ZAGREB, January 6, 2020 - Croatia's President-elect, Zoran Milanović, said in his first address after the presidential runoff on Sunday that he hoped he would not let down the people who placed their trust in him.

During his speech, interrupted by greetings and chants of about 1,000 jubilant supporters and Social Democratic Party officials and members in his election headquarters, Milanović said that the election campaign was "tough, long and not always fair."

"However, politics is a passionate job, full of love and sometimes filled with intolerance, and I did my best," said the fifth elected president of Croatia since the country gained independence.

Milanović thanked his rival Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović in his victory speech, and the mentioning of the name of the incumbent president was booed by his supporters which Milanović quickly stopped and urged that a similar situation "happened five years ago and should never happen again."

Milanović went on to say that Croatian voters had elected him to be the president of the republic, the president of all citizens, both ethnic Croats and people of other ethnic backgrounds. "I am happy about that!"

"In my life I have done other things as well. I was a prime minister and that has been a burden on this path (towards presidency). I am aware that not everyone likes me. We must live with that and move on because we are few, we are not successful enough and cannot afford to divide ourselves," Milanović said.

He went on to say that he would not tell "touching tales about unity" and that he would not make unrealistic promises.

"People differ from one another, and I will try not to insult anyone and I will try to pursue dialogue, aware that there are different people among us, with different worldviews, with prejudices, to which I myself am not immune because I am just a human being," said Milanović, whose presidency bid is supported by the SDP and several opposition parties from the left spectrum.

"The four million of us (Croatian citizens) are seeking our own place under the sun, and a niche on the journey we are travelling, a place in Europe which, despite all the problems it faces, is the most beautiful place and continent to live in, and we are part of that continent," he added.

Milanovic said in this context that he would cooperate with the government, and ruled out any desire for greater powers on his part.

"There will be no plotting, no secret deals. I will treat all political parties equally, because we are a multiparty parliamentary democracy. It is not perfect, but there is nothing better than that. Any other way would lead to autocracy, tyranny, arbitrariness, plunder, and the President of Republic must be an obstacle to that," said Milanović.

"If this narrow but fair and clear victory of mine gives some faith and some spirit to our society and to our people, I am a happy man and let us rejoice together," Milanović concluded in his victory speech.

More news about Zoran Milanović can be found in the Politics section.

January 5, 2019 - In 2019, Zagreb County recorded 139,720 tourist arrivals, which is 14 percent more than in the same period in 2018 (123,008). The number of overnights also increased by 12 percent, from 205,003 to 229,827.

Out of the total number of arrivals, 107,821 were foreign guests who achieved 69,732 overnights, while Croatian guests achieved 31,899 arrivals and 60,095 overnights.

In 2019, Zagreb County was mostly visited by tourists from China and South Korea, followed by guests from Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, France, and the USA.

The most visited cities were Velika Gorica, Samobor and Jastrebarsko, which recorded a 35 percent increase in tourist overnights thanks in large part to the newly opened hotels. Tourists mostly stayed in hotels, household facilities and campsites. As many as 75 percent came individually, while the other 25 percent used tourist agencies.

With these results in mind, HRTurizam discussed the plans for 2020 with the director of the Zagreb County Tourist Board, Ivana Alilovic.

This year, the Zagreb County Tourist Board will have a more competitive tourism management model, with an emphasis on positioning and promoting the Zagreb County destination based on an integrated area identity and experience portfolio with a foothold on territorial capital and regional specificities, cultural heritage and tradition, and the local production and service system. Alilovic added:

“This approach would not only promote Croatian tourism and expand its tourist offer to increase the number of tourist arrivals, as a year-round destination, but it would also target guests with higher spending power and link multiple sectors (primarily the tourism sector with the food processing sector), increase direct investment, preserve and promote the identity and tradition, enhance the quality of life, generally create the image of the destination, and bring smart specialization to the Zagreb County region," says Alilovic.

Alilovic emphasized the important role of the Zagreb County Tourist Board, together with the organization of local tourist boards, the private sector and other interest groups in target markets, especially new ones, to communicate changes, new products and motives for arrivals, and to position Zagreb County as a desirable tourist destination.

