Diplomacy and Commerce No.14 by DiplomacyandCommerce_Croatia

www.diplomacyandcommerce.hr

May 2019 | ISSUE No. 14 | FREE COPY

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WE ARE CHANGING THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE MARKO BOKO

Member of Advisory Council on Youth of the Council of Europe

25 APR

THE NATIONAL DAY OF THE NETHERLANDS

KING’S BIRTHDAY

AUTHENTICITY AND NO BULLSHIT KRISTINA ERCEGOVIĆ

Entrepreneur, writer, business adviser, founder of Business Cafe

THE GLASS IS HALF FULL THOMAS SICHLA

President of the German-Croatian Chamber of Industry and Commerce

WE HAVE TO CATCH THE TRAIN ON TIME BLAŽENKA DIVJAK Minister of Education

SPIRITS OF AGATHA CHRISTIE, HEMINGWAY AND COMRADE BROZ PERA PALACE IN ISTANBUL

IN SPITE OF NOISE AMIRA MEDUNJANIN Music artist

SPECIAL EDITION May 2019

CITIZENS DECIDE WHAT KIND OF EUROPE WE WILL LIVE IN VIOLETA SIMEONOVA STANIČIĆ Head of EP's Office in Croatia

EDITORIAL

CONTENTS

All Red, All Equal Last month I spent a few days in Manchester, the first industrial town in the world and home to the most valuable football club on the planet. While strolling around, in a square behind the Town Hall, I passed by the monument erected in honour of Prince Albert by his beloved Queen Victoria, the sovereign of Great Britain at the time when the country was “the empire on which the sun never sets”. The irony is that this Town Hall is also the place where the results of Brexit were revealed which made many Britons see ‘black’. There is also Chetham's Library, the oldest public library in Great Britain, also known as the place where Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels met up for the first time, in 1845. The table next to the window where their meeting took place, which subsequently resulted in the Communist Manifesto, is a sort of shrine visited by "communist pilgrims" from all over the world who are eager to establish a spiritual connection with the founders of their ideology. Several metres away is a shrine of a different sort - the Protestant Cathedral - surrounded by blossoming cherry trees. Rogers Govender, originally from Africa, is the current bishop of Manchester. And then we headed to a „temple“ which, by far, is home to the biggest number of „believers“. At the entrance of the Old Trafford stadium, there is a huge sign that reads „All Red, All Equal“. This is the title of the campaign that the club has launched to celebrate individuality and send out a message that all of the club's fans are the same, regardless of their skin colour, sexual orientation and other differences. Manchester launched this campaign in the 2016/2017 season, and thus formalized its decade-long commitment to fight racism and any kind of discrimination. It would be interesting to see clubs in our region, as well as in Eastern Europe, nurture diversity in this way and send a message to their fans that each of them is important regardless of where they come from and what god they pray to. On our last day, we went to the People's History Museum. Here you can see the beginnings of the struggle for labour and trade union rights in the United Kingdom and across the globe. The centuries-old British history of parliamentarism and the fight for labour rights in the country that faces one of its worst crises today teaches us that even when it seems that the darkest hour has come, there is always hope if people believe in the sublime ideals of freedom and equality.

CITIZENS DECIDE WHAT KIND OF EUROPE WE WILL LIVE IN VIOLETA SIMEONOVA STANIČIĆ Head of EP's Office in Croatia

ASSANGE'S FINAL BATTLE? Politics

THE GLASS IS HALF FULL THOMAS SICHLA

President of the German-Croatian Chamber of Industry and Commerce

AUTHENTICITY AND NO BULLSHIT KRISTINA ERCEGOVIĆ

Entrepreneur, writer, business adviser, founder of Business Cafe

ROBERT ČOBAN Director

WE ARE CHANGING THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE MARKO BOKO www.diplomacyandcommerce.hr

BOBAN SPASOJEVIĆ Executive director

boban@diplomacyandcommerce.hr

RUŽA RISTANOVIĆ Magazine director

TANJA BANKOVIĆ Editor-in-chief

ROBERT ČOBAN Director

SVEN DARRER Advertising manager 091 766 5479, 091 377 4358

Photos GETTY IMAGES TOMISLAV SMOLJANOVIĆ

Print ZLATNA KNJIGA Jagodina, Bagrdanski put bb

office@diplomacyandcommerce.hr

ILIJA PETROVIĆ INDIGOCHILD Art director

indigochild.ilija@gmail.com

Member of Advisory Council on Youth of the Council of Europe

MAIDAN-3 Politics

ANCIENT APPROACH TO NEW QUALITY OF LIFE TINA CARIĆ

Ayurveda Balance

CORPORATE CULTURE VS. HAPPY ACCIDENTS OF COOWORKING JAGODA POROPAT DARRER

Business Communications Professional

IN SPITE OF NOISE AMIRA MEDUNJANIN Music artist

SPIRITS OF AGATHA CHRISTIE, HEMINGWAY AND COMRADE BROZ Reportage by Robert Čoban

Translation SNEŽANA BJELOTOMIĆ

sven@diplomacyandcommerce.hr

Predstavnik za RH

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BANYAN

The People of Kazakhstan Wonder About their Next President It’s the former president who matters the most, anyway

In a country which has all but abolished politics, how much more excitement can the people of Kazakhstan take? A month ago, the only ruler most of them had ever known, Nursultan Nazarbayev, who had presided over Kazakhstan since it was still part of something called the Soviet Union, suddenly announced he was stepping down. Declaring it was time to hand power to a younger generation, the 78-year-old abruptly resigned, putting in charge the 65-year-old head of the Senate, Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev, for the remainder of his term, which was due to last until next year. For a while, that seemed to be an end to that. Yet, on April 9th, Mr Tokayev declared he was calling a snap presidential election, because “it is necessary to remove uncertainty.” What uncertainty? Not only is Mr Nazarbayev clearly in charge of his own succession, he is also not going away. The loyal Mr Tokayev’s message, starting with his inaugural speech, has been all about buffing Mr Nazarbayev’s image as Kazakhstan’s founding father. There is little question of launching new political and economic initiatives. Stability, under Mr Nazarbayev, is all. Meanwhile, control has not entirely or even largely shifted to Mr Tokayev. The “First President” and “Leader of the Nation” has, in effect, created a parallel power structure. Above all, he remains, as head of the Security Council, in charge the army and secret services. As Banyan discovered in the capital this week, ministers must still upend their schedules when the summons comes. With this retained power, Mr Nazarbayev controls the future. As for the past, the former steelworker has safeguarded himself and his immensely wealthy family through a constitution that shields them—and only them—from asset seizures. And whether in office or not, Mr Nazarbayev is not the sort to give voters a choice. All organised op-

position has long been crushed, and repression of dissent has recently been redoubled. Mr Nazarbayev used to win presidential polls with over 95% of all votes (even a notional opponent once meekly voted for him). Everything seems set for a predictable result at the vote in June—bar one important detail. In calling the election, Mr Tokayev neglected to say whether he was running. That has set off a parlour game of speculation. Some predict that the strongman’s daughter, Dariga Nazarbaye-

her careful father given her so little executive experience to date? Moreover, her marriage to Rakhat Aliyev, a murderous, grasping former tax chief who died in an Austrian prison cell, surely counts against her in her father’s eyes. It certainly does among ordinary citizens. So Mr Tokayev it probably is. Pasty-faced and with tinted glasses, he is the apparatchik’s apparatchik. It is a plus to those around Mr Nazarbayev that the soft-edged Mr Tokayev is tied to none of the oligarchs, among whom Mr Nazarbayev has carefully spread for-

AS A SKILLFUL DIPLOMAT, MR TOKAYEV WILL SEEK TO NURTURE GOOD RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA AND CHINA, THE CRUCIAL NEIGHBOURS va, who followed Mr Tokayev as chairman of the Senate, is the real political heir. With power in Kazakhstan so personalised, it is only natural to wonder whether a relative would succeed Mr Nazarbayev. Yet the speculation is probably overwrought. If Ms Nazarbayeva was being groomed for power, why has

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tunes in return for support. And, as a skillful diplomat, Mr Tokayev will seek to nurture good relations with Russia and China, the crucial neighbours. Yet his affirmation would resolve everything—and nothing. Among the elites, his authority flows entirely from Mr Nazarbayev’s backing. All bets are off once the Leader

of the Nation is gone. Knowing that, what is to stop Mr Tokayev charting his own course, so imperilling the delicate, perhaps unstable, balance among the powerful? Bear in mind, too, a changing, less deferential, mood from below. Early every evening in Almaty, the commercial capital, the internet suddenly crawls at a snail’s pace as an exiled (and deeply flawed) opponent of the regime, Mukhtar Ablyazov, takes to Facebook. In Almaty, too, police complain to dissidents that they are ordered to do the dirty work, such as arresting protesters, while their bosses are busy pocketing bribes. And in a society that knows how to hold its tongue, Mr Tokayev’s order to rename Astana has been widely lambasted. The capital, a queasy brew of bombast and bling built by Mr Nazarbayev as a monument to himself, is now to be called Nur-Sultan. Not even North Korea’s Kim dynasty, the carpers point out, ever went that far. Once deference has gone, fear will not last long. From The Economist, published under licence. The original article, in English, can be found on www. economist.com

INTERVIEW

Citizens Decide What Kind of Europe We Will Live in

It is important that citizens understand that on May 26th they are actually deciding on the development direction of European policy in the coming years and that they should not just renounce their right to choose and let others choose for them. The people we elect to the EP decide directly on the laws that govern our everyday lives VIOLETA SIMEONOVA STANIČIĆ Head of EP's Office in Croatia

For the third consecutive time, the Croatian citizens will vote in the election for the European Parliament on May 26th, during which they are going to elect 12 candidates from Croatia, one more than in the previous election, as a result of Brexit. How much attention the European Parliament election is attracting in Croatia? What kind

of voter turnout do you expect? The latest survey suggests that the turnout will be quite low, around 17%.

— The election campaign is picking up pace, and we can see that candidates have been using different methods of attracting the attention of the voters. Personally, I would like to see more of a con-

frontation between programmes, ideas and plans. As far as the voter turnout is concerned, I hope it will be bigger than in previous elections when it was just over 25%. Croatia was in the group of countries with the lowest turnout. The figure you mentioned (17%) refers to the voters who, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey,

VOTERS EXPECT THEIR CANDIDATES TO TACKLE YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT, ECONOMIC GROWTH, CONSUMER PROTECTION, FOOD SAFETY AND SOCIAL POLICY

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said they would "very likely" vote in the European elections. But, let's not forget that the same survey has shown that an additional 16% of citizens said they would "likely" vote. So, we are talking about 33%, which would be - compared with 2014 – an 8% increase. It is encouraging for us to see that citizens support EU membership and are aware that Croatia benefits from it. Another thing that was interesting to note in the Eurobarometer survey is that voters are much more critical of developments in Croatia than in the EU. Often people who are disappointed

with politics or the system claim that their vote would not change anything. If everybody thought so, nobody would even take part in elections. So, it is important that citizens understand that on May 26th they are actually deciding on the development direction of European policy in the coming years and that they should not just renounce their right to choose and let others choose for them. The people we elect to the EP decide directly on the laws that govern our everyday lives such was the case with the GDPR, online copyright, ecologically clean cars and others. As an institution, the European Parliament has been preparing for this election for months in a sense of motivating and informing citizens. The campaign called “I am Voting This Time”, which is being held in Croatia with the participation of over 26,000 citizens, is dedicated exactly to that. Young people who want to affect change and motivate their peers to vote are the biggest strength of this institutional campaign. How does Brexit affect public opinion in the country and is the idea of European unity alive and well in Croatia?

— In the last three years, Brexit negotiations have become one of the dominant topics in the European bloc. The debate about the United Kingdom's exit from the EU has shown to what extent the EU members have become interconnected during all these years

of joint work and the many benefits of membership in the bigger European club. These advantages sometimes become apparent only when faced with the possibility of their loss. The decision on Brexit has also shown that the EU is not an irreversible project, but I do not think it negatively affects citizens' relations with the EU, neither in Croatia nor in other member states. Moreover, the support for the European project is at a very high level.

with global challenges, Europeans have to work together. At the same time, the external pressure from third countries means that EU members need to be even more united if they want to maintain some influence and gravity in the new world order. What priority topics the Croatian citizens want to see included in the European agenda and will their candidates in the current campaign honour their wishes?

I WOULD LIKE TO CALL ON THE CITIZENS WHO ARE GOING TO VOTE IN THE MAY 26th ELECTIONS TO CAREFULLY CHOOSE A CANDIDATE AND PAY ATTENTION TO THE WAY THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ARE GOING TO ACT While we are on the topic of percentages and surveys, I would like to mention the Flash Eurobarometer indicators according to which more than two-thirds of Croatian citizens say that what connects us as Europeans is much more important than what divides us. Therefore, the idea of European unity is very strong. It is also important to note that, during the Brexit negotiations, the EU has demonstrated and maintained unity and individual national interests failed to overshadow the common European interest. I think that most of the Union's citizens are aware that, when faced

— Youth unemployment, economic growth, consumer protection, food safety and social policy are the main topics that citizens want to see their candidates tackle. These are the issues that should be incorporated into the political party programmes, i.e. dealt by the candidates that are running in these elections. The election results will show how successful they were at that. A total of 33 candidate lists were submitted for the European Parliament elections, which is 8 more than five years ago. What is the reason for candidates

being more interested in these elections?

— I do hope that their motivation is the true desire to participate in the important work carried out by the European Parliament. I would like to remind that, in the last five years, MEPs have been discussing several hundred legislative proposals and have agreed to new rules that raise the quality of life of citizens in different ways. I will only outline a few examples - the Parliament's work on equalizing the quality of the same products sold under the same brand in Western and Eastern European markets, cancelling roaming charges, and banning the use of disposable plastic products such as plates, cutlery and straws, in order to protect the sea and ocean health. The research shows that there will be more plastic in the seas and oceans than fish by 2050. Regardless of where we live, what is our profession and how we spend our time, the EU affects our lives, and we are becoming more aware of that. I also want to point out that the European Parliament is committed to the fight for women's equality too. The last in a series of examples that proves this is the MEPs agreeing on a directive on balancing work and family life. The directive stipulates new rules that should facilitate the sharing of responsibility between women and men when it comes to child and family care. Among other things, the aim is to encourage men to take leave

of absence for family reasons, in order to increase women's participation in the labour market. Achieving equality continues to be a major challenge even in the most developed democracies that include EU members. Despite the principle „equal pay for equal work for women and men“, we can see that the pay gap is decreasing very slowly. Women earn on average about 16% less for the same work than their male counterparts. Such a difference in practice later leads to significant differences in retirement, namely women's pension can be as much as 36% lower than men's. Women are also under-represented in managerial positions in companies, as members of boards of directors in companies and in politics. There aren't enough women in the current convocation of the European

IT WOULD NOT BE RIGHT FOR THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TO COMMENT ON THE INTERIOR POLITICS IN CROATIA. I WOULD RATHER LEAVE THAT TO POLITICIANS AND POLITICAL ANALYSTS Parliament and I hope that the upcoming European elections will change that. Croatia proved to be a good example, with women making the majority of the total quota of 11 seats in the parliament. We will see whether the same will happen in the new convocation of the European Parliament. There are also two independent candidate lists in these elections. Does this mean that the Croatian citizens have decided to use this opportunity and thus signalize the Croatian

political scene that they want something new?

— It would not be right for the European Parliament to comment on the interior politics in Croatia. I would rather leave that to politicians and political analysts. But what sets this European election apart from the 2014 one is the fact that certain old alliances have been dissolved and that large parties are independently seeking the support of voters. As you know, in the European Parliament, politicians act through caucus representatives, regardless of their nationality.

ONE MORE SEAT FOR CROATIA These are the third elections for the European Parliament in Croatia. Considering all the changes in legislation and greater experience, what has changed compared to the previous ones? — Globally speaking, the circumstances under which the elections are taking place have changed a lot. Brexit has created a lot of uncertainty, because, at this point, we still do not know the timeline or the scenario of the United Kingdom's exit from the EU. After Brexit, the EP will have fewer MPs, but Croatia will be given one more seat. So, in some ways, Croatia's gravity in the smaller EP will be higher. Generally

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speaking, many political parties are being rearranged which will have implications on the future composition of the European Parliament. The question is whether the traditional European political parties - such as the Socialists and people's parties – will jointly win enough votes to form the majority in the new convocation, or will have to seek additional support through cooperation with the Liberals and the Greens. If the Eurosceptics and Populist Clubs grow stronger, we can expect that they will influence the legislative process and probably veto the decision-making process, which can have many implications on the functioning of EU institutions.

In order to form a caucus, you would need at least 25 MEPs from at least 7 different member states. It is important to know which club a party or candidate you vote for will ultimately join because the strength of the club also affects the distribution of functions in the working bodies of the Parliament, the allocation of time given to speakers, the number of rapporteurs for certain laws and so on. Therefore, I would like to call on the citizens who are going to vote in the May 26th elections to carefully choose a candidate or candidate programme, to pay attention to decisions and values their elected candidates represent in the European Parliament and with whom these elected representatives are going to cooperate in the implementation of their programme.

POLITICS

Text: ŽELIMIR MARAŠ

Assange's Final Battle? The last of the famous freedom fighters There are heroes in this world, and heroes are people who fight for an everyday man and against crooked governments and their deals with big business and among each other. Naturally, governments, deep states and multinationals are trying to push them out. In his dystopian novel ‘1948’, George Orwell claimed that one of the paroles of the government of Oceania was going to be “ignorance is strength”. Of course, there are many meanings of this sentence, but one of them is strikingly obvious nowadays. The ignorance of the common population is the strength for the oligarchs, state administrations and multinational companies. If we don't know the facts, namely that governments make crooked deals with companies to poison the environment in order to generate profit, make deals with other governments to derive extra profit from countries by giving miserable salaries to locals, or simply, lie about certain actions, these big players will become even stronger. Then there people like Chelsea Manning, Edward Snowden and Julian Assange who were trying to break the silence and shatter the ignorance, and were successful at it. FIRST THEY CAME FOR ASSANGE...

There is a well-known poem by a German priest who explained how the catastrophe was looming over us if we kept silent, let bad things happen to others, failed to defend them and claimed “it has nothing to do with me”. But when it becomes you, it is too late! Let me quote Yannis Varoufakis in his essay conveniently named “First They Came for Assange...” He says: “Pompeo described WikiLeaks as “a non-state hostile intelligence service.” That is exactly right. But it is an equally accurate description of what every self-respecting news outlet ought to be. As Daniel Ellsberg and Noam Chomsky have warned, journalists who fail to oppose Assange’s extradition to the US could be next on the hit list of a president who considers them “ the enemy of the people.” Celebrating his arrest and turning a blind eye to Manning’s continued suffer-

JULIAN ASSANGE AND THE LIKES ARE THE LAST FIGHTERS AGAINST THE BIG BROTHER. THEY SHATTER THE MATRIX. THEY MAKE US BELIEVE WE CAN CHANGE SOMETHING WHICH IS THE RULERS' GREATEST FEAR – INSTIGATING CHANGE ing is a gift to liberalism’s greatest foes.” If we let it happen, it might happen to us next. WHAT IS POWER?

And you, as every normal person, may ask yourself, what constitutes power? Let me quote a passage from George Orwell’s 1984; the famous O'Brian-Smith dialogue: “'The real power, the power we have to fight for night and day, is not power over things, but over

men. “How does one man assert his power over another, Winston?“ Winston thought. “By making him suffer”, he said. “Exactly! By making him suffer. Obedience is not enough. Unless he is suffering, how can you be sure that he is obeying your will and not his own? “ It's exactly that! If you like doing one thing, how can the people in power know whether that’s obedience or will? The idea is not to make people satisfied and happy,

but to make them miserable and make sure that they are obedient to a certain degree. Of course, history teaches us that all societies composed of totally miserable people sooner or later rebel against the power. There is another big thinker, Aldous Huxley, who predicted in his dystopian novel “Brave New World” a society which is intoxicated by consumerism and everyday pleasure, so it cannot think about the power and the people in power. All of this brings us to the final point - the Rulers want you to feel miserable enough to know who is the master and happy enough not to rebel. This is their Matrix, and we all, just like in Orwell's or Huxley's book or in a Wachowskis' film, live in it.

THE MATRIX DISASSEMBLED And then people like Assange, Snowden and Manning pop up and destroy the Matrix. You wake up suddenly knowing it is all just a fairy-tale and that your life is miserable. Governments steal, commit war crimes, scheme and make slimy deals behind their citizens' back for one purpose only - to make themselves wealthier and more powerful. That's why the people like Julian Assange are important. They are the last fighters against the Big Brother. They shatter the Matrix. They make us believe we can change something which is the Rulers' greatest fear – instigating change.

INTERVIEW

The Glass is Half Full

Croatia remains one of the most attractive investment locations in Southeast Europe for German companies. However, if investments have to compliment the increasingly robust trade, some of the long lasting obstacles to better business climate have to be tackled more vigorously THOMAS SICHLA President of the German-Croatian Chamber of Industry and Commerce

German companies see growing opportunities for their business in Croatia, especially in the fields of tourism, energy and infrastructure and they welcome recent improvements in business and investment climate. However, more effort is needed if the county wants to lay ground for robust growth, says Thomas Sichla, president of the German-Croatian Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Do you think that we have to be worried because the readiness of the German companies to invest in Croatia fell from 70 to 55 per cent?

— Before I answer this, I have to underline that the companies surveyed were not only German companies. In fact, most of them – some 65 per cent – were Croatian companies. Yes, although half of the companies would again

period of time always around 80 per cent. I wouldn't sound the alarm yet, because the survey has also shown that almost 9 out of 10 companies are satisfied with their own business situation and that only 1 out of 10 thinks that this

WE HAVE GREAT COMMUNICATION WITH THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT AND WITH THE MINISTRY OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP, BUT GOOD MEASURES CREATED AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL HAVE YET TO BECOME OPERATIVE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL choose Croatia as their business location, this drop isn't a good signal, because it is another strong decline compared to the previous year, from 68 to 54 percent. And before it dropped to 68 per cent in 2018, this number was for a long

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will not improve. Plus, according to these same companies, Croatia is still better as an investment location than any other country in Southeast Europe, with the only exception being Slovenia. At the moment, investments are one of

the two main pillars of Croatia's economic growth; the other being private consumption, and this drop is a signal that shouldn't be taken lightly. To what extent the government addresses the challenges the German companies are pointing at?

— We have recognized and welcome the efforts of the government towards creating a better business and investment climate. There has been a reduction of contributions on salaries and wages, which has disburdened the employers and strenghtened private consumption. But the biggest detriments to doing business are from the perspective of our members still the same ones they were pointing at five years ago – insufficient fight against corruption, high tax burden, slow and overblown public administration and lack of legal

security. We must thus conclude that measures to mitigate this haven’t been taken, or that our members’ perception of the situation is somehow false, which I consider highly unlikely. Our Chamber has a great communication and exchange with the Croatian government, especially with the Ministry of Entrepreneurship, and we have to acknowledge their strong great will to make things better, but we feel that things somehow break down when measures adopted at the national level need to be translated into action at the local level.

more and more to attract skilled new employees but also keep the existing ones satisfied. Your chamber has recently given prizes to schools and companies included in the dual education. Was it an easy choice?

Overall, how would you assess the opportunities for trade and investments between our two countries? What are the major trends?

— They are great, the foreign trade volume is constantly increasing and it reached some 5,5 billion euro in 2018. Bilateral export has more than doubled in the past 15 years. Germany is on the one hand a big market, so Croatian exporters can always find customers there, whereas Croatia is heavily reliant on imports due to the lack of its own production capacities. Plus Croatia’s booming tourism is a strong demand generator, especially for the food and beverages sector. The strongest increase in imports from Germany from 2007 to 2018 was recorded in this very sector. We expect that Croatia’s new energy strategy will lead to high investments in the energy sector, infrastructure and tourism projects will stimulate the construction industry, the demand of the private sector is gaining importance for the medical technology sector and there is also a very strong rise of demand for software and IT services. Croatia’s automotive, plastic and pharmaceutical industry are also growing, so there should be plenty of opportunities there. One of the key questions seems to be education. How do you as-

THE LACK OF SKILLED WORK FORCE IS BECOMING A CRITICAL QUESTION IN CROATIA, HENCE PUTTING A MUCH STRONGER EMPHASIS ON THE WORK-BASED PRINCIPLE IN VOCATIONAL EDUCATION WOULD BE HELPFUL sess the current reform?

brain drain?

— There have been some positive changes, like putting a much stronger emphasis on the work based principle in vocational education. However, there is still room for development, especially in connecting the education system with the needs of the economy. The changes are still happening too slowly – maybe a better cooperation between all relevant stakeholders would speed things up.

— Quite on the contrary – I believe we will slow it down. If we educate more people according to the needs of the market, if the cooperation between the economy, that is the companies, and the education system is strengthened and intensified, I believe that on the one hand employers will find skilled employees quicker and on the other hand, young people will find (good) employment easier. The lack of skilled work force is becoming a critical question in Croatia – most employers are well aware of that fact and are doing

If we educate more people to live up to the needs of the market, won’t we expedite the

— It was most certainly not an easy choice. I think the fact that we had no third place but a shared second place speaks for itself. Our jury, consisting of members from the German Embassy in Zagreb, the Ministry of Science and Education, AHK member companies Raiffeisenbank Croatia and Selk d.d., as well as the AHK, held two “marathon meetings” – first deciding on the finalists and then choosing the best three applications. The aim of the award was to find examples of cooperation between vocational schools and companies who are promoting key elements of the dual model. It was impressive and inspiring to see how companies and vocational schools are working together towards this shared goal. We, the Chamber, would wish to see those best practice examples becoming the standard. You often speak to students. Which topics do these young people find the most appealing?

— Well, these topics depend on the respective fields of study of these students, but, broadly speaking, they are always interested in topics which will give them insights into the world they are living in. They are also interested in competences which will provide them with sustenance in this world. Many young people today need better job skills, including transferable skills such as problem-solving and communication. They also need job-specific skills, such as carpentry, coding or engineering, and increasingly entrepreneurial and digital skills. Digital skills are essential if one intends to participate in the global economy, which is today driven by information and communications technology.

WASTEWATER TREATMENT A NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR GERMAN COMPANIES As a CEO of Zagreb Wastewater Ltd. how do you evaluate opportunities for German investments in ecology? — Together with the city of Zagreb we have implemented the BOOT project Wastewater Treatment Plant Zagreb, the first and largest project in Croatia for the sustainable treatment of urban wastewater of the city of Zagreb. As part of the European regulations on wastewater treatment, over the next few

years this plant will be expanded to include the third purification stage for nitrogen and phosphorus elimination. At the moment, the expansion of existing and construction of new wastewater treatment plants is being strongly encouraged in Croatia. There are numerous opportunities for German companies to support these aims, especially by providing adequate machine and measurement technology, electrical engineering but also support in the process of plannin.

NATIONAL DAYS

in May

ARRIVALS & DEPARTURES

MIRJANA PAJAS

Managing Director Profil Group Croatia

With a wealth of both, local and international Business experience, Mirjana Pajas, a Human Resources Expert, with University Master degree and post Grad in HR Management, has given Profil Group a market leading edge to business and client service excellence. PROFIL GROUP is an independent human resource management Company, established in 1989. It was the first consulting company in South East Europe to pro-

vide executive search and selection services. Profil Group is a Group of associated companies with standardized know-how offices in: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, Bulgaria. „The biggest strength of our company is our proactivity, relationship with clients, preparation and guidance of our candidates and efficient business execution”; said Mirjana Pajas

POLAND Constitution Day

ICRC, IFRC I nternational Red Cross Day

09 EU

chuman Day S (Europe Day)

President's Cabinet

FAREWELL VISITS OF THE AMBASSADORS FROM THE REPUBLIC OF CHILE, THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA AND THE APOSTOLIC NUNCIO OF THE HOLY SEE

ISRAEL Independence Day

PARAGUAY Independence Day

NORWAY Constitution Day

Mrs Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic and Ambassador of the Republic of Chile, H.E. Juan Luis Nilo Valledor

Mrs. Kolinda Grabar Kitarović and Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, H.E. Park Won-Sup

CAMEROON State Unification Day

MONTENEGRO Independence Day

Mrs Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic and Ambassador of the People's Republic of China, H.E. Hu Zhaoming

President of the Republic of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović received the Ambassador of the Republic of Chile, H.E. Mr. Juan Luis Nilo Valledor, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China, H.E. Mr. Hu Zhaoming, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, H.E. Mr. Park

Mrs Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic and Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See, H.E. Archbishop Giuseppe Pinta

Won-sup, the Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See, H.E. Archbishop Giuseppe Pinta who are all departing their respective posts in Croatia. On that occasion, the Croatian President gave the Ambassador of the Republic of Chile the necklace of the Order of the Duke Branimir.

YEMEN Unification Day

ERITREA Independence Day

ARGENTINA

CHRIS MARCICH

Revolution Day

New director of HAVC

The Managing Board of the Croatian Audiovisual Center (HAVC) has unanimously chosen Chris Marcich as the new director of this central national film institution. Marcich will perform the duties of the director for the next four years starting with May 1st. Along with Marchich, eight other candidates applied for the position following the launch of job

competition and Daniel Rafaelić stepping down as the director of the Croatian Audiovisual Center (HAVC), at his own request. The candidates included film directors Hrvoje Hribar and Nikolina Barić, film critics Josip Grozdanić and Višnja Vukašinović, independent filmmaker Thomas Krstulović, and film producers Damir Primorac and Fran Juraj Prižmić.

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GEORGIA Independence Day

AZERBAIJAN Founding Day

INTERVIEW

Authenticity and No Bullshit We don‘t do or organize Business Cafe – we are and we live Business Cafe. Openness, ability to freely talk about authentic entrepreneurial journeys, ups and downs, mistakes and failures, makes our concept unique, sustainable and successful

KRISTINA ERCEGOVIĆ Entrepreneur, writer, business adviser, founder of Business Cafe

A serial and successful entrepreneur, Kristina Ercegović today writes blogs, books, organizes Business Cafe events and helps entrepreneurs build, grow and sell their companies. „Not only do I believe that small businesses can change the world, I see that every day,“ says Ercegović. In the last nine years, Business Cafe events have been organized in 25 cities and 7 countries. You say that Business Cafe is a movement and a new way of running a business. What novelties did you bring to this segment nine years ago?

— Openly talking about the entrepreneurial journey. Apart from thinking positive, you have to know that you can do it, work like hell, hustle bullshit. Furthermore, nine years ago, there were no events like this. Our simple format entails 3 guests, one by one, gifts, and networking. What else? Contribution, impact and joy, not only profit, cooperation vs. competition. In short, a change in the mindset and the belief that there is enough for everyone, as well as that everyone is unique and necessary. Cultivating consciousness in business. What does Business Cafe offers to entrepreneurs that other networking-facilitating events don't have?

— Everyone keeps mentioning our energy and atmosphere. I think our openness, authenticity and no bullshit approach contributes to that. We invite only self-made

entrepreneurs and they talk openly about their entrepreneurial journey, ups and downs, mistakes and failures, as well as what success means to them. The audience also consists of self-made entrepreneurs so everyone feels comfortable, being with their own tribe, people who understand you. That is our slogan. Find your tribe. Business Cafe fulfils the need to meet with like-minded people in person and targets one of the problems we

nect people. We want to see them succeed. It is hard to copy that. We don‘t do or organize Business Cafe – we are and we live Business Cafe. How many women participate in your events?

— Usually, about 150 to 200 people show up at our events. 70% are women. Yes, in the past few years more women have launched their own businesses. But unfortunately, it is usually more in a self-employed, freelancing style. Few of them think big and set up a whole system. The majority still thinks

THIS YEAR I DECIDED TO DO ASK FOREIGNERS WHO LIVE HERE AND HAVE THEIR OWN BUSINESS TO SHARE THEIR ENTREPRENEURIAL STORIES AS WELL rarely confess to having – feeling lonely, isolated and misunderstood by the environment we live in. To succeed in your own business one must surround himself with people who will support you. We have numbers and results. In euros, in numbers, in visitors, in deals, in success stories, and in feelings. In countries. In years. As well as in the number of friendships. We have continuity. There have been numerous tries to copy us. Usually, they stop after the fifth event. It is who we are – we con-

only that they would like to do something they love and be able to earn enough so they don‘t have to worry and pay all the bills on time, to quote them. What is a successful conference or event in your opinion?

— Accomplished goals, making people feel comfortable, learning something and meeting someone. Another thing that makes an event unsuccessful is when customers have the feeling they spent their time. Why? Because you can al-

ways make more money but you cannot turn back time. Is it difficult to develop this kind of business in several different countries? What kind of challenges do you usually face?

— I sold the licence. And I have a great team who tackle local challenges head-on. The biggest challenge relates to certain entrepreneurs not wanting to share their stories. We give them a lot of PR attention when they are our guests and unfortunately this sometimes means that tax inspection will come to visit them. So, a lot of successful people here want to keep a low profile and work peacefully and quietly, as they say. Could you tell us about the internal structure of your business? How much of it are franchises? Who can join your network and how they can do that?

— So far, we have been organizing the event in Zagreb with myself as a moderator. All other events are franchised. Our ideal franchisee is an entrepreneur who has had his/her own business at least 3 to 5 years and has experience in running events. Of course, we have to share values and that mindset that help others to succeed. We are a connector with a big heart. www.kristinaercegovic.com www.businesscafe.info

COFFEE FOR HISTORY How did you come up with the idea to launch this kind of business? — This is my third company. I have been an entrepreneur for the past 17 years. I sold the previous two businesses. It all happened spontaneously nine years ago. People told me when that when they heard me talk about entrepreneurship, it all sounded so easy and that I should do a workshop about it. So I did and called „Sam Svoj Gazda“ („How to be your own boss“). Subsequently, that was also the title of my 3rd book, which is a regional bestseller and available for free download on my website. After close to 300 people attended that workshop, they wanted a follow-up, while socializing over a cup of coffee, sharing support and encouragement, and continuously obtaining information. One day, I was sitting in a coffee shop, drinking my coffee and thinking about how I did not have enough time to have coffee with all those people. Then, I came across an article in a daily magazine which said that 57% of all business deals in Croatia were made over coffee. That was it! The idea for Business Cafe was born. The rest is history.

CORPORATE

Visit us on Rab, the Island of Happiness The Valamar Collection Imperial Hotel is a stylish hotel, made for relaxation fitted for royalty, located in the old town of Rab. Hidden in an exotic park-forest, the hotel is designed for adults, it provides privacy and comfort and treats every guest as exclusive Green forests, crystal blue sea, a multitude of bays, long warm summers and mild climate all year round have been attracting tourists to the island of Rab for 130 years. The island is known for its beautiful natural beaches, with as many as 22 sandy beaches located in Lopar, the Kalifront forest and the beautiful old town of Rab with four bell towers and ancient walls. The town is also home to the popular summer festival called “Rabska Fjera”. The island’s underwater is one of Rab’s attractions. Here, you can go diving and explore the magical sea world. Despite being a relatively small island, only 22 kilometres long and 11 kilometres wide, Rab has 157 kilometres of organized cycling trails and 144 kilometres of hiking trails. The Valamar Collection Imperial Hotel is located on this “island of hap-

piness”, a nickname coined by the Romans who called it “Felix Arba” or "Happy Rab". The hotel has the perfect location enveloped in the freshness of the exotic park,

overlooking the historical centre of the town of Rab, close to the most beautiful beaches. Imperial was built in 1927 as one of the first hotels on the island. Because of its

HIDDEN IN AN EXOTIC PARK-FOREST, THE VALAMAR COLLECTION IMPERIAL HOTEL IS DESIGNED FOR ADULTS, IT PROVIDES PRIVACY AND COMFORT AND TREATS EVERY GUEST AS EXCLUSIVE

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comfort and hospitality, the hotel attracted many famous guests, including King Edward VII who visited the island in 1936 together with his wife Wallis Simpson. Hidden in an exotic park-forest, the Valamar Collection Imperial Hotel is designed for adults, it provides privacy and comfort and treats every guest as exclusive. Known for its relaxing and harmonious interior, the hotel’s rooms are fully equipped and combine modern minimalism with the neoclassical style of the building. Choose one of the comfortable rooms overlooking the park and the sea and enjoy the privacy of your vacation. With level 5 service you will receive an exclusive treatment from the moment you enter the hotel to the end of your stay. The level 5 service starts as soon as you arrive at the Valamar Collection Imperial Hotel with a personalized check-in at a special level 5 reception. The selection of

the best suites, the exclusive level 5 gourmet experiences, private concierge services and the premium lounge zone are just some of the benefits of the level 5 programme. You can completely relax and enjoy one of the saunas or Turkish baths here while enjoying the unique atmosphere of the Mediterranean forest and the hotel's wellness. Choose the royal treatment you want - music therapy, aromatherapy, water massage or stress relief. Swim several laps in an attractive outdoor pool or relax on a comfortable sun lounger while enjoying in the lavish greenery of the park. The hotel's wellness & beauty centre with an indoor pool has various types of massages and cosmetic treatments available and is your oasis of peace. The hotel is ideally located for exploring the beaches and the islands. For those of you who want to discover beautiful bays, we recommend a free transfer by boat from the port of Rab to the wooded Frkanj peninsula. There are many secluded rocky, pebble and sandy beaches here, including the Kandarola beach, one of the oldest

naturist beaches in the world. Located only 500m from the hotel there is the Banova Vila pebble beach where you can rent sun loungers and parasols, as well as indulge in activities like water polo, driving a pedal boat or kayaking. The Palit beach is even closer to the hotel, and it has concrete pavements that lead to

Rab’s cuisine is typically Mediterranean – fish prepared in a variety of ways, clams and shrimp, fresh fruits and vegetables and light seasoning. There is also lamb, homemade pasta, olives, cheese made from sheep’s and goat’s milk and of course, the top-notch wines such as Brajdica, Plavac Mali, Plavina and Pošip. By all means, try the famous

ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE SPOILED BY THE RHAPSODY OF FLAVOURS IN THE PREMIUMQUALITY NOBILIS RESTAURANT WHILE ENJOYING THE ROMANTIC ATMOSPHERE OF THE RESTAURANT’S TERRACE the beach. The beach also provides scenic views of Frkanj and the old town bell tower which you can reach via a beautiful promenade. For those guests who like an active vacation, the hotel offers the Stay Fit programme which includes activities from morning until evening, such as aqua dance, running and Nordic walking, biking, Zumba, street workout, yoga, pilates, beach volleyball, basketball and bowling.

Rab cake which the locals have been making for 840 years. The only known ingredients are almonds and aromatic lemons, while the rest of the recipe is a well-kept secret. Restaurants and bars here are perfect for romantic evenings and gastronomic delights as they offer the best combination of tastes and quality service. Allow yourself to be spoiled by the rhapsody of flavours in the premium-quality Nobilis restaurant while enjoying

the romantic atmosphere of the restaurant’s terrace, surrounded by fragrant pine trees. Choose one of the freshly prepared dishes, followed by a local wine of your choice. The wine cellar of the Veritas bar and restaurant offers more than 55 locally made wines, so choose wisely or ask for a recommendation to perfectly match the appropriate wine with fish or meat prepared over hot ashes, a local speciality that you have to taste. We have saved the best for the last - discover the amazing offer of the top-of-the-line gin-based cocktails in the pleasant atmosphere of Gin Bar. The Pool Bar, near the outdoor pool, is the perfect choice if you want a short break while sipping on a cold drink and having a light meal. A good vacation is synonymous with good fun. The Valamar Collection Imperial Hotel‘s Music & Fun programme offers live music and music performances three times a week, and an interactive entertainment programme and outdoor film screenings in the period from June to October. All you need to do is to show up, relax and enjoy yourself.

INTERVIEW

We are Changing the Lives of Young People Advisory Council on Youth of the Council of Europe influences key topics that are important for young people and reacts to new challenges and problems that young people face. Through the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which accepts our recommendations, we are changing the everyday lives of young people throughout the member states of the Council of Europe MARKO BOKO Member of Advisory Council on Youth of the Council of Europe

“Young people are often talked about but quite frequently for wrong purposes or in places not relevant for youth rights,“ says Marko Boko, a member of Advisory Council on Youth of the Council of Europe and adds: "We often hear young people are frequent topic, for instance, in pre-election times, in situations where young people want to be instrumentalized and exploited for something else and are given empty promises. We heard a lot of those, and unfortunately, these are the patterns that will be repeated, while there are more and more challenges and problems that young people face every day - the socio-economic position of citizens across European countries is very difficult and young people are always the most affected." To what degree can Advisory Council on Youth of the Council of Europe influence key topics for young people?

— Together with other partner organizations like the European Youth Forum (a pan-European youth umbrella organization) or national umbrella youth organiza-

tions like the Croatian Youth Network (that I represent at Advisory Council on Youth of the Council of Europe), the Council has been working on devising youth policies, improving and bolstering youth rights and youth work. This implies a set of tools and processes advocating and influencing the work of institutions, especially those in charge of youth issues, education, culture and so on, with

Participation and Youth Work and Inclusive and Peaceful Societies. These areas cover a wide range of topics, be it socio-economic issues, informal education, working with young Roma people, inclusion of young people with developmental difficulties, inclusion of young refugees, bilateral co-operation with the Russian Federation and Ukraine, work in the Euro-Mediterranian region, work

SINCE THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION REFUSES TO PAY ITS MEMBERSHIP FEES TO THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE, THE YOUTH SECTOR AND THE YOUTH DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET COULD BE REDUCED BY AS MUCH AS 40% WHICH WOULD MEAN THE END FOR MANY PROGRAMMES a large number of resources and capacities invested in working with young people in the field, i.e. on empowering them and their informal education. What topics that you have been working for, apart from those already mentioned, you would like to highlight?

— Advisory Council on Youth of the Council of Europe consists of 30 members, with each of them responsible for several portfolios, grouped into three main areas of action: Access to Rights, Youth

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with the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, the EU and E partnership in the youth segment, etc. We are talking about a set of key youth issues across Europe, which are interlinked and complementary. We are trying to approach all of them in a comprehensive manner starting from research and fieldwork with young people, setting up positions and proposals for public policies and then implementing them. During this term in the Advisory Council, which is my second

term, I am in charge of the Council of Europe's bilateral cooperation with The Russian Federation and Ukraine in the youth segment, as well as the cooperation with countries such as Belarus, Azerbaijan and the countries of our region, plus, I am also in charge of measures for the development of youth policy in the Council of Europe member states. Does the fact that you are an advisory body has any bearing on how your recommendations are perceived and implemented?

— Yes, we are an advisory body and we operate under the auspices of the Council of Europe's Youth Department which conducts a range of activities and campaigns directly with young people in the field and monitors the implementation of public policies adopted at the level of the Committee of Ministers. Our council is extremely active and our activities are not only „on paper“, so to speak, but we are working with stakeholders and young people across Europe which means that results of our work are really tangible and bring about change. It is important to underline that our Council works with government representatives in the body called the Joint Council on Youth on the principle of co-deciding, and all decisions are made by con-

sensus, which certainly facilitates procedures carried out in higher bodies and ultimately in the work done by the Committee of Ministers. The process of co-deciding, whereby the representatives of youth organizations have the same voting rights as government representatives, is the best such example in the world and this is a mechanism that should be applied as widely as possible to youth work. This is where the motto "including youth in discussing youth" is fully implemented. You are a non-partisan body, and yet all the public policy measures that are devised carry certain ideological values. Do the changes in political attitudes in Europe influence the way in which the problems of young people are dealt with?

— Of course, the Council of Europe is a living political body, and you will encounter different value-related and ideological positions that are expressed to a greater or lesser extent in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, as well as in other bodies. I'll give you a concrete example that is relevant which makes the youth sector in the Council of Europe quite vulnerable. The Russian Federation refuses to pay its membership fees to the Council of Europe, which has obviously reflected on the overall budget of the organization, which will, in turn, lead to cutbacks in funding of the work of certain sectors. As things are at the moment, the youth sector and the Youth Department are most at risk, and according to the worst possible scenario, our budget will be reduced by as much as 40%. This presupposes the end of a series of programs, the closure of one of the European Youth Centres, as well as the dismissal of employees, and all of this is the consequence of a political move by one of the members. We often encounter value-relat-

ed and ideological controversies in our work when it comes to the rights of the LGBT youth, young refugees and the Roma, but as we make all decisions by consensus, we are always trying to find the best solution. How did Croatia's presidency of the Council of Europe affect your work?

— I would really like to underline that so far, myself and my colleague Marko Grdošić (AEGEE Europe), with whom I was in the Council's Board of Directors, had a brilliant, very open and responsive communication with the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Croatia to the Council of Europe, i.e. with the former

continue in the future too. Croatia's current foreign minister is probably going to be appointed the Secretary General of the Council of Europe soon. How important is this appointment for Croatia and the stances it endorses?

— Since we, as representatives of national umbrella youth organizations and international youth organizations, represent organizations and membership, not member states, it is important for us to advocate certain values and attitudes, not the interests of our respective countries. What we as the Council and young people expect is for the budget of the Youth Department and all our activities

WE EXPECT TO HAVE POSITIVE COOPERATION WITH MINISTER MARIJA BURIĆ PEJČINOVIĆ IN HER CURRENT POSITION, AND IN PARTICULAR WHEN SHE IS APPOINTED THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE, WHICH IS A HUGE THING FOR CROATIA ambassador Miroslav Papa, Deputy Blaženka Babić and the new ambassador Toma Galli. They are now working in the youth sector of the Council of Europe and are considered the most active and the biggest fighters for youth rights and youth policy development among the ambassadors. They have always been very supportive. If you want to fight for the right thing at the level of the Committee of Ministers, this is the key support you need. During the Croatian Presidency of the Council of Europe, it is only natural that we were more in the focus of attention, but as representatives of youth organizations, we have always had very good cooperation with the Permanent Representation, which sets a very good practical example for all Council of Europe member states. I believe that such cooperation will

to be protected because what's the purpose of having the Council of Europe and all the values it advocates when you won't have anybody left in the member states to instil these values, knowledge and experience in, nor have anything to invest in the empowerment and education of young people. The present and future of the Council of Europe and the European Union, on the other hand, rest on young people, and in order to ask and expect something from young people, we should ask ourselves first what we did for them and what we did to teach them how to think and do, not what to think and do. This is a supra-national issue that does not need to be linked to the respective countries that young people come from. We expect to have positive cooperation with Minister Marija

Burić Pejčinović in her current position, and in particular when she is appointed the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, which is a huge thing for Croatia which should be talked about more in the public space. The term of the Advisory Council members is two years. What should happen and what goal should you get closer to in order to say that you were satisfied with the work you had done?

— At the beginning of each mandate, we are working on our two-year-operative plan, so that each priority area is assigned goals, activities and indicators of implementation. Likewise, we are working on long-term goals. We are currently working on the Agenda 2030 which the Council's future convocations should adhere to, in principle and strategically, in their work, but the two-year operative plans are considered more important operational documents. It is impossible to finish certain processes in a two-year- period, because of all the procedures and negotiations, but the Council is very much adhering to the continuity of work. It is crucial that some members run for another term to ensure the transfer of knowledge, experience and practices, but this is something that is decided during a democratic election process. We are satisfied with each of our realized activities, established cooperation and small successes because, at the end of the day, they can significantly affect the quality of life and rights of young people across Europe. With the support of our parent organizations, we are always striving to do our best to achieve the best results in our work so to empower many young people and inform them of their rights, as well as to make institutions and other partners aware of the social role and importance of youth.

SUPPORT THE YOUTH IN THEIR EFFORTS I would like to use this opportunity to remind all your readers that they were young once and to remember everything they troubled them back then and the things they wanted to change. Nowadays, young people face even more challenges and problems, and enormous demands placed upon them, while often they are being portrayed as inadequate, unreliable and spoiled. In the time when jobs are not safe and can be lost easily if you are are lucky enough to even have one, when

young people from Croatia are leaving their parents' home much later than their counterparts in other EU countries, and when higher education is increasingly becoming a luxury, young people are still volunteering in their free time to fight for a better social position for themselves and a more just society in general. All of you who used to be our age please remember that and support us in our efforts, thus perpetuating the saying „the young shall inherit the world“, because we really will.

SOCIAL MOBILITY

A Class Apart Improving social mobility will mean allowing rich children to move down as well as helping poor ones to move up. Does the government have the stomach for it?

There is little doubt about which subject will define Theresa May’s government. But the prime minister has made clear that during whatever time is not gobbled up by Brexit negotiations she wants to turn Britain into “a country that works for everyone”. Such talk is hardly new. In 1990 John Major spoke of his desire to forge “a genuinely classless society”. Every prime minister since has made similar noises. Yet few have placed as much emphasis on social mobility as Mrs May. This focus is inspired by the fact that, by many measures, Britain is not a socially mobile place (see chart). Many also sense that things have taken a turn for the worse. Like most rich countries, after the second world war Britain saw a big increase in the number of well paid, white-collar jobs. The proportion of people born to parents in professional or managerial jobs tripled between the generation of 1946 and the one born in 198084. Poor children won places in the civil service or the City of London, earning far more than their parents. But as the creation of professional jobs slowed, the scope for children to make dramatic leaps up the social pecking-order narrowed. In this sense the Britain of today is a less upwardly-mobile place than that of Mrs May’s youth. The overall picture is more complicated. Mobility is measured not only in absolute terms—that is, how well people fare compared with their parents—but also in relative terms, meaning how well they do compare with their peers. By this definition, the change has been somewhat less dramatic. Among men born in the poorest income quartile in 1958, 31% remained there as adults. Among the generation born in 1970, the figure crept up to 38%. Academics who study mobility based not on income but on social class—normally defined by occupation type— detect even less change. By their reckoning, mobility has changed little during the past century (al-

THE BRITAIN OF TODAY IS A LESS UPWARDLY-MOBILE PLACE THAN THAT OF MRS MAY’S YOUTH though women became a bit more mobile, probably reflecting better access to education and work). Most see little prospect of an increase in mobility in years to come. But not all are so gloomy. The gap in exam performance between rich and poor children is falling, notes Jo Blanden of Surrey University. In 2005 30% of children eligible for free school meals got five good grades at GCSE, the exams taken at 16, compared with 59% of others. By 2013 that 29 percentage-point gap had shrunk to 16 points. There has been a similar narrowing of the difference in university participation rates and performance in SATs, the exams taken at 11. Since studies suggest that more than half of the link between parental and child income develops as a result of what happens in

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the classroom, the convergence of rich and poor pupils’ exam results bodes well for social mobility. What goes up... Yet the slowing down of the economy from its post-war clip means that the increase in wellqualified youngsters has no corresponding increase in good jobs. In the past, there was plenty of room at the top. Now, it is painfully clear that social mobility must mean people going down as well as up. Well-off parents have many weapons with which to defend their children from this fate. The bluntest is by passing on wealth. Last year the government announced plans to shield inheritances of up to £1m ($1.2m) from tax. And money helps youngsters to maintain an educational edge. In 1996 just 4% of Britain’s workforce

had postgraduate qualifications; today 11% do. The relative scarcity of funding for postgraduate study means postgrad qualifications are more open to wealthy students. Moreover, the graduate wage premium is highest for those at the most prestigious universities, where the gap between rich and poor pupils has remained wide. Access to good jobs is increasingly gained through internships, often unpaid and given out informally. The government has shown limited interest in enforcing the minimum wage in this area (indeed, two years ago Mrs May’s Conservative Party wrote to its MPs with advice on diplomatic ways to advertise unpaid internships). Thus, even among children with identical educational qualifications, the privately schooled are more likely to get the best jobs and to take home fatter pay-cheques, according to a study in 2014 by academics at the UCL Institute of Education and Cambridge University. Chipping away at these privileges will not be easy. But in an era of limited growth, improving social mobility is as much about dismantling the barriers that keep wealthy children at the top as it is about pulling poor children up from the bottom. Promising to increase social mobility has long been a popular pledge. It may become a more controversial one when voters realise that mobility goes in two directions.

From The Economist, published under licence. The original article, in English, can be found on www. economist.com

CORPORATE

Savour the Best Discover the charming Croatia's capital and book your stay at a premier Zagreb hotel - The Westin Zagreb. We are home away from home for many international dignitaries and anyone looking for impeccable service and lavish accommodation Zagreb, the new star on Europe’s tourist map, is the centre of Croatia’s business, cultural, and political life. It represents a charming blend of a city that has a long and exciting history and modern mid-European spirit. Zagreb’s history reflects itself in its infrastructure and monuments, as well as in numerous parks and cultural events. Its history creates a foundation that explains its urban lifestyle. Zagreb’s tourist offering is abundant and includes 19 theatres, 24 museums and 65 galleries. The city’s tourist offer ranges from exploring sights in the old part of town, the must-see trip to Kaptol, the Zagreb cathedral, and the

of Zagreb. The Westin Zagreb features 340 luxurious rooms and suites, all with the unique sleeping programme called Heavenly Bed. The room and suites are comfortable, spacious, and overlooking the centre of Croatia's vibrant capital, Zagreb. Specially equipped and lavishly furbished Westin Guest

Office Suites, as well as the Deluxe and Presidential suites, boasting breathtaking views of Zagreb and featuring 24/7 room service and all the special VIP treatments and perks that esteemed guests might need, the Westin Zagreb is home away from home for many international dignitaries and anyone looking for impeccable service

THE WESTIN ZAGREB IS THE EPITOME OF MODERN-DAY LUXURY, BOASTING BREATHTAKING VIEWS OF ZAGREB AND FEATURING 24/7 ROOM SERVICE AND ALL THE SPECIAL VIP TREATMENTS AND PERKS THAT ESTEEMED GUESTS MIGHT NEED

and lavish accommodation. The hotel has two cafes, Diana Bar and Rendez Vous Café, à la carte restaurant Kaptol, and summer terraces Ruža (Rose) and Allegro. At Diana Bar and at Rendez Vous Café you can have a coffee, JING® tea, colourful cocktails and small, healthy bites accompanied by freshly squeezed juices and smoothies, while at à la carte restaurant Kaptol, you will be able to savour the best of the local and regional cuisine. The thirteen multifunctional event venues of different sizes in The Westin Zagreb, including the beautiful Crystal ballroom that can accommodate up to 1,000 guests, are the ideal place for all sorts of events; from conferences, international congresses and business meetings to various galas, lavish banquets and weddings. The modern wellness and fitness centre with an indoor pool, a beauty parlour and saunas, is the favourite leisure and relaxation spot for the hotel’s guests. Find out more at www.westinzagreb.hr or at westin.marriott.com .

famous Ban Jelačić Square. Apart from the sights in the city centre, Zagreb has an exciting night life, many cafes and best shopping. Flagship stores of world-renowned brands are nested around the downtown area near Ban Jelačić Square and in larger shopping malls located around the city. The Westin Zagreb combines modern-day luxury with a fantastic location in the very centre

POLITICS

Text: ŽELIMIR MARAŠ

Maidan-3 The End of Misery

After all the bad news, revolutions, dead people, clashes and other risks associated with direct democracy all over the Eastern Europe, great news came from Ukraine where the citizens elected the opposition candidate to be the country’s president with 74% of the votes, without a revolution, a new Maidan or street protests. In "the peaceful Maidan", albeit the one with tectonic influence, the electorate chose to vote against the clerical-nationalist candidate supported by the West, whose motto was "The Army, the Language, the Faith", and chose a man who was for peace, spoke Russian as his first language and who was of Jewish ancestry. This was 0 out of 3 Poroshenko's mantras! Their choice was between a comedic actor and a puppet businessman. In the words of political analysts: “Poroshenko’s Ukraine is poorer and more unstable than Yanukovych’s, and, at the same time, it has not become freer, more just, more orderly. Only corruption, ultra-nationalism, chauvinism and Russophobia have become stronger in the past five years The popularity of Zelensky, especially among the Ukrainians under the age of 40, shows that citizens are much more concerned about the everyday problems - corruption, nepotism, ineffective judicial and administrative apparatus, organized crime, poverty - than geopolitics. Even the high-level political issues of the perpetrator, even the unification of the rebelling Orthodox Church

in Ukraine and the obtaining of autocephaly from Constantinople did not help improve his popularity among the electorate, nor did the declaration of the state of emergency and Russophobia, which also took on grotesque aspects." THE YEARS OF MISERY

In five years, the Ukrainian Premier Football League has been reduced from 16 to 12 teams (some of the clubs dissolved due to the lack of funds), followed by stupid and

should be put in a ghetto because they are “contagious and useless”. But the tide started to turn with small heroes, like Maruv, the singer who was supposed to represent Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest. After being presented with an unacceptable contract, he refused to participate in the contest, as did the second-placed, thirdplaced and fourth-placed after him (including the mega popular group Kazka). In the end, Ukraine did not participate. The rebellion has start-

MAIDAN 3 HAPPENED WITHOUT A REVOLUTION, WITHOUT SPILLING BLOOD AND WITHOUT PROTESTS irrational decisions like banning Russian art and culture, banning all kinds of traffic with Russia (fist air traffic, then railway), banning Russian planes using the Ukrainian airspace, banning Vkontakte (the most popular social network) and Yandex (internet search tool) and ultimately, banning Russian men from entering the country. Artists like Oleg Skrypka added more fuel to the fire by saying that everyone who doesn’t speak Ukrainian

ed! Footballer Rakitsky (with many caps for the Ukrainian national team) moved from FC Shakhtar to FC Zenit from St Petersburg. People have demonstrated that the madness of nationalism makes no sense. Poroshenko (a man who increased his fortune 95 times, according to some projections, even though he was already quite wealthy, just like his pals – the oligarchs) really touched the rock bottom when he called Zelensky live

RESTART — Now, there is a chance that Ukraine can return to the place it deserves - the most beautiful and most tolerant country in the East Europe, known for its many languages and traditions and no civil war. Both east and west and north and south voted for the new Ukraine. Maidan 3 happened without a revolution, without spilling blood and without protests. See you in the new Ukraine!

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on national television, although he very well knew that Zelensky was not in to the country at all, something that Zelensky repeated on the phone 10 times or so. During the infamous TV show, Zelensky confirmed numerous times that he had already agreed on a second term, and hung up the phone, causing Poroshenko’s embarrassment and making it a triumph for himself. The surreal comedy by a supposedly serious politician continued when Poroshenko went to the "scheduled time" and participated in a “debate” by himself, trying to present Zelensky as a "non-existent candidate", engaged the state apparatus and the media, and even tried to challenge the candidacy of his opponent in court. He failed. BACK TO LIFE, BACK TO NORMALCY

No-one thinks that Ukraine will become perfect overnight, but at least it will not be a grotesque Russophobic cul-de-sac in a war with its citizens. The most important thing is that Zelensky (who had another gaffe when he said that Stepan Bandera was the man who defended Ukraine) showed that the government was disposable. If it does not work, it should be changed until a better one comes. The people from other Eastern European countries can now see that it is possible to change the strongmen the West shamefully supports. After Zuzana Čaputova in Slovakia, the tide has started to turn. Following the justified anger in 2013 and the shameful dismissal of Yanukovych on the day after the agreement was signed, "the revolution of dignity” became "the revolution of misery".

CORPORATE

Ancient Approach to New Quality of Life Thanks to the popularization of Ayurveda, both in Croatia and the rest of the world, the interest in this ancient knowledge, which the modern man really needs, is growing again. Ayurveda Balance is one of only five facilities in Europe that offer a complete Ayurveda service, with authentic Ayurvedic doctors

Each step, regardless of how big it is, in the direction of the Ayurvedic lifestyle means moving in the direction of holistic health. "The beauty of the Ayurveda is that, by discovering its secrets, a person realizes little by little that they have come across something truly unique and as a result, is gradually trying to incorporate more and more Ayurvedic insights," says Tina Carić, owner of Ayurveda Balance, who chose Ayurveda a long time ago. "In the early 20s, when you are supposed to decide what to do with yourself, a group of Ayurvedic doctors had a guest appearance in Zagreb. For me, Ayurveda was love at first sight. Since then I've been 'infected' with Ayurveda and soon left the law school to devote myself to studying this timeless knowledge. I have completed all the education that was available in Europe and provided training in Ayurvedic medicine. Ayurveda fascinates me with its power of prevention, i.e. identifying disorders that have not yet manifested. The pulse diagnosis recognizes the disease at level 1, as opposed to allopathic medicine, where the medical devices recognize disease only at level 5 or 6, when the disease has already seriously developed. Since 2000, I have been actively collaborating with authentic Ayurvedic doctors from India, and in 2015, I founded the first Ayurvedic clinic in this part of Europe," Ms Carić adds. Ayurveda is the oldest medicine known to mankind from which all later treatments have stemmed. Today, we can often hear the term 'dosha'. "Doshas (vata, pitta and kapha) are the three energy principles that govern a person's psycho-physiology,"explains Ms Carić. Our interlocutor points to the

parallels between the Ayurvedic approach and modern medicine. "Vata principle manages communication and movement in the body, with the nervous system and joints. Pitta is associated with metabolic processes in the body. To use Allopathic Medicine terms, pitta is in charge of the endocrine and digestive system and the secretion of hormones and enzymes. Kapha principle connects to body structure - bones and muscles and body tissue. Most of the disorders in the body are due to disturbed vata, which is the only mobile dosha," she says. Modern lifestyle exerts a lot of pressure on the nervous system. When a disorder of the nervous system occurs, it directly affects all other systems. It is precisely because of Ayurverdic insight into the energetic and physical structure of the body that the Ayurvedic approach to healing is holistic and individual which means that

the same health problem in two different people can be treated with different methods, depending on needs,“ explains the owner of Ayurveda Balance and adds: "Ayurveda uses natural products and methods in healing that affect the cause of the problem and is therefore extremely successful, but should not be regarded as 'quick fix' for illness. It requires the engagement of the patient in terms of changing their lifestyle, diet and habits, as well as the change in their mindset. Maybe you have heard this many time before, but the power of positive thinking incredibly influences our health and quality of life." The most effective Ayurvedic treatment is a two-week Panchakarma - a process that combines several therapies that deep-clean the body tissues, with the goal of detoxifying the body. It enhances the reaction of the body to Ayurvedic herbal supple-

THE MOST EFFECTIVE AYURVEDIC TREATMENT IS A TWO-WEEK PANCHAKARMA - A PROCESS THAT COMBINES SEVERAL THERAPIES THAT DEEP-CLEAN THE BODY TISSUES, WITH THE GOAL OF DETOXIFYING THE BODY

Pizzichili

Netra tarpana

ments and activates the natural, innate, self-healing mechanism. Panchakarma is the most important part of the therapeutic plan in cases of acute and chronic diseases. Since it not only affects the body, but also the consciousness and emotions, it is recommended to every healthy person, 1-2 times a year for preventive purposes,“ says Tina Carić. „We help our clients to learn more about their own needs. We offer a detoxification plan that matches their body constitution and disorder, and after processing with natural preparations and treatments that are pleasant and positively affecting the psychophysical condition, our users realize that you can affect health with natural methods," our interlocutor explains. "After a few visits to our Centre, they will learn to take care of themselves and their health in the right way; they will know which food is good for them, and which is not; which life habits should be introduced and which disregarded... The benefits that users feel after the detox treatment usually prompt them to want to find out more about the Ayurvedic lifestyle, and we provide this through various thematic workshops that we hold, such as Ayurveda cuisine, yoga, and meditation workshops." "Every person, even the busiest one, can incredibly influence their quality of life through making small changes, and thereby get what we all long for - physical health and mental peace," Tina Carić concludes. Ayurveda Balance Health Center Preradovićeva 20, Zagreb +385 1 4638 993 info@ayurveda-balance.hr www.ayurveda-balance.hr

CORPORATE

Creating Memories for 30 Years! For many passengers Croatia Airlines is their very first encounter with Croatia. In the year of a great jubilee Croatia Airlines will be flying to 30 international destinations in 24 countries and 8 Croatian ones

Croatia Airlines, the Croatian national carrier and member of Star Alliance, takes great pride in the fact that this year is marking the company’s 30th anniversary. The story of Croatia Airlines began on 7th August 1989, when Zagreb Airlines d.d. (Zagal), an air transport company, was registered in Zagreb. On 23rd July 1990, Zagal changed its name to Croatia Airlines d.d., having thus become the national airline for the transport of passengers, goods and mail. The first commercial flight of Croatia Airlines was operated on 5th May 1991 from Zagreb to Split, while the first international flight from Croatia was operated on 5th April 1992, and this on the international Zagreb - Frankfurt route. In the period from the first flight to the end of February this year, the company operated a total of 589,500 flights and flew over 38,240,000 passengers. Of these, 11,407,500 passengers were recorded aboard national flights, 24,014,500 aboard international flights, and 2,818,000 passengers aboard charter flights. It is also worth pointing out that, in the past thirty years, the company has become a member of the most important aviation associations, such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Star Alliance, the largest airline association in the world. In Europe, Croatia Airlines is today a medium sized European airline, whose flight safety, professional staff and quality of service have been recognised by passengers. In the year marking the 30th

SO FAR WE FLEW OVER 38,240,000 PASSENGERS. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO CREATING MEMORIES TOGETHER WITH OUR PASSENGERS FOR MANY DECADES TO COME anniversary of the company, the airline’s fleet, consisting of 12 aircraft (two Airbus 320, four Airbus 319 and six Dash 8-Q400 turboprop aircraft), is being visually revamped. As part of the regular technical maintenance programme, the CROATIA logo was enlarged and is now more visible. Also, the squares, a recognisable symbol of Croatian national identity, are now also spread lower across the fuselage. There are visual modifications on the lower part of the aircraft too, which are now white in colour, resulting in the aircraft being vis-

ually larger and more elegant. As a result, the aircraft of Croatia Airlines, which are for many passengers their very first encounter with Croatia, have become an even more powerful and more recognisable promoter of Croatia. It is worth reminding that, during this year’s tourist season, Croatia Airlines will be flying to 30 international destinations (in 24 countries) and 8 Croatian ones. Zagreb will be connected with 24 European destinations in 22 countries via direct flights. An additional flight on Tuesdays from Zagreb to Dublin has

QUALITY OF SERVICE The utmost attention is paid to ensuring passenger satisfaction and confidence, which is why the company has been continuously working on improving and developing the quality of its service - both in the air and on land. On all Croatia Airlines’ flights passengers are offered food and beverages free of charge which varies depending on the class of travel, the flight duration and the time of the day.

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been introduced. This means that, on this route, passengers will this year have three flights a week to choose from - on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. During the tourist season, that is, in the period between April and October, the company, aware of the needs of its passengers, leased two 100-seat CRJ1000 aircraft just like last year. The number of regular flights increased just before Easter holidays, when the tourist season traditionally begun in Croatia, after which many seasonal flights from the most important emissive markets have been gradually introduced. During the peak tourist season, the company will on average be operating 105 flights a day. As the flag carrier, Croatia Airlines contributes significantly to the development of Croatian tourism considering that, annually, one third of all tourists arriving in Croatia by aircraft fly with Croatia Airlines. Croatia Airlines features a mobile application that can be downloaded on mobile devices and allows users to purchase airline tickets, check in and receive boarding passes in the form of a bar code. This application is available at the company’s mobile website m.croatiaairlines.com. The web check-in service via the company website www.croatiaairlines. com had also been improved. Wishing to continue creating memories together with their passengers for many decades to come, Croatia Airlines thanks all its service users for their trust and is sincerely looking forward to all new flights together!

PEOPLE & EVENTS

30 CROATIA MAR

E-MOBILITY FORUM

Together with its partners, the American Chamber of Commerce in Croatia organized the Croatia E-mobility Forum, dedicated to a public debate on the challenges of a major e-mobility transition that is about to happen and to creating platforms for joint consideration of market models, regulations and policies necessary for an adequate implementations of new changes that are coming. The aim of this unique economic gathering was to bring together all key stakeholders from this sector - from representatives of the domestic businesses, managers of the required infrastructure and regulatory bodies to heads of state institutions, representatives of the scientific community and consumers themselves.

Dubravko Ponoš, Director, Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund; Zvonimir Marinović, Assistant Director, Customs Administration; Branko Kondić, Executive Director, LMG Autokuća and Robert Gogić, Head of Homologation and Environmental Protection / QMR, Porsche Croatia

Mate Rimac, Director, Rimac Cars

Andrea Doko Jelušić Executive Director of AmCham

10 GERMAN APR

Ana Vjetrov, German National Tourist Office

Cristian Sallai, German National Tourist Office

Bruno Boban, German Embassy and Cristian Sallai, German National Tourist Office

NATIONAL TOURIST OFFICE

German National Tourist Office has organized a meeting with journalists at which it presented the results regarding the development of German tourism. For the ninth consecutive time, German receptive tourism in 2018 can boast record results. The preliminary data from the Bureau of Statistics show that, in the period from January to December, Germany recorded 87.7 million foreign overnight stays in accommodation facilities with at least ten beds.

Ana Vjetrov, German National Tourist Office and Bruno Boban, German Embassy

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PEOPLE & EVENTS

24 SLO CRO BUSINESS APR

CLUB HOLDS PRESENTATION OF SLOVENIAN WINES

A number of business people met at Vigred, Zagreb, to attend the presentation of wines, gastronomy and tourist offer of Bela Krajina, the southeast Slovenia, that took place in Croatia for the first time ever. At the meeting, organized by the SLO-CRO business club, the three-day event „Vinska Vigred v Beli krajina“ was officially announced, which takes place from 17 to 19 May in Metlika and is known as the largest wine festival in Slovenia.

Darko Zevnik, Mayor of Metlika, Bernard Šrajner, Embassy of Slovenia, Ivanka Badovinac, wine specialist, Saša Muminović, President of Slo Cro Business Club, Vesna Vukšinič Zmaić, Slo Cro Business Club

Miro Ungar with a colleague

26 AHK APRIL APR

Sven Thorsten Potthoff, Director of AHK, Sonja Popović, Director of SAP, Dr. Thomas Sichla, Chairman of the Management Board of the German-Croatian Industrial and Trade Chamber

Janja Kulić with a colleague

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Melanija Habrun with a colleague

JOUR FIX

The last Thursday of the month is reserved for the networking-gathering of members of the AHK. This time, the gathering took place at Matis Absolut Lounge, and the host was our SAP. Chairman of the Board of the German-Croatian Chamber of Industry and Commerce welcomed the guests. April's Jour Fix was attended by many AHK members.

25 THE NATIONAL DAY APR

OF THE NETHERLANDS – KING’S BIRTHDAY

On April 25th, 2019, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, led by Ambassador H.E. Mr. Henk Voskamp, marked the Dutch National Day – King’s birthday in the atrium of the Klović Palace in Zagreb This even was held in cooperation with Dutch companies operating in the Republic of Croatia, and attended by many distinguished guests and business partners of the Embassy.

H.E. Henk Voskamp, Netherlands Ambassador

30 "WINGS OF APR

STORM" DISPLAY TEAM AND BRITISH EMBASSY ZAGREB

The "Red Arrows" acrobatic group landed with 10 BAE HAWK planes near the Colonel Mirko Vukušić army barracks to visit the "Wings of Storm" display team. This is the third appearance of the "Red Arrows" in the Zemunik base, which is one of the stopovers on their way to the Tanagra base in Greece where they are practicing for the 2019 performance season.

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BUSINESS NEWS

Rolex

DECLARED THE MOST REPUTABLE COMPANY IN THE WORLD

Benetton

SAVING ALITALIA

Italian transport group Atlantia, owned by the Benetton family, could join a rescue of loss-making flag carrier Alitalia to try to win favour with the government and secure the future of its own domestic business following a deadly bridge collapse last year. Reuters reports, quoting reliable sources, that Atlantia was willing to assist in rescuing Alitalia, currently the „hottest business potato“ that the Italian government has to resolve. Atlantia, controlled by the Benetton family, faces the loss of its entire national motorway concession in a bitter

dispute with the government, which erupted after last year’s disaster on its toll network killed 43 people. Atlantia's revenues from motorway management make 58% of the company's revenue.

Končar

The Swiss watchmaker based in Geneva, Switzerland, Rolex has been declared the most reputable global company for the fourth year running thanks to its excellence in quality, reliability and precision. The title of the most reputable company in the world has been awarded since 1997, and the list of 100 most reputable companies is assembled by the Reputation Institute from Boston, the leading provider of reputation measuring and management services. Rolex's reputation is best seen through over a century-long history, during which the company has been continually working on lasting improvements and investing in innovation at all levels. It is precisely the company's commitment to aspirations for excellence and the desire to contribute to the society that has propelled Rolex to the very top of the world's most prestigious companies.

19% INCREASE IN PROFIT

Fisher-Price

Croatian electric equipment manufacturer Koncar announced that the consolidated net profit of the Koncar Group increased by 19% over the year to 128.7 million kunas ($ 19.5 million / 17.3 million euro) in 2018. The total value of new contracts amounted to 3,026 million kunas, an 18% increase compared to 2017. All key indicators show a

continuation of the Group’s stable business performance, the company has said. The Group's total sales revenue amounted to 2.7 billion kunas relative to 2017, which is a 4.3% decline. The Group has also continued its collaboration with scientific institutions through the implementation of a number of mutual projects.

RECALLS MILLIONS OF BABY SLEEPERS FROM THE MARKET

MOL

TAKES OVER GERMANY'S AURORA

MOL Group signed a purchase agreement and took over the German company Aurora, a recycled plastic compounder. The move will enable MOL to widen its range of polyamide and polypropylene compounds and strengthen its position as a supplier to the automotive industry. The purchase price hasn't been revealed on this deal, which still needs to be approved by anti-monopoly regulators. MOL is looking to increase its use of recycled materials as it shifts to a more environmentally friendly mode of

business, as well as plans new investments. With Aurora’s loop logistic system, MOL expects to help customers reach a higher content of recycled material in their end products.

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Toymaker Fisher-Price has recalled a few millions of its Rock 'n Play Sleepers after reports linked the product to dozens of baby deaths. The recall was announced by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on Friday. The CPSC said in a statement that the sleeper, which rocks babies to sleep in a cloth-covered cradle, was “deadly” because it could cause asphyxiation. „Babies died in Rock 'n Play Sleepers after rolling over or on the side while unsupervised“, the CPSC adds. At least 4.7 million sleepers have been recalled from the market following the death of at least 32 babies. Fisher-Price stated that it recalled every single sleeper in the market in partnership with the CPSC.

AHK

HALF OF THE GERMAN COMPANIES UNWILLING TO INVEST IN CROATIA AGAIN

Only 7% of the surveyed companies said that the Croatian economy was sound, while 19% of them expect growth – according to the survey conducted by the German-Croatian Chamber of Industry and Commerce (AHK), which is the biggest bilateral business organization in Croatia. The survey was conducted in February this year among 150 companies/chamber members. Only 54 per cent of German companies currently investing in Croatia said that they would embark on another investment in the country today. Furthermore, nearly 61 per cent of companies polled described the state of Croatia's economy as 'bad’, while 71 per cent of them said that the Croatian government, lead by PM Andrej Plenković, was doing a bad job. Less than 2 per cent of companies praises the work of the Government. Their main objections in terms of doing business in Croatia are high taxes, unnecessary administration and corruption. This sudden drop in the satisfaction of German companies in Croatia comes probably due to the expectation of a slowdown in the economy and an even bigger gap between earning opportunities in Croatia and other countries in the region.

Agrokor Group

OPERATIVE PROFIT IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF THIS YEAR AMOUNTS TO 71 MILLION KUNA

Revenues of the Agrokor food and retail group in January 2019 amounted to 1.5 billion kunas, and operating profits totalled 34.2 million kunas, the group's emergency administration said in the latest monthly report on Tuesday. Data

in the report refer to the operations of 16 companies that make up the group's three business segments - Retail and Wholesale, Food, and Agriculture. The report also says that all three segments have exceeded the planned revenue and EBITDA.

Facebook

UPLOADED USERS' EMAIL CONTACTS WITHOUT THEIR APPROVAL

RBA

CROATIA GETS INVESTMENT GRADE RATING

According to RBA, following last year's GDP growth of 2.6 per cent, this year's growth should come in at 2.5 per cent. The latest RBA report also addresses Croatia's return to an investment grade rating. The report states that currently Croatia's return to an investment grade rating is based solely on the rating of the Standard & Poor’s agency, but that RBA expects the other two major rating agencies will follow suit shortly on the basis of Croatia's solid fiscal policy indicators, the reduction of external vulnerability, continued economic growth and the preservation of political stability.

Facebook harvested the email contacts of 1.5 million users without their knowledge or consent when they opened their accounts. Since May 2016, the social-networking company has collected the contact lists of 1.5 million users new to the social network. The company claims that the contact data was

"unintentionally uploaded to Facebook," and that is it is now deleting them. The revelation comes after a security researcher noticed that Facebook was asking some users to enter their email passwords when they signed up for new accounts to verify their identities. If you entered your email password, a message popped up saying it was "importing" your contacts without asking for permission first. Since the Cambridge Analytica scandal in early 2018, when it emerged that the political firm had illicitly harvested tens of millions of Facebook users' data, the company's approach to handling users' data has come under intense scrutiny.

Eurostat

CROATIA AMONG EU COUNTRIES WITH THE LOWEST EMPLOYMENT RATE

Together with Greece, Italy and Spain, Croatia was one of the EU countries with the lowest employment rate in 2018, despite exceeding its employment plans covering the period until 2020 – said the report compiled by the European statistical office, Eurostat. Last year, the employment rate in the 20 to 64 age group in Croatia was 65.2 per cent and went up by 1.6 percentage points relative to the previous year. At the EU level, the employment rate in the 20 to 64

age group was 73.2 per cent last year, up 1.1 percentage points from the previous year. According to the Europe 2020 strategy, next year's employment rate in the EU, as a whole, should be at least 75 per cent. The target levels for each member country were also set, taking into account their respective situation and the capabilities of each country.

CORPORATE

Discover the BMW 5 Series Saloon. Business Athlete. The BMW 5 Series is the embodiment of the modern business saloon. Thanks to its dynamic and simultaneously elegant appearance, it convincingly meets the expectations that are placed today on a vehicle of its class: aesthetic athleticism and driving pleasure with state-of-the-art technology Even when standing still, the seventh generation of the sportiest business saloon creates a powerful impression. The BMW 5 Series Saloon is shaped by aesthetic perfection. This is evident in details such as a bonnet that reaches right to the contours of the kidney grille, without a continuous panel gap, thus underlining the perfect build quality of the BMW 5 Series Saloon. From the expressive front to the striking rear, dynamic lines play off each other to fascinating effect. The optional Adaptive LED headlights and the Active Air Stream kidney grille form a unit, further emphasising the vehicle’s width and defining the charismatic face of the BMW 5 Series Saloon. As soon as you enter this car, you realise: everything is just right. The generous interior exudes a premium ambience with an ergonomic and balanced design marked by first-class materials and top workmanship. Even the standard front seats are electrically adjustable and offer tremendous safety and comfort together with a wide choice of materials. The optional sports seats feature adjustable side bolsters for optimum lateral support through even quickly-taken corners. The multifunction seats, which are available with a massage function, represent the pinnacle in comfort. Eight different massage programmes, each with a choice

of three intensity modes, relax the muscles in the back and relieve the strain on the spinal discs while driving. You are furthermore able to set temperature thresholds for activating the seat heating and seat ventilation, as well as the steering wheel heating – a highly convenient feature which starts heating or ventilation automatically when the temperature falls below or rises above the respective limit. There is room for up to three adults on the rear seats. When the middle seat isn’t occupied, passengers in the rear can make use of

high-resolution 10.25-inch screen and controlled not just in the usual manner using the iDrive Controller, but also by means of gestures, voice commands or simply touching the display. The BMW 5 Series Saloon is equipped as standard with twozone automatic climate control featuring independent temperature control for driver and front passenger. A version with extended functionality is available as an option, as well as a four-zone climate control system that allows passengers in the rear to adjust the temperature, air distribution and

THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE CONTROL SWITCH ALLOWS YOU TO CHOOSE BETWEEN SPORTY, COMFORTABLE OR EXTRA-FUELEFFICIENT VEHICLE SETTINGS, DEPENDING ON THE DRIVING SITUATION AND PERSONAL PREFERENCE the centre armrest and its integral cupholders. A through-loading system can be added as an option. The rear seat is designed to allow room for up to three child seats (the two outer places have ISOFIX attachments). The BMW 5 Series features the latest version of gesture control for key functions. Navigation, telephone, entertainment features and vehicle functions can be visualised on the optionally available

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airflow using a separate control console. The Driving Experience Control switch allows you to choose between sporty, comfortable or extra-fuel-efficient vehicle settings, depending on the driving situation and personal preference. On the BMW 5 Series, this system comes with a further expanded range of functions, offering an even wider spectrum of configurations. Advanced technology is com-

plemented by innovative BMW ConnectedDrive technologies such as the full-colour BMW Head-Up Display (optional) – for maximum safety and convenience. Especially handy: the optional Comfort Access system allows the tailgate to be opened remotely. The commanding power delivery from the high-torque engines is noticeably more intense, a fact impressively illustrated by the BMW 540i with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, which – thanks to BMW EfficientDynamics – combines maximum performance with minimum fuel consumption. The BMW 5 Series Saloon is also available with the intelligent xDrive all-wheel drive system, for example in the 520d xDrive entry-level model or as standard in the top-of-the-range BMW M550d xDrive, powered by powerful six-cylinder diesel engine delivering 294 kW (400 hp). Whichever model you choose, the BMW 5 Series Saloon, with its impressive combination of dynamism, efficiency, sportiness, elegance, agility and comfort will always deliver one outcome: sheer driving pleasure. Don‘t hesitate to get in touch with Tomić & Co. for further details about your exclusive benefits or to help you find the right BMW or MINI model. BMW Diplomatic Sales staff will be pleased to assist you with anything you need.

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COLUMN

CORPORATE CULTURE VS. HAPPY ACCIDENTS OF COOWORKING Workplace as the essence of the company culture and brand is undergoing substantial changes. New technologies, Millennias entering the workforce, and predominant use of social media redesigned workplaces now focusing on creativity, innovation, collaboration, productivity, and opening the space for free and mobile employees JAGODA POROPAT DARRER Business Communications Professional

Organizational culture is defined as the underlying beliefs, assumptions, values and ways of interacting that contribute to the unique social and psychological environment of an organization. It includes an organization’s expectations, experiences, philosophy, as well as the values that guide member behavior, and is expressed in member self-image, inner workings, interactions with the outside world, and future expectations. Culture is based on shared attitudes, beliefs, customs, and written and unwritten rules that have been developed over time and are considered valid (The Business Dictionary). Culture also includes the organization’s vision, values, norms, systems, symbols, language, assumptions, beliefs, and habits (Needle, 2004). In the past, corporate companies were attractive because they offered their employees a sense of security (whether real or perceived). Employees began working with the hope for upward mobility within the company, ultimately building life-long relationships with their employers. However, most young professionals, or endearingly named “job hoppers”, would agree that even two years with one company seems like a lengthy tenure (cowork.io). So, many companies have started to move from traditional, corporate mindsets to more flexible, collaborative workplaces. Cooworking is a result of a shift in new expectations for the workplace. Organizing the workplace in a nomadic way means that the company opts for

more communicating offices and more flexible working spaces to facilitate exchanges and travel. New approach to the workplace suits more the new generation that is 375 million strong and by 2025 will make up 75% of the workforce. It has become clear that the needs of Generation Y, aka the Millennials are different, and that the traditional workplace is outdated. “The Next Talent Frontier” by Kelly Services, forecasts that this generation will be the one to drive real change in the workplace. For them, the line between work and life has become blurred with the rise of mobile technology. An article in Forbes recognizes that, “this new generation of employee not only

ers,” comments professor Jordan Kaplan for US Today. They are also “much less likely to respond to the traditional command-and-control type of management”. Moreover, companies understood that the QWL (Quality of Work Life) can increase by giving more autonomy to employees and eliciting their engagement. By activating three key managerial dimensions – tasks, cooperation and governance – leaders can improve QWL and business performance: quality of life as a lever for productivity. We must now rely on connected, nomadic and flexible workplaces (cowork. io). The use of new technologies has transformed the workplace in which nomadism is develop-

The nomad office (working outside its usual office, in shared offices or with remote employees) allows the company to increase productivity and save money

ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE IS DEFINED AS THE UNDERLYING BELIEFS, ASSUMPTIONS, VALUES AND WAYS OF INTERACTING THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE UNIQUE SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT OF AN ORGANIZATION thrives in highly collaborative workplaces, but is now making this a key requirement in selecting where to work”. Young professionals entering the workforce are more educated than ever and this empowers them to question authority. “They've grown up questioning their parents, and now they're questioning their employ-

ing more and more. The nomad office (working outside its usual office, in shared offices or with remote employees) allows the company to increase productivity and save money. With the rise of nomadic workplaces, rises also the question of communication throughout the taems. Amy Edmondson from

Harvard Business School states that managing different teams across different companies and perhaps countries requires a set of skills and knowledge. “Communication skills cover a lot of territory, actually. So, yes, in a deep way — communication skills, including empathy, curiosity, and humility are crucial. Leaders should be skilled at articulating their thoughts and skilled at listening.” There are some pitfalls in communication through virtual teams though. While diversity can result in a greater variety of ideas, which boosts team creativity and performance, virtual communication sometimes discourages team members from speaking up, making it challenging to capitalize on these benefits. Virtual tools reduce the social cues that help team members bond, which can diminish motivation to share ideas and information. Hill and Bartol (2018) suggest five key behaviors to improve performance: matching the technology to the task, making intentions clear, staying in sync, being responsive and supportive, and being open and inclusive. They found that teams with higher scores on the five behaviors also received higher ratings from their leaders on producing quality deliverables, completing tasks on time, working productively together, and meeting or exceeding goals. Results indicated a linear relationship across the board: for every 10% that a team outscored other teams on virtual communication effectiveness, they also outscored those teams by 13% on overall performance. Whether preserving traditional workplace or deciding to open to the new ones, always wisely choose the right communication strategy adapting to the change that way with ease.

TUAREG MUSIC

The Virtuosity of Mdou Moctar, the “Jimi Hendrix of the Desert” “Ilana (The Creator)”, a new album, is a thrilling blend of desert blues and Western rock

Growing up in Niger, Mdou Moctar listened to traditional Tuareg music. Women played the imzad, a one-stringed fiddle, and the goatskin tindé drum, while men trilled on the shepherd’s flute. Takamba and assouf, guitar-driven styles, were his favourite. “I wanted to play guitar, but couldn’t find one where I lived,” Mr Moctar says via email. “I made one by hand out of wood and bicycle cables.” He practised diligently even though, at the time, music was a creative hobby rather than a plausible career. “When I was young I wanted to become an engineer who digs wells,” Mr Moctar says. “We always need water in the desert.” Born in 1986, he was still young when the “desert blues” genre—a reference to the shared roots of the music of the Mississippi Delta and the West African desert—emerged. Ali Farka Touré entranced listeners with his superposition of different melodies on the guitar; in 1994 he won a Grammy for “Talking Timbuktu”, a collaboration with Ry Cooder, an American musician. Tinariwen, a collective from Mali formed in 1979, worked with traditional instruments in the assouf style, but added electrified sounds, pop influences and politicised lyrics. Mr Moctar honed his craft performing at local weddings, and word got around that a young, left-handed guitar player was a rising star. He recorded an album, “Anar”, in Nigeria in 2008, combining droning guitars with drum-machine beats and the auto-tuned vocals favoured by Nigerian pop at the time. His lyrics, sung in his native Tamashek, were poetic and referred to the themes of heartbreak and melancholy typical of assouf: “My dream is to turn into a small bird to fly to her and kiss her between the eyebrows,” he sings on the title track (“anar” means “eyebrows”). The songs, traded via SIM cards, were hits. Christopher Kirkley, an American music writer, included them in his mixtape “Mu-

sic from Saharan Cellphones”. In 2013 Mr Moctar released “Afelan”, an album of field recordings from the open-air concerts he played in his home village. It combined heartfelt, melodic songs, such as “Tahoultine” (which explored the perils of beauty), and frenetic guitar work, evident on “Issuahid Elwanme”. It displayed the two sides of his artistry, one bold and colourful and the other intimate and reverent.

its the same rebellious charisma as he rides his motorcycle through the desert of Agadez, guitar slung over his shoulder. The film and the soundtrack were praised on the film-festival circuit, positioning Mr Moctar as the next ambassador of Tuareg music. Though “Sousoume Tamachek” (2017), an EP on which he played every instrument, and “Blue Stage Session” (2019), a collection of live recordings, have highlighted Mr

LIKE HENDRIX, HE EMPLOYS AN UNCONVENTIONAL AND FEARSOME ARRAY OF TECHNIQUES AS DREAMLIKE PASSAGES GIVE WAY TO BLAZING AND VIRTUOSIC SOLOS Well established at home, with Mr Kirkley’s help Mr Moctar gain international exposure in 2015 with “Akounak Tedalat Taha Tazoughai” (“Rain the Colour of Blue with a Little Red In It”), an adaptation of the film “Purple Rain”. Mr Moctar took on the role formerly inhabited by Prince, and he exhib-

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Moctar’s exceptional skill, it is “Ilana (The Creator)”, a new album released on March 29th, which shows his mastery of his craft. Recorded in a studio in Detroit and then finished in Niger, the band of experienced African musicians (and an American bassist) improvise in most songs. They layer el-

ements of Western rock over the hypnotic, repeating rhythms of desert blues. “Takamba”, an instrumental track, combines funk-like grooves with psychedelic guitar phrases reminiscent of the 1960s; “Ilana” makes use of brilliant and dense fingerpicking as well as the power chords favoured in hard rock. With “Inizgam” Mr Moctar steps out of the desert mode entirely and toys with British bluesrock stylings reminiscent of Cream. The effect is both disorienting and ecstatic. Mr Moctar says he knows little about the classic rock canon: “I don't even know what rock is,” he maintains, “I just play what I sense and I understand”. He has picked up techniques and tricks, though. He began tapping—playing strings percussively on the fretboard—after watching videos of Eddie Van Halen on YouTube (it is evident on “Tarhatazed”, the album’s centrepiece). He has professed a love for ZZ Top’s boogie rock. Mr Moctar plays a left-handed Fender guitar as did Jimi Hendrix, inviting a comparison of the two. Like Hendrix, he employs an unconventional and fearsome array of techniques as dreamlike passages give way to blazing and virtuosic solos. Listening to “Ilana” is an exhilarating experience, yet Mr Moctar is a thoughtful frontman. He says the album is about injustice and “suffering in the desert”, though the frenetic sounds occasionally overpower the lyrics. “In the song ‘Ilana’ I send a prayer to the creator for help for our women and children who are suffering,” he writes of the title track, which critiques French uranium mining; elsewhere, he muses about his displaced people and the exploitation of women’s labour. True to his roots, he makes room for some traditional love songs, too. From The Economist, published under licence. The original article, in English, can be found on www. economist.com

CORPORATE

Transparency Increases Competitiveness

Photo: Shutterstock

Certification for the first international standard in preventing corruption is now available in Croatia. Export-oriented companies are increasingly deciding to introduce the international ISO anti-bribery standard – ISO 37001

The introduction of ISO standards in business has long been recognized as a significant factor in increasing competitiveness in the international market. The growing trend of making ISO certificates a prerequisite for participation in public tenders has also been noted. European public administrations are focusing on raising transparency, while export-oriented companies are increasingly deciding to introduce the international ISO anti-bribery standard – ISO 37001. Bribery and corruption still represent a major issue and they are a subject of public and media interest which has a big influence on the reputation rating of individuals and organizations. Activities in the public sector, which successfully prevent bribery and corruption, are mostly dependent on political will and identified processes in which such actions most often take place. Private companies are also often affected by problems related to bribery and corruption in doing business with the public sector and because of the lack of trans-

parency in their business practices, and, in many instances, they even stop participating in tenders which requirements they meet. One of the most prominent recognized standardization authorities, International Standardization Organization – ISO, has laid down

global parameters for management of systems in preventing corruption. The ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management Systems standard has a rich portfolio for establishing processes and control measures defined in accordance with global anti-corruption practice by using

BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION STILL REPRESENT A MAJOR ISSUE AND THEY ARE A SUBJECT OF PUBLIC AND MEDIA INTEREST WHICH HAS A BIG INFLUENCE ON THE REPUTATION RATING OF INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS

the PDCA method in the launch, implementation, maintenance and continuous enhancement of processes connected with preventing bribery and corruption. APICURA Business Intelligence is a company that specializes in introducing a wide range of international ISO standards in the business activities of organizations and their harmonization with European Regulations (e.g. GDPR) and Directives. In carrying out a complete standardization of business processes in accordance with international standards and their implementation in target export markets, APICURA GROUP partners with a certification body, a specialized digital marketing agency and renowned law firms. Employees of Apicura Business Intelligence are Lead Auditors of ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management Systems, ISO 27001 Information Security Management Systems and ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems, as well as experienced project managers.

Visit us at www.apicura.hr

INTERVIEW

In Spite of Noise It is in human nature that we are always searching for emotions and to understand them just like sevdalinka does which dates back to 400 years ago

AMIRA MEDUNJANIN Music artist

People approach tradition in different ways. Music artist Amira Medunjanin has chosen to go back to sevdalinka (a traditional genre of folk music from Bosnia and Herzegovina) in many ways as an admirer and as an experimenter, but, as she says, always "in the service of music." Amira's every performance and every new album dedicated to the world of emotions show such an understanding of indebtedness towards the ancestors.

very difficult for us to overcome the pain that we sometimes feel. Even when we do not want it, it happens. This message finds its way effortlessly to the audience regardless of where in the world they are. As you said, I had the opportunity to perform on four continents and the audiences who come to see me with an open heart

— Yes, of course, it takes precedence. A long time ago, when I was just starting off in music, I always preceded every song I sang with a lengthy story about it. I thought that, by doing so, it would help the

I WOULD LIKE TO VISIT EVERY CORNER OF THIS PLANET AND TELL THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE A TALE OF SEVDA

What makes sevdalinka so universal whether performed in Innsbruck, Amsterdam, Prague, Melbourne, Sydney, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago or New York?

can feel the message that I am trying to convey to them. The truth is that sometimes I fear how will the audience react to the music they have never heard before, but any fear that I might have disappears after a couple of songs.

— Love, one and only, our meaning of life. Sometimes we do not believe in that, sometimes we are suspicious, and sometimes it's

Melody certainly takes precedence. Does the audience who cannot understand the language

of your songs also search for the meaning in your songs? How much can they grasp the meaning of sevdalinka?

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audiences who didn't speak my language to better understand the emotions contained in the lyrics and the musical interpretation. But, in time, people have learned a lot about traditional music from this part of the world. Through regular communication via social media, I have an opportunity to inform them about our music tradition because they are really

eager to find out more about it. It often happens that people come to Sarajevo and give me a call to meet up with them. I am glad that I can be their host – to take them on a walkabout around the city, to see all the places that are interesting to them and to have a cup of coffee somewhere in Baščaršija. How did you come up with an idea to modernize sevdalinka to fit the 21st century? What kind of modern sound or emotion can you detect in sevdalinka?

— Since the dawn of the new century, the world has been rapidly changing. At least, that's how I perceive it. Maybe it is due to new technologies, or maybe it is because a certain lifestyle has been imposed on us. I don't know what is your view of this, but I think that we are constantly surrounded by noise. Truth be told, I don't like noise and it depresses me. Still, we are only human beings in search of meaning and we find it difficult to

find our way around in this all-encompassing noise. As far as your question goes, I am not sure that I would use the word 'modernize'. I have recorded several albums that have totally different starting points. The first album was a homage to our tradition and to certain performers that have enriched our lives. After that came albums that could be called experimental, but all in the service of music. Combining and fusing different music genres is equally important today, as well as in the decades to come. Although, I would love for people to understand that classifying music into strict genres oftentimes affects artistic creativity. Sevdalinka is a love song that carries a timeless message and is great for improvising. In that context, I always find a new way to interpret it and it seems to me that I can hear and most importantly, feel the emotion in a completely different way. You know, some of the songs I sing are over 400 years old, and their lyrics give me goosebumps every time I sing them. We can highlight this strength and beauty in a different musical environment and bring them closer to the people who probably would have not noticed them in other musical forms. Critics praise you for maintaining a balance between respecting the old-fashioned way of performing and experimenting. Can you define the border between tradition and new?

— Good question! But before I answer, I would like to underline something. First and foremost, I see no border. Secondly, I don't think that tradition should be locked away somewhere. Thirdly, and most importantly, preserving tradition is not only our obligation but also an obligation for future generations. I believe that we all have a responsibility, in a way, towards our ancestors. I was born in the 20th century and I grew up listening to sevdah which was very popular back then. We are in the

performances with local classical music ensembles in the towns where we are performing. I have to say that each new performance is different from the previous one and that's the world I am currently living in. Sevdalinka speaks of the deepest human emotions. Given the fast and broken lives that we lead, we sometimes feel that we have lost these emotions. How do audiences react to them in your concerts?

WHEN YOU PERFORM SONGS AS STRONG AND TOUCHING AS THESE AND WHEN YOUR AUDIENCE IS MADE OF PEOPLE WHO THINK LIKE YOU AND SHARE THE SAME LOVE OF MUSIC, THEN STAYING APATHETIC IS MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 18th year of the new century, and I think that we should be much braver and more agile in preserving our tradition. This is absolutely required so that the known and proven values could become a guideline for all young artists/ performers. Everyone should form their own view of old songs. I believe that diversity in interpreting, improvising or creating new songs inspired by tradition can only benefit not only music but also the society as a whole. Last year, while celebrating 15 years of your career, you said that, for you, it felt like "15 centuries and 15 worlds". What kind

of „a century and world“ are you living in this year? Is there something new that inspires you?

— I am inspired by the places I've never been to and people I've never met. That's what has been pushing me forward all these years. I would like to visit every corner of this planet and tell the people who live there a tale of sevdah. I believe and sincerely hope that I would not need „15 centuries“ to accomplish this. In terms of the near future, this year I am going to tour several towns I have already been in, and in which I have some 'unfinished business' music-wise. Since the launch of my album „Ascending“ I have been trying to organize

— I have to disagree with you. I don't think that we don't feel those emotions anymore. It's just that people don't have enough time to deal with themselves. The fight to survive has taken over, unfortunately. At least, that's how it is in this part of the world. In concerts, it is very difficult to refrain from showing emotions. When you perform songs as strong and touching as these and when your audience is made of people who think like you and share the same love of music, then staying apathetic is mission impossible. However, what is even more valuable is the meet and greet after the concert when I can get to know my audience personally and have a chat with them about music and life in general. After so many concerts, do you still get excited before each new performance? Which concert this year makes you really excited?

— Yes, I do. I always do. Every new concert is like the very first one and that is not going to change. In terms of the concerts in the upcoming period, I am really looking forward to the one in Belgrade's Sava Centre on October 25th. We have already started preparing for it and this time around, it will be completely different from my earlier concerts. We have a couple of surprises up our sleeve and I sincerely hope that the Belgrade audience will like our repertoire.

SOMETHING NEW AND COMPLETELY DIFFERENT You have recorded numerous albums. Your latest album, "Ascending", which got great reviews from domestic and foreign critics, came out last year. Are you preparing something new or is it too early to ask that? — I definitely am. I started working on my new album as soon as my last album came out. This is how I have been working for the last ten years. Although I travel a lot and have lived the majority

of my life from a suitcase, so to speak, I always find time to think about my next album. This time around it will be something completely different. I have had a certain idea for years now and I think that the time has come for it to materialize. I'll see how it is all going to come about, but I have no intention of waiting too long, that's for sure. But, let it be a secret for now because people like surprises, just like I do.

REPORTAGE

Text: ROBERT ČOBAN

HISTORIC HOTELS: PERA PALACE IN ISTANBUL

Spirits of Agatha Christie, Hemingway and Comrade Broz To all of you fans of the pre-war period, I would like to recommend George King's novel called “Midnight at the Pera Palace: The Birth of Modern Istanbul”. It describes the New Year’s Eve celebration in this hotel in 1926 when Turkey first started to use a uniformed calendar and timekeeping

THE FIRST „EUROPEAN“ HOTEL IN CONSTANTINOPLE – Pera Palace

In the 1920s, Istanbul was anything but Muslim and Turkish – it was brimming with foreign soldiers who occupied the city after the Great War, the White Russians who fled the October Revolution, local Armenians, Greeks and Jews, jazz musicians, adventurers and spies from all over the world. Ilham Gencer is 92 years old and every afternoon, between 3 and 5 pm, he plays the piano at the Kubbeli Saloon of the Pera Palace Hotel in Istanbul. Short and thin, wearing a blazer in the colour of apricot, Gencer takes the audience, sipping on their afternoon tea, by surprise with his booming voice. From the all-time greats like Frank Sinatra and Elvis to Turkish ballads, Ilham sings every single afternoon thus solidifying his position in the Parthenon of the legends that live in the modern-day Istanbul. Hotels with 'surplus history', as

it were, have a special charm that modern, luxury resorts with their swimming pools and glass walls instead of windows can never exude. In terms of its history, famous guests and the charm it has retained to this day, Pera Palace is at the top of historic hotels. Only the Excelsior in Lido, near Venice, The Plaza in New York City, the Copacabana Palace in Rio, the Alfonso XIII in Seville, the Hotel de L'Europe in Amsterdam and the Claridges in London can compare. So, how did it all begin? Following the Berlin Congress in 1878, Obrenović-ruled Serbia was ordered to start building a railroad as a link to the continental Orient Express route – Paris-Istanbul. On September 4th, 1884, Milan Obrenović officially opened the Belgrade-Niš railroad and the trains were free to go. However, the prestigious passengers of the Orient Express couldn’t find an adequate hotel for themselves in the city that was back then called Con-

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stantinople. Hence, the company that owned the Orient Express decided to initiate the construction of ’the first European hotel’ in the capital city of the Ottoman Empire. The Turkish architect of French origin, Alexander Valaury was chosen for the job. Valaury was known for designing some of the most beautiful buildings in Istanbul such as Cafe Lebon, the Hidayet Mosque, the headquarters of the Imperial Ottoman Bank, the building that housed the Archeological Museum and others. The construction started in 1892. Three years later, the hotel was finished and officially opened with a great ball. It was named after the Istanbul quarter of Pera in which it is located. Valaury used a combination of several styles in designing the hotel - Neoclassicism, the Art Nouveau style of the then epoch and Oriental. Above the hotel's tea room there are specially designed domes, which open as required so that the warm air can

go out during hot days in Constantinople. Before the invention of the air conditioner, this feature proved to be invaluable. Passengers were transported in special carriages from the Main Railway Station to the hotel, down the steep streets of Constantinople, which were not suitable for horsedrawn carriages. These carriages were luxury "one-seaters", resting on wooden bars, carried by two men. Before the Great War, the hotel was known for its famous guests – from Queen Victoria and Emperor Franz Josef to our royal families the Obrenović and the Karadjordjević who stayed at the hotel when they came for official visits to the Port. Pera Palace was the first hotel in Turkey to have electricity and a lift which was manufactured by the renowned Swiss company, Schindler. The company still exists today and has no relation to the famous Oscar Schindler. We had a ride in the lift from the ground to the first

THE HOTEL THAT SURVIVED THE FALL OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE, THE BIRTH OF THE REPUBLIC, THE TWO WORLD WARS, THE EXPULSION OF THE GREEKS FROM THE CITY IN 1955 AND SEVERAL MILITARY STRIKES, BECAME YET AGAIN POPULAR WITH TOURISTS IN THE POSTWAR PERIOD

THE KUBBELI SALOON – The elegance of Belle Epoque

floor, to the room in which 'the father of modern Turkey', Mustafa Kemal Ataturk stayed in 1919. Just before the end of the Great War, as the capital of defeated Turkey, Constantinople was occupied by the allies (Great Britain, France and Italy). The then Defence Minister, Kemal Ataturk used the hotel for negotiations with the allied generals about ending the occupation. This was the first time that Constantinople was controlled by a foreign army since the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453. In the memorial room, you can see the saloon where Ataturk stayed, his bedroom, bathroom and a clock, just like the one at the Dolmabahce Palace, which stopped at 9:05 am, the time when the father of the Turkish nation died. The tours of the memorial room are free of charge and take place every day between 10 and 11 am and 3 and 4 pm. I have travelled to more than 80 countries on 5 continents, and in all of those countries, I saw the pictures of their current rulers, kings, queens, presidents and an occasional prime minister, hanging in public places. But Turkey is special in celebrating its leader who died more than 80 years ago. The legacy of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (1881-1938) can be seen in millions of his portraits that hang all over Turkey, in hotels, at airports, in restaurants, bars and markets. The picture of the current Turkish president Erdogan plays second fiddle to Ataturk's image at Istanbul Airport, and it is Ataturk that will forever be the undisputed leader of Turkey. This is a leader that was not a nationalist or a populist, who banned hijab, made Turkey into a secular state, and transformed the Hagia Sophia Mosque into a museum in honour of what it used to be in 1453. „If he only could have ruled three times 15 years, we would have been developed as today's Germany or America“, a tour guide at the Dolmabahce Palace told me, whose parents moved from Tetovo in Macedonia to Istanbul some 60 years ago. The end of the occupation of Constantinople and the Greek-Turkish war saw the return of "civilian" guests to Pera Palace. One of the most famous among them was Agatha Christie who stayed at the hotel in 1934, in room 411, where she, as many believe, wrote the largest part of her novel "Murder on the Orient Express". At that time, Ernest Hemingway visited the hotel too (Harry, the hero

of his novel "The Snows of the Kilimanjaro" stays in Pera Palace in the book), as did Alfred Hitchcock, Greta Garbo, Zsa Zsa Gabor and other rich and famous people from that era. To all of you fans of the pre-war period, I would like to recommend George King's novel called “Midnight at the Pera Palace: The Birth of Modern Istanbul”. It describes the New Year’s Eve celebration in this hotel in 1926 when Turkey first started to use one calendar and timekeeping. Istanbul in the 1920s was anything but Muslim and Turkish – it was brimming with foreign soldiers who occupied the city after the Great War, the White Russians who fled the October Revolution, local Armenians, Greeks and Jews, jazz musicians, adventurers and spies from

all over the world. Just before the start of the Second World War, an interesting guest stayed at Pera Palace. He wasn't famous by any stretch of imagination back then and was travelling from Moscow to Belgrade. He stayed at this hotel for three months in 1940, waiting for his passport to arrive. The mysterious guest is a communist activist Josip Broz, who will a year later, under the nickname Tito, launch a partisan uprising against the Nazis in occupied Yugoslavia. The passport finally arrived in Istanbul, brought to him by another young Communist activist called Herta Has. The two fell in love in Tito's room at Pera Palace, Herta became Tito's second wife, and next year, their son, Miša Broz, was born in Zagreb.

STILL PLAYING EVERY AFTERNOON AT THE AGE OF 92 – Ilham Gencer at his piano in the hotel's saloon

STEEP STREETS OF CONSTANTINOPLE – Carriage that was used to transport guests from the main railway station

THE SPIES FROM THE AXIS POWERS GATHERED AT THE PARK HOTEL WHILE THE ALLIED SPIES MET AT PERA PALACE. IN 1941, THE NAZIS ACTIVATED A BOMB AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE HOTEL THAT SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED THE BUILDING

„MIDNIGHT AT THE PERA PALACE HOTEL – THE BIRTH OF MODERN ISTANBUL“ – book by George King

THE FAMOUS RAILROAD ERA – Poster for the Orient Express route – ParisConstantinople

During the Second World War, Turkey proclaimed neutrality, so Istanbul, like Lisbon or Tanger, was the hub of spies from all sides. The spies from the Axis Powers gathered at the Park Hotel while the allied spies met at Pera Palace. In 1941, the Nazis activated a bomb at the main entrance to the hotel that significantly damaged the building. The hotel that survived the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the birth of the Republic, the two world wars, the expulsion of the Greeks from the city in 1955 and several military strikes, became yet again popular with tourists in the postwar period. On March 7th, 1979, apartment 411 at the hotel was besieged with journalists from all over the world for a very bizarre reason related to the disappearance of Agatha Christie in 1926. Back then, for the whole 11 days, nobody could find Agatha. Later, she was found at a hotel in Yorkshire in England. She claimed she could not remember where she had been for 11 days. The Warner Brothers film company started making a movie about this event in August 1979 with Dustin Hoffman and Vanessa Redgrave in main roles. The company hired the famous Hollywood clairvoyant, Tamara Rand to get in touch with the spirit of the late writer. The clairvoyant claimed that the spirit of Agatha Christie had appeared to her and told her that there was a key hidden by the famous writer in the apartment 411 of the Pera Palace Hotel, between the wooden boards and the wall. During the live satellite broadcast on a US TV station, an 8-centimetre long key was found between the front door of the apartment and the floor. The hotel manager retained the key and the clairvoyant disclosed that the key opened a large box containing Agatha's unpublished diaries. The box was never found, nor did the diaries, and the mystery of Agatha's 1926 disappearance remains unresolved to this day. On the last day of our stay at the hotel, we see Ilham entertaining guests from Taiwan and playing a Chinese national ballad. Ilhan, who, as a teenager, was old enough to meet Josip Broz, is full of strength and energy. He greets us in the Serbian language and continues singing Sinatra's song "My Way", as new guests, eager to experience the glorious epoch when Agatha Christie and Ernest Hemingway stayed here, are entering the saloon.

CULTURE NEWS

Eight New Geoparks, Including Vis Archipelago, Included in UNESCO's List

UNESCO approved the designation of eight new sites in South America, Asia and Europe, including the Vis archipelago as new geoparks, thus demonstrating the diversity of the planet’s geology. With this year’s additions, the number of sites in the Global UNESCO Geoparks Network is brought to 147 in 41 countries. The aim of the UNESCO World Geopark Programme is to protect the geological, geo-morphological, and other values of geoparks

and to manage the area through education and implementation of activities in accordance with the goals of sustainable development, and for the benefit of the local community. The Papuk Nature Park has so far been the only geopark in Croatia that was included in UNESCO's list. In addition to the Vis Archipelago, the new list includes two new European regions: Serra do Courel in Spain and Trollfjell in Norway.

Replica of St. Peter Basilica Made from Stone Sourced from Brač

The first stone replica of St. Peter Basilica made from the stone sourced from the island of Brač and built in accordance with the Vatican's design, weighing almost 200 kilogrammes and faithfully depicting the largest church in the world, was unveiled in the town of Pučišća on the island. The replica was made by the selftaught artist Josip Radić. After more than five years and 8,500 hours of incredibly detailed work, Radić made this miniature perfection. Radić, who was born in Pučišća and is a retired Croatian army officer, says that he „left stone (for service), only to return to it later“. The basilica is a crowning achievement among other sacral objects made in stone and it was done according to the original design.

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Discovery Near Glina – “New Chapter in Croatian History” The sensational discovery in Bojna near Glina was presented at the exhibition titled 'Prince from Bojna - New Chapter in the Croatian History' at the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb. Archaeologists have dubbed the discovery “the new chapter in Croatian history” as the uncovering of the Prince from the late 8th and early 9th centuries in the area of the present Banovina opens a new chapter in the earliest history in Croatia. Until now, there was no material evidence of the Prince’s existence apart from individual findings.

CULTURE NEWS

Pulitzer Prize Posthumously Given to Soul Legend Aretha Franklin

The Pulitzer Board has announced that it was honouring Aretha Franklin with a posthumous award, commemorating the Queen of Soul in the category of “special citations.” At an announcement ceremony at Columbia University, it was said that Aretha Franklin was chosen as the laureate “for her indelible contribution to American music and culture for more than five

decades.” Other musicians that also received the Prize include Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Hank Williams, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Scott Joplin and Bob Dylan. The prize has coincided with the launch of the theatrical launch of the Aretha Franklin biopic “Amazing Grace” which was screened in 1,000 cinemas across the US. The film will be distributed globally in May.

Replica of a Part of the Destroyed Altar from Palmyra Discovered

After the Fire, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame Becomes the Best-selling Book on Amazon Victor Hugo’s classic novel “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame” became the bestselling book on Amazon France following the cathedral’s devastating fire. It was published in 1831 (the French title „Notre-Dame de Paris“) and was written by Hugo to promote the value of Gothic architecture, which had by that point been largely neglected. This version and two others have become bestsellers on Amazon France following a severe fire that destroyed Notre Dame’s iconic spire, as well as the books on Notre-Dame's architecture and history.

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A Damascus museum has unveiled a replica, , of part of a temple altar destroyed by Islamic State militants in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, which was reconstructed by Italian archaeologists. The 2,000-year-old Temple of Bel at Palmyra was one of the jewels in Syria’s lavish trove of historical monuments, spanning myriad civilizations before the country’s conflict began in 2011. Islamic State seized Palmyra in May 2015 and demolished many of its ancient structures and objects, while looting others to help finance its operations. “The new altar identical to the original piece with all its details and decorations because the 3D technique is very developed,” said Mamoun Abdul Karim, the former head of the Syrian government’s antiquities department. The new altar is four meters long and built with a combination of plastic and polished stone, said Frances Pinnock from the Sapienza University, head of the scientific team that worked on the building process.