February 22, 2020 - Croatian chefs again showed great quality and successfully promoted Croatia at the Culinary Olympics in Stuttgart. 

Great news arrives from the recently held Culinary Olympics, where the Croatian culinary team was presented for the fourth time, reports HRTurizam.

The Culinary Olympics is the largest and most prestigious culinary competition in the world, where over thirty Croatian chefs and confectioners in different competitive categories competed this year.

Croatian representatives once again shone among the crowd of competitors, which included more than 2,500 from over seventy countries around the world. Croatia proudly returns home with two team and six individual bronze medals, and four individual silver medals, and their work was followed by over 100,000 visitors who, in addition to culinary competitions, had the opportunity to visit the related gastro fair, which took place in parallel in 10 pavilions.

Croatia participated in two of the most prestigious categories of the competition: "Restaurant of the Nations,” where they won a bronze medal by preparing a 3-course menu in 6 hours for 110 people and "Chefs table" where they prepared 7-course meals for 12 people in 5 hours.

Ivan Djukic won the silver medal in the individual category "Culinary Arts - Classical Thai style carving", while Dražen Šafar won the diploma in the same category. Ivan Djukic also won the bronze medal in the category "Culinary Arts - Carving Live".

The current state champion in confectionery, Sandra Jadek, was brilliant in the individual confectionery category and brought home a silver medal. The Varazdin County Regional Team presented their knowledge and skills in a cold table set consisting of finger food, cold plates, three entrees, a 5-course festive menu, four different desserts, and petit fours and won a bronze medal.

Dinko Tomašić, the young hope of Croatian cuisine, won the silver medal in the individual culinary category. In the same category, Lovro Stancin, the youngest Croatian representative, Antonio Bukvić and Tomislav Sabolić, won the bronze. Antonio and Tomislav were also awarded the bronze in the culinary artist category, where Erich Glavica won the silver. The Chef.hr team was presented in the catering category and received a diploma for its performance.

Over the past year, Croatian contestants have worked tirelessly to present Croatian gastronomy on this large culinary stage.

They made a special effort to emphasize indigenous Croatian foods and successfully promoted Croatia as a gastronomic destination in the country's main tourist market and sent the best invitation to potential tourists.

“The Culinary Olympics, just like the one in sports, is held every four years and requires great renunciation, long and arduous preparation, and each member has given its best to present themselves and Croatia in the best possible light. It was not easy, but it was worth it, because Croatian chefs and pastry chefs brought home new knowledge and skills and a wealth of unforgettable memories in addition to winning medals. They have connected with the best chefs in the world and are motivated to continue working in the profession. They will also apply the newly acquired knowledge in their facilities and pass on to colleagues through various workshops of the Croatian Culinary Academy, thus raising the quality of the catering offer and facilities in Croatia,” the Croatian Chefs Association said.

Norway was named the best and is the new Olympic winner in the National Teams category, while Sweden had the best junior team.

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.

February 21, 2020 - The Croatia basketball team opened its qualifications for EuroBasket with a win against Sweden the Drazen Petrovic Basketball Hall in Zagreb.

Gol.hr reports that the Croatia men's basketball team defeated Sweden 72:56 (18: 6, 23:14, 17:25, 14:11) in the first round of the Group D qualifiers for EuroBasket 2021. EuroBasket 2021 will be held in Georgia, the Czech Republic, Italy and Germany.

Mateo Dreznjak scored 16 points and was the top scorer for Croatia, while Tobias Borg scored 11 points for Sweden.

Croatia nearly resolved the game in the first 15 minutes when they gained a significant advantage of +25 (31: 6). During the first 10 minutes, Sweden scored only six points against a motivated Croatian defense, scoring only one of 16 shots in play 1:17 minutes before the buzzer.

In the second quarter, a series of misses and lost balls continued for Sweden, which Croatia used to get up to +25 again.

Up until the middle of the third quarter, Croatia's game was flawless, though they got a bit too comfortable and allowed Sweden to reduce their deficit. With a series of shots from a distance, they ended the third quarter with 12 consecutive points, and the game was 58:45.

However, there was no unnecessary drama in the last 10 minutes and Croatia book a critical win. 

In the second match of this group, the Netherlands surprisingly defeated Turkey 72:65 in Ankara (18:17, 23:21, 13:16, 18:11).