“To stay competitive, we need to keep up with innovative trends such as the digital revolution, rising environmental standards and sustainable development of local communities. It is necessary to emphasize the development of eno-gastronomy, which is being promoted as one of the motives for visiting the destination. Therefore, I see Zagreb County in 2020 as one of the more desirable tourist destinations, whose offer is based on the eno-gastronomic experience, in line with the innovative, but again with the traditional and sustainable and responsible development of tourism,” concludes Alilovic.

The goals of the identified activities for 2020 are further intensive promotion of existing tourism products and programs with defined target markets, intensive cooperation of tourist boards and tourist entities, development and improvement of selective forms of tourism by creating new tourism products based on cultural, eno and gastro, natural and historical tourist resources of Zagreb County.

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

January. 5, 2019 - In the final match of the Croatia Cup 2020 on Sunday, the Croatia handball team defeated Qatar 33:28 and thus won the tournament in Porec.

HRT reports that Qatar beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 30:27 on Friday, and because Croatia played 33:33 against BiH on Saturday, this was a direct fight for first place.

Again, there were many ups and downs in Croatia’s game, but the victory was still great encouragement ahead of the start of the European Championship. 

“We played a lot harder, more responsible, and it was definitely a better show and that is the path we should actually follow. In the first half, our defense was not very good, at 5-1, we received some easy goals, so the weaker part of the game was in the first half. We created chances in the attack but missed a lot of shots. There was a major change in the second half in the sense that our defense became much more solid. Fifteen minutes later, we found the key to the defense and that was decisive in this match,” said coach Lino Cervar after the match.

The best for Croatia was certainly Luka Cindric, who scored eight goals from nine shots. Luka Stepancic was also among the top scorers with five goals, while Frankis Marzo was the best for Qatar with eight goals.

“We expected a tough match, a fight, but on the other hand, they also have a Spanish coach, so they could also outsmart us tactically. However, I think that the coach saw what he could do better in these two games, what was good, what else we should work on and I am pleased that we won this Cup again and that we are going with that win to the Euros, so there will be a positive atmosphere,” said Luka Stepancic.

The European Championship is scheduled for January 9-26, and Croatia will play in Graz with Montenegro, Belarus and Serbia in the first round.

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

Yesterday we reported on the Snow Queen Trophy women's slalom race held near Zagreb, on Sljeme hill just north of the city. On Sunday, the men's slalom race was held, in which Frenchman Clement Noel managed to win, while Croatian skiers managed to get just one top-30 finish.

The race was held in the afternoon, as it is one of the nighttime races in the calendar of the Audi FIS Ski World Cup slalom races. In the first run, the Swiss skier Ramon Zenhaeursen took first place, after he went down the slope first, with the no. 1 bib. Michael Matt of Germany, with bib 4, was placed second, while the third-place finish surprisingly went to Linus Strasser, who started the race with the bib number 31.

The Croatian skiers didn't really impress anyone in the first run: the best result was achieved by Istok Rodeš, who was 19th and who was the only Croatian to qualify for the second run. Matej Vidović, as well as Elias and Samuel Kolega didn't finish the first run, while Leon Nikić and Filip Zubčić got the positions 39 and 40 (out of 45 finishers). The biggest controversy of the first run was Alexis Pinturault's run. It seemed as if he had made a disqualifying mistake, however, he completed the race - and was quickly disqualified right after it. However, after the French delegation complained, his race was deemed to have not been incorrect, so his result was re-instated, and he finished the first run 14th.

In the end, French skier Clement Noel, fourth in the first run, won with 0.07 seconds in front of the leader from the first run, Zenhaeursen. Young Italian skier Alex Vintazer, eighth in the first run was third total, 0.29 seconds behind the winner. Croatian Istok Rodeš was 25th, with the final time of 1:58.78, 1.64 seconds behind the winner. Michael Matt and Linus Strasser weren't able to repeat their great performances in the second run: Matt was the only skier unable to finish it, while Strasser was 8th total. 

