Diplomacy and Commerce No.15 by DiplomacyandCommerce_Croatia

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June 2019 | ISSUE No. 15 | FREE COPY

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WE ARE BRINGING CROATIA CLOSER TO THE WORLD KRISTJAN STANIČIĆ

Director of Croatian National Tourist Board

16 MAY

T HE VISIT OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS, PRINCE EDWARD, EARL OF WESSEX

OUR GOAL IS TO OFFER A QUALITY AND MEANINGFUL PRODUCT Dr. sc IRENA PERŠIĆ ŽIVADINOV

PRINCE EDWARD'S OFFICIAL VISIT TO SPLIT

Director of Kvarner Region Tourist Board

HEALTH AND RELAXATION ARE OUR TRUMP CARDS IVANA ALILOVIĆ

Director of the Zagreb County Tourist Board

WE FIGHT FOR EVERY TOURIST GARI CAPPELLI

Croatian Tourism Minister

HISTORY OF CROATIAN TOURISM by Želimir Maraš

THE ARGUMENTS ARE ON OUR SIDE MLADEN NOVOSEL

President of the Union of Autonomous Trade Unions of Croatia (UATUC)

CROATIA UNDERSTANDS US WELL H.E. ILAN MOR

Israeli ambassador to Croatia

TRAVEL SPECIAL EDITION June 2019

EDITORIAL

CONTENTS

From Ibiza With Love! The 'tsunami' that hit Austria last month, despite the country being landlocked since 1918, started in Ibiza, passed through the Strait of Otranto, entered the Adriatic, swept across Trieste, once the main harbour of the Habsburg Empire, and reached Vienna by rail. Yes, we witnessed what politicians say and how they think when they assume that nobody's watching and listening. We could have guessed for many of them that that was how they generally behaved but we lacked evidence. Now, we have it. This opens up another issue that I would like to comment on this occasion, and the issue is the appeal that the so-called Eastern model has for politicians and people from the West. For many years, we have been listening to how stabilocracies, like the governance of Putin, Erdogan or Orban, are the most efficient form of state in today’s day and age, how democracy became boring or rather not ‘sexy’ enough and how we have all had enough of political correctness. And then we see Russian tycoons, with their yachts docked in Portofino, occupying the premium booths in Ibiza’s clubs, the so-called party girls from Belgrade or Kiev, the relaxed life where there are no boundaries of political correctness and “the hypocritical judgment of public opinion” and other “limiting” elements of the Western democracy. And this is what the people from the West like. This is ‘sexier’ and far more exciting and as we have all seen, it is not penalized in Russia, Turkey, Hungary and several other countries. Is stabilocracy with limited media freedoms (there is no-one to publish the images from Ibiza) become a rule that people, both from the East and the West, abide by these days? A little bit of champagne, a pinch of corruption, a handful of beautiful girls, real estate registered to the sister-in-law or an uncle on mum's side, exotic destinations, no media to criticize, and not even protesters shouting in front of the government buildings. I think that, in the following days and years, we are going to witness increasing resistance from politicians from all over the 'free world' to media and public opinion which would judge them for their 'sins' from Ibiza and other exotic islands.

ROBERT ČOBAN Director

CROATIA UNDERSTANDS US WELL H.E. ILAN MOR

Israeli ambassador to Croatia

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

Translation SNEŽANA BJELOTOMIĆ

IVANA ALILOVIĆ

Director of the Zagreb County Tourist Board

Royal visit

By Želimir Maraš

THE ARGUMENTS ARE ON OUR SIDE MLADEN NOVOSEL

HISTORY OF CROATIAN TOURISM

OUR GOAL IS TO OFFER A QUALITY AND MEANINGFUL PRODUCT

President of the Union of Autonomous Trade Unions of Croatia (UATUC)

Dr. sc IRENA PERŠIĆ ŽIVADINOV

GARI CAPPELLI

VEDRAN ŠEGOTA

KRISTJAN STANIČIĆ

DENIS KULJIŠ

WE FIGHT FOR EVERY TOURIST

WE ARE BRINGING CROATIA CLOSER TO THE WORLD

BOBAN SPASOJEVIĆ Executive director

HEALTH AND RELAXATION ARE OUR TRUMP CARDS

THE VISIT OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS, PRINCE EDWARD, EARL OF WESSEX, TO SPLIT

Croatian Tourism Minister

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Director of Croatian National Tourist Board

Director of Kvarner Region Tourist Board

KLIS HAS ITS HERBAL SECRETS TOO Writter

HAS TITO FINALLY BEEN SUSSED OUT? Writer and journalist

sven@diplomacyandcommerce.hr

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ELECTIONS DOWN UNDER

A Conservative Government is Returned to Power in Australia The unexpected result highlights profound ideological divisions

A change of government had seemed almost guaranteed. The right-leaning Liberal Party, and their smaller coalition partners, the Nationals, had been in power for six tumultuous years. Ever since the previous election, three years ago, they had trailed the Labor Party in the opinion polls. The opposition’s private tallies had left it almost certain of victory. But the results of the election on May 18th have surprised everyone: the conservatives have been returned for a third term in office. Votes are still being counted, and some constituencies remain too close to call, but the national broadcaster estimates that the coalition has picked up 74 of 151 seats in the House of Representatives, compared with Labor’s 66. It would need two more seats to form a majority, and will otherwise govern in a hung parliament (as it did before this election). “I have always believed in miracles,” sang the prime minister, Scott Morrison (pictured left), who is an evangelical Christian. A miracle it may be. Liberal MPs had ejected two sitting prime ministers during their six years in power. The removal nine months ago of Malcolm Turnbull, a relative moderate, had seemed to jeopardise the Liberals’ already wobbly standing with voters, who punished the party for its continual in-fighting in a recent state election and in several by-elections. But Australians’ anger has apparently abated. The government has veered hard to the right under Mr Morrison. He promised little beyond more jobs, lower income taxes and a continuation of Australia’s 28 years of economic growth. Perhaps more importantly, he whipped up fear about the economic consequences of Labor’s plans to cut greenhouse-gas emissions and to close tax loopholes for the rich. This seems to have won the coalition favour in Queensland, a state with a population scarcely bigger than that of Sydney or Mel-

bourne, but with disproportionate influence on politics as Australia’s main swing state. It is home to most of Australia’s coal mines, which leaves many locals wary of environmental regulation. Labor had hoped to win some marginal seats in the state. Instead, voters turned out in even greater force for the Liberals than they had at the previous federal election. The Liberals won several marginal seats in Queensland from Labor, helped by votes funnelled from smaller nativist parties under Australia’s system of preferential vot-

and hawed about its future and pledged to generate more of Australia’s electricity from renewable sources. The party had hoped such green stances would help it win seats in Victoria, a far more progressive state. It had won a state election there last year in a landslide. But in this election, Victorians only swung two percentage points in Labor’s direction. In the end, no seats in that state seem to have changed hands. It did not help that Labor’s leader, Bill Shorten, was unpopular. He immediately stood down, tearful-

MR MORRISON POLLS PORTRAYED HIMSELF AS A BUMBLING SOCCER DAD, THROWING OUT AUSTRALIANISMS AT EVERY TURN. THAT MADE SOME URBANITES CRINGE. BUT HIS STUDIED EVERYMAN PERSONA MAY HAVE HELPED CLINCH BLUE-COLLAR VOTES IN QUEENSLAND ing. The hardline immigration minister, Peter Dutton, who initiated the coup against Mr Turnbull last year, had feared being ejected from parliament. In the end, he retained his seat with a bigger margin. It may have helped that the conservatives supported a controversial plan for a big new coal mine owned by an Indian conglomerate, Adani. Labor had hummed

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ly conceding that he was “hurting”. Mr Morrison polls better. He had portrayed himself as a bumbling soccer dad, throwing out Australianisms at every turn. That made some urbanites cringe. But his studied everyman persona may have helped clinch blue-collar votes in Queensland. The Liberals suffered only one major upset: in Sydney’s wealthy

northern beaches, Tony Abbott, a former Liberal prime minister and the leader of the party’s right wing, was ejected from parliament after 25 years. He once called climate change “crap” and pushed for Australia to quit the Paris Agreement, which aims to reduce global emissions. That left him out of step with his more environmentally minded constituents, who voted in an independent candidate, Zali Steggall, with a monumental swing of more than 12%. A change is taking place in Australian politics, Mr Abbott surmised, that will seem familiar to Americans. The Liberals increasingly represent the working classes, while wealthier, city-dwelling conservatives are turning to more progressive politicians. Politics also seem to hinge more on atavistic distinctions than on policies. There has also been one other change that works in Mr Morrison’s favour. The Liberal party has modified its rules to make it harder to turf out sitting prime ministers. So unlike his predecessors, he should have three uninterrupted years to convince voters that they made the right decision when picking him. From The Economist, published under licence. The original article, in English, can be found on www. economist.com

INTERVIEW

Croatia Understands Us Well The bilateral relations between Israel and Croatia are advancing at a much faster pace today compared to the last decades. Politicians, people from culture and sport have all played an important role in these positive dynamics. Now it is time to work hard on establishing close economic cooperation

H.E. ILAN MOR Israeli ambassador to Croatia

There is no doubt that the bilateral relations between Israel and Croatia have been advancing, progressing and developing in the right direction, says H.E. Mr. Ilan Mor, the Israeli ambassador to Croatia. Prior to his appointment as Ambassador of the State of Israel to the Republic of Croatia, Ambassador Ilan Mor served as a Senior Political Advisor to the Minister of Justice, Ayelet Shaked in Jerusalem between 2016 and 2018. He knows the region very well as he had served as Ambassador of the State of Israel to Hungary between 2011 and 2016. For our interlocutor, the good bilateral relations between Israel and Croatia are something that came naturally. “Croatia is part of the EU and a NATO member, while Israel, as the only democracy in the Middle East (and as such, it is isolated in its region) would like to establish and develop friendly relations with every country in the world which understands the unique geostrategic situation of Israel. Croatia

clearly understands it; shows solidarity and has an understanding on a bilateral and multilateral level,” says the ambassador and adds: “As we speak, Croatia is again sending a squadron of firefighters to Israel to assist in extinguishing bushfires all around Jerusalem, which have been burning for the last 48 hours. Again, as I said before, a ‘friend in

need is a friend indeed’. We appreciate it very much.” Who played the most important role in elevating the relations on another level – politicians or people from culture or sport?

— In my opinion, it’s a combination of all of them. Of course, we have to advance the relations on

INVESTMENTS AND TRADE BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES SHOULD BE IMPROVED, AND THIS IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS SINCE I CAME HERE

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the political level, but without the support and the solid foundation of people-to-people connection, every political connection, as good as it may be, will not be sustainable long term. That’s why I believe that more connections on the people-to-people basis must be developed between the Israelis and the Croatians. This also what I defined as a goal to be fulfilled at the end of my term here, in more than three years from now. Culture and sports are all connected to this principle which is a very important foundation for good bilateral relations. What were the major events which highlighted the economic cooperation? How did the inception of the Croatian-Israeli Business Club in 2006 affect mutual trade and investments?

— No doubt that the Croatian-Israeli Business Club, headed by its President Professor Dragan Primorac, played a very important role in strengthening the economic ties between our two countries. The fact that the Club exists is by itself a demonstration that the potential of cooperation in the economic field is there, and that it hasn’t been exhausted. However, we have a lot of work to do to advance it. This year,

the Club will do something that hasn’t been done before; it will put together a big delegation of business people who will travel to Israel to meet with their counterparts and to expedite yet again the business relations between our two countries.

CROATIA CLEARLY UNDERSTANDS THE UNIQUE GEOSTRATEGIC SITUATION OF ISRAEL AND SHOWS SOLIDARITY AND UNDERSTANDING ON A BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL LEVEL

After Teva set the example by acquiring Pliva, what was the reaction from other Israeli business people? Did they strive for more?

and that is why we have to continue working very hard and diligently in order to establish a better and closer economic cooperation. Taking over Croatian companies is not, in my opinion, the only way to establish this kind of cooperation. Teva is a unique example because we are talking about a specific sector, a pharmaceutical niche. We have to look at the bigger picture, namely, the economic relations; invest-

— There is no doubt that Teva has set a good and positive precedent by acquiring Pliva, but I haven’t seen many Israelis following in its footsteps and taking advantage of the positive atmosphere which was created by this acquisition. There is no magic formula for success,

ments and trade should be improved, and this is what I have been working towards since I came here. Which segment of the Croatian economy proved to be the most attractive?

— My first answer would be tourism. But tourism, namely the sunsand-sea kind, is not enough for sustainable economic relations. I do believe that agriculture and

innovation, together with tourism, are the three main topics to be promoted, within the framework of the Croatia - Israel relations. Within innovation; smart cities, smart mobility, agrotechnology, health-tech -are the main topics to be explored by cooperation of Israeli and Croatian innovators. You come from tourism superpower. What is your view of the Croatian tourist offer?

— I have two answers; a short and a long one. The short answer would be: I like it. The long answer would be: I like it very much. I am also looking forward to exploring the wonders of this beautiful country and its islands.

ZAGREB IS A FINE PEARL Apart from the seaside, Zagreb is increasingly becoming an attractive tourist destination in the EU. What do you think of it? Which parts would you recommend to the fellow Israeli tourists to see? — Zagreb is a city which I would describe as ‘klein aber fein’, small but very, very nice. In the summer, when the sun is high, Zagreb looks like a pearl to me. Everything is accessible, also for handicapped persons, and I have to commend

the City of Zagreb for that. There are lots of parks and interesting museums, the very appealing old part of the city, and of course, many coffee shops with great coffee with guests discussing politics and business and generally enjoying life. And that’s the spirit of Zagreb and Croatia – enjoying life. In the summer, the city has a lot to offer to those who want to party. To me, Zagreb is the city of good mood and laughter, good time and parties. My compliments!.

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POLITICS

Text: ŽELIMIR MARAŠ

From Profumo to Strache Timeline of Political Scandals

Many people enter politics to do something good. Many of them actually manage to do good but they were tripped up by some “minor” thing that undermined their image, compromising their decency and the public trust. The last such case was the ongoing scandal in Austria, which led to snap elections and the serious damage to the Freedom Party. The list of such cases is long but here are few, most prominent examples. THE PROFUMO AFFAIR

One of the first major scandals in political history was, of course, a “honey trap” set up for Profumo. It was called The Profumo Affair and it shook the British politics to the core with people still talking about it to this day. Let’s see what history says. “The Profumo affair was a British political scandal that originated with a brief sexual re-

lationship in 1961 between John Profumo, the Secretary of State for War in Harold Macmillan's Conservative government, and Christine Keeler, a 19-year-old would-be model. In March 1963, Profumo's denial of any impropriety, in a

Prime Minister on health grounds in October 1963. The reputation of the Conservative Party was damaged by the scandal, which may have contributed to its defeat by the Labour Party in the 1964 general election.” The trouble was not

DK ACCUSED THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT OF SMUGGLING AND RACKETEERING, THREATENING TO EXPOSE EVERYTHING TO THE WORLD PRESS AND THE PUBLIC IN MONTENEGRO, WHICH ALL TRIGGERED THE ANTI-ĐUKANOVIĆ PROTESTS personal statement to the House of Commons, was refuted a few weeks later with his admission of the truth. He resigned from the government and from Parliament. The repercussions of the affair severely damaged Macmillan's self-confidence, and he resigned as

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the infidelity itself (or maybe it was since it happened in the more conservative days) but the fact that the young Keeler girl was simultaneously involved with the Soviet naval attaché Yevgeny Ivanov, thus creating the leaking channel. Profumo said some things in his

bed which were possibly relayed to the Soviets. Those times were very much James Bond-like as there were several spy cases in the UK, all of them involving young women or homosexuality, which was forbidden in the UK at the time. THE WATERGATE SCANDAL

In the 1995 film “Nixon”, directed by Oliver Stone, the main character is warned one morning that he would be impeached, to which he bursts out: “I am the president, I can bomb whoever I want!”, referring to his illegal bombings of North Vietnam, Cambodia and other countries. However, he was warned that was something far more threatening - a break-in, later known as the Watergate scandal. The Watergate scandal was a major political scandal that occurred in the United States in the period from 1972 to 1974, following a five men breaking into the Democratic

National Committee (DNC) headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. on June 17, 1972, and President Richard Nixon's administration's subsequent attempt to cover up his involvement. All of us remember how Forrest Gump “accidentally discovered” the scandal in the eponymous film from the 1990s. Many people still don’t understand how this scandal was bigger than all the Vietnamization and escalation of war and casualties in Indochina, but, hey, this is America, right? Anyway, several courageous journalists discovered the scandal and Nixon’s administration got under public scrutiny. The journalists found out that Nixon bugged his political opponents, used dirty tricks and misused his power, which all led to the impeachment process and subsequent resignation of the 37th President. Funnily enough, the man who opened China and simultaneously killed thousands in Indochina was never prosecuted for his deeds in Asia, just like Bill Clinton (who almost got impeached over lying and a sex scandal, and not for illegally bombing several countries from Sudan to Yugoslavia). His greatest “mistake” was that he tripped over a dishonest political action. To make everything even stranger, Nixon ended the Vietnam War, enforced desegregation in schools, signed the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with the USSR, brought PoWs home, started the War on Cancer and many significant other things. Still, he could not wash himself clean of the Watergate stains. “DK VS DJUKANOVIĆ“ ONGOING SCANDAL

The most toxic scandal of all is still ongoing, and it is happening near us, in Montenegro. Different from the other three, this one includes a serious misuse of money, as claimed and confirmed by Duško Knežević (also known as DK), the Montenegrin businessman and the (ex)owner of Atlas Bank. Namely, Knežević admitted that he had been paying the racket to the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists in Montenegro for years, just to be left alone and allowed to do business in Montenegro. He financed the DPS campaigns illegally, and proved it with hidden video footage, making the current president Djukanović very uncomfortable. Knežević has some 2,000 hours of video footage in which he hints that he paid for Djukaonovic's personal spending and ac-

cusing the current government of smuggling and racketeering, while threatening to expose everything to the world press and the public in Montenegro, all of which triggered the anti-Djukanović protests. Knežević also hinted that there were abuses in the referendum process which led to the Montenegrin independence in 2006, but since he is still a fervent supporter

each election, Milo brings together business people and tells them it is necessary for them to participate in the election campaign and how much they should contribute to it.” Djukanović's position is, however, still pretty stable since he did and has been doing all the things that fit the Western agenda - the independence of Montenegro, recognition of Kosovo, sanctions

AS FOR STRACHE, THE SECURITY SERVICES OF SOME UNNAMED COUNTRY ARE BLAMED FOR THE SETUP, TO DAMAGE THE NEW RISE OF THE RIGHT IN EUROPE, AND IT IS STILL UNCERTAIN WHAT HAPPENED

of the country's independence, a subject he promised not to talk about, only the misuse of power and finances. Knežević was blacklisted after a direct clash over money with Djukanović and was portrayed by the Montenegrin state press as a criminal. Knežević did the same to Djukanović, saying: "In order to function in this environment, you had to sponsor DPS and Milo Djukanović. It's not a secret, everyone knows that. You can ask all the business people. Before

against Russia and Montenegro becoming a NATO member. Of course, in spite of the fact that DK lives in the UK, media in Montenegro described all of this as the „Russia-lead operation“. STRACHE FALLS – THE IBIZA AFFAIR

The last scandal involves Heinz-Christian Strache in Austria. Strache was a rising superstar on the Austrian political sky, a part of „the new European right“, and, sur-

ARE WE HUMAN OR ARE WE DANCER? We would all like to see politicians acting differently than the ordinary people they govern. There is a clear reason why rock stars are tolerated when they are doing booze, drugs or committing adultery and priests are not. We expect the people on higher positions, who preach adhering to virtues, to act as they preach. But, alas, they are only too human, and there is a price to pay for that.

prisingly, became the Vice-Chancellor of Austria after the latest elections. But, in an obvious setup operation with a hidden camera, Strache was caught in flagranti doing indecent things. The footage from 2017 was released in May 2019, showing Strache saying that he could offer business contracts in exchange for political support from a woman posing as the niece of a Russian oligarch (in fact the woman is Latvian). The video also shows his ideas about turning the country's most popular tabloid, the Kronen Zeitung, into a mouthpiece of the FPÖ. On 18 May 2019, in the wake of the Ibiza affair, Strache announced his resignation as the Vice-Chancellor of Austria, a minister, and the chairman of the Freedom Party. What about the affair? Well, it sounds pretty naïve for Eastern Europe or Asia, but we are talking about Austria where such things are not tolerated. Namely, Strache and his fellow party member, Johann Gudenus were discussing underhanded political practices with the woman that teased them to blurt out some indecent proposals or to agree with such things. In the video, both politicians appeared receptive to proposals by a woman posing as the niece of a Russian oligarch, discussing providing the FPÖ positive news coverage in return for business contracts. Strache and Gudenus also hinted at corrupt political practices involving other wealthy donors to the FPÖ in Europe and elsewhere. That was the end. We all know that the donors and sympathizers are often blurred out, hidden and have deep economic interests, but Strache, who later defended himself as “having been under the influence of alcohol”, was axed. The snap elections were called, Sebastian Kurz distanced himself from Strache and this was a severe blow not only for FPÖ in the forthcoming elections but also for the European Right in the upcoming elections for the European Parliament, at which, as polls showed, the united right-wing front, lead by the Italian rising political star Matteo Salvini, could have achieved good results. Of course, the security services of some unnamed country are blamed for the setup which was supposed to damage the rise of the European right. However, is still uncertain what happened. The only thing is that the leader of the party, who swore on his honesty, was in fact, dishonest and ready to do some tit-for-tat games.

ROYAL VISIT

The Visit of His Royal Highness, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, to Split

Prince Edward's official visit to Split was yet another validation of the strong historical and contemporary ties between Great Britain and Croatia

The City of Split recently had the honour of playing host to HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II. During his two-day visit on May 16th and 17th, he had the opportunity to visit Diocletian's Palace, the members of the British Armed Forces, and the new Croatian branch of the British company ICE Marine Design, followed by a visit to the Meštrović Gallery where he met with academic Miroslav Radman, a DNA expert and together with the students from the First Gymnasium, which was founded 300 years ago, see a short excerpt from the musical "Our House".

Shortly after his arrival, accompanied by Mayor of Split, Andro Krstulović Opara and the British Ambassador to Croatia, H.E. Mr Andrew Dalglish, Prince Edward visited Diocletian's Palace, a symbol of the links between Great Britain and Croatia. Back in 1757, the great Scottish architect Robert

Adam also visited this historical gem. Adam wrote a book about the Palace which was an inspiration behind his neoclassicist work, as well as developed a unique architectural theory which he implemented in designing buildings across Great Britain in years to come. Art historian, Ana Šverko

THIS IS PRINCE EDWARD'S FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT TO CROATIA. HIS BROTHER, PRINCE CHARLES VISITED CROATIA ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE HIS SISTER, PRINCESS ANNE VISITED THE COUNTRY IN 2009. QUEEN ELIZABETH II VISITED CROATIA IN 1972

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told the story about Robert Adam to Prince Edward. In 2017, together with Joško Belamarić, Ms Šverko wrote a book about Robert Adam and Diocletian's Palace. A solemn dinner and a celebration of the partnership between the United Kingdom and Croatia in the segment of safety and defence, both bilateral and under NATO's auspices, was held on the British air-defence destroyer, HMS Duncan. Both countries are members of NATO, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, while Croatia is marking the 10th anniversary of NATO membership. Prince Edward was joined by the members of the Croatian Armed

Forces, ambassadors from NATO countries and the Croatian Culture Minister, Nina Obuljen Koržinek. Croatian wines – Tomić's Plavac, Bibich's Riserva 5 and Oliver Roki's champagne Epic, produced in Hvar - were served during the dinner. To remind, the United Kingdom and Croatia have been closely cooperating in defence and security, while the defence ministers of the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation in 2017, stipulating close cooperation in joint military drills, participation in NATO missions and addressing various security issues. This year, Great Britain will participate in NATO's Immediate Response drill, which will be held in Croatia. Also, at the end of the summer, two armed forces will hold the sixth joint military drill called Sava Star. At the First Gymnasium, Earl of Wessex met with the Gymnasium's students and attended a short performance of an excerpt from the musical „Our House“. The First Gymnasium was founded 300 years ago and is one of the most esteemed high schools in Split. For the past 25

THE UNITED KINGDOM AND CROATIA HAVE BEEN CLOSELY COOPERATING IN DEFENCE AND SECURITY, WHILE THE DEFENCE MINISTERS OF THE TWO COUNTRIES SIGNED A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AND COOPERATION IN 2017 years, the school has been partnering with Astor College, as a result of the fact that Split and Dover are twinning cities. This collaboration includes student exchanges, joint art exhibitions and joint production of popular musicals. During his visit, Prince Edward officially opened the Croatian branch of the British company ICE

Marine Design, headquartered on the British Isle of Man, specializing in ship design. This is one of the largest European ship design and shipbuilding companies, which plans to hire additional 50 people for its Croatian branch, by the end of the year, bringing the total number of employees in Croatia to one hundred. ICE Marine also designed

SYMBOLISM Bearing in mind that visits of the members of the British Royal Family, including the ones to Croatia, are organized on the recommendation of the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the view of highlighting the importance of the relations with a country that is visited, there is no doubt that this visit had important symbolism and demonstrated the strong ties between Croatia and Great Britain, not only throughout history but also in these modern times.

a part of the HMS Duncan air-defence destroyer, anchored in the Port of Split, which Prince Edward visited on Thursday. Earl of Wessex also visited the Meštrović Gallery, where he perused the artwork of Ivan Meštrović who can also be considered a link between Croatia and Great Britain. Back in 1915, the Victoria and Albert Museum from London exhibited Meštrović's artwork, and the exhibition was deemed as a successful example of cultural diplomacy because it was staged during World War II. During his visit to the gallery, Prince Edvard also met with Professor Miroslav Radman, whose MEDILS Institute works closely with the University of Cambridge. Professor Radman, a microbiology expert who has accomplished great results in DNA research, is committed to studying ageing and the effects that illnesses have on people in order to find ways in which people could live healthier and longer lives. Professor Radman's work is one of the great examples of the scientific cooperation between the British and Croatian experts.

NATIONAL DAYS

in June

ARRIVALS & DEPARTURES

VELIMIR VILOVIĆ Director of CEMEX Croatia

RUSSIA

Trpimir Renić is appointed Vice President for Strategic Planning at CEMEX in the United States, while Velimir Vilović is the new Director of CEMEX Croatia. He will be responsible for the operations of CEMEX in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro where the company employs 510 people and has three cement factories,

seven concrete plants and two quarries. So far, this 44-year-old has acted as a sales and logistics director for CEMEX Croatia. He started his career at the then Dalmacijacement nearly 20 years ago, as an export manager, progressing to the position of HR director. He has been the sales and logistics director since 2010.

Russia Day

THE PHILIPPINES raw ng Kalayaan, A Declaration of Independence

UNITED KINGDOM Queen’s Birthday

ANDREJ PLESKO Managing Director of KRUNA 2011 d.o.o.

ICELAND Republic Day

Andrej Plesko is an experienced sales manager with abundant work experience. He has strong skills in Marketing Management, Negotiation, Business Planning, Sales, and

Customer Relationship Management (CRM). He became a member of KRUNA's team in January 2019, and before that he worked for Renault Nissan Slovenia.

MALTA ational Day N (St John the Baptist)

SLOVENIA Statehood Day

UKRAINE Constitution Day

MIODRAG ŠARAC New director of Ekoplus

Šarac, who, among other positions, was the development and investment manager in Liburnijske Vode, was appointed new director after the Ekoplus Board accepted the resignation of the then director Josip Dedić in February this year. The Board of Directors of Ekoplus, a company that manages the Marišćina County Waste Management Centre, unanimously appointed Miodrag Šarac as the director of Ekoplus.

NEBOJŠA KOHAROVIĆ Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to the Republic of Indonesia

President of the Republic of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović handed credentials to Nebojša Koharović, MSc, who became the new Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to the Republic of Indonesia.

VATICAN National Day

THE CONGO Independence Day

IVICA JERBIĆ JOSIPA BELIĆ Director of Risk Management Division of Erste Card Club

Josipa Belić comes from the banking sector and has abundant experience working in various management and risk assessment jobs for legal and natural persons. She started her career in 1993 as an independent accountant, and in 1998, she went to work for Privredna Banka Zagreb d.d. where she held the positions of the Customer Relationship Manager, the Senior Credit Analyst, the Assistant Executive Director of the Credit Risk Assessment Sector and the Chief Internal Auditor. Josipa Belić was born in 1975 and graduated in 1997 from the University of Zagreb's Faculty of Economics and Business, after which she obtained Master's Degree in Economic Sciences in 2004. She holds an MBA title from the same faculty, and since 2016, has been a certified internal auditor for banks, financial institutions and coompanies.

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Director of Rijeka Oil Refinery

Jerbić graduated from the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology and began his career at INA's Oil Refinery in Sisak in 2005 as the youngest engineer in production. He was also the Head of Process Technology and Production Manager at the same refinery, and from 2015

to 2018, he was the Production Manager at the Rijeka Oil Refinery. According to INA, the former director of the Rijeka refinery, Erkki Ranta will continue his career as a leading refinery and marketing expert in the office of the refinery's Operations and Marketing Director.

INTERVIEW

The Arguments are on Our Side Will the likely 700,000 citizen signatures send a strong enough message to the Government and the Croatian Parliament to give citizens the chance to decide on a referendum about their social security in the future? If that is not the case, the trade unions are willing to use the allowed means of civil resistance MLADEN NOVOSEL President of the Union of Autonomous Trade Unions of Croatia (UATUC)

By the end of May, we will have found out how exactly how many signatures in favour of a calling a referendum on amendments to the Pension Insurance Act were collected by the three trade union confederations – the Union of the Autonomous Trade Unions of Croatia (SSSH), the Independent Croatian Trade Unions (NHS) and the Association of the Croatian Trade Unions (MHS), under the auspices of the „67 is Too Much“ initiative. By examining the validity of the collected signatures, the initiative's organizing committee shall, following the relevant procedure, submit a request for the referendum to the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament. The Parliamentary Committees or the Parliament itself

may invite the Government or the Ministry of Public Administration to verify the number and credibility of the voters' signature contained in the request and submit the report to the Croatian Parliament. The Parliament may also ask the Constitutional Court (USUD) to assess

process of collecting signatures. To remind, the collection of signatures lasted from 27th April to 11th May 2019, and the SSSH, as part of the Initiative "67 is Too Much", has actively participated in all the activities related to the collection of signatures for the referendum.

EACH NEW ANTI-REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN CONDUCTED BY THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT WILL GIVE THEM AN ADDITIONAL INCENTIVE TO CHOOSE „YES“ WHEN REPLYING TO THE REFERENDUM QUESTION whether a referendum question is in accordance with the Constitution. USUD has to make a decision within 30 days, after which the Croatian Parliament has to decide to call a referendum if all the conditions are met. This will be a long summer for the Initiative following the hard work on preparing well for the

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What is the next step now that you have gathered enough votes to initiate the referendum on the amendments to the Pension System Act? If the Constitutional Court had a negative answer to your formulation of the referendum question, in which way can you argue it?

— Currently, there will be a few

more of days of the activists checking the signatures collected by the three trade union con-federation that have formulated the initiative "67 is Too Much". After that, the signatures will be submitted to the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament for further action. Regarding the constitutionality of the formulation of the referendum question, we consulted with several legal and constitutional experts. Of course, there may always be different opinions, with some saying that the referendum question is entirely in line with the Constitution, while others voicing their dilemmas. The Constitutional Court is formed along the political lines, so decisions often serve the interests of the governing political majority. However, the likely 700,000 citizen signatures should send a strong enough message to the Government and the Croatian Parliament to give citizens the chance

to decide on a referendum about their social security in the future However, if the Croatian Parliament still decides to ask the Constitutional Court for „protection“, there are legally permitted means of civil resistance. Do you believe that this sentiment, thanks to which over 600,000 signatures have been collected in the space of just two weeks, will keep until September when the referendum could take place?

— Croatian citizens are still very well aware of certain events that happened over two decades ago, and be sure they will not forget why they signed their "67 is Too Much" initiative. Each new anti-referendum campaign conducted by the Croatian Government will give them an additional incentive to choose „Yes“ when replying to the referendum question. Why do you feel that it is contentious to raise the threshold for full retirement from 65 to 67 years of age when we know that this is the standard in many countries, including the EU and the region?

— First of all, no country that joined the EU at a later date extended the retirement age to 67, apart from the two poorest EU countries - Bulgaria and Croatia. If we are talking about the standard, then I have to point out that, apart from the fact that the statistical data in

Croatia shows that people here have a shorter life expectancy and a shorter period of healthy life past 65 years compared to the countries that have extended the retirement age to 67, and that the quality of available jobs in Croatia is lower (occupational safety, the length of working hours, salaries, the highest level of precarious work in the EU and so on). We believe that the above facts should be taken into account and improved, and then we should contemplate extending the length of working life.

ed from the Pension Fund, and as a result, the "picture“ would be a little different. Secondly, now that you have mentioned companies, you have to acknowledge the fact that only 40% of workers in Croatia between 55 and 65 years of age are employed, and that employers, in particular in the private sector, are getting rid of the workers as soon as the first conditions for their retirement are met. After all, isn't it hypocritical to make laws which regulate that workers have to set aside a part of

THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR MEMBERS ARE NOT GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY THE EXTENSION OF THE RETIREMENT AGE. BUT THEY HAVE CHILDREN WHO DO NOT HAVE A JOB FUTURE IN CROATIA AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE A DECENT LIFE ONCE THEY RETIRE Speaking about the real situation that the Pension Fund is at the moment and considering the demographic changes and the way in which companies operate, isn't it almost certain that people will be working as long as they can? After all, there are retired people who still work.

— The situation with the Pension Fund is a reflection of political decisions about the groups of people that will be included in the system. I am primarily referring to pensions that come under a special regulation that should be separat-

their wages for the retirement fund (1st and mandatory 2nd pillar), and then when they retire, they are forced to work simply to survive?! Are older workers, who are now facing prolonged working life and penalties in the shape of a reduced pension if they retire early, now more important for the trade unions or are you focusing on younger workers who, due to poor working conditions, are leaving the country?

— It's the other way around. The vast majority of our members are

older than 52 years and they will not be affected by the extension of the retirement age. But they also have children who do not have a job future in Croatia and are moving to Western European countries in great numbers not only because of poor working conditions, but also because of the message that as much as they pay into the pension fund in Croatia, they will not be able to have a decent life once they retire. When you sum up all the effects of collecting referendum signatures, is it safe to say that, as a result, you now have new members and that there is better cooperation between trade unions?

— Ultimately, if you want a trade union campaign to succeed, you need to cooperate with as many trade unions as possible, which is what we did in this case. You also need to include civil society organizations, as well as other stakeholders. Of course, trade unions are exclusively funded by their members, and it is in our best interest for our work to be recognized by non-union workers, as well as by union members who are not part of the three representative trade union federations that have collected the signatures. It is important to underline the pension law relates to all citizens of the Republic of Croatia regardless of them being a trade union member. I also believe that citizens will know how to appreciate that.

WORK TAILOR-MADE TO HUMAN BEINGS — Late last year, at its Congress, SSSH adopted its programme guidelines called "For Work Tailor Made to Human Beings“, in which we elaborated on special activities and demands for both the Government of Croatia and employers in order for workers to be better paid, enjoy

improved workplace safety (against precarious forms of work), work health and safety, the intensity of working hours, etc. Of course, we are also ready for a possible reform of the labour legislation, and not just with the view of preserving the existing rights, but also improving them.

BARGAINING CHIPS

Donald Trump Gets Tough on Huawei Two decisions could ensnare other Chinese technology firms

Some may have wondered why it took so long. An American prohibition against the use of equipment made by Huawei had long been mooted, out of fear that China’s spooks could use it to spy on its geopolitical rival. The largest Chinese telecom firm has in effect been prevented from selling its kit in America since 2012. Big American mobile operators have already renounced the use of its gear for their fifth-generation (5G) networks. The administration of Donald Trump has attempted to browbeat Western allies into forswearing Huawei too; imposing a ban of its own was expected to help with the cajoling. Until now, the only other country to have enacted one is Australia. Yet the executive order that Donald Trump issued on May 15th, declaring a national emergency, was much broader in scope than most had anticipated. It named neither Huawei nor China explicitly. But it said that “foreign adversaries”, keen to spy on America, were “creating and exploiting vulnerabilities” in local technology and services that store “vast amounts of sensitive information” and “facilitate the digital economy”. It said that unrestricted acquisition or use of such technologies was “an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy and economy” of America. Some of the ban’s woolliest bits—who counts as a foreign adversary, for instance—should be clarified with the help of American spies within the next 150 days. But if there was any doubt about its chief intended target, a separate ban issued later that day made things crystal clear. The Department of Commerce said that it has added Huawei to a list of companies deemed a risk to American national security. When it takes effect (the timing is unclear), dozens of Huawei’s affiliates will be prohibited from buying hardware and software from American firms without government approval. In a statement, Huawei said it is

FEW OBSERVERS EXPECT HUAWEI TO FLIRT WITH BANKRUPTCY IN THE WAY ZTE HAS. BUT IT, TOO, LOOKS VULNERABLE “ready and willing to engage with the US government and come up with effective measures to ensure product security” and that restricting it would only limit America to “inferior yet more expensive alternatives”. It also said that “unreasonable restrictions” would raise “serious legal issues”. Samm Sacks of New America, a think-tank in Washington, DC, says that this direct interdiction is “a complete shock”. It had for months been talked about among companies and those close to policymakers as the “nuclear option”. Unlike in the case of ZTE, another Chinese telecom giant that was briefly banned outright from sourcing American parts and software last spring, Huawei can continue to buy them as long as its foreign suppliers secure licences. But companies are being told that there will be no exemptions, ac-

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cording to Ms Sacks. Observers nonetheless expect a rush to apply for such licences. Those who doubt, for now, that a blanket American ban is inevitable, say its intent is to make Huawei’s kit look like a less dependable option to service providers elsewhere. In Europe, any orders for gear that Huawei had been expecting, for instance, will now be upset. Reports emerged earlier this year of international telecoms carriers stockpiling equipment, as fears of an American ban grew. Some were burnt by the ZTE prohibition, which denied them access to warehouses holding the gear that they had already bought. When ZTE was banned in April 2018, the effect was crippling. In 2016 UBS, a bank had estimated that at least four-fifths of its products relied on American parts. Chips designed by America’s Qual-

comm were in about 70% of its smartphones. ZTE posted a loss of 7bn yuan ($1bn) for 2018, compared with a profit of 4.6bn yuan the previous year. In barely three months the ban brought the company to the brink of bankruptcy, before it earned a reprieve from Mr Trump, after a personal appeal from China’s president, Xi Jinping. Few observers expect Huawei to flirt with bankruptcy in the way ZTE has. But it, too, looks vulnerable. Although its HiSilicon unit designs some of its chips in-house, the company outsources its manufacturing to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, a giant chipmaker, which could be swayed by the Americans. The only other factories capable of producing cutting-edge chips are owned by Samsung, a South Korean firm—and South Korea is another American ally. Like all makers of mobile chips, it relies heavily on intellectual property licensed from ARM, a British firm. Products from its handsets to data centres and cloud-computing services could all be hurt by the ban. Coming amid an intensifying trade war between America and China—and given the ZTE precedent—the ban on Huawei may also be a bargaining chip in talks. At a minimum, it will be used as one with recalcitrant European allies. But as officials hash out the scope of Mr Trump’s executive order, more than just the usual suspects could find themselves ensnared. Ms Sacks says that it could become a “discretionary tool” for America to use against Chinese companies as it sees fit—including against perceived risks to the country’s entire digital infrastructure. Its wording is broad enough to encompass all manner of Chinese technology firms, from e-commerce and digital-payments giants like Alibaba to hardware-makers such as Lenovo. That would be a worrying prospect indeed. From The Economist, published under licence. The original article, in English, can be found on www. economist.com

CORPORATE

PBZ Wins a Prestigious Award President of PBZ’s Management Board, Dinko Lucić wins the prestigious CEO Today Magazine Europe Award for 2019

Mr Dinko Lucić, President of the Management Board of Privredna banka Zagreb (PBZ) which is a member of Intesa Sanpaolo Group, is the recipient of the prestigious CEO Today Magazine Europe Award for 2019 in Croatia for his outstanding contribution in representing Privredna banka Zagreb. Every year, CEO Today magazine selects and honours the most respected companies and their C-level executives in business today. The CEO Today Europe Awards celebrate the success, innovation and strategic vision of CEOs in Europe, across a number of sectors and industries and identify the most successful, innovative and forward-thinking company leaders. Following the official announcement by the CEO Today Magazine Europe Awards 2019 about individual winners and representatives of

companies, Mr Dinko Lucić, President of the Management Board of PBZ d.d. said: „I am exceptionally proud of this really special award which is a historical and permanent record of recognition and success of our entire PBZ Group team. One of my fundamental beliefs, which was affirmed during the many years of my managerial experience, is that people make a difference. I am proud of our team and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our employees for their contribution and all our

clients for whom we are striving to be even better and ensure a full range of financial services at the top quality level for them." The CEO Today Europe Awards research team has recognised a number of Mr Lucić and PBZ's achievements over the last 12 months. Dinko Lucić has been the President of the Management Board of Privredna banka Zagreb since February 2018. Mr. Lucić joined PBZ Group in early 2000. In addition to his numerous positions in PBZ and Intesa Sanpaolo

MR DINKO LUCIĆ, PRESIDENT OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD OF PRIVREDNA BANKA ZAGREB (PBZ) WHICH IS A MEMBER OF INTESA SANPAOLO GROUP, IS AWARDED FOR HIS OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION IN REPRESENTING PRIVREDNA BANKA ZAGREB

Group, from 2007 to 2009 he was a member of the Management Board of the Slovakian VUB Bank, also a bank of Intesa Sanpaolo Group. Prior to his appointment as President, he had been a long-standing Member of the Management Board of PBZ since 2009, in charge of retail banking and coordination of PBZ Group companies in the retail segment and card business. Dinko Lucić was born in 1971, he graduated from the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb. Also, he completed General Management program at the ZSEM and University of Michigan Business School, he holds several SAS CRM certificates and he gained the International Retail Banker certificate issued by The International Academy of Retail Banking. Mr Lucić is a guest lecturer at Zagreb and Rijeka Faculty of Economics and Business.

ECONOMY

Text: ŽELIMIR MARAŠ

Is China a Dangerous Partner?

…or is it America, in fact? argued that its products posed "no greater cybersecurity risk" than those of any other vendor and that there is no evidence of the U.S. espionage claims. Well, it is easy to alarm American society with good old security commie-induced paranoia. Or, rather, it was easy. It remains to be seen. It seems that the crucial battle is looming the horizon. Trump is not waiting to lose the war that might last for years, because he wants either to win (he hopes so) or lose in one decisive battle. In the wake of the Huawei clash, one thing is becoming certain: many companies, if not all, in the world, will come up with a backup plan while dealing with the U.S. which has become quite uncertain and dependent on the will of the American president. An unpredictable one! DISTRUST LOOMING?

“Every CEO of every company has this morning sent a memo to the vice president, saying ‘reduce our interactions with United States companies, it is not safe for us.’ We become vulnerable.” – said recently professor emeritus of economics at the University of Massachusetts, Richard Wolff, pointing that every major company in the world is now preparing to scale down its dependency on American technology, rather than cutting ties with customers. In fact, the idea is that, instead of buying American microchips and software, for example, for Huawei mobile phones, the Chinese will develop their own chips and Android upgrade (over the free version), including mobile phone apps that would replace Google Play Store, and enable installation of YouTube and Gmail. Considering it is the beginning of the tariff war, there might be “zillion” such cases, backfiring to-

wards America instead of helping its trade. To remind, the biggest accusation against Huawei was not economical, but it was disguised a security threat – in fact, a danger of espionage. Namely, Huawei

THE MOTIFS – DO IT NOW AND DO IT HARD!

In fact, President Trump’s game is becoming increasingly dangerous, as he feels that it is the last moment to cripple the Chinese

TRUMP IS NOT WAITING TO LOSE THE WAR THAT MIGHT LAST FOR YEARS, BECAUSE HE WANTS EITHER TO WIN (HE HOPES SO) OR LOSE IN ONE DECISIVE BATTLE has faced difficulties in some markets, due to cybersecurity allegations,primarily from the United States government which claimed that Huawei's infrastructure equipment may enable surveillance by the Chinese government. Especially with the development of 5G wireless networks, there have been calls from the U.S. to prevent the use of products by Huawei or fellow Chinese telecom ZTE by the U.S. or its allies. Huawei

economy which is doing increasingly better. Huawei is the prime example since, without this severe blow, the Chinese company was set to be the world’s leading mobile phone manufacturer and vendor in December 2019. With this blow, that might never happen, but there are many unknown variables in the equation. For example, many comments by netizens show that a great number of people all around the world, especially in Asia and

THREATENING EVERYONE AT THE SAME TIME? We don’t know if it’s going to work, but it is quite obvious that Trump is threatening many sides at the same time: the threat to the Europeans over “Nord Stream-2”, to Russia (the usual thing), to Venezuela over “democratic process”, to Iran over nuclear deal, to Turkey over S-400 missile system, even to allies over 2% NATO-budget and various tariffs. It is a risky game, and we are waiting to see if it is going to pay off. Good luck with that, Donald!

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China proper, will either boycott iPhones, or deliberately buy Huawei to support the Chinese case. Of course, many will drop the idea of buying Huawei, so the balance will be crucial, and we will see how the pendulum swings. There are many comments over the Trump’s tariff war with China, with some more conservative commentators approving it, and some strongly disapproving it. Bradley Blakeman from Fox claims that China was dishonest all along and that there is a time to cut their stealing, copying and manipulating currency in order to get them on the fair-trade path. On the other hand, Bloomberg, for instance, claims that President Trump, as his furious tweets show, tried to convince everybody that the costs of his trade war with China would be completely paid by the Chinese side. Trump claims that the billions of dollars will not be paid by the American businesses and consumers. But he might be wrong, since “nearly every expert”, including his top economic adviser, Larry Kudlow, disagrees,” says Joshua Green in his analysis, estimating that the annual costs per American family, as a result of the tariffs against China, will be around $500. You can rant against the migrants, but average America might not see them often. However, the annual increase in costs will be felt by everyone, especially the poorest, who supported Trump initially. When that happens, he won’t be able to spin the tariffs for much longer.

CORPORATE

THE NEW BMW 3 SERIES SEDAN

Always Forward The latest edition of the BMW Sedan brings the same delight to its users as the previous ones but adds new features which prove that innovation, premium quality and driving comfort can be elevated to another level The BMW 3 Series Sedan has epitomised the concept of sporty driving pleasure in the global premium midsize class for more than 40 years. The latest edition of the car sees BMW building on the sporting tradition of the 3 Series, which exploits in the racing world gave it a lot of additional dynamic credibility. The seventh generation moves the game on once again in its segment in terms of driving dynamics, premium quality and innovation. Exterior design: a precise expression of sporting prowess BMW’s new design language showcases the modern and dynamic character of the new BMW 3 Series Sedan with precisely drawn lines and strikingly contoured surfaces. The large BMW kidney grille and the headlights leading off it are dominant themes of the front end of the car. Full-LED headlights come as standard, while the LED headlights with extended features and Adaptive LED headlights with BMW Laserlight for non-dazzling high beam are available as an option. Both the optional LED front fog lamps and the Air Curtains are integrated into the outer air intakes. The dynamic side view is shaped by a pair of character lines and a dynamic side skirt contour. Horizontal lines and slim, stylishly darkened LED lights give the rear a wide and muscular stance. Innovative chassis technology for sporting performance and driving comfort When developing the body structure and chassis technology of the new BMW 3 Series Sedan, a number of clear priorities were set: enhanced driving dynamics, agile handling characteristