects and the need for further action and defining policies at European level, the ministry said in a press release. Obuljen Koržinek said the crisis affected the cultural and creative sectors, including cultural heritage, especially strongly. Cultural heritage risk management has been one of the main topics of Croatia's presidency of the Council of…