The Netherlands is Croatia's next rival on Monday in Almere.

The three first-place teams will qualify for the EuroBasket.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.

After two days of relentless press coverage, Croatia diva Josipa Lisac has gone into seclusion after releasing a statement that she would no longer comment on her unforgettable interpretation of “Lijepa nasa domovina”, the Croatian national anthem at the inauguration of Zoran Milanović.

She also declined to comment on the recent criminal charges filed against her for allegedly violating the reputation of Croatia through her interpretation of the national anthem. While the inauguration of Croatia’s fifth president has been nearly forgotten, Lisac’s otherworldly interpretation of the hymn has taken on a life of its own.

Croatia Diva’s Male Admirers Post Impersonation Videos

Some of Josipa Lisac’s male admirers, seeing an opportunity, are emerging with interpretations of the icon’s performance, which they are posting on social media.

Lisac Releases Statement Through Union and Record Company

Here is a translation of the Josipa Lisac’s statement, released by the HGU (Croatia Musician’s Union) and Croatia Records, which appeared today on her Instagram and Facebook accounts:

“By this statement, we are appealing to all media and debate participants on social networks, who have been relentlessly discussing the national anthem and the performance of the celebrated music giant, Ms. Josipa Lisac, for two days now. Unfortunately, this is a complete disregard for the artistic freedom and creation of a musician whose style is adored by every generation and seen as one of the greatest legends of our domestic music scene. It is clear to every well-intentioned person that this is not a matter of insulting the national anthem. Ms. Josipa Lisac’s style and way of interpreting (music) is widely known, and this situation is further proof that we live in a society where basic human and cultural values ​​are on shaky ground, as is our manner of communication.

Lisac: No Comment on Inauguration Performance Reactions

At the request of Ms. Josip Lisac, we would like to inform you that she will no longer comment on reactions to her performance of the Republic of Croatia's national anthem at the inauguration of President Zoran Milanović.

Nor will she comment on criminal charges or any similar forthcoming reactions from individuals, associations or institutions, regardless of the medium in question. The past couple of days have been extremely demanding on her, so please keep her privacy in mind, especially since she has always cooperated with the media. She appreciates the support and the fact that the media have conveyed to everyone a real picture of the current state of our society through their reporting.

Award Winning Musician Will Receive Porin Lifetime Achievement

Josipa Lisac, recently turned seventy years of age, and in her 53 years in the industry, has recorded many exceptional pieces of music, for which she is still revered at her numerous concerts. She is also one of the most award-winning musicians of all time and has won as many as twenty-two Porins for her achievements along with her associates. This year at the Porin ceremony in Rijeka on March 27; the Board of Directors will award her a Porin for her lifetime achievement.

Josipa Lisac is a truly unique figure on the Croatian music scene, and a musician worthy of respect and admiration.

"It's all music, and music it is, or it is not."

Josipa Lisac

Statement signed by Želimir Babogredac, Director of Croatia Records and Nikša Bratoš, President of HGU.

Follow updates on reactions to Josipa Lisac’s unforgettable performance and the pending criminal charges against her here.

February 20, 2020 - Croatia will open its first game of the Olympic Qualifying Basketball Tournament in Split against Brazil, and play its second game a day later against Tunisia.

FIBA has announced the schedule and times for the final basketball qualifiers for the Olympic Games, which will be played in Croatia, Canada, Lithuania and Serbia from June 23 to 28. 

Croatia will thus play its first game in Group B on June 24 at 8 pm against Brazil, and the second game on June 25 against Tunisia at 8 pm. Germany, Russia and Mexico will play in Group a. If Croatia makes it to the semifinals, they will play against the national teams in Group A on the weekend of June 27.

The qualifiers are played in four different tournaments, each with six participants, and only the winners of the tournament will qualify for the Olympics. Argentina, Australia, France, Iran, Nigeria, Spain, the United States and Japan have already qualified for the 2020 Olympics.

In addition to Split, other cities hosting the qualifying tournament are Belgrade, Kaunas and Victoria. A total of 24 nations will compete in the tournaments, with only tournament winners going to the Olympics.

