President of Liberland, a “state” located between Croatia and Serbia, hopes for better relations with the United States.

Dismissed as a publicity stunt and a joke just 18 months ago when he claimed a piece of marshy land on the Danube as the Free State of Liberland, President Vit Jedlicka seems to be making progress with his dream of creating his own libertarian state between Croatia and Serbia. He is certainly getting the international column inches, including a double page spread in Croatia's leading broadsheet on October 30, 2016, Nedjeljni List. 

It is a few months since the rather unorthodox Liberland Conference in a small village north of Osijek, an event finally recorded for posterity on August 17, 2016 with the release of a documentary of the only crew to film the event. 

As the Croatian coast fills up with seasonal workers and those all important tourists, the north-eastern region of Slavonia is emptying rapidly - perhaps permanently. Does anyone have a solution to stop the tragedy of what is happening in this beautiful and historic region? Time is running out. Is it perhaps time to look at what is on the table from a potential economic powerhouse and new next door neighbour - Liberland? And if not, what IS the solution?

Dismissed as a joke by many, could the judgements of the appeals courts in Croatia be an important step in Liberland's quest for sovereignty?

One of the most unorthodox weekends of my life came to a close on April 17, 2016, after a thought-provoking conference to celebrate the first anniversary of the self-proclaimed state of Liberland, in a village in eastern Croatia. 

After Croatia's humane response to allow more than 650,000 refugees and migrants to pass through its borders, a legal EU citizen with valid passport is denied entry on April 15, 2016. 

While Split has a few international consulates, tomorrow it will have an embassy. 

The self-proclaimed state of Liberland on Croatia's eastern border celebrates its first anniverary next month, with a conference on the Croatian side of its border. 

It may not be recognised yet, but the self-proclaimed state of Liberland is moving its plans forward.