Politics

ZAGREB, 27 Feb 2022 - National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine president Anatoliy Zahorodniy on Sunday thanked Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts (HAZU) president Velimi Neidhardt for the solidarity and support expressed over Russia's aggression against Ukraine, HAZU said. "We are touched by your letter of support which condemns Russia's aggression against Ukraine," Zahorodniy said, adding that the Ukrainian academy "is deeply grateful for the support and solidarity." He said it was very important to them to know that the war against Ukraine started by Russia was eliciting an adequate response from the scientific community, and that the civilised world must stop the aggressor. "Your…

ZAGREB, 27 Feb 2022 - The Croatian Bus Hauliers Association said on Sunday it put its buses and manpower at the government's disposal for the transport of refugees from Ukraine. "We wish to contribute... because that's our responsibility, and it's also the only way in which refugees can be transported in an organised and effective way from the Ukrainian border to envisaged locations in Croatia," Dražen Divjak, director general of the Arriva bus company, said on the association's behalf. The association comprises big and small private hauliers with thousands of buses and more than 8,000 workers. "It's a system which has strategic…

ZAGREB, 27 Feb 2022 - A reception centre for Ukrainian refugees has been set up in a sports hall in Osijek which can provide temporary accommodation for 300 persons, local Civil Protection services said. The centre is intended for refugees arriving in the five Slavonia counties, Osijek-Baranja County deputy prefect Mato Lukić said on Sunday, adding that beds were set up in the sports hall and that meals will be provided today if necessary. He said talks were under way with hotels and motels in the Osijek area for the provision of more permanent accommodation. Lukić said one Ukrainian family arrived…

ZAGREB, 27 Feb 2022 - The Croatian Red Cross (HCK) said on Saturday it received the first Ukrainian refugees, with spokeswoman Katarina Zorić confirming they were five persons - a mother with two children and a married couple. Speaking to Hina, she said the mother and children were brought to the reception location by police, while the married couple arrived alone. "We expect more arrivals," Zorić said, although she could not confirm the location. According to unofficial reports, the refugees were received at Plitvice Motel near Zagreb. The HCK said the refugees were given humanitarian aid and that teams for…

ZAGREB, 26 Feb 2022 - Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on Saturday extended solidarity with and support to the people of Ukraine, saying that it is an independent and sovereign state. "Solidarity with and support to the Ukrainian people. Ukraine is an independent and sovereign state. Croatia is with you!" he said on Twitter, tagging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime minister Denys Shmyhal. Earlier today Plenković met with members of the government, Civil Protection and the Red Cross in order to raise the level of preparedness regarding the reception of refugees from Ukraine. For more on the Ukraine crisis and Croatia, as well as breaking news, follow…

February the 27th, 2022 - Croatian MEP Karlo Ressler (HDZ) has paid a visit to the ethnic Croats of neighbouring Montenegro, often referred to as the Boka Croats from the well known Boka Bay. As Morski writes, Croatian MEP Karlo Ressler recently paid a two-day working visit to neighbouring Montenegro in the south, more precisely to the towns of Kotor and Tivat at the invitation of the Croatian Citizens' Initiative (HGI), which this year marks its twentieth anniversary. Karlo Ressler met with the President of the Croatian Citizens' Initiative Adrijan Vuksanovic and the President of the Croatian National Council of Montenegro…

February 26, 2022 - The fighting continues in Ukraine, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made it clear that they will not lay down their arms. He also called for volunteers in Europe to join the defense of the country, and the first Croatian volunteers have reportedly arrived on Ukrainian soil. Fighting has been going on in Ukraine for three days since Russia invaded to "carry out the demilitarization and denazification" of the neighboring country. And while Ukrainian forces are fighting fiercely in several cities, Croats will soon join them. Today, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that they will not…

February 26, 2022 - Today Interior Minister Davor Božinović announced the beginning of the arrival of Ukrainian refugees in Croatia, following the Russian invasion of their country. The mayor of Zagreb, Tomislav Tomašević shared on his social networks that they will provide all the necessary assistance for them. Being the third day since the Russian invasion of Ukrainian territory began, neighboring countries begin to receive Ukrainian refugees at their borders. This is the case of Poland, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary, but also that of nearby countries such as Germany and the Czech Republic, all of whom, in addition to expressing…

ZAGREB, 26 Feb 2022 - Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Saturday thanked Croatia for its support to Kyiv and to sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Kuleba held a telephone conversation with Croatian Foreign and European Affairs Minister Gordan Grlić Radman. "Zagreb recalls the early 1990s when Ukraine helped Croatia through practical decisions during the Homeland War. Croatia is now reciprocating for our support. I thank Croatia for its support to the EU sanctions against the Russian invaders," the Ukrainian minister tweeted. On 11 December 1991, Ukraine recognised Croatia, being thus the first United Nations member state to do…

February the 26th, 2022 - Ten Croatian soldiers are being sent out as part of NATO's Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF), which the Republic of Croatia has said it has done as a responsible NATO country. As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, at a recently held session, the Croatian Government adopted the Draft Proposal of the Decision on the Declaration of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia within the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force from the NATO Response Force (NRF). At the session, Minister of Defense Mario Banozic noted that the Decision on the Establishment of a NATO…