"The tournament in Split is one big event and promotion not only for basketball but for the whole of Croatia. We hope for a good atmosphere and once again thank the Government of the Republic of Croatia, the City of Split and Split-Dalmatia County. We hope that the team will be complete and that everyone will be healthy and we can look forward to the Olympic Games. We are about to begin qualifying for the European Championships that await us in 2021. On Friday, we play against Sweden, after which we play with the Netherlands. These two games are extremely important for us. After that, we expect the HT Premier League championship finals, and then we are preparing for this tournament.”

All fans looking to cheer on Croatia in Split can purchase tickets from February 26 through system.hr.

“The Split tournament is, in my opinion, the most important event in Croatian sport in 2020, and the importance and weight are in the opponents, system and organization. FIBA has risen to a higher level of quality since EuroBasket in 2015. We recognized this tournament as a top event that has the opportunity to be played in Croatia. I want to take this opportunity to thank the Prime Minister and the Government of the Republic of Croatia for recognizing this. What awaits us in Split is the ultimate spectacle for all sports fans, especially basketball. Until the tournament, we will work on the animation and promotion of basketball and take this opportunity to raise basketball to another level,” said the Secretary-General of the Croatian Basketball Federation, Josip Vranković.

Qualifying for the Olympic Games and representing their country is a dream of all athletes, which guarantees that exciting basketball awaits us in Split. The Croatia national team will have a slight advantage as they will have support from the Split stands.

‘’I hope we can show a good game in front of our home crowd on Friday and win. We expect that the Drazen Petrovic hall will be packed to the last place and that together with our fans, we will have a positive atmosphere before this last Euro qualifier against the Netherlands and before the Olympic tournament in Split in June.

When we finish these games, we will start preparing for the Split tournament, talk to all the players to get ready for the summer,” said Croatian basketball team coach Veljko Mrsic.

The Tokyo Olympics will be held from July 24 to August 9. The Croatia basketball team has qualified for the Olympic Games four times, with the highest success being the silver medal in 1992. At the last Rio Olympics, Croatia took 5th place. The tournament in Split is an opportunity for all basketball lovers and fans to accompany their national teams on the road to the Olympics, but also to enjoy top-notch basketball. In addition to Split, other host cities are Belgrade, Kaunas and Victoria. A total of 24 teams will compete in the tournaments, with only the tournament winners going to the Olympics.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

Attorney Boško Županović has submitted a criminal complaint against Croatian diva Josipa Lisac for performing and intoning the national anthem of Croatia in a derogatory way during the inauguration of President Zoran Milanovic on February 18, 2020.

Criminal Complaint Filed at Zagreb State Attorney’s Office

Yesterday Županović submitted his complaint against the beloved diva and gay icon to the Criminal Division of the Zagreb County State's Attorney's Office for the criminal offense referred to in Article 349 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to the reputation of Croatia.

His criminal complaint against Josipa Lisac is translated below in its entirety:

Pursuant to Article 204, Page 1 of the Criminal Procedure Code, I submit a:

Criminal Complaint

Against: Josipa Lisac from Zagreb, born 02/14/1950, residing in Zagreb.

It is requested that the suspect's other personal information be accessed through research within the operational records of Croatia MUP.

For: Committing a criminal offense referred to in Article 349 of the Criminal Code.

On the date of February 18, 2020; during the inauguration of the President of the Republic of Croatia, she (Josipa Lisac) publicly performed and intoned the national anthem of the Republic of Croatia, in a mocking and derogatory manner, thereby fulfilling all the essential components of the criminal section pertaining to the violation of the reputation of the Republic of Croatia, which is described in more detail in Article 349 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Croatia.

Explanation

In performing her intonation of the national anthem, the suspect used mocking articulations and tonalities which, despite her peculiar musical oeuvre and expression, were not socially acceptable. And as a person whose native language is Croatian, she had to know that this form of intonation in the Croatian language and culture is always used in forms of public mockery or disparaging imitation of someone’s statement, recitation or musical or compositional expression.

I believe that no citizen, whether it is a music artist or anyone else, has the right, tonally, vocally, or through gestures; to manifestly diminish the gravity, seriousness and significance of the intonation of the national anthem or the textual and musical structure of the national anthem. I maintain that any artistic penetration into the composition, text and musical structure of the national anthem is prohibited. Such a modification or personalization may be tolerated for other musical expressions, with the consent of the author but not with national anthems. The way in which the suspect did so during her intonation is absolutely mocking and disparaging. Therefore, I believe that the suspicion of the alleged criminal offense arose from the same.

In terms of evidence, I propose a recording of the public intonation of the national anthem, which was performed in the office of the President of the Republic of Croatia, during the inauguration of the President on February 18, 2020.

For the above, I propose that you conduct the necessary inquiries against the indicted suspect in the indictment.

In Opatija, February 19, 2020

Boško Županović, Magister Juris

Županović Complaint Based on Opinion, Not Musical Background

Županović told Dragan Miljaš/Dalmatinski portal on February 19, 2020 that he is a law graduate and that does not have any specific musical background by which to evaluate Josipa Lisac’s performance from a professional standpoint.

“This is my opinion. Her performance was disgusting and disdainful. Our national anthem is particularly beautiful and patriotic and sends a wonderful and clear message. No one should be allowed to manipulate our national anthem. I have nothing against Josipa Lisac or against Zoran Milanović for that matter. Let him be President to all citizens, as he announced, and let her continue her singing, which will surely continue to garner varied reactions. However, I do not believe that anyone should intone and perform the national anthem of my country in that manner."

Croatia Attorney Expected Josipa Lisac to 'Howl'

"This is especially important since it happened at a public event, the inauguration of the President of Croatia, which was covered extensively by the media. I expected her to howl, but something like this…it was a form of ridicule in the worst possible way. I was deeply ashamed of being Croatian yesterday,” Županović insisted. He revealed that he does not expect anything to come of his complaint.

"This (complaint) will likely go to some music experts, and a crow doesn’t dig out its own eyes, so I don’t believe that anyone would dare say anything against her," Županović added.

Article 349 of the Criminal Code states that anyone who publicly scoffs, despises or grossly belittles the Republic of Croatia, its flag, coat of arms or anthem will be punished by imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year.

Županović Not Seeking Media Attention, Faced Criminal Charges

"Look, I’m not seeking media attention. I did it as a lawyer and a proud citizen. I think it is just plain mockery and is not fitting of any event, let alone the inauguration of an elected Croatian president. I used my own time to write this application because I consider it to be my civic duty. I sent this criminal complaint to the institutions in charge, so they can do their job," Županović elaborated in a separate interview with Davor Tomšić/Index on February 19, 2020.

Index also reviewed Boško Županović’s background and discovered that he has faced criminal charges of his own.

In 2016, he sued an activist in Rijeka, who accused him of collecting 66 criminal charges by the age of 25. In 2009, Županović was tried for two frauds and payment of counterfeit money.

"I wouldn’t be indulging in this kind of speculation if I were you. I am not a convicted person. You know what criminal charges are. I have filed charges against Josipa Lisac so we will see. I am a non-convicted person, and these are just insinuations," he pointed out to Index.

Županović’s name is mentioned in association with ten companies, five of which are active. He claims to own the portal Liburnija.

"I have been in the real estate investment business for two decades. For the past two years I have been the sports director of a club in Koper, Slovenia,” he added.

Boško Županović and Friends | Facebook

Pictures with Brothers Mamić and Grabar-Kitarović

According to his Facebook profile, Županović doesn't always run in the company of law-abiding citizens either. He has welcomed pictures with Croatian justice fugitive Zdravko Mamić, his brother Zoran, and former Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović.

Diva Lisac After Performance: "I had to get up early. Normally, I sleep until 11:00!"

Lisac's performance gets mixed reviews from Croatian citizens.

Follow our Politics page for updates on Županović’s criminal complaint against the Croatian diva Josipa Lisac.

February 19, 2020 - After a five-month break, Emirates and Korean Air will resume their seasonal services to Croatia next month. 

Namely, Ex Yu Aviation reports that Emirates will once again fly to Zagreb on March 29, on the route that has been operated by Flydubai for the winter. Ex Yu Aviation adds that the Zagreb service was the first time these two airlines shared a single route. 

"Zagreb is an example of how much our cooperation with Flydubai managed to improve our results. We served the route in winter with our Boeing 777 aircraft. However, it emerged that this route is not as strong in winter, so now we can still continue serving Zagreb well through Flydubai,” said Emirates’ Area Manager, Martin Gross. 

“Zagreb is corresponding with our development in Europe. We have wide coverage in Europe, and we understood that Croatia has big potential for two reasons. First, it is a destination that is really interesting for travel from Asia, Australia, China and Taiwan. Therefore, there is a lot of incoming traffic to Zagreb and the entire country in general. From Croatia it is a way to offer the local population a link to our Dubai hub. There is a lot of demand from Croatia to the world. This is primarily to Dubai but also beyond, for example, to destinations in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia, such as Phuket in Thailand”, Emirates said about the future of the Dubai - Zagreb service.

We will also see the return of Korean Air to Zagreb from March 31. The airline will increase capacity on this route this year and use the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which has capacity for 269 passengers. Korean Air will run on the Seoul-Zagreb route three times per week.

Recall, Korean Air previously ran year-round to Zagreb, though it cut back its winter operations in 2019. 

“We have not yet decided whether suspending the flights during the winter season will be continued in the future,” the airline said for Ex Yu Aviation.

To read more about travel in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.

February 19, 2020 - The Olympic qualifying tournament in Split is the last chance to fight for a spot in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The Croatia national team has a slight advantage, as they will be playing in front of a home crowd.

HKS reports that one of the four Olympic qualifying basketball tournaments will be played in Split from June 23 to 28 at the Spaladium Arena. Croatia will fight against the national teams of Germany, Russia, Tunisia, Mexico and Brazil for a spot in Tokyo.

"The tournament in Split is one big event and promotion not only for basketball but for the whole of Croatia. We hope for a good atmosphere and once again thank the Government of the Republic of Croatia, the City of Split and Split-Dalmatia County. We hope that the team will be complete and that everyone will be healthy and we can look forward to the Olympic Games. We are about to begin qualifying for the European Championships that await us in 2021. On Friday, we play against Sweden, after which we play with the Netherlands. These two games are extremely important for us. After that, we expect the HT Premier League championship finals, and then we are preparing for this tournament.”

All fans looking to cheer on Croatia in Split can purchase tickets from February 26 through system.hr.

“The Split tournament is, in my opinion, the most important event in Croatian sport in 2020, and the importance and weight are in the opponents, system and organization. FIBA has risen to a higher level of quality since EuroBasket in 2015. We recognized this tournament as a top event that has the opportunity to be played in Croatia. I want to take this opportunity to thank the Prime Minister and the Government of the Republic of Croatia for recognizing this. What awaits us in Split is the ultimate spectacle for all sports fans, especially basketball. Until the tournament, we will work on the animation and promotion of basketball and take this opportunity to raise basketball to another level,” said the Secretary-General of the Croatian Basketball Federation, Josip Vranković.

Qualifying for the Olympic Games and representing their country is a dream of all athletes, which guarantees that exciting basketball awaits us in Split. The Croatia national team will have a slight advantage as they will have support from the Split stands.

‘’I hope we can show a good game in front of our home crowd on Friday and win. We expect that the Drazen Petrovic hall will be packed to the last place and that together with our fans, we will have a positive atmosphere before this last Euro qualifier against the Netherlands and before the Olympic tournament in Split in June.

When we finish these games, we will start preparing for the Split tournament, talk to all the players to get ready for the summer,” said Croatian basketball team coach Veljko Mrsic.

The Tokyo Olympics will be held from July 24 to August 9. The Croatia basketball team has qualified for the Olympic Games four times, with the highest success being the silver medal in 1992. At the last Rio Olympics, Croatia took 5th place. The tournament in Split is an opportunity for all basketball lovers and fans to accompany their national teams on the road to the Olympics, but also to enjoy top-notch basketball. In addition to Split, other host cities are Belgrade, Kaunas and Victoria. A total of 24 teams will compete in the tournaments, with only the tournament winners going to the Olympics.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.

The conversation with my Uber driver took a familiar turn once he detected my American accent. I was on my way to the inauguration of Zoran Milanović, the fifth president of Croatia. It was my first presidential inauguration.

Of course, he wanted to know what I thought about living in Croatia and my answer was typically positive. But, it’s too bad so many people are leaving. He had traveled the world in his former profession, and assured me that new people, immigrants, would take their place and the country would be even better because of it. Croatia could benefit from some diversity, he suggested.

Uber Driver: Someday Croatia Will Be Like Poland

We agreed that, perhaps, one day Croatia would be more like Poland. In the years following their entry into the EU, hundreds of thousands of Poles left their homeland for more financially rewarding jobs in Western Europe. In the meantime, the Polish economy has strengthened, and people are coming back.

I had applied in advance to attend the event at Pantovčak, the home of the Croatian president. The driver dropped me off at the bottom of a gated sloped lot manned by imposing Croatian servicemen in camouflage uniforms and red berets. One kindly directed me to stand under the eave so as not to get wet, as there was a light drizzle, while they verified my name on the attendance list. Within minutes, I had boarded a blue van with three other journalists which drove us down a winding road into a wooded gulley.

Security check line at the entrance of Pantovčak, the Croatian presidential home.

There were about 30 military band members and press waiting at the entrance to pass through security, which went rather quickly, much like the pre-check line at a US airport. Then we proceeded up a few flights of outdoor stairs to another heavily windowed thick modern building. Several TV journalists were set up in the first room, which featured a dramatic curved staircase. The second room, where the inauguration would take place, had a few dozen chairs. Clearly, we could not all fit into that room. I followed the line of journalists into a third room, with several large round tables and long table where reporters had staked out space for laptops.

Go to Pantovčak, Watch Live Inauguration on TV Monitors

There were two TV monitors. Those were for us, I concluded disappointedly, and wondered why I was even there. I’d have had better views watching TV from home. There were a few familiar faces: a reporter for a left-leaning portal wore a dashing suit with a silk patterned neck scarf which puffed out of his unbuttoned shirt, resembling a Southern Italian tycoon. And I didn’t realize that one correspondent from a popular news channel was so incredibly tall.

Paul Bradbury, Total Croatia News Editor-in-Chief and my boss, arrived separately, and texted that he had made the 11:00 deadline to get in. Whew. Shortly thereafter, the security officer alerted us that the door to our room would be closed until the end of the event. There were a couple of trays of Turkish coffee in cups with a pitcher of milk and packets of sugar. Those went fast. There were no bathrooms.

Paul getting shots of the inauguration room. That's as close as we could get.

Once Paul arrived, we headed outside to take pictures of the virtually empty terrace in the drizzle. There was a raised platform for selected TV networks, which provided a direct view of the inauguration room, through the floor to ceiling windows. That overlooked an L-shaped red carpet covered by clear plastic. To the left of the platform was a canopy for the small band to play. For whom, I wondered as I scanned the empty wet cement.

Respect for Space and Photo Views Among Journalists

Audis began pulling up alongside the vast cement terrace, and word passed around that soon-to-be former President Kolinda Grabar Kitarović was in one of them. I was pleasantly surprised at how respectful fellow journalists were of everyone’s space. I lost count of the number of times my counterparts turned around to confirm that they were not blocking my view…me with my Android. And it seemed that once I had staked out a place to take pictures, that place was mine. A photographer alerted me to move aside temporarily for a TV reporter. Once she was finished, I returned to my spot upon his encouragement. No elbowing. No clamoring. How civil.

Kolinda Grabar Kitarović entering Pantovčak for the last time as president.

Kolinda, who lost her bid for a second term, arrived looking solemn and resolved. She paused to pay respect to the troops and followed the soaked red L-carpet in spiked heels into the small enclosed ceremony space. Five years ago, by contrast, her inauguration was a major affair held in St. Mark’s Square open to the public and attended by foreign dignitaries.

The security guard herded us back inside to the press room, where we watched the rest of the brief ceremony on two monitors. I had briefed Paul about Josipa Lisac, and had been surprised to find out that she would be performing at Milanović’s swearing in – especially since he had revealed in a Nova TV debate that he was a fan of New Wave music from the early 80s.

Croatian Gay Icon Delivers Curious Rendition of National Anthem

Lisac’s presence and vocals are difficult to characterize. She turned 70 on Valentine’s Day. Since catapulting into her 40s, she has become as well-known for pushing the limits of fashion and her gravity-defying geometric fire-orange hair sculptures, as she is for her “unique” voice. She’s considered an icon in the Croatian gay male community, with one young reporter excitedly revealing in a recent interview that he aimed to impersonate his favorite diva.

Josipa Lisac in concert | Facebook

However, paying homage to Lisac would be a formidable, if not impossible, task. Most gay icons, like Cher or Liza Minnelli, leave drag queens a little material work with. Lisac, by contrast, seems committed to preemptively outdoing her prospective imitators. There simply aren’t many mannerisms or wild outfits left to accent or exaggerate.

Watching reactions to Lisac's rendition of the national anthem on the TV monitor.

While loyal followers might identify with her emotive vocal gymnastics, some critics are inclined to compare her singing to a cross between Cher...and a hound, among other beings. She opened the intimate affair by performing the Croatian national anthem, and while I should have been paying respect to the land of my ancestors, I found myself marveling at Lisac’s unusual delivery and rubbery facial contortions on the TV monitor. And did anyone else see the new president close his eyes during this…rendition? Paul, in typical English fashion, is somewhat restrained in his visible reactions. But even his eyes widened through that molasses-paced otherworldly performance.

Milanović Coasts Through: Reviews Political Campaign Points

Perhaps dazed by his chosen guest’s abstract interpretation of the national hymn, the new president seemed momentarily confused about his next move. Was there something in the brown wooden box? Wait, no. After being prompted, he headed over to another table to sign a very official-looking document. His brief speech touched on familiar campaign themes: anti-corruption, quality education for all, cooperation with neighbor states, the wars are over and minority rights.

A signature makes it official. | Sanja Musić Milanović and Zoran Milanović

"Our republic needs every person and every person in Croatia must be given a chance to find their way and their place, to live in dignity from decent work. This is a home to us all, to us who live here and to the generations to come, as well as to those who are yet to return," Milanović concluded.

As we left the press room for the entry, the band played “Tvoja zemlja” (Your Country), a song which, more than any other (in my opinion), epitomizes the Croatia of yesterday and today. Admittedly, it’s the one Croatian standard that always leaves me a little misty-eyed.

"Here you will always find a home,
A heart that beats for you,
Arms that guide you,
A mother that understands you,
You will know everything you need to know.

You will know the pain of crying
When your country suffers;
But above it all
You’ll surely realize
how much this land means to you.

This is your country, here you build a home,
Here is an old foundation, here beneath your ruins.
Foreigners and storms have ripped her apart,
But she’s still here as long as we’re here.

You'll be blessed just like us.
A king who knows no crown,
But within his soul
Like everyone among us
You'll be as glorious as we are."

‘No photos past the first stair!’

The security guard corralled us through a narrow, roped corridor to the left of the curved grand staircase. Then she announced that no photos were allowed after the former and new president ascended the first stair of the long winding staircase. Everyone protested, but the cameras stopped the second the former president and her victor reached the second step. Limited photo ops ensued as other prominent figures exited the small gathering.

A small cluster of us remained reined in by a blue velvet rope. After some confusion, the security guard released us and we headed back through the entrance, where we awaited more photo ops of politicians getting into cars.

"Are you satisfied (with your performance)?" One reporter called out to Josipa Lisac as she unassumingly entered her ride. She declined to comment.

Paul looked at his phone. It was 12:53. The entire affair had lasted less than an hour. He grabbed some prime footage of Milanović and Kolinda hugging and exiting together. Then, we slowly made our way through the expansive hilly wooded grounds to the gated entrance.

Paul at the entrance of Pantovčak, the home of the Croatian president.

According to reports, the cost of Milanović’s inauguration was one-sixth of that of his predecessor’s. For those enchanted by pomp and circumstance, it was likely a disappointment. But, like most inaugurations, it will soon be forgotten and surpassed by what the president, within the limited scope of his office, can do for the country.

Check out Paul Bradbury's account of the ceremony with some great videos here. Follow the activities of Croatia's new president on Total Croatia News here. 

February 15, 2020 - The Croatian Football Federation has confirmed that Croatia will participate in the Qatar Airways International Tournament in Doha next month.

HNS reports that the Croatia national football team will participate in the Doha tournament in late March, where they will play friendly matches against Switzerland and Portugal as part of preparations for Euro 2020.

The tournament schedule has been set in advance, so Croatia will compete with Switzerland on March 26 (7:30 pm local time), while on March 30, they will play against Portugal (8:30 pm local time).

For the first time, Croatia will play in Qatar, the country that will host the World Cup at the end of 2022, and both matches will be played at the spectacular Education City Stadium.

"I am proud that we were able to reach an agreement on Croatia's participation in such a prestigious tournament. On the sports side, we assured the top opponents for coach Dalic and the national team, which is what the professional staff wanted, and on the other hand, we negotiated significant financial resources that could be invested in the further development of Croatian football,” said HNS President Davor Suker.

"It is a well-known wish of Croatia to play strong friendly matches before the big competition, to see where we are and what we need to work on, so I am very pleased that Croatia's performance in such a strong tournament has been confirmed. We will also be playing against great teams that we respect very much. The trip to Doha will also be a great opportunity to empower the community, to have a good time after an almost five-month break from the representative gatherings, which we certainly all very much look forward to,” said Croatian coach Zlatko Dalic.

This news comes after the Croatian Football Federation confirmed a friendly against Turkey in Osijek on June 1, which will be played just before the Euros. Croatia and France should also play a friendly in Nice just after, though we are still waiting for both federations to confirm the news.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.

Croatian Parliament MPs Božo Petrov and Ines Strenja emphasized that, despite the dismissal of Health Minister Milan Kujundžic, problems with Croatian health system have not gone away. They also pointed out that Croatians are twice as likely to die of treatable diseases as citizens in more developed European countries.

MediCarrera | Screenshot

Medical Staff Leaving Croatia: Remainers Working Unpaid Overtime

"After three and a half years of inaction, it is time to start treating chronic illnesses in the Croatian healthcare system. The system is in debt, irrationally organized, filled with red tape and waiting lists while doctors and other medical staff are leaving Croatia (for opportunities abroad). Those who remain, like nurses, are at a disadvantage and are being forced to work unpaid overtime hours,” Petrov pointed out.

Scandinavia Offers Croatians Free Relocation, Language Training, Child Care

Indeed, more financially prosperous EU countries have set up one-stop recruiting sites to lure medical professionals to their countries to the further detriment of Croatian citizens and residents. MediCarrera, a website serving the medical career recruitment needs of Denmark, Sweden and Norway; offers job placement, language training for hires and their families, accommodations and relocation costs; all of which are financed by employers in their respective countries.

MediCarrera | Screenshot

Several Swedish media outlets have recently criticized Croatia for its demographic losses and emigration.

Despite these external and internal challenges, Petrov insisted to members of the Croatian government that Most would not let them continue policies of inaction which had defined the former health minister's term according to Index on February 14, 2020.

Croatians Have Highest Mortality Rate for Treatable Diseases

Strenja pointed out that Croatian citizens continue to occupy high, and sometimes the highest, mortality rates among all EU citizens for avoidable and treatable diseases.

The reason, she said, lies in the lack of effective preventive medicine, timely diagnosis and the timely beginning of treatment.

Ines Strenja | Most

Strenja: Investing in Preventative Medicine Yields Fourfold Savings

"Again, unrefined protocol, procedures, measures and responsibilities will continue to miss desired expectations, which is ultimately evident in the overall health data. We emphasize that the investment in preventive medicine is the best bet and yields fourfold savings in treatment," Strenje explained.

She added that ex-Minister Kujundžic's files contain proposals for national strategies that would lower the death rate in Croatia from preventable diseases which is currently 293 per 100 thousand inhabitants compared to 140 per 100 thousand in the EU. The mortality from treatable diseases in our country is 140 per 100 thousand compared to only 90 out of 100 thousand in the EU.

“Therefore, I am calling on the new Health Minister, Vili Beroš, to discharge them and move on to combat chronic non-communicable diseases and conditions in Croatia,” Strenja urged.

Ivan Bekavac | N1

Bekavac: Action Plan Another 'Wish List'

Ivan Bekavac, Advisor for Most’s Health Council, pointed out that two key documents should guide the future of Croatians: The Draft Proposal for the Prevention and Control of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases 2020-2026 and the Draft National Cancer Plan 2020-2030.

"The Action Plan for the Prevention and Control off Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases 2020-2026 does not sufficiently emphasize the responsibility of the Croatian government for the health of the population, because it must place much greater emphasis on the coordination of all departments in promoting and preserving health. It is just a wish list of suggestions, and is almost identical to the previous action plan, and again lacks elements of supervision, monitoring, performance evaluation and research," he explained.

He also considers it a disadvantage that the Draft National Cancer Plan 2020-2030 omitted family medicine doctors who are most familiar with their patients, their habits and family heritage, and emphasized that they should be key stakeholders in encouraging and mobilizing patients for preventive examinations.

Follow our Politics page to keep updated on the health care crisis in Croatia.