Diplomacy and Commerce No.19

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November 2019 | ISSUE No. 19 | FREE COPY

9772466380002

11 OCT

SPANISH NATIONAL DAY

FIESTA NACIONAL DE ESPAÑA

THE NATIONAL DAY RECEPTION OF THE SPANISH EMBASSY IN CROATIA TOOK PLACE AT “MIMARA” MUSEUM IN ZAGREB

IT IS TIME FOR BOLD DECISIONS KOLINDA GRABAR KITAROVIĆ President of the Republic of Croatia

THE PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EU- MOST CHALLENGING PROJECT GORDAN GRLIĆ RADMANT

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs

WE ARE TAKING INITIAL STEPS TOWARDS INTRODUCING THE EURO

IMPRESSIONS ARE EXTREMELY POSITIVE

Governor of the Croatian National Bank

German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy

BORIS VUJČIĆ

France OUR BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE JOB MARKET LUKA BURILOVIĆ

President of the Croatian Chamber of Economy

H.E. GAËL VEYSSIÈRE French Ambassador to Croatia

PETER ALTMAIER

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EDITORIAL

CONTENTS

We'll Always Have Barcelona In early October, I spent three days at the W Hotel in Barcelona.

On my last day in the town, just before lunch, I went to the Museum of Catalan History located in the former harbour building.

Perusing through the exhibits in the dark of the museum and pondering over the historical facts that speak of the centuries-long aspiration of this Spanish province for autonomy, I forgot how beautiful the day was. I covered on foot the stretch between La Barceloneta and the W Hotel surrounded by thousands of tourists and locals spending a dreamy weekend on the Mediterranean coast.

The next day I saw in the news that, following the sentencing of the leaders of the Catalan secessionists, tens of thousands of protesters took it to the streets of Barcelona, the airport was blocked, numerous flights cancelled and there were injured people on both sides. Alec Wainman, an American photographer who spent much of the Civil War (1936-1939) in Barcelona and at that time, one of the Republican mainstays, crossed my mind.

I remembered the finals of the European Football Championship in Kyiv in June 2012. One hundred thousand people at Queen’s concert in Maidan Square, fans of Spain and Italy, the finalists, hugging each other, shiny billboards wherever you looked and neon signs on the buildings around the square.

Only one year later, Maidan was burning, other parts of Ukraine followed, several people were set alight in a besieged building in Odesa, and a real war was waging in the east of the country, which, six years later, is still smouldering as a frozen conflict.

How fragile is this world that we live in where everything can be turned upside down overnight, where bitter winter can quickly oust the sunny October days and where the peace and tranquillity of Vienna, Belgrade, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Budapest or Prague can be replaced by street unrest or worse?

How much can we predict future events even in parts of the world that seem completely calm and trouble-free? Did anyone imagine only a few days before Breivik did what he did in idyllic Norway or Brenton Harrison Tarrant in a mosque in faraway New Zealand that that would happen?

The Europe we know and love might change quite soon and we might remember Barcelona from our romantic travels, like the hero of the movie Casablanca, dreaming of the idyllic pre-war Paris.

We need to remember this when we are tempted to vote for an adventurous and so easily seductive political option in the next election.

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D&C ANNIVERSARY

H.E. ADRIANO CHIODI CIANFARANI

DIPLOMACY&COMMERCE FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

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IMPRESSIONS ARE EXTREMELY POSITIVE PETER ALTMAIER

German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy

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MANY TESTS FOR THE GOVERNMENT H.E. W. ROBERT KOHORST The US Ambassador

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CROATIA WILL BE IN THE DRIVING SEAT OF CHANGES H.E. ANDREW DALGLEISH British Ambassador

A YEAR OF CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES Italian Ambassador

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COOPERATION IS THE CORNERSTONE OF EVERY SOLUTION H. E. DIANA MADUNIĆ Swedish Ambassador

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TOURISM IS A CREATIVE CHALLENGE GARI CAPPELLI

Minister of Tourism

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WE ARE GOING TO BE EVEN BETTER IN 2020 TOURISMWISE KRISTJAN STANIČIĆ

Director of the Croatian Tourist Board

ROBERT ČOBAN Director

www.diplomacyandcommerce.hr BOBAN SPASOJEVIĆ Executive director

boban@diplomacyandcommerce.hr

TANJA BANKOVIĆ Editor-in-chief

ALEKSANDAR KOSTIĆ Designer

Translation SNEŽANA BJELOTOMIĆ

RUŽA VELJOVIĆ Magazine director

SVEN DARRER Advertising manager 091 766 5479, 091 377 4358

office@diplomacyandcommerce.hr

ROBERT ČOBAN Director

ILIJA PETROVIĆ INDIGOCHILD Art director

Photos GETTY IMAGES TOMISLAV SMOLJANOVIĆ

indigochild.ilija@gmail.com

sven@diplomacyandcommerce.hr

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D&C ANNIVERSARY

Diplomacy&Commerce from a Different Perspective In the last two years, Diplomacy&Commerce magazine has provided its readers with an abundance of news from politics, business and culture and has covered the opinions of the relevant stakeholders both from Croatia and abroad while reporting all segments of life and opening up topics that were not written or talked about enough. With its latest issue, Diplomacy&Commerce is celebrating its second anniversary in Croatia. We are very proud of the fact that, in the last two years and for a total of 19 issues, we have managed to interview the leaders of the Croatian political, business and diplomatic community, as well as the renowned regional and

global public figures. In these past 19 issues, we have also published special supplements dedicated to the overall relations between Croatia and European and world countries, as well as presented specific segments of society that are important for development (education, tourism, fashion...)

We have asked Croatian officials, including government ministers, ambassadors and representatives of business associations in Croatia, for their opinion about: What political and economic challenges await Croatia in 2020?

What will be the key challenges on a global scale?

It Is Time for Bold Decisions

KOLINDA GRABAR KITAROVIĆ President of the Republic of Croatia

The Croatian Presidency of the Council of the European Union is certainly a challenge but also an immense opportunity for Croatia that will mark not only

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the first half of 2020 but also the next years in Europe. During the Croatian Presidency, we will be discussing pivotal issues for the future of Croatia and the EU, such as the Multiannual Financial Framework or the impact of Brexit. Internally, we will have to continue working hard on

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the issue of demography, such as the implementation of the measures for demographic policy I have suggested. This topic is of immense importance to Croatia and the other EU Member States, and I expect a wide focus on the issue also through the position of the new Vice-President of the European Commission and the Commissioner for Demography and Democracy.

When it comes to the economy, after a prolonged economic downturn stemming from the global financial crisis, Croatia has been experiencing economic growth at approximately 3% per annum since 2015. This growth is higher than the EU average. It is occurring amid falling levels of public and external debt and under fiscal consolidation, which is a significant success. Croatian growth today is stable and sustainable. But there is no room for complacency as major tasks and challenges still lie ahead.

We need to make bold, ambitious and decisive changes right now.

We must implement reforms while economic conditions are favourable and external risks do not pose a major threat. We have to implement the reforms that are planned, especially in regard to making the public administration and judiciary more efficient, increasing employment among women and youth, improving conditions for doing business and ensuring the sustainability of pension and health care systems.

We are witnessing changes in the global environment and in our closer European neighbourhood.

Protectionism, the possibility of rising interest rates and slower growth in the Eurozone, which is home to our largest trading partners, are among the external challenges that are present.

Giving our best in building a strong economy and ensuring prosperity for all of our families and our people is our common task. This has to be one of the top priorities for all of us – including Government, business, profession-

al and academic sectors. In this respect, my views are clear and, I believe, well known to the public.

From the first day of my term as President, I advocated Croatia as a country that has great potentials and all the prerequisites for growth. I supported and encouraged the development of a modern market economy based on knowhow, where human capital is the most valuable ally to its growth and development. I will continue to advocate this in the future.

Globally, I believe the issue of migration is surely one of the biggest challenges of our time. The world is experiencing a staggering record number of displaced persons, refugees and migrants. This is a direct consequence of on-going armed conflicts and crises, failing states, mass violations of human rights and security concerns. However, mass migration is also caused by other circumstances, especially economic and social challenges, poverty and climate change.

I have said so before, and I will say it again: we must address the root causes. We must have a proper follow-up. While protecting human rights, we must, in particular, prevent human trafficking and alleviate the negative consequences of illegal migrations. Orderly and regulated migration is our responsibility. We expect from all stakeholders to act responsibly and cooperatively in that regard.

As a country which protects the longest external EU land border, Croatia is doing its best to ensure all of the above. And we shall continue to do so. The European Commission has confirmed that Croatia is ready for Schengen and our joining of the Schengen area will make Croatia and Europe safer.

A big step towards stopping millions in fleeing to safety is to work together, through diplomacy, to achieve lasting stability and peace in Syria. We need to make the process of political transition credible and inclusive and to

prevent the emergence of radicalization and violent extremism.

Another concern is the return of foreign fighters, for which we need to find a unified and sustainable response.

Last but not least, I would like to mention an issue very close to my heart and very troubling indeed - climate change as well as the pollution of the seas and oceans, especially by plastic. This is something I have been speaking about before the General Assembly for the last two years and I believe it is high time we truly take care of our planet, as it is the only home we have. Croatia pays particular attention to the environmental protection of the Adriatic Sea. We are focused on the preservation and facilitation of the marine and coastal environmental recovery, the protection of biodiversity and the sustainable use of the sea and the coastal areas. Croatia's national ecological network covers 37 % of our entire land area and 15 % of our marine area.

However, climate change and pollution threaten our natural resources, our delicate ecosystems and our Adriatic Sea. Marine litter is a problem of increasing concern. It threatens marine life in the world’s oceans and in the Adriatic Sea, impacting more than 700 marine species. Croatian coastal areas, one of the world’s cleanest, are at times severely affected by poorly managed waste from our southern, neighbouring countries. We know that pollution has a yearly financial negative impact in the billions of USD. These are only immediate costs of the plastic’s impact on marine life, tourism, fisheries and businesses. However, plastic pollution carries toxic pollutants into our own food chain. A recent study has revealed that on average people could be ingesting approximately 5 grams of plastic every week, which is the equivalent weight of a credit card. What we throw into the sea today, we reap in our food tomorrow.

to be important and potentially even a turning point for the global economy. On a global scale, we are going to see whether today's flagging economic growth in Europe is only a temporary slowdown or just the first sign of a serious decline in economic activity. With or without a deal, we are going to witness the aftermath of Brexit. We are also going to see if the peak of the US-China trade dispute is finally behind us or a further escalation is yet to

come. Besides, 2020 is going to be a pivotal year for China, where data paints an increasingly cloudy outlook on the economy with significant concerns about its structural imbalances. Finally, perhaps the greatest challenge lies with monetary policymakers, who are eager to find a way to stimulate the sluggish economy on the one hand and to address the issues associated with an unconventional monetary policy on the other.

We Are Taking Initial Steps Towards Introducing the Euro BORIS VUJČIĆ Governor of the Croatian National Bank

Looking towards 2020, there are two major historic milestones Croatia is about to reach. On the political front, that is certainly the EU presidency in the first half of the year, while on the economic front, it is the entry into the Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM II), and in parallel, the entry into the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) and Single Resolution Mechanism (SRM). Although ERM II entry might look like as an easy job – one should just join in – it has been quite a journey for Croatia to become ready to take that step: a critical step towards the euro adoption. Croatia sent a letter to the ECB requesting to enter into close cooperation in May (which incorporates both the SSM and the SRM entry), and in July, announced its intention to participate in the ERM II by sending a letter to the euro

area member states and EU institutions. The Eurogroup welcomed the Croatian letter, which in short meant – do what you said you would do to enter the ERM II. The task amounts to the implementation of 19 measures in six areas. Some of the most important segments are the preparations for establishing close cooperation with the ECB, upgrading macro-prudential powers, reinforcing the capacity of the national statistical office, continuing the anti-money laundering and terrorist financing activities, upgrading the country's business climate and improving business conditions by further trimming parafiscal charges. So, this is exactly what we are doing now, and we plan to deliver on all measures by May next year so we can present ourselves as a serious candidate to enter the ERM II in early summer 2020.

The peak of economic uncertainty in the next year is going

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INTERVIEW

Impressions are Extremely Positive The economic dynamism in the countries I visited is highly promising, and German companies are increasing their levels of trade and investment there

PETER ALTMAIER German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy

Germany is Croatia's main foreign trade partner with over €5 billion generated in 2018. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković made the remarks while meeting in October with visiting Germany's Federal Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy Peter Altmaier. Croatia is particularly interested in investments in the auto industry, and there is a stimulating investment environment, Plenkovic said. Altmaier stressed that southeast Europe is a region of opportunity for all countries and that Germany wants close exchanges with European partners. Plenkovic and Altmaier also discussed the goals of Croatia's presidency of the European Union, which will begin on Jan. 1, 2020, with Germany taking over the presidency on July 1, 2020. After Croatia, Altmaier visited Montenegro and Serbia. Peter Altmaier (CDU) is the federal Minister of economics and energy in Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cabinet. In an exclusive interview for the November issue of Diplomacy & Commerce magazine, German Federal Economy Minister

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Peter Altmaier spoke about the EU and the Western Balkan states.

You have visited Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro. What was the reason for this official visit and what were your impressions?

— I attach particular importance to the region of south-eastern Europe. I see a great opportunity for us to be able to complete the

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unification of continental Europe through the continued convergence of the countries in the region to the EU. I just visited Croatia, the newest EU Member State, and Montenegro and Serbia, two countries which are actively negotiating their accession to the EU with the European Commission.

My impressions are extremely positive. The economic dynamism

in the countries I visited is highly promising, and German companies are increasing their levels of trade and investment there.

What conclusions will you take with you to Berlin, since you have visited Croatia, an EU member state, and Montenegro and Serbia, which are in the accession process?

ONE IMPORTANT JOINT CHALLENGE IS THE CREATION OF JOBS IN THE REGION AND THE SECURING OF THE SKILLED WORKERS NECESSARY FOR THIS

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the EU first to reform itself (before enlarging), or is Germany closer to the position of the European Commission whose officials are in favour of a parallel process of the Union’s integration and enlargement?

— The most important conclusion is that EU enlargement is a success story which equally benefits both the countries in the region and the EU. And we should continue to work hard together on bringing the region closer to the EU – this will round off our EU and enrich us politically, economically and culturally.

— The Bundestag voted by a large majority to commence accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia. It is regrettable that the European Council has not been able to arrive at a decision on this yet. I am convinced that we should begin the process of accession with Albania and North Macedonia as soon as possible. We must not lose time.

How high is the Balkans on the list of priorities of the German economic and European policy?

How do you feel about the situation in the Balkan countries today?

— Our conferences on the Western Balkans, which Chancellor Merkel launched in August 2014, have placed the political dialogue with the countries in the region high up on the political agenda.

The wide-ranging initiatives taken since then are dubbed the “Berlin process”. Together with the European Commission, the Regional Cooperation Council and of course the private sector, we have made great progress on regional cooperation and the expansion of the necessary infrastructure. We are addressing forward-looking topics, such as digitisation. One important joint challenge is the creation of jobs in the region and the securing of the skilled workers necessary for this.

GERMANY WILL HAVE TO IMPROVE ITS BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

— Our forecasts are rather restrained. We are predicting growth of 0.5% this year, and somewhat higher growth of 1% next year. That is much less than in previous years. Of course, a major role is played by the difficult external economic environment. However, I am optimistic that we will leave this temporary slow period behind us. To do this, Germany will have to improve its business environment. I have made proposals for this in my SME Strategy, e.g. on corporate tax reform and targeted funding for tomorrow’s technologies.

Does official Berlin share the position of the French President Emmanuel Macron, who wants

CROATIAN-GERMAN ECONOMIC FORUM European countries must strengthen cooperation in order to maintain Europe's technological sovereignty, the Croatian-German Economic Forum heard in October with Croatian Economy Minister Darko Horvat saying that Croatia was ready for the first big investment in the auto industry.

The forum was organised by the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) and the German-Croatian Chamber of Industry and Commerce. It brought together representatives of 60 Croatian and German companies from the service, energy, transport, finance, tourism and telecommunication sectors.

Horvat said the Croatian economy was continually growing by 3% but that it was not enough. In order to ensure bigger growth, which Germany needs too, and be able to confront the trade war between big economies such as the US and China, we must be part of the same concept, and strategic documents and regulations in Berlin and Zagreb must be virtually identical, he added.

We are in a new digital era characterised by

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Your forecasts for the coming year are very optimistic. With Brexit, the US trade war and Chinese competition, we simply have to ask where does that optimism come from?

political, technological and economic transformations, and the market economy continues to grow, which entails growing competition, making it necessary to constantly work on keeping one's position, said German Economy and Energy Minister Peter Altmaier.

Europe must keep its technological sovereignty in the future, he added.

Speaking of areas of cooperation between Croatia and Germany, he highlighted industry 4.0, innovations, the use of hydrogen in transport, and the production of batteries for the auto industry. If all batteries came from Asia, one third of our added value would disappear, he said.

Given that Croatia will chair the EU in the first half of 2020 and Germany in the second, Altmaier said the two countries must closely cooperate in the economy to raise their cooperation to a higher level.

He said Croatia must assume the role of a mediator regarding the Balkans and the EU integration of North Macedonia and Albania because, he added, that was a common interest.

D&C ANNIVERSARY

The Presidency of the Council of the EU- most Challenging Project

GORDAN GRLIĆ RADMANT Minister of Foreign and European Affairs

On 1st January, 2020, the Republic of Croatia begins its six-month-long presidency of the Council of the EU. The first Croatian presidency of the Council is the most comprehensive international project since the country's independence and our great challenge, but also an opportunity and honour for the country. Almost all state bodies are involved in the preparation and future implementation of the presidency.

Our Presidency Programme we build on the key priorities identified by the new EU Strategic Programme for the 2019-2024 period while highlighting proposals and initiatives that can contribute to balanced and sustainable economic growth, strengthen the Union's convergence and competitiveness

(including further expansion of the economic and monetary union), and seek to address the current demographic challenges.

Another significant aspect of our Programme is related to intra-EU and neighbourhood connectivity, which includes transport, infrastructure and digital connectivity. The next priority is to boost external and internal security, through the protection of the EU's external borders and to further develop justice and home affairs cooperation, with plans to adopt new long-term strategic guidelines for justice and home affairs during the Presidency of the Council of the EU. We will also underline the importance of addressing the root causes of migration. Our further priority is to improve the functioning of the Schengen Area and the eurozone, with a focus on enlargement,

which is crucial for Croatia and the EU as a whole.

We will continue striving to attract new investments to create new jobs. In this regard, through its network of diplomatic missions and consular posts, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, presents potential investors with investment opportunities, comparative advantages of Croatia and efforts made to simplify or abolish the administrative barriers and procedures encountered by our entrepreneurs, as well as inform them of the support that the Croatian Government offers investors. Foreign policy has thus been firmly rooted in the function of economic recovery, promotion of sustainable growth and international affirmation of the Croatian economy, as we continue to work hard on this.

The growing trade tensions between large partners, the emergence of unilateral protectionist measures, and crises in the multilateral trading system all pose significant global challenges. These measures and crises reflect on not only the countries that are directly involved, such as China and the US, but also harm global trade

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chains, thereby slowing the growth of the entire global economy. The stability and predictability of trade rules are especially important for smaller economies based on small and medium-sized enterprises, such as the Croatian (more than 90% of Croatian enterprises are small and medium-sized). Therefore, there is a concern that current challenges facing the EU in the global market will have an impact on the Croatian economy as well.

Furthermore, a pronounced and growing economic inequality in the world causes security, health and climate crises and new tensions and conflicts, in addition to weakening overall economic growth. Investing in education, health and social empowerment of women, as well as creating economic opportunities for young people and integrating them into the labour market, are steps that will mitigate the effects of economic inequality. With this in mind, Croatia chooses its Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects and participates in the work of European and international organizations to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (the 2030 Agenda) which we have pledged to do between 2015 and 2030.

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D&C ANNIVERSARY

Our Biggest Concern is the Job Market LUKA BURILOVIĆ President of the Croatian Chamber of Economy

The most important challenge in 2020 will be the one with which we have been coping with for several years now - emigration / demographic challenges. There has been a pronounced brain drain going on in Croatia for many years – not only since we entered the EU, but realistically speaking, since the beginning of this decade, mostly because of the economic crisis which was still rather present up until 2015. Large-scale emigration led to the change of scenery in the job market from the position in which companies could pick and choose workers, without having to be mindful of competitiveness regarding remuneration, to the position in which every major industry lacks workers and are paying pure gold for top quality, and only a little bit less for average workers.

If we want to stay competitive, not to say to improve our competitiveness, we have to make it easier for companies to do business and hire, and for people to stay, return or immigrate to Croatia. As things are at the moment, this will be the biggest political and economic challenge next year.

Following that is the second challenge - educating and preparing the workforce for the future, namely how to balance the needs of traditional industries in Croatia with the realities of low wages and the unwillingness of local people to work in those sectors. We have to define what are the appropriate jobs for our people, and what are the jobs in Croatia that would be easily filled with immigration. This is a common practice in most EU countries, but we still lag in it. Also, we need to make our education system and our job market attractive to foreigners as well. We know what the playing field is and how others are attracting a quality workforce and students to their countries. Croatia has a lot to offer, and in 2020, we have to put ourselves on the map.

Our qualities and upsides, of which there are many, have to be presented outside of Croatia.

The presidency of the Council

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of the EU. This is a clear-cut case of a challenge being an opportunity.

Croatia takes over of the presidency on January 1st, and for the next 6 months, it’s up to us to use this position to present Croatia more thoroughly and efficiently throughout the EU. Furthermore, during these 6 months, a budget will be drafted and negotiated for the 2021-27 period, and we have a chance to be more involved in it with our interests and goals.

Without undermining common EU goals, our task is to be more involved and proactive in the preparation of the next budgetary framework than we were the last time.

To learn from our previous mistakes, and success, and to assist in preparing the budget that will lead to the real cohesion and balanced and equal economic development of all EU members.

Internally, we are politically stable and mature, which does not mean that we are devoid of challenges. The biggest political challenge next year, if we can call it that, is the parliamentary election. We are used to having a “downtime” in the public sector in the election year, but that is becoming less prominent as we get more mature in terms of democracy and public governance. There are several crucial reforms underway, and it is of utmost importance to keep it going without hiccups related to potential political changes and turmoil.

Economic development on a global scale is slowing down, with emphasis on Europe and Croatia’s main trade and economic partners.

This could lead to the slowdown of Croatia’s economy as well, which would come in the most unfavourable time. We are preparing for that case and are turning our, almost one-track focus of the last 20 years, towards the EU, to other markets and partners as well. Asia is still a powerhouse that keeps growing, and we are focusing on those markets for some time now. Africa is rising and developing strongly and we feel that the challenge is in how to approach that market. With this shift in focus, we could eliminate the potential downturn of the EU economy and its impact on Croatia, and yield even higher growth

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through the opening of the new, for us still untapped, markets.

Structure of our economy, and the need to change it, to restructure it, is still a top priority regarding our long-term goals. To secure sustainable economic growth and robust economy that is resilient to cyclical downturns, we need to build an export-oriented economy reliant on high added value products, services and workplaces.

On one side we need to keep the tourism developing, but with a rise in its quality and decrease of its share in our GDP. On the other side, we need to put the much higher focus, I would even say the most of the focus, on sectors and industries that we did not deal with very much so far. Here I’m talking about higher added-value products and services – IT, gaming, creative industries, high-tech R&D and production, modern added value agriculture, etc.

Private sector financing. There is a strong growth of loans in Croatia, but most of that growth is focused on personal loans that produce no added value or new long term capacity. The loans in the private sector linger on the same levels for some time, with a major part of those loans going to tourism. We enjoy lower interest rates, better credit rating, but the economy is not feeling it in its most important parts. This could lead to the creation of the bubbles on some markets (for instance housing and real estate), and to crowding out of the export-oriented part of the economy from the finance sources. The challenge is how to make our companies more prepared to grow in market and competitiveness and in making

it feasible for our banking sector to invest in them more willingly.

Besides the banking sector, to support the private sector better, we finally need to introduce other ways of financing much stronger.

Trade wars and new protectionism will be the major challenges in the year to come. The unpredictability of the relations on a global scale will make 2020 another interesting and exciting year.

We don’t have a large influence on these trends and relationships, but we are getting more and more competent in adapting to almost daily changes.

The slowdown in global economic growth is a challenge that everyone expects in 2020. Media is somewhat exaggerating its potential, as we don’t expect the potential downturn to be on the level of the crisis in 2008. But, money is already cheap, economic easing is maybe not officially in force, but the interest rates act as it is – if that is not enough for spurring growth it is not easy to imagine how are we going to tackle and fight expected fall. Combined with global political turmoil it could be an explosive mixture.

Climate issues – they are already separating people and companies in two camps – both politically and economically. It will get even fiercer in the year to come, especially in the EU, North America zone. During the scrabbles in this region, Asia, Africa and parts of South America will go on with their development without minding these issues. This will maybe be good for them in the short term, but not so good for everyone in the long term.

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D&C ANNIVERSARY

Many Tests for the Government H.E. W. ROBERT KOHORST The US Ambassador

Croatia faces a number of political challenges in 2020. The first, and most pressing, is managing an effective Presidency of the Council of the European Union. This is Croatia’s opportunity to shine as a leader in the EU, but the logistics and a set of very challenging issues facing the EU will put the government to the test. Bosnia remains a very difficult regional issue, and Croatia has the potential to play a positive role in resolving the political difficulties there. Reconciliation and legacy issues with Serbia are always important, as is the border dispute with Slovenia. Resolution of these challenges will require extraordinary work by Croatia

and all of its partners.

Croatia also faces economic challenges in 2020. The government has identified many reforms to the business climate, but faster implementation is key. The need to create economic opportunities now cannot be overstated to encourage young Croatians to remain in the country and to encourage those who left to return.

Resolving trade disputes will be the key driver of economic prosperity worldwide. The United States is attempting to reform broken systems and inequities. Compromise by all parties is needed.

Besides, armed conflicts will require better answers than military intervention. It will take a combined effort of many countries, led by the U.S., to resolve these issues through diplomacy.

Croatia Will Be in the Driving Seat of Changes

H.E. ANDREW DALGLEISH British Ambassador

From the British Embassy’s point of view, one of the major challenges that Croatia will have to face in 2020 will be to deal with the impact of Brexit. Croatia’s Presidency of the European Union puts them in the driving seat to

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take negotiations about the future relationship between the UK and the EU forward. We’re anticipating energetic and positive discussions about our future ties, with the EU and of course, Croatia. The Presidency gives Croatia the space to move the agenda on regional stability forward with its Western Balkans Summit in May – an issue

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on which the UK continues to be deeply engaged. A new year is also a great opportunity to continue improving the commercial environment in Croatia, and to encourage foreign investors, including the UK ones, to do business here.

Finally, the threat that human behaviour poses to our natural environment is an ever-pressing problem. The major climate change summit in Glasgow in 2020 will be the moment for Croatia to commit to decisive action to cut greenhouse gas emissions with other key allies.

The major long term challenge for the world in 2020 is to tackle dangerous climate change. Failing to do so will have worldwide consequences: water shortages, loss of biodiversity, rising sea levels, forced migration, damage to our

food supply, etc. We must act now to avoid the worst. Linked to this is the urgent need to deal with the problem of plastic pollution, which is damaging our marine life at an alarming rate. These are shared issues – no one country can solve them alone. In recent years the international rules-based system has come under increasing strain. In the face of provocations, we learn must the lessons from past conflicts and renew our efforts to strengthen the rule of law and institutions like the Council of Europe and UN which have been beacons of peace, democracy and human rights. In the short term, the ongoing need to find stable solutions in areas of the world subject to conflict is essential – Croatia, as Presidency of the EU and an active member of NATO, will be a key player.

A Year of Challenges and Opportunities

H.E. ADRIANO CHIODI CIANFARANI Italian Ambassador

2020 is going to be a very challenging year for Croatia as the country will be confronted with a busy political agenda: the turnover at the helm of the State in February, with the incumbent President running for re-election; the first term ever as the most junior EU Member State presiding of the Council of the European Union from January 1 to June 30; and the national political elections due in the second half

of the year.

It will certainly be a year with multiple challenges but also opportunities for Croatia, at the national level as well as at the EU level, in terms of advancing the EU agenda, with specific regard to the multiannual financial framework 2021-2027, the EU relations with the Western Balkan countries and, most likely, Brexit and its reverberations.

When it comes to the future enlargement of the EU, this is both a political and economic issue of particular interest to Croatia, considering its geographic position and

historic relations with the WB6, but also in the context of its aspirations to join the Schengen area.

Consequently, the reinforcement of the EU's internal and external security, the strengthening of transport and energy connectivity as well as economic growth are some of the issues that will be at the heart of Croatia's presidency priorities. Furthermore, let me touch upon the emphasis that the Croatian leadership put on the need for demographic revival, which is also a powerful driving force of economic development.

These areas are also shared points of interest between Croatia and Italy, as highlighted by the interaction within the framework of certain regional intergovernmental mechanisms of cooperation such as the Central European Initiative, the Adriatic and Ionian Initiative, the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region, the Italy-Croatia CBC Programme and the ADRION Programme, which all

bear testimony to the very intensive cooperation between these two neighbouring countries.

cians, experts and different delegations will visit Croatia which I believe is also useful to strengthen and develop bilateral relations.

system – all of this has an impact on Europe.

I think that the only way forward with many of these challenges is cooperation, and for Sweden, the cooperation within the EU is a cornerstone. We need to safeguard what we have achieved with regard to core values such as democracy and the rule of law, as well as take the lead towards a carbon-neutral world and foster sustainable development that includes all citizens of the EU.

In my opinion, the key challenge is migratory flows as they are making their way to the forefront of the international agenda, with Croatia and Italy being among the EU countries most affected by this phenomenon.

It is a complex, multifaceted, manifold issue that needs to be addressed on multiple fronts with a coordinated EU, in line with the principles of solidarity and shared responsibility.

Besides, energy and climate change policies pose increasing challenges on the global level.

Having also in mind these paramount challenges, cooperation within the EU framework aiming at promoting energy efficiency and environmental protection can significantly contribute to making progress towards meeting some of the common objectives.

Cooperation is the Cornerstone of Every Solution H. E. DIANA MADUNIĆ Swedish Ambassador

Obviously, 2020 will be a busy year for Croatia for several reasons, not least due to its first Presidency of the European Union, which is always demanding.

Croatia taking the helm of the EU means it will have to handle a number of issues that are on the current EU agenda. The EU’s multi-annual budget, Brexit and of course, climate change are only some of the topics that will affect the EU in 2020. Croatia will be chairing the discussions in the Council on all these topics. The EU must find ways to tackle these

challenges, because they will have a strong impact on the EU in many ways – be it economically, politically, socially or environmentally.

The Presidency plays a key role in how we take on the tasks we need to solve together. Our experience from the Swedish Presidencies, in 2001 and 2009, is that fostering that important spirit of cooperation is the key. Member States look to the Presidency for taking responsibility for the everyday work, finding common agreements and making sure all countries can move forward together. It is not always an easy job, but it needs to be done to make progress on EU cooperation.

Additionally, numerous politi-

In a sense, the topics facing the EU, that I have just mentioned, are not isolated from global challenges.

Climate change, refugee crises in various places of the world, the deteriorating situation for democracy, human rights including gender equality in some places, the state of our oceans, the world trade

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D&C ANNIVERSARY

Tourism is a Creative Challenge GARI CAPPELLI Minister of Tourism

At the beginning of this tourist year, we were faced with challenges related to last-minute booking, which caused certain doubts about the realization of the anticipated tourist results at certain periods.

However, as 2019 is drawing to a close, we can say that, through joint and great efforts of both the private and public sectors, we have been able to achieve growth in tourist traffic and increase in tourism revenue this year. In late October, we already accomplish the forecasted results in terms of tourist traffic, which took us 12 months to accomplish in 2018. Next year will be equally challenging in terms of further tourism growth, but we have already begun with preparing well and promoting. I believe that we will be able to attract new guest segments, especially those from distant markets, and extend the

tourist season to last longer.

Another challenge facing the tourism sector in recent years concerns finding sufficient skilled workforce for the tourism and hospitality industry. This year, the Government of the Republic of Croatia increased the quotas for the import of foreign workers as a short-term solution. However, the Croatian government also aims have as much domestic workforce in tourism as possible, which is why we, in the Ministry of Tourism, have launched projects aimed at promoting tourism and hospitality professions, providing scholarships for high school and university students and opening six centres of competence in the tourism and hospitality sector, as a crowning achievement. In these centres, in addition to vocational education and the implementation of work-based learning, we are going to conduct training and work on adapting job profiles to labour market needs.

Under the influence of globalization and new technologies, business is rapidly changing and adapting to current trends in all economic sectors. Tourism is no exception since, as a horizontal activity, it absorbs changes in the environment even faster. Some of the major changes in modern tourism are related to consumer behaviour and preferences. The time of long-term travel planning with the provision of third-party services is long gone. Due to the availability of accommodation, transportation and tourism products in the destination, tourists increasingly organize their trips online and independently, and often decide to travel at the last minute. Therefore,

all tourist destinations in the world will need to find creative ways to promote and offer innovative tourist facilities, as modern-day tourists want a destination that can provide them with new experiences, and will choose a destination depending on the variety of the offer it provides. However, tourism is the fastest-growing economic activity in the world, overtaking some of the industries that have been at their peak for years in terms of annual growth rate. In this context, we do not have to be concerned about the further development of tourism, but we need to approach the development of our tourism product in a smart, strategic and quality way and market it in the global tourism market.

We Are Going To Be Even Better in 2020 Tourism-Wise Also, in 2020, we will continue with other promotional activities aimed at positioning Croatia as an attractive year-round tourist destination with a rich and varied offer.

KRISTJAN STANIČIĆ Director of the Croatian Tourist Board

Although the year 2019 was very challenging and demanding tourism-wise, the Croatian tourism sector achieved excellent results in terms of tourist traffic growth - 4 per cent in arrivals and 2 per cent in overnight stays - which proves that our country enjoys a stable position in a very competitive international market. Aware of the challenges and demands that await us in the coming year, we, in the Croatian National Tourist Board, have already begun intensive

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preparations for the year 2020 in which we plan to further increase Croatia's visibility on the world tourist map. Among the big projects and events that will mark next year are Rijeka – the 2020 European Culture Capital, Croatia presiding over the European Union and the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, in the sports segment. These are unique opportunities which we are going to utilize to further promote our country as Croatia will be the centre of European political events, while Rijeka, as the cultural centre of Europe, will have a great opportunity to present itself to numerous visitors from all over the world.

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Globally, it is extremely important to monitor geopolitical trends in the market and plan and act accordingly. Tourism is a very dynamic sector in which trends and therefore market trends are changing rapidly. In 2020, we will continue to open new and distant markets that are key to the continued growth and development of tourism in Croatia. These are mostly tourists who travel mainly in pre- and post-season, while, at the same time, being good consumers. Also, while Europe will remain our most important market, by opening distant markets, we are reducing our dependence on

traditionally strong neighbouring markets. Globally, this is strategically important because certain geopolitical trends in individual European countries can and do have a strong impact on Croatia's tourism output. The proof that we are on the right track is seen in the excellent results we have achieved in far-flung markets such as China, the USA, South Korea, Canada and Australia, We have also opened new offices in Shanghai, Los Angeles and Seoul to further strengthen our position. In 2020, we are planning to open an office in Madrid, as this is a city where the most important international tourism institutions and associations are based, while Spain, as our emission market, offers excellent potential and space for the further growth in the arrival of the Spanish tourists in Croatia.

Kopaonik

Ove zime... #VidiSrbiju

TuristiÄ?ka organizacija Srbije 15

D&C ANNIVERSARY

Busy Political Agenda is Before Us

ANDREA DOKO JELUŠIĆ Executive Director AmChamm

2020 is a decisive year for the Croatian political arena. After elections in late 2019, the Croatian

president will step into his/her office to begin a new mandate.

On the other hand, parliamentary elections will take place at the end of 2020 to form a new convocation of Croatian Parliament and

Government. Between these two key events for Croatian politics in the next 4-5 years, Croatia will, for the first time in its history, preside over the Council of the EU. Only six years after its accession, the country has been given the responsibility of facilitating the negotiation process for the EU budget, beginning the work of the new European Commission and unprecedented challenge to preside during the immediate repercussions of Brexit. It is expected that a busy political agenda will dominate over daily economic life, even though businesses will be interested to see where political Europe is heading, recognize

its goals, and understand how they will influence the business environment.

Global political and trade tensions have increased unpredictability. While the US economy is doing great, some European economies are slowing down, which might influence Croatian companies as parts of their value chains. The new European Commission will have to set an ambitious agenda in order for Europe to catch up to the US and China’s technology development and close the competitiveness gap, as well as to deal with migration and sustainability challenges.

An increase in, say, customs duties does not only make exporting more difficult, but it also makes imported goods and services more expensive for the region that imposed them. Also, higher duties for a specific product or service always have a negative impact on several sectors. The measures we take to tackle climate change will significantly affect the competitiveness

of our economies. There are huge opportunities, but there is also a risk of a increase in costs. Brexit is also a big issue for the interconnected global economy, and the new extension date hasn't solved anything, because the outcome still remains unclear. The 3.5-yearlong stalemate regarding Brexit has already done a lot of damage.

Global Economic and Trade Policy Insecurities are Growing SVEN THORSTEN POTTHOFF Director of the German-Croatian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Croatia will preside over the Council of the European Union next year, and it will certainly have a lot of work to do on accomplishing not only the goals it has set itself but also meeting the requirements of the presidency as such, for instance, organizing all the events for EU officials in Croatia. We are also witnessing a slowdown of the European economy and Croatia must take this into account in the following period. There is no reason to be worried at the moment; on the contrary, we are expecting that the economic activity in Croatia will

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grow 2.7 per cent in 2020. Still, one has to keep in mind that no country is an island and that those possible negative developments in the EU could affect Croatia.

From our perspective, as a voice of companies and entrepreneurs, the growing protectionism, trade conflicts, climate change and Brexit pose the biggest challenges. The growing economic and trade policy insecurities have a big impact on the investment and employment plans of companies worldwide because today they are more reliant on fair and reliable rules in international trade more than they have ever been before.

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Dialogue Between Politicians and Business People Is Necessary ANDREA PERKOV, SECRETARYGENERAL Italian-Croatian Chamber of Commerce

This is an extremely general question and I think it should be addressed more to the world of politics and diplomacy, but from the position of the Italian-Croatian Chamber of Commerce, as a representative of Italian investors in Croatia, we can speak about expectations regarding economic growth and even greater results of bilateral economic and investment cooperation.

2020 will be a challenging year for Croatia, as the presidential and parliamentary elections await us.

Likewise, Croatia will preside over the EU for the first six months.

All of these are challenges on the political and foreign policy scene, but the most important one is the internal economic investment climate, where we expect increased dialogue between politicians and business people, with the view of creating the best possible business climate. In doing so, labour, education and legal certainty for employers should be considered, and for new investors, an image of strategic development and measures to attract and then retain the investor should be very clear.

Every entrepreneur faces challenges in running a business,

and the situation is more difficult when the business is located outside their home country, and certainly includes global issues in the business world.

In general, when deciding to do business abroad, it is extremely important to get upto-date on key issues such as legislation, tax rules, accounting, costs, etc. If a business is multinati­onal, then global trends and challen­ges should be taken into consideration.

Today, the business of multinational companies is a completely natural thing and the data collated by experts who are monitoring the economic situations are available to us. The advice is certainly to reach out to those who can help and facilitate our business with their knowledge and business advice.

Speaking of concrete challenges, I would underline the fluctuation of the workforce and the digital age, which we must be synchronized with and follow the tide.

Excellent Time to Resolve Any Open Political Issues SAŠA MUMINOVIĆ, PHD President SLO-CRO Business Club

Croatia's entry into the Schengen area is again putting the spotlight on the relations with neighbouring Slovenia. Despite satisfying the technical criteria, the entry is also a political issue – whether we want it to be or not.

Now is an excellent opportunity to re-establish the dialogue and to finally resolve any open political issues which cast a dark shadow on the excellent economic relations between the two countries.

In the last few years, the world has been flooded with populism that will have great consequences

in the long run. For this reason, one of the great challenges is the path to sobriety; in other words, politics must again become the art of the possible. This is especially important in the time when we are already facing a slowdown in economic activity.

The latest crisis that has arisen from the real estate and banking sectors has shown how global economy is interconnected and vulnerable. We can currently only speculate on the source of the new crisis and how it will manifest itself, but we are sure that the paradigm of sustainable development and the circular economy is the direction of future development. Climate change is one of the key challenges and path of the solution.

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D&C ANNIVERSARY

We Are Entering a Zone of Uncertainty, Both at Home and Abroad

MLADEN NOVOSEL President of the Union of Autonomous Trade Unions of Croatia (SSSH)

Politically speaking, in late 2019 and early 2020, we will have a presidential election, and in September 2020 the latest, elections for the Croatian Parliament. According to relevant public opinion polls, no party will receive more than 30% of the vote, so it will take time for a new Croatian government to be formed, after the elections. We should bear in mind that the current government depends

on several political groups, and the issue of snap parliamentary elections remains open if the current government loses a majority in the Parliament.

Economically speaking, Croatia depends a lot on external circumstances and is highly dependent on the import and export of goods and services. For example, exports of goods and services amount to over 50% of GDP, which exposes the Croatian economy to the possibility of adverse external shocks. Although the share of the total government debt in GDP is high and stands at

about 72%, we do not expect any major problems here. Lately, the shortage of adequate workforce has also been a challenge, especially in the service and construction sector. We can also highlight that 25% of the population still lives in a zone of deprivation and severe poverty (according to the Eurostat criteria), which exacerbates the problem of emigration.

Globally speaking, there is great uncertainty in the global market over the US-China trade war, the supply of energy due to the political situation around the Persian Gulf, a global slowdown in demand and falling growth rates in China and the European

Union, as well as political turmoil in some Latin American countries.

Particular attention should be paid to the emergence of negative yields on government bonds in the most developed countries of the world, a negative return on savings, and a remarkable rise in real estate prices, especially in the EU countries.

I would also like to draw your attention to the growing phenomenon of inequality, tax avoidance and tax evasion, which have become a threat to the current economic system. it should be noted that, globally, significant resources will need to be invested to switch to more acceptable sources of energy in the face of threatening climate change.

of attention will have to be paid to combating climate change and sustainably managing natural resources. An enduring theme and challenge in international relations is also the preservation of peace and security, in which the Union plays a leading role. We often forget that just a few decades ago, the European continent was divided by the Iron Curtain and that it was impossible to talk about an open Europe. But this will likely be discussed again in the coming

period, as we are soon marking the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and because we are going to have a conference on the future of the Union soon, following the proposal of the new Commissioner von der Leyen. We are talking about a two-year process that should answer the question of what EU citizens want and how the EU should be managed. The Croatian Commissioner-designate, Mrs Dubravka, Šuica, will be in charge of this process.

With Europe About Europe VIOLETA SIMENOVA STANIČIĆ Head of the European Parliament Office in Croatia

In the coming year, Croatia will be in the focus of the domestic and European public due to its presidency of the EU Council of Ministers. This is a very complex and demanding job for any administration, especially for smaller countries and members with less European experience. One needs to be adept at finding compromises between governments that sometimes want to go in the same direction and sometimes do not.

Besides, I am quite certain that the consequences of Brexit will be on the Croatian Presidency's agenda, however Brexit turns out, and that most discussions will be marked by negotiations on a future

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common EU budget for the period 2021 to 2027. Some Member States favour and changing funding priorities, some want more money to fight climate change, to digitize the economy, and others are looking for continued generous funding for the common agricultural policy The danger of a new global financial crisis and recession are talked about a lot, as trade and technology tensions rise between the US and China. So, one of the challenges will be to preserve the stability of the economy, strengthen the "health" of the economy and develop “immunity” that helps with crisis management. The right answer to migration management has not yet been found, so this remains an important unresolved issue, especially for Europe. A lot

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41

NATIONAL DAYS

in November and December

ARRIVALS & DEPARTURES

THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC RECEIVED THE CREDENTIALS OF THE NEWLY APPOINTED AMBASSADORS

NOVEMBER

01

ALGERIA

tart of the War of S Independence

11

ANGOLA

Independence Day

11 His Excellency Mr John Spiteri, Ambassador of the Republic of Malta, based in Rome, Her Excellency Mrs Elena Rafti, Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus, based in Vienna, His Excellency Mr Anthony George Simpson, Ambassador of New Zealand, based in Rome, His Excellency Mr Sithong Chitnhothinh, Ambassador of the Laos People's Democratic Republic, based in Vienna, His Excellency Mr Miguel Camil Ruiz Blanco, Ambassador of the Republic of Colombia, based in Vienna, His Excellency Mr Annamammet Annayev, Ambassador of Turkmenistan,

based in Bucharest, His Excellency Mr Haakon Blankenborg, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway, based in Zagreb, His Excellency Archbishop Giorgio Lingua, Apostolic Nuncio, based in Zagreb, His Excellency Mr Gaël Veyssière, Ambassador of the French Republic, based in Zagreb, His Excellency Mr Nicolaas Buyck, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium, based in Zagreb, His Excellency Mr Vojislav Šuc, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia, based in Zagreb and His Excellency Mr Alan Bowman, Ambassador of Canada based in Zagreb.

Independence Day

15

BELGIUM King's Day

15

PALESTINE

Independence Day

SEBASTIAN PALMA New executive in Imperial Riviera

The Supervisory Board of Imperial Riviera has appointed a new, two-member Managing Board, which term of office begins on February 1, 2020. Vlado Miš is re-appointed as Chairman of the company’s Managing Board, while Sebastian Palma, a long-term director of Strategic Planning and Controlling at Valamar, has been appointed a

POLAND

member in charge of finances and investments. This appointment is very important for the implementation of business plans related to joint ventures of new owners, as AZ pension funds are preparing to invest HRK 426 million in the recapitalization of Imperial Riviera together with the largest Croatian tourism company, Valamar Riviera.

JASMIN BAJIĆ

PATRICK RUDAT

Member of the Board - CEO of Croatia Airlines d.d

New CEO of Kaufland

The Supervisory Board of Croatia Airlines d.d. has proposed the appointment of Jasmin Bajić as a member of the Managing Board, until a new member of the Managing Board is found via a public tender, for a maximum period of six months, as his term of office expires on November 4, 2019.

Vladimir Tomko, former head of Kaufland Croatia, will continue his career in Kaufland, Slovakia. As of November 1, Kaufland Croatia will be managed by Patrick Rudat, a former member of the Sales and Logistics Board. Martin Marić will replace Rudat as a member of the Sales and Logistics Board.

18

MOROCCO Independence Day

22

LEBANON Independence Day

28

ALBANIA " Dita e Pavarësisë" - Independence Day

DECEMBER

01

ROMANIA National Day

02 UAE

National Day

06

FINLAND I ndependence Day of 1917

SREĆKO PETROVIĆ Deputy Chairman of the Atlantic Group Supervisory Board

Former Supervisory Board member Srećko Petrovic has been appointed Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board instead of Lada Tedeschi Fiorio. The previously announced changes to the Atlantic Group took place in early October. The now former Deputy Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board, Lada Tedeschi Fiorio became a member of the company's Managing Board. In addition to Tedeschi Fiorio, new members of the Managing Board include Enzo Smrekar and

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Srećko Nakić. The three executives will be a valuable addition to the Managing Board, which also includes Emil Tedeschi (Chairman), Neven Vranković and Zoran Stanković. Lada Tedeschi Fiorio is in charge of business development and strategy. Srecko Nakić is managing the overall distribution, while Enzo Smrekar is responsible for managing the Argeta and Donat Mg brands that have the biggest international potential in Atlantic Group’s portfolio.

06

IRAQ National Day

11

UNICEF UNICEF Day

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CORPORATE

Discover Serbia in Winter and Fall in Love Again

Kopaonik, stock

Kopaonik, Zlatibor, Stara Planina and Tara are mountains that all skiers dream of; both beginners and top professionals. In addition to alpine and Nordic skiing, ski centres in Serbia offer space for many other sports, as well as enjoying good food and drinks, entertainment and beautiful wooded areas

New Year comes early for skiing fans in Serbia.

The ski season officially opens at ski centres in early December, which is an unforgettable event for all skiers. Although ski centres in Serbia stand shoulder-to-shoulder to many such centres in Europe, their trails are more spacious, well-beaten and run through the tree alleys and the wild nature of the mountain peaks.

They also offer good fun during ski breaks, in cafes and restaurants along the trails. After an active day, you can relax at wellness & spa centres, which are growing in numbers in the most popular skiing destinations in the country.

While December is reserved for the start of the ski season, January is the most popular month with skiers because it is the holiday season.

Large Serbian ski centres are developed cautiously and strategically. There is the completely

44

modernized Kopaonik, which is gradually taking over the primacy in the Balkans, the Tornik, which is an extension of the Zlatibor’s offer, as well as the Stara Planina, which is becoming increasingly popular with domestic and foreign tourists.

With almost 200 sunny days and 160 days under the snow

enjoyment to all categories of skiers. All trails are connected by a system of cable cars and ski lifts, which transport capacity is over 34,000 skiers per hour. If you like to ski during the night, the Malo Jezero trail is completely lit. 97% of skiing trails here have artificial snow systems. The adrenaline

MOUNTAINS IN SERBIA OFFER A LOT TO SKIERS AND FANS OF WINTER SPORTS ALIKE, BOTH BEGINNERS AND TOP SKIERS. THEY ARE ALSO SUITABLE FOR SNOWBOARDING, MONO-SKIING, HANG GLIDING, SNOWMOBILES AND NIGHT SKIING throughout the year, the KOPAONIK Mountain deserves to bear the moniker “The Sunny Mountain”.

As the largest ski centre in Serbia, with about 62km of trails for alpine and Nordic skiing, the Kopaonik provides immense

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rush that you get from riding in the bobsled on rails, zip-lining and tubing can be experienced all year round on the Kopaonik. With the launch of the Adventure Park - an adrenaline-fuelled attraction for children and adults - the Kopaon-

ik's tourist offer is richer for another activity. There is also a ski area with a treadmill and a carousel for the youngest skiers and beginners that make it easy to master basic skiing skills. The ski centre also has a well-maintained snow park, which hosts many local and international competitions. The Kopaonik Ski Centre has a toboggan run on the Karaman Greben trail, which is open every Tuesday and Friday from 6 pm to 10 pm.

Fans of this mountain also have the opportunity to hop on a taxi winch at earlier arranged times. www.raska-turizam.rs The ZLATIBOR Mountain, which is considered an air spa in winter, is a favourite destination for both domestic and foreign tourists. The Tornik Ski Resort is just 9km from the Zlatibor Tourist Centre where skiers have access to the Zmajevac, Čigota, Tornik and Ribnica trails,

Stara planina, Dragan Bosnić

Tara, Nenad Marić

and are transported by six-seater cable cars and two ski lifts. The artificial snow system is functional on all trails. The diverse activities are designed both for the youngest visitors and fans of adrenaline-packed content alike - riding in a bobsled on rails, tubing or panoramic cable car sightseeing.

The slopes of Obudojevica are ideal for beginners and children because of several shorter trails, a small ski lift and a ski school. Guests can also use an ice rink. The Tić Polje locality features well-maintained cross-country skiing and biathlon trails, which, due to their terrain configuration, are among the most beautiful in Europe. During the winter months, guests can use indoor swimming pools, wellness and spa centres in Zlatibor’s hotels, and the Dino and adventure park, located in the heart of Zlatibor, if you are in the mood for adventure.

There is also a special programme for New Year's celebration and winter holidays in Zlatibor, including the traditional New Year's Eve celebration in Kraljev Trg (The King’s Square) and ‘Pršutijada', a cured meat products fair.

www.zlatibor.org.rs

ski centres in Serbia, especially for fans of quality skiing. The mountain is covered in snow for almost five months a year, which represents great potential for an extended alpine skiing season. The ski resort has more than 13km of beaten trails, of different ski trail difficulties, for skiers of various skill levels. The Jabučko Ravnište locality has a cable car that trans-

ports skiers from the Stara Planina Hotel to other cable car systems and trails. There is a children's park at the cable car’s departure point, which also features a ski school.

If you are a fan of extreme sports, there is also a freeride track. The Stara Planina ski centre has an artificial snow system. Furthermore, visitors can also enjoy a stroll and see one of the most famous nature

WITH ALMOST 200 SUNNY DAYS AND 160 DAYS UNDER THE SNOW THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE KOPAONIK MOUNTAIN DESERVES TO BEAR THE MONIKER “THE SUNNY MOUNTAIN”

STARA PLANINA is slowly but surely becoming one of the largest

Kopaonik, Miloš Milenković

reserves called Babin Zub. www.jpstaraplanina.rs Nestled among coniferous forests, the TARA Mountain offers countless opportunities to enjoy nature and winter activities. If you are a fan of hiking or want to mountain climb, you can visit some of the many vantage points which this mountain is famous for. The most popular are Banjska Stena, Kozja Stena, Bilješke Stene, Sjenič and Omar. There are also several recreational ski trails for fans of skiing.

The Beli Bor skiing trail has two ski lifts and a snowfall of up to 50cm.

The Nagramak skiing trail, just 4km from Mitrovac, is 860 metres long.

The trail is located in the village of Sekulići, at 1,300-metre-altitude.

Night skiing on the lit track is a special treat and you can rent ski equipment here. The Mitrovac trail in the Tara resort has three ski lifts for children of 50 metres in length.

There are no rocks or streams on the hiking trails which are covered in medium-high grass and are much wider and lighter to climb. You can also rent climbing equipment here. www.taradrina.com More about skiing: www.skijalistasrbije.rs www.serbia.travel

ROMANTIC DESTINATIONS weekend skiing.

Numerous cafes and restaurants, good fun and beautiful mountains in Serbia are there to be enjoyed. Go ahead and visit them, and fully experience the beauty of sunny days in nature, brimming with adventure and fun.

Winter in Serbia is not only beautiful on the ski slopes. The Tara National Park, Zlatibor and Mokra Gora invite you to enjoy these romantic destinations in winter.

There are also smaller ski centres across the country, such as Divčibare, Zlatar and Javor, with one or two ski lifts, which are ideal for Tara, Miloš Karaklić

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PEOPLE & EVENTS

11 SPANISH OCT

NATIONAL DAY

The National Day Reception of the Spanish Embassy in Croatia took place at the picturesque and crowded “Mimara” Museum in Zagreb. The Spanish National Day is celebrated on 12th of October to commemorate the act of Christopher Columbus first setting foot America in 1492. The guests were greeted by the H.E. the Ambassador, the Deputy Head of Mission and the Counsellor for Economy and Trade.

The gala was attended by the former President of Croatia, Mr. Stipe Mesic, Deputy Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, Mr. Zeljko Reiner, actual and ex ministers and senior members of diplomatic corps, Members of Parliament, officials of the public administration, members of the international organizations, distinguished members representing academic, cultural and scientific institutions, think tanks members, public figures, volunteers to the Embassy and the friends of Spain in Croatia.

Ambassador of Spain to Croatia H.E. Alonso Dezcallar De Mazarredo and Deputy Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, Mr. Zeljko Reiner

Ambassador of Spain to Croatia H.E. Alonso Dezcallar De Mazarredo, spouse to the Ambassador of Spain, Ms. María Mónica Ruspoli Sanchiz and a doyen of diplomacy Budimir Lončar

Ambassador of Spain to Croatia H.E. Alonso Dezcallar De Mazarredo

17 SERBIAN WINES OCT

Ambassador of Serbia to Croatia H.E. Mira Nikolić

Military Attaches of Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Hungary

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IN ZAGREB

Thanks to the idea and the effort invested by the Serbian Ambassador to Croatia, H.E. Ms Mira Nikolić, Serbian wines and wineries had a presentation in the building housing the Serbian Embassy in Zagreb for the second consecutive year. In front of a large number of ambassadors, members of the diplomatic corps, the highest representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Croatia and business people, the wines of four Serbian wineries - Temet, Vista Hill, Kovačević and Šapat - were presented in a very pleasant atmosphere. In her welcoming address, Ambassador Mira Nikolić underlined that the first such presentation was held last year because it has become evident that Serbia has wine-making potential that can be proudly presented in the region, and because Serbian wines were not that well-known.

PEOPLE & EVENTS

17 THE FIRST JAGUAR LAND OCT

ROVER CENTRE IN ZAGREB IS OFFICIALLY OPENED

The first Jaguar Land Rover sales and service centre at Auto Benussi d.o.o. was opened in Zagreb on October 17th in front of numerous guests. Situated on the land plot spanning 18,500 square metres, the centre has 6,700 square metres and 220 parking spaces ready to be occupied by the most exclusive fleet in Croatia. The centre will sell not only premium models such as Jaguar and Land Rover, but will also act as a rental agency.

The Centre is located in the western part of Zagreb, at 32, Velimir Škorpik Street, and is made for fans of speed, luxury and adrenaline rush. At the opening ceremony, the guests were welcomed by H.E. Mr Andrew Dalgleish, UK Ambassador, Andrew Prest, Managing Director of Wallis Adria d.o.o. who is the general importer of Jaguar Land Rover vehicles for the Adria region, and Daniel Benussi, owner of Auto Benussi d.o.o.

Andrew Prest, Managing Director of Wallis Adria d.o.o. , Daniel Benussi, owner of Auto Benussi d.o.o.

18 FOCUS OCT

CONFERENCE – CLOSER TO PEOPLE

A two-day FOCUS Conference on Innovation and Communication in Public Administration and Public Companies raised topics related to the development of digital society in public administration and public companies, which must be harmonized by 23rd September, 2020 with the new law under the European Web Accessibility Directive. The conference was supported by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and was held under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar Kitarović and the Mayor of Krapina-Zagorje County, Željko Kolar. “I would like to remind you that the whole purpose of civil servants is to bring the administration closer to people and to be in service of citizens. ", said Danijel Koletić, Chairman of the conference’s Organizing Committee.

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PEOPLE & EVENTS

21 GERMAN FEDERAL

MINISTER OF ECONOMY AND ENERGY PETER ALTMAIER VISITS CROATIA OCT

The German Federal Minister of Economy and Energy, Peter Altmaier, accompanied by a numerous parliamentary and economic delegation, paid an official visit to the Republic of Croatia as part of the tour of the region. On the occasion, he met with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, the Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarović, Economy Minister Darko Horvat, representatives of the business community and German companies in Croatia.

The German Federal Minister of Economy and Energy Peter Altmaier and the The German Federal Minister of Economy and Energy Peter Altmaier, Economy Minister of Croatia Darko Horvat Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarović

28 SWISS – CROATIAN OCT

Members of The Swiss - Croatian Business Association

Ambassador of Switzerland in Croatia, H.E. Ms Emilija Georgieva , Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, H.E. Mr Gordan Grlić Radman, president of the SCBA Mr Ivica Jakić

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BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

The Swiss – Croatian Business Association (SCBA) held its yearly assembly and a regular biannual meeting in Zagreb.

The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, H.E. Mr Gordan Grlić Radman, was the guest of honour at the meeting was, who spoke about bilateral economic relations and preparations for the Croatian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The members and partners of the Association were also greeted by the Ambassador of Switzerland in Croatia, H.E. Ms Emilija Georgieva and Mr Ivica Jakić, president of the SCBA. The Swiss – Croatian Business Association was founded in 2005 and brings together around 30 Swiss – Croatian companies including the main Swiss investors in Croatia.

COLUMN

GLAM – UNLOCKING THE WORLD'S KNOWLEDGE AND CULTURAL HERITAGE

From the library of Alexandria to contemporary temples of culture and knowledge we are talking about centers that treasure a myriad of inventions, innovations, art and science of the mankind, popularly known as GLAM JAGODA POROPAT DARRER Business Communications Professional

According to a definition, GLAM is the famously known acronym that stands for galleries, libraries, archives and museums, and refers to cultural institutions that have access to knowledge as their mission. These institutions share epistemological links dating from the „Museum of Alexandria „and continuing through the cabinets of curiosities gathered in early modern Europe. Over time as collections expanded, they became more specialized and their housing was separated according to the form of information and kinds of users. Furthermore, during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries distinct professional societies and educational programs developed for each kind of institution. As collecting institutions, GLAMs preserve and make accessible primary sources valuable for researchers. Although, art is a major economic force too.

According to the economist Clare McAndrew’s report “The Art Market 2019,” released by Art Basel and UBS in March, the global art market grew 6% in 2018 to$ 67.4 billion in sales.

The art market does not just include the sales of art but also art museums, galleries and exhibitions. Some artists works are more commonly displayed than others. For example, in 2017 the most exhibited artist worldwide was Andy Warhol. There are also more commonly visited art museums; in the same year the Louvre, in Paris, was the most frequently visited museum with over 8 million visitors. Collectors and auctions are also a typical

part of the market. In 2017, the location with the highest volume of wealthiest art collectors globally was the United States.

The U.S. is also the country with the highest share of art buyers worldwide and holds the highest global share of the auction market (statista.com).

The development of the art market depended crucially upon three factors: the emergence of collectors, the production of movable works of art, and the development of mechanisms for selling these works of art, either

art consultants. Auctions, which were rare before the 17th century, are now the major determinants of art values. In addition, the market has expanded enormously through cultural globalization, satellite communication, and the development of the Internet, states Howard (2017). Also, he suggests that one of the most significant developments in the art market after 1900 was the role played by American collectors and the dealers who supplied them with works of art. Of the latter, the most phenomenally

IN ADDITION, THE MARKET HAS EXPANDED ENORMOUSLY THROUGH CULTURAL GLOBALIZATION, SATELLITE COMMUNICATION, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INTERNET directly by the artists—through fairs, markets, and exhibitions in their shops and studios—or via intermediaries such as dealers and auctioneers (britannica. com). Since the 17th century CE, these professional intermediaries have dominated the art market and have been joined by other intermediaries such as

successful and flamboyant was Joseph Duveen, Baron Muldeen of Millbank—perhaps the only art dealer ever to be ennobled. In the early 20th century the art market was largely dealer-led.

During the 19th century the number and size of museums expanded tremendously. This was particularly the case in

Europe, where great collections, formed of artifacts from around the world, were created as an expression of cultural imperialism.

As the century turned, art and antiques fairs became increasingly important. Among the most important were the Biennale des Antiquaries in Paris, the Frieze Art Fair and the Grosvenor House Art and Antiques Fair in London, the Armory Show in New York, and Europe’s biggest art fair, the European Fine Art Fair in Maastricht (Netherlands). These venues offered dealers publicity and a high volume of visitors and offered buyers the reassurance that everything had been rigorously vetted. Buyers also had the opportunity to compare prices in a much less inhibited way than in a traditional gallery setting (britannica.com). The balance of power began to shift toward auction houses, most notably Sotheby's and Christie's, just before the First World War. Until that time Sotheby’s had largely confined itself to book auctioneering; there was an unwritten agreement that if a literary property came on the market it went to Sotheby’s, while pictures and sculpture went to Christie’s. Today, according to statista.com, the top five auction houses—Christie’s, Sotheby’s, Poly Auction, Phillips, and China Guardian—made up more than half of all global auction sales value for 2018.

From the first known artifacts – the stone tools found in Kenya that are 3.3. million years old, through the vast and rich history of art till today's advances in robotics, we produced a tangible proof of invention and genius. A World cultural heritage shows the uniqueness of the mankind, and in our opinion, no artificial intelligence could ever take over.

Or could?

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BUSINESS NEWS

Croatian Bureau of Statistics

Podravka and Belupo

AN ADDITIONAL HRK 1,000 NET REWARD FOR EXCELLENT BUSINESS RESULTS

This is a third bonus for Podravka employees since December 2018 for their contribution to excellent business results in the previous period. The company has set aside almost HRK 15 million for the bonuses. Last year was one of the most

successful business years in Podravka's long history, with positive trends continuing this year too. Thus, in the first half of 2019, the profit of the Podravka Group amounted to HRK 140 million, which is 16.1 per cent higher than in the same period a year earlier.

Ledo

LINO LADA ICE CREAM THE BEST IN THE WORLD

The Lino Lada ice cream has been declared the best ice cream in the world by the International Ice Cream Consortium. The competition was held in Sweden where Ledo products once again

stood out thanks to their creativity, idea and performance technology. Experts were delighted with the unique shape of the Lino Lada ice cream and the innovative soft dressing, but what made Lino Lada the best ice cream in the world was the experience of the Lino Lada spread that was successfully made into ice cream.

The ice cream was created in cooperation with Podravka and was launched in April this year. The first supplies were sold out in just a few days, making this ice cream the most popular dessert in Croatia.

CROATIANS SPENT HRK 8.7 BILLION ON TRAVEL LAST YEAR

In 2018, 1.7 million Croatian citizens or 46.5% of the population aged 15 and over went on at least one private trip with overnight stays spending a total of HRK 8.7 billion, 3.8 billion of which was spent in Croatia and HRK 4.8 billion abroad the latest data released by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics (DZS) indicate. The DZS conducted a telephone survey on a sample of 22,000 citizens regarding their tourist activities. About 1.9 million or 53.5% of Croatian citizens did not go on private trips with overnight stays in 2018 with the most common reason being a shortage of finances (51%), health reasons (28.4%), and lack of free time (17.7%). The most common international destinations were Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, Slovenia, Italy and Austria.

PBZ Group

40TH DONATION UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE DOING GOOD EVERYDAY PROJECT

Fly Montenegro Travel

GOLD WINNER OF THE MARCO POLO AWARD

The Marko Polo Award aims to promote regional cooperation between 17 Central and Eastern European countries and to showcase the local customs, history and culture of at least 3 countries in the region, whilst recognizing the importance and contribution of tourism organizations leading to the development of the best tourism product for the Chinese market. Of the nominated travel agencies, as Tanjug reports, the international jury chose Montenegro Fly Travel from Montenegro as the award winner, which promotes Montenegro and Serbia as part of regional tours with its daughter company from Serbia - Flystar Travel DMC. Winning this award is

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important not only for the company itself, but also for the whole region because the tours, organized by Fly Montenegro Travel for the very demanding Chinese market, are exceptionally interesting. Out of all European countries, Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina have been recording the biggest increase in the number of Chinese tourists.

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PBZ Group donated HRK 349,305.91 to the Ivanec Educational Centre. This is the 40th donation made by the PBZ Group as part of its long-standing project "Doing Good Every Day". With the donation, the Centre will purchase the equipment for a sensory and IT room, equip a gymnasium and improve the existing football field for about forty people who use the services of the Ivanec Educational Centre. Following the decision to replace American Express cards, which can be used by the year-end, with new Visa cards, American Express cardholders will receive a new Visa card. The new card provides all the financial benefits of an existing American Express card and has a charitable purpose. “PBZ Group will continue to allocate funds to the Doing Good Everyday project for every transaction made with a Visa card with a heart, thus helping the community. I hope that this donation will give the Centre’s protégées a positive impulse, will help them to more easily overcome the challenges they face and make their lives better, ”said Mislav Blažić, CEO of PBZ Card.

INA

REVENUE UP 2%, PROFIT DECREASES

INA Group's revenue in the first nine months of 2019 totalled 16.55 billion kuna, two percent more than in the same period of 2018 while the group's profit dropped by 36% to 679 million kuna. CCS EBITDA excluding special items amounted to 2.397 billion kuna, improving 8% compared to the same period last year. The average oil prices decreased somewhat during the first nine months of 2019, therefore the reported EBITDA amounted to 2.208 billion kuna and profit amounted to 679 million kuna, Sandor Fasimon, President of the Management Board of INA, said in a comment that the company's intensive investments in the first nine months had started to show results.

CNB

ASSETS GREW BY 28%

According to CNB data, the total assets of the Croatian National Bank stood at HRK 159.3 billion at the end of August, up HRK 10.4 billion or 7 per cent monthly and up HRK 34.6 billion or 27.8 per cent annually. Compared to late 2018, the total assets of the central

bank increased by HRK 25.9 billion or 19.4 per cent. The largest share in the structure of foreign assets relates to placements in securities (58.2 per cent), which at the end of August, increased by 0.3 per cent monthly, up 11.6 per cent on an annual basis.

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REPORTAGE

Text: ROBERT ČOBAN

Something Completely Different Tangier, Riga, Pamplona and Luang Prabang instead of London, Paris, Rome or New York... Why go to the same places all the time, when there are so many different, sensational destinations for the same price?

Riga

To this day, most of the local elite prefers to go on, as I call them, “brainless travels”. “We should go to Cuba while Castro is still alive,” he tells you while his wife chimes in:” And to the Maldives before they sink”. Of course, there is the must-see Dubai and shopping in London, Rome, Milan or New York.

In the meantime, the low-cost travel concept with cheap flights and accommodation, which has flooded the world over the past few years, has revealed a whole range of new destinations that are not the usual pick for our people. In the past few years, my nephew Stefan (21 years old), a few friends and yours truly visited a dozen destinations that I probably would not go to see with my wife and children.

However, each of them offers so much more to “a clever traveller”; actually much more than all of the aforementioned destinations.

stop on our trip through Morocco.

Before that, we went to see tourist attractions that most people come to Morocco to see - the intricate medieval medina in Fes, the grand square in Meknes, the gigantic mosque on the coastline in Casablanca, the colorful old town of Rabat, the magical markets of Marrakech, and the cinematic setting of Ouarzazate on the other side of the Atlas Mountain. We left Tangier last.

The city had its glory days between 1923 and 1956 when it enjoyed the status of an "international zone" under the joint protectorate of the great colonial powers. Of the 40,000 citizens at the beginning of

the 20th century, 10,000 were Jews, 10,000 were Europeans (mostly Spaniards), and 20,000 were Moroccans. Such a mix created the atmosphere of cosmopolitanism even before the introduction of international status when Tangier became the meeting place of writers, painters, spies, Hollywood actresses, arms dealers and other colourful figures of the era. They all met in the shady lounges of the Continental Hotel, one of those places with "too much history."

TRACES OF OLD GLORY

Today, the Continental is a pretty much a rundown hotel where overnight stay costs 30 euro and

IF YOU COME TO A CITY TO STAY FOR JUST ONE DAY, DON'T RUSH TO SEE EVERYTHING. JUST SIT IN THE BEST CAFE AND LET THE CITY PASS IN FRONT OF YOU

TANGIER: LET THE CITY PASS IN FRONT OF YOU

"If you come to a city to stay for just one day, don't rush to see everything. Just sit in the best cafe and let the city pass in front of you,” Sartre practically remarked.

I have been listening to his advice for years now.

The Tingis café bar, situated in the small square called the Petit Socco in Tangier, is such a place.

A city located in the far northwest of Africa with a privileged view of the Atlantic Ocean was the last

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Hotel Continental, Tangier

where you might find the traces of its old glory if you look very hard.

One of such place is also a huge antique shop that sells everything that places like this in the Orient usually have. It comes with a chatty owner who goes by the name of Jimmy. There are autographs and photos of John Malkovich, who shot “Tea in the Sahara”, as well as several other international celebrities. "A few years ago, your Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić spent the night here," Jimmy tells us and shows us Jeremić's "trace" in the guest book. It was up to us to speculate what the former President of the UN General Assembly was doing at a 3-star hotel in Tangier.

Since 1924, when it was officially opened, the above-mentioned Tingis certainly remembers better times. Its guests, except for an occasional tourist, are still rather obscure "relics of the old glory" of Tangier; a whole gallery of unusual characters of all skin colours. One of them, sitting at the table next to ours, snaps at us: “What is that language you speak? Serbian?” A tiny old man with lively eyes introduces himself as Richard, a local painter and a former jazz musician from New York. He offers us a tour of his gallery and a visit to the Caves of Hercules, not far from the city. We ask him how much would that cost and he says that he doesn’t charge anything; he does it voluntarily because he "likes to hang out". We just have to pay for his taxi ride.

Richard takes Stefan, Rale and I to the Caves of Hercules while

singing “As time goes by” in a good singing voice and recounts anecdotes from New York’s jazz clubs.

He takes us to a restaurant that serves great fish, which is probably run by his friend. There, we are a little taken aback by the following scene – as the guests from the next table leave, at least 20 cats jump onto the table in an instant and completely “eliminate” all the leftovers, to the point that you don’t even have to wash the plates after they’re finished. This, of course, happened with our table too after we left. Upon returning to town, Richard takes us to a beverage store to buy wine and tries to wheedle a tip from us for his services.

While drinking wine at the hostel and going over the impressions about the city, Stefan found Richard on Google, in a 2003 article called "A Guide to 'Guide' in Tangier", published on washingtonpost.com. The article said that Richard was a visiting music teacher. He reportedly came to Tangier from Sheffield, England to teach the alto saxophone.

It's not that easy to be a fake guide / petty scammer in the age of Internet browsers.

darkness of the passage, guessing that I had too much to drink. They told me I had to go the police van with them. I attempted to explain how I was a guest of the cafe and how I left my possessions in the café. I climbed into the police van and sat down. They started the van and ordered me to stand while the vehicle was moving. Then they proceeded to shout something in a mixture of Latvian, Russian and English. Scenes from the movie “Hostel” rushed through my head and I kept asking myself why I had to go to such a seedy place.

Then I thought of my children. I also remembered Liga’s warning.

In all that commotion, I remembered to show them our hostel card. Within minutes, we were in front of the hotel - the police

ed interest in the appealing Baltic capitals, and the direct flight was cancelled a year later.

PAMPLONA: RUNNING WITH BULLS

As our bus was entering Pamplona, while hundreds of men in white shirts wearing red scarves, were passing by me, it was becoming increasingly clear that I would struggle a lot with keeping the promise I gave to my sister and not let her son and my nephew Stefan run with the bulls.

The San Fermin Festival in Pamplona, which became famous after Ernest Hemingway wrote about it in his novel “The Sun Also Rises”, was just one of the stops on our journey across the Basque Country and Navarre. Later, we went to

IT'S NOT THAT EASY TO BE A FAKE GUIDE / PETTY SCAMMER IN THE AGE OF INTERNET BROWSERS

RIGA: ALWAYS LISTEN TO LIGA

At the reception desk of a perfectly clean and organized Australian hostel in the heart of the capital city of Riga, we are greeted by a blond woman called Liga: “Welcome to Riga! Enjoy your time, but remember - do not drink in the street! The police will arrest you immediately.”

Why would we drink in the street? A big glass of beer in restaurants and cafes costs 1 euro, and the sun is up in May until 11 pm. Riga is an ideal European low-cost destination: a lovely nation, tall and beautiful girls with light brown hair, cheap beer and lodging… The city has one of the best-preserved art nouveau neighbourhoods in Europe with hundreds of fantastic secession buildings.

Except for meeting a Serbian businessman who introduced himself as Joca the Shark (!?) in one of the bars, everything looked like a great, alcohol-tasting evening in the European East. Then, in one of the cafes, I went to the toilet in a passage, about ten meters away. I left my jacket, with my wallet in it, with Stefan and Žika at the table.

IN THE POLICE VAN

On my way back, two police officers intercepted me in the

Navarra Arena (Pamplona)

escorted me to the door, warned me not to be drunk in the street again "because someone could rob me" and wished me a good night.

I called Stefan and Žika who were confused as to why did I stay that long in the toilet. The story of the free ‘shuttle service’ to the hostel sounded insane to them. It would sound insane to me too, had I not survived it.

In the space of seven days, in addition to Latvia, we also went to Estonia and Lithuania, caught the ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki and even reached Minsk in Belarus. All these capitals are colourful and architecturally interesting: Tallinn is the Middle Ages, Vilnius – Baroque and Riga - Secession. There was free Wi-Fi on the bus between Riga and Tallinn. In the spring of 2010, Air Baltic introduced a direct lowcost Riga-Belgrade flight, which was the biggest reason for our trip.

People from Serbia and the region clearly did not show the anticipat-

Bilbao to visit the fascinating Guggenheim Museum. In Guernica, we talked to an old man who, as a student hiding in the basement of the school, survived the bombing that was later immortalized in Picasso's painting which today hangs in the Queen Sofia Museum in Madrid. We also visited San Sebastian, crossed the border and swam in the Atlantic Ocean in front of the magical Hotel du Palais in Biarritz, and sipped on tea in a salon where Queen Natalija Obrenović spent her days away from Serbia and her abusive husband…

So, San Fermin! If you read Hemingway, you probably wanted to experience Pamplona during the two-week long festival and maybe even try your luck in running with the bulls. This is the reason why, every year, a million tourists visit Pamplona.

Truth be told, I never planned on running with the bulls. I am crazy, but not that much. I thought

if you wanted to participate in the run, you had to fill out some sort of a formal application; a psychophysical test before the run starts. We had our dinner, drank a few bottles of the excellent Rioja at a restaurant price of 8 euro per bottle, and joined the exhilarating crowd who drank Kalimotxo (a blend of wine and Coca-Cola, known in Serbia as "bamboo") in the streets of Pamplona. Sometime after midnight, someone told us that there were no forms to fill, no special clothing required and that everyone who found themselves in the street at 7 a.m. runs with the bulls (the Spanish word for it is encierro).

IN THE ARENA

At seven in the morning, workers began closing the 825-metre-long street in the old town of Pamplona and putting up wooden barriers at the entrances to all passageways and side streets.

Whoever happened to be there was supposed to run, whether they wanted to or not, because no-one was allowed to enter or leave after 7 a.m. And then there is a crowd of hundreds of people, encouraged by the effects of Kalimotxo, both locals and tourists alike, ready to face the bulls and their fears. At eight o'clock, a starter gun marks the exit of the first six bulls that ran down the slippery stone sidewalks. We stood in the other half of the street, closer to the arena where the race ends. We ran in front of the bulls, right into the bullfighting arena, along with about fifty other runners who were fast or like us, strategically placed. After us, six more bulls galloped in and all of a sudden, all the animals disappeared from the arena. Oh, well, that was that! After that I noticed that the stands were full of people who were obviously waiting for something. Then, in the space of a few minutes, they started releasing one bull at a time into the arena, to face the barehanded race participants. Some of them were provoking the bulls, some fell, some were injured. We survived all 12 "hits" and were pleased that we could walk to the hostel in one piece, kicking along an empty plastic bottle.

When we arrived at the hostel, we posted on Facebook that we did the encierro. In the comment section, my sister reminded me of the promise I had given to her, my wife reminded me that I had children, and after all the dust settled, we somehow managed to fall asleep.

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CULTURE NEWS

THE LARGEST LEONARDO DA VINCI EXHIBITION OPENS AT THE LOUVRE Doors are now open to the Leonardo da Vinci exhibition at the Louvre museum in Paris, with the show dubbed the biggest ever retrospective of the Renaissance polymath. In total, 162 works are now on show to the public, to coincide with the 500th anniversary of da Vinci’s death in 1519. Tickets are only available with specific advance reservation, and more than 260,000 entries have already been sold.

The new retrospective includes 10 finished paintings, representing half of the total number of painting works ever attributed to da Vinci by experts. The exhibition includes works, taken from the Louvre’s permanent collection and institutions around the world - masterpieces, dozens of studies and scientific sketches, and pieces by other artists in his orbit.

BUĆAN'S POSTERS IN MOMA'S PERMANENT EXHIBITION

CROATIA, THE HOMELAND OF THE TIE

The three posters of the Croatian artist Boris Bućan are now included in the new permanent exhibition of the New York Museum of Modern Art, the famous MoMA. Two of the three posters were made for the Music Production of HRT. In addition to decorating the hall at MoMA, Bućan's posters also adorn the hallway that houses today's RJ Glazba HRT, giving this workspace a special charm. All posters are also archived in the digital collection of the National and University Library in Zagreb.

The story of the tie goes back to the 17th century, when soldiers from the area wore a scarf around their necks in battles. Today, its rich history is revived by the soldiers of the Cravat Regiment. Many people do not know that Croatia is the homeland of the tie which always bore strong symbolism. With the aim of promoting the tie as part of the Croatian and global heritage, Cravatica Academy has adorned 50 monuments in Zagreb with ties. “The monuments, we are going to put the ties on, are all erected in honour of the people who are the epitome of values associated with the tie – responsibility and freedom,” says Marijan Bušić, Director of Cravatica Academy.

TWO NOBEL PRIZES FOR LITERATURE AWARDED Polish novelist Olga Tokarczuk and Austrian writer Peter Handke won the 2018 and 2019 Nobel Prizes for literature respectively. The double prizes came after a year's hiatus due to sex abuse allegations that plagued the Swedish Academy, which selects the laureates. Tokarczuk, an activist, public intellectual, and critic of Poland’s politics, won the 2018 award, and was cited by the committee for her “narrative imagination that with encyclopedic passion represents the crossing of boundaries as a form of life”. Handke's work was described as exploring "the periphery and the specificity of human experience" with linguistic ingenuity. According to the Swedish Academy, one of the most influential writers of contemporary fiction, and part of the literary debate since 1966”, who “with great artistry explores the periphery and unseen places”.

Tokarczuk is only the 15th woman to win the Nobel literature prize in more than a century. Of the 11 Nobel prizes awarded in 2019, all the other laureates have been men.

The 2018 and 2019 awards were chosen by the Swedish Academy's Nobel Committee, a new body made up of four academy members and five "external specialists."

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