Former Croatian skier Ivica Kostelić, overall World Cup title winner in 2011, complained after the first run of the Snow Queen Trophy that the setup of the race was too simple and easy, as if it was made for the children's race and not the World Cup where the elite skiers compete against each other.

Vukovar-Srijem County presented development projects, which stretch from nutrition all the way to geothermal sources. On Thursday in Vukovar, a themed conference saw the presentation of the development projects of that particular Eastern Croatian county.

As Marta Duic/Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 5th of January, 2020, on this occasion, ten strategic development projects worth a massive 1.7 billion kuna were allocated. The director of the Development Agency of Vukovar-Srijem County, Ilija Cota, singled out five irrigation projects, two of which are underway as part of an effort to raise farms for the production of multi-yield crops and to move away from intensive crop production.

Projects in Blato near Cerna and Veliko Polje near Sopot are also underway, with two large-scale irrigation projects in preparation, namely Ervenica near Privlaka and the field near Lipovac, Cota said. He emphasised that the County Assembly has selected ten strategic projects, worth around 1.7 billion kuna in total, which are an integral part of the county's development strategy with a focus placed on the food processing and wood processing sectors.

Andrija Matic, Head of Agriculture, highlighted thirteen projects which are currently under implementation or have already been completed, of which he particularly emphasises irrigation projects for which some 400 million kuna has been secured. Sasa Devic, Director of Geothermal Resources, presented the project for the exploration and exploitation of geothermal potential, emphasising that it is based on INA research conducted back in the 1980s when the existence of geothermal potential in the municipality of Babina Greda was initially indicated.

"It's a strategic and very demanding project, both technically and financially, but implementation has begun, with the aim of putting natural resources at the service of sustainable economic development and job creation," explains Devic.

Other projects such as the Agro-Technology Centre and Agro-Cluster and Competence Centre were also presented, which focus on the realisation of the project of the Slavonian Oak Wood and Technology Centre, worth 25 million kuna, which aims to strengthen the value of the forestry and the timber industry in Vukovar-Srijem County.

Make sure to follow our dedicated business page for more.

According to final election results, released at 5:30am CET (Central European Time) on January 6, 2020; former Prime Minister Zoran Milanović has defeated incumbent Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and won his first five-year term as President of Croatia.

Here is a breakdown of the final election results with 100% votes processed (updated 5:30am CET):

52.67% - Zoran Milanović – Former Prime Minister | SDP
47.33% - Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović – Incumbent President | HDZ

Former Croatia Prime Minister Began Career as Diplomat

Zoran Milanović, born in 1966; was Prime Minister of Croatia from 2011 to 2016. He was also the leader of SDP (Social Democratic Party of Croatia), the largest center-left political party, from 2007 to 2016. He served as leader of the opposition twice, from 2007 to 2011 and for several months in 2016.

Milanović began his career in the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He served as advisor at the Croatian Mission to the European Union and NATO and was assistant to the Foreign Minister of Croatia for political multilateral affairs.

Oversaw Croatia Entry Into EU in 2013

In June 2007, Milanović was elected President of SDP and formed a coalition uniting four center-left political parties, which won an absolute majority in the 2011 parliamentary election. He became Prime Minister later that year and oversaw Croatia’s entry into the EU in 2013.

His cabinet introduced changes to the tax code and began several large infrastructure projects. Milanović also supported the expansion of the rights of same-sex couples and introduced the Life Partnership Act.

Post-Political Career as International Consultant

He served as Prime Minister until 2015 and led the four-party coalition until early parliamentary elections in 2016. Milanović announced his withdrawal from politics following a surprise defeat. He began a career as a consultant and worked as advisor to Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.

In June 2019, Milanović announced his campaign for President of Croatia under the slogan “A President with Character.” He ran on a center-left platform, his record as prime minister and promised to be tough on corruption.

Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and Donald Trump | Facebook

First Woman and Youngest Croatian President

Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, born in 1968; has been the President of Croatia since 2015. She was the first woman and the youngest person to ever assume the office. In 2017, Forbes magazine listed Grabar-Kitarović as the world's 39th most powerful woman.

Before her election, Grabar-Kitarović held several governmental and diplomatic positions including Minister of European Affairs, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Croatian ambassador to the United States, and NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy.

She was the only female candidate in the Croatian presidential elections held in December 2014 and January 2015 and was runner-up in the first round. She narrowly defeated incumbent President Ivo Josipović in the second round.

International Press Attention at 2018 World Cup

In 2018, Grabar-Kitarović received international press attention for attending the FIFA World Cup quarter-final and final matches, where she wore colors of the Croatian flag in support of the national team, who finished the tournament in second place.

Gaffes and Controversial Endorsements

Her presidential re-election campaign has weathered a series of gaffes and missteps. Last month, she claimed at a campaign rally in Osijek that she had secured jobs for Croatian citizens to work from home for 8000 EUR, after they had received training abroad. However, she later declined to provide details.

While she has positioned herself as a centrist, she welcomed endorsements from several controversial and far right-wing political figures. Marko Perković Thompson, a singer known for his use of WWII Croatian fascist symbols and language in performances, backed her re-election. And Grabar-Kitarović’s website featured a video message from Julienne Bušić, American-born author and activist, who hijacked a TWA flight in 1976 to promote Croatian independence. The party of Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandić, who is facing corruption charges, also endorsed her candidacy.

Former Prime Minister Maintained Solid Lead in First Round

According to exit polls in the first round of elections, held on December 22, 2019; Zoran Milanović maintained comfortable leads over Grabar-Kitarović and Miroslav Škoro, his two main opponents. Grabar-Kitarović was initially polling within one percentage point of Miroslav Škoro, which led to doubts about whether she would advance to the second round. According to final election results, Milanović received 29.55% of the vote and finished ahead of Grabar-Kitarović (26.65%) by nearly three percentage points. In turn, she eliminated Škoro (24.45%) from the run-off by a lead of just over two percentage points.

Grabar-Kitarović and Škoro, a popular folk musician, competed for support from center-right and far-right political parties and organizations, which led some analysts to believe that Škoro supporters would automatically shift their allegiance to the president in the run-off. However, pre-election polls had generated inconclusive results; with the President and former Prime Minister polling within a margin of error and leaving behind a large block of undecided voters. While Škoro confirmed that he would vote at the polls; he declined to endorse either candidate – and said that he would void his ballot.

Both candidates agreed to three debates, which were held on Monday, Thursday and Friday preceding the election. Mutual accusations of incompetence, impropriety and dishonesty dominated the discussions, which offered little on specific policy proposals.

Follow our Politics page for updates on this presidential election and upcoming 2020 parliament elections.

January 5, 2020 - Croatia's most decorated winery in Croatia's easternmost town - why a visit to Ilocki Podrumi in Ilok is about much more than wine. 

For many years, I was totally confused by the wines of Ilocki Podrumi. They were simply everywhere, at every wine festival I attended, on most wine lists, and yet I had no idea where this winery was from. Their spicy Traminac wines were more reminiscent of the vineyards of Alsace than those of Dalmatia and Istria that I was getting to know from my island home on Hvar. 

Gradually, and the more I spent time off the island and got to know continental Croatia a little more, I learned about the wines of Slavonia, and then about another vineyard which did not seem to fit into any category or region, for it was much, much further to the east than all the rest. And it had an international pedigree and history that all the others could only dream of. 

For, I learned that Ilocki Podrumi was the main story in Croatia's easternmost town of Ilok, and if I had bothered to translate the name of the winery (Ilok Cellars), I might have worked that out for myself. And the more I learned about Ilocki Podrumi, the more I became intrigued. For here was a winery which provided 11,000 bottles of wine for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth in London back in 1953, more wines for the nuptials of William and Kate, and then of Harry of Meghan. A winery which was the most decorated in the history of Croatian wine, and one which had the most incredible survival story from the Homeland War. 

And a winery which - a few wine expert and journalist friends apart - almost nobody I knew had ever visited. For Ilok was apparently SO far away in the east. So much so, it appears, that the main sales and marketing base seemed to be in Zagreb. 

Except Ilok really wasn't that far away at all - much closer to Zagreb than Split, for example, just over three hours, mostly on the motorway. Once you overcome the stereotype that everything in the east is far away from the rest of Croatia, you realise that there is SO much to see and do starting from the capital that is largely overlooked by most people. Here, for example, is an example of the family fun we managed to have by heading on east for a weekend in October. 

The perception of Ilok's isolation is somewhat reinforced by the local geography. The town is located on the Danube in Croatia's easternmost spot and surrounded on three sides by Serbia, with various border crossings in three directions. This geography sealed the town's fate back in 1991, as Ilok was overrun by the Serbs, who also took up residence in the historic winery of Ilocki Podrumi, one of the most famous wine house of Croatia and one with arguably the finest tradition. Wine has been made from its vineyards for some 2,000 years. 

There was scant respect for the traditions or the quality wines from the invading forces, and the large oak barrels were slashed open, the wine either pouring out or being used to make that Serbian favour, rakija. With an annual production of some 4 million litres, not only was a great quantity of wine being lost, but also some rare quality as in danger. 

There were still some priceless bottles from some of the older vintages in the cellars, including several thousand from that 1947 Traminac vintage, which had so charmed the Queen's royal guests in London almost 40 years before. A daring plan was hatched by some of the winery workers to try and save 8,000 of the most precious bottles. At considerable personal risk, the workers built another brick wall in the cellar around these precious bottles, covering it with the ubiquitous black mold and cobwebs to age the wall like the others in the cellar. 

The plan worked, and when the Croats came back to take possession of Ilok after the war, the workers found that the treasure they had hidden behind the wall lay untouched. At the time of our visit in October, there were still 282 bottles of the famous 1947 Traminac, bottle price today a cool 55,000 kuna (7,400 euro) - and they were selling. A Russian visitor had insisted on trying a bottle on the spot. The winery had decided to sell 182 more, then keep 100 bottles for posterity and promotion. 

You can still see where the famous wall once was, and behind it today are some of the better vintages of previous years, many of which are reserved for clients. In the photo above, the bottles without much dust in the middle are the most recent addition - reserved by Harry and Meghan for future consumption. 

A visit to Ilocki Podrum, however, was about much more than looking at old bottles and tasting newer vintages. This was a business which was managing to attract plenty of international tourists, many of them day-trippers from cruise boats down the Danube. Cruise ship tourism on the Adriatic might be making most of the headlines, but the cruising business along Croatia's Danube border is picking up nicely year on year, and Ilok is one of the most-stop destinations on the famous European river. 

Having booked a tour, I had expected to have the place more or less to ourselves, but Ilocki Podrumi was busy. 

But due to the surge of interest, our tour was slightly delayed. Not that we minded at all. The area around the old cellars was idyllic. Full of character and history. People may have come for the wine, but the backdrop was really pretty, and it was no surprise to learn that there were also bungalows to rent on site, with gorgeous views of the rolling hills ahead. 

While we waited, a light snack to be washed down with one of the EIGHT types of Traminac made from one individual vintage - quite extraordinary. And the delightful accompanying pastry had quite a memorable name - torn underpants! They tasted much better than the name suggested. 

Ilockli Podrumi have made a superb recovery from the devastating effects of the war in the 1990s. A major investment from its new Croatian owner, who took over the winery in 2005, is largely responsible for that, but the cellars were mightily impressive. The majority of the really big wine barrels may have been destroyed during the war, but they have been replaced by an army of smaller ones. 

Mira, our excellent guide, showed us the biggest barrel in use today, and then told us something that quite surprised me. Ilocki Podrum still uses a lot of the local Slavonian oak, but they are having many more issues of supply these days. Slavonian oak is among the most highly prized int the world (along with French and Californian) for oak barrels in wine production. And yet, since the war, there were no longer any Slavonian craftsmen offering the service. Consequently, the raw oak material would be exported to Italy, where coopers would produce oak barrels, and then the oak would be exported back to Croatia. 

But Mira had some good news - very recently, a company in Slavonia started producing barrels from Slavonian oak once more. A small story for some perhaps, but a great tale of one of the great traditions of Slavonian production returning to its roots. You can learn more about the Slavonian company Pepel Co, which is also making the first Croatian whisky, also in Slavonia. 

The wines were exquisite, and if you want a taste of a Royal Wedding, why not savour the wines and vintages served up at Harry and Meghan's wedding?

The big surprise, however, was what happened at the end of the tour of the cellars, for I had assumed that this would be all, but then we hopped into a car and a short drive out of town to one of the most magnificent places I have seen in Croatia - Princips, a spectacular addition to the Ilocki Podrumi tourism offer. 

Principovac – a unique single vineyard appellation & summer residence of the Odescalchi family.

Near the centre of the historic town of Ilok, on the landscape hill offering stunning views of Ilok, Srijem and Backa, lies the Principovac Castle and Estate that was built in 1864th as summer residence of the Odescalchi family – The Dukes of Ilok, who stayed here during hunting seasons and grape harvestings. Whether you are a true wine connoisseur or you’re just on your way to become one, when you taste the royal Traminer and Graševina from Principovac in different styles you’ll realize that wine is here much more than a profession – it is a lifestyle.

Inside the restored castle of Odescalchi family is the Principovac restaurant, which has a rich gourmet offer – new age cuisine that is based on indigenous ingredients, flavours of the Croatian Danube and Slavonia prepared in a sophisticated way serving each course with a glass of wine chosen from our rich wine offer. 

The Odescalchi summer residence offers accommodation in our luxury and modern designed ☆☆☆☆, apartments and one 120m2 De Lux Residential Suite, surrounded by vineyards. The apartments provide comfort and privacy, silence and amazing views. Principovac Summer Residence is offering additional open air recreation facilities. Beside the tennis and badminton courts, playgrounds for children and soon to be opened freshwater fish aquarium, there are 8 km of wine roads ideal for running, romantic walks, bike rides, moped rides or electric car rides through the vineyards. Barbeque points and small wood houses are available in several points though the estate vineyards ideal to spend time in nature for couples, families, and friend gatherings. 

For those who are passionate golf players or those who want to experience their first golf steps, there is a covered golf shutting place with 3 holes. Teaching lessons can be organised and provided by prior reservation.

Prinicipovac is GORGEOUS. And for those who want to escape from the world in nature, but be surrounded by fine food and wine, here is a little slice of magic I had never heard about until this visit. 

It would be easy to think that Ilok was all about the winery which dominates it (more than 330 hectares of its own, grapes bought from another 660 hectares, with one row of vines allegedly stretching 10 kilometres), but the town itself is delightful, especially the old fortified area which is a short walk away from the Ilocki cellars.  

It does feel a little different to the rest of Croatia, and it was nice to experience that change. The roads become a little narrower, and the drive along the Danube was lovely. As a weekend getaway just a few hours from Zagreb, it is on our list for 2020.  

And, just 30 minutes up the road on the outskirts of Vukovar, is another undiscovered treasure of the east - and one of the most incredible tourist attractions in Croatia, which is currently visited by just 50,000 people a year. Learn more about the incredible Vucedol civilisation and how this region was once one of the most advanced in all Europe. An attraction which was boosted in 2015 by the opening of one of the best museums in Croatia to tell its fantastic story. 

Plan your own trip to the east, and discover a Croatia you did not know existed.  To learn more about Ilocki Podrumi, visit the official website. 

ZAGREB, January 5, 2020 - 120,000 more voters went to the polls by 11.30 a.m. in Sunday's presidential runoff than in the first election round on December 22, the State Election Commission said. The turnout by 11.30 a.m. was 18.87% while two weeks ago it was 15.75%.

Even though the turnout is rather good, it is lower than five years ago, when in the presidential runoff between Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and Ivo Josipović 100,000 more voters went to the polls by 11.30 a.m.

In neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina 3,500 more voters went to the polls by 11.30 a.m. than in the first election round.

Polling stations opened across Croatia at 7 a.m. in the presidential runoff in which 3,860,000 eligible voters are choosing between incumbent Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, supported by the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), and former prime minister Zoran Milanović, the candidate of the opposition Social Democrats (SDP).

More news about the presidential elections can be found in the Politics section.