New tensions in relations between Croats and Serbs in Croatia
Miro Kovač (HDZ), former ambassador to Germany and a foreign minister called Milorad Pupovac (SDSS) to distance himself from unacceptable words by Serbia's President Aleksandar Vučić, saying that would be healing for Croatian society and co-existence between the Croat majority and the Serb minority, reports Hina. Kovač is a chairman of parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee and one of the candidates for president of HDZ on next party congress, planned for the first part of next year.
"In 2017 in Croatia there were 25 reported cases of hate crimes. Each hate crime is one too many. It is necessary in that regard to strengthen police and judicial capabilities, but primarily social awareness. In comparison, that same year in Slovakia there were 34, in the Czech Republic 47, in Hungary 233, in Poland 886, in Austria 302, in Belgium 875, in the Netherlands 3,499, in France 1,505, in Germany 7,913 cases of hate crimes reported," Kovač noted. Statistics on hate crimes in Croatia are kept by the relevant government offices and, via it, by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), he added.
Ombudsman Lara Vidović answered that those numbers regarding Croatia are not correct because most of the hate crimes are not reported.
Croatian ombudsman Lora Vidović
Kovač said that he hadn't noticed recently, "in light of the registered hate crimes, that any renowned German parliamentarian, for example, has claimed that the social climate in present-day Germany reminds one of the Third Reich." (Pupovac said that atmosphere in Croatia is reminiscent to the times of Second World War puppet state “Independent State of Croatia - NDH”).
At the same time veterans associations attacked government requesting an answer: “Do they support Pupovac?” (in today’s print edition of Jutarnji list). Večernji list in it’s today’s print edition have a commentary by Mislav Šimatović: “Political leaders are pouring oil into the fire instead of appeasing the situation”.
It is obvious that right-wing part of HDZ and some small parties (Croatian Conservative Party, whose member is Ruža Tomašić, member of European parliament, attacked SDSS for “inspiring Serbian provocations in Vukovar”) decided to use growing political tensions related to Presidential elections and attack prime minister Andrej Plenković via its coalition with Milorad Pupovac. Globus, that will be published on Wednesday, has a very interesting story: Will Croatia be faced with nationalist fever next year: the second round of Presidential elections, 30 years of Croatian statehood, 25 years from Flash and Storm operations, elections in HDZ and parliamentary elections.
New investments from China
China's state-owned Sinopharm International pharmaceutical company is interested in building university hospitals in Split, Zagreb and Osijek, reports Hina. The future hospital in Split would spread over 150,000 m2. Investments in such hospitals in the world revolve around €1.5 billion. Chinese investors promised that the hospital will be operating in 2023.
“The Chinese would give us a very favourable loan for construction”, said health Minister Milan Kujundžić in Slobodna Dalmacija. He said the hospital would be owned by Croatia, the staff would be Croatian but that the Chinese would be treated there as well, as they highly valued Croatian physicians. This would be used to repay loans, he added.
The most significant reform?
Varaždin County Prefect (župan) Radimir Čačić described transferring of public administration tasks to the county level as the most significant government reform measure.
Public Administration Minister Ivan Malenica, who was in Varaždin and Čakovec (Međimurje County), said that as of 1 January next year about 200 administrative tasks would be transferred to the county level. For that plan to be implemented, 66 laws should be amended.
European Commission in its recommendations to Croatia just mentioned that reform emphasizing that “The territorial fragmentation of Croatia's public administration affects its effectiveness and highlights regional differences”.
Croatia's civil aviation agency to assist North Macedonian counterpart
The Croatian Civil Aviation Agency (HACZ) will be the project promoter of the "Support for participation in the ECAA - European Common Aviation Area" twinning project valued at €250,000 that will provide assistance and expertise to aviation authorities in North Macedonia, the HACZ reported on Monday. The project is aimed at providing expertise and assistance to North Macedonia's civil aviation authorities to support the sustainable development of civil aviation following international standards and EU legal acquis in that field.
'Light is life'
Šibenik, city on the Croatian coast, is celebrating 124 years since it gets public lighting. On August 28th 1895. light supplied by alternating current came to Šibenik via 11 km long powerline from hydroelectric power plant Jaruga on river Krka. It was used for lighting streets and homes, as well as for industrial plants and production. Šibenik was one of the first towns in the world with that kind of lighting.
People who invested in first hydroelectric power plant near Šibenik, on river Krka