ZAGREB, 3 January, 2021 - The Archbishop of Zagreb called on all those responsible on Saturday to approach post-earthquake reconstruction in an organised fashion, saying it requires speed, perseverance and effective oversight so that those affected are protected from those always ready to exploit the misfortune of others.

Cardinal Josip Bozanic was speaking at a mass held on the day of mourning for those killed and injured in the 6.2 earthquake that rocked Sisak-Moslavina County on Tuesday.

"Tonight, in spirit, we wish to be close to all who are anxious and scared, who are suffering because of what they are going through."

He prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured and for everyone to find the courage to strengthen hope and not give in to despondency.

"Let's pray for those killed and wounded," Bozanic said, for all those who lost their homes, churches, schools and buildings housing social, administrative and cultural institutions.

The cardinal especially prayed for peace and deliverance from fear, and called for solidarity and assistance, which he said had already manifested itself.

He underlined the young in Croatia and the neighbouring countries, saying they had come to help the people in need without being called on to do so.

"This amazing voice of solidarity has shown once again how much good we carry inside," he said, mentioning all the services on the ground in the quake-hit area, including firefighters and police.

Among those present at the service was Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic Radman.

ZAGREB, Sept 2, 2020- Parliamentary opposition parties on Wednesday strongly criticized the Zagreb reconstruction bill and buildings' environs damaged by a March 22 earthquake. 

"The Zagreb reconstruction bill lacks ambition and cements the existing situation. It restores the situation that existed before the earthquake and does not say what Zagreb should like 10 or 20 years from now," said Pedja Grbin of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

"The bill is impracticable. It contains a lot of disputable things," said Anka Mrak Taritas of the Civic Liberal Alliance (GLAS), while Bridge's Marija Selak Raspudic said that it "creates an atmosphere of legal uncertainty" and "bypasses the existing regulations."

Homeland Movement leader Miroslav Skoro raised the question of funding, saying that neither the government nor the City of Zagreb had enough money for the reconstruction.

On the other hand, Ivan Domagoj Milosevic of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) said that the bill was based on three key pillars: political inclusion, the government adopted more than 25 opposition proposals, transparency, and solidarity.

Some of the MPs protested over the epidemiological measures that were unanimously decided by the Parliament Presidency on Tuesday, under which wearing face masks are mandatory and that not more than 41 MPs can be present in the chamber at the same time.

"I would like to thank the Presidency for decimating the MPs and shortening the duration of speeches," Selak Raspudic said ironically.

Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandrokovic repeated that the Presidency's decision was unanimous and in line with the Rules of Procedure and was meant to ensure the normal functioning of Parliament and prevent the spread of the coronavirus infection.

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ZAGREB, August 28, 2020 - Parliamentary deputies of the We Can! political platform have warned that the final bill on the post-earthquke reconstruction of Zagreb and its environs leaves a lot to be elaborated and that they will continue insisting on the establishment of an institute for reconstruction rather than a fund.

MP Tomislav Tomasevic said that his platform would submit a larger number of amendments to improve the bill.

He said the platform was satisfied with the social criteria and financial framework of the bill but was not happy with the institutional framework, which, he said, had stayed more or less the same in relation to the first version of the bill.

"The government still insists on a fund for the reconstruction of Zagreb, Krapina-Zagorje and Zagreb counties instead of an institute for the reconstruction of Zagreb and its environs, which is what we have requested," said Tomasevic.

The We Can! platform wants the institute to be a coordinating body rather than "a kind of supporting administrative-financial body, which is what the fund will be under the bill."

Tomasevic also pointed to the importance of having a single institution in charge of the reconstruction process to prevent conflict of jurisdiction.

MP Sandra Bencic said that the government had not fully accepted their amendment seeking the establishment of an independent body in charge of overseeing how funds for reconstruction are spent.

She expressed concern about how citizens who have already started repair works on their properties will be financially assisted because the bill does not specify the amount of aid they are entitled to.

Bencic also called for regulating the issue of the market price of reconstruction work, saying that the price of some types of repair work was up to 400% higher than the ususual price.

The bill does not define precisely the issue of substitute housing, she noted.

MP Damir Bakic warned that the bill failed to mention that reconstruction work on public-purpose buildings would be entirely financed by their owners, i.e. founders.

It would be unfair and contrary to the intention of the law for reconstruction work on public-purpose buildings that are privately owned to be financed exclusively by their owners, he said.

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ZAGREB, Aug 7, 2020 - Zagreb City Councillor from the ranks of the Croatian People's Party, Tomislav Stojak, on Friday told a press conference that the law on Zagreb's reconstruction after the March earthquake is taking too long and that citizens are still waiting for quality living conditions four and a half months later.

We have been waiting for months despite all the promises that it would be adopted before the summer, particularly since some political platforms advocated that during electioneering yet are now saying that it is necessary to hear all the arguments and that the law will be adopted in the autumn, underscored Stojak.

He underlined that citizens need to be ensured the same quality of life regardless of where they live, that those areas most affected by the earthquake have to be reconstructed, which would be a long process, but other suburbs need to be developed too.

Stojak assessed that as far as reconstruction is concerned, the state is doing a "relatively good job," however the City of Zagreb is not doing as much considering that its financial situation is not that good.

The city will not have the 20 percent of the funding required for participating in the reconstruction as it does not have any money, Stojak added.

He expects Mayor Milan Bandic and the city authorities to present the city's financial plan at the next meeting scheduled for September.

A bit of ''cosmetic surgery'' for Pag's main waterfront (riva) as the reconstruction and upgrading of this heavily frequented area gives the town and the island a breath of new life.

As Novac/Jutarnji writes on the 19th of May, 2019, in approximately twenty days, the reconstruction and upgrading of the popular island's main waterfront with a small harbour in the town of Pag, ''Katina'', will finally be completed, and then that part of the coastline in Pag will be ''released'' for general use in its brand new, done up and completely revised edition.

In the reconstruction of Katina harbour, the Zadar Port Authority, with partial support from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure headed by Oleg Butković, and Zadar County, invested a massive 5.8 million kuna, and the necessary works were executed by the Zagreb-based company PGP.

The aforementioned works saw the deepening of the bay area in front of Katina, an important coastal wall was properly repaired and two 50 and 80 metre-long pontoons were erected, which resulted in one hundred new berths for boats, according to a report from Zadarski.hr.

At the celebration of the Day of the City of Pag which took place on Friday, the project was presented to the participants of Pag's annual celebration, including to the minister of the competent Ministry, Oleg Butković. Pag riva's new look was presented by Davor Škibola, the director of the Zadar County Port Authority which, as mentioned, was among the investors.

On this occasion, Minister Butković referred to this particular port authority as "the best in Croatia" primarily because of the number of projects it has accomplished or performed in the port areas it manages.

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Click HERE for images of Pag's brand new waterfront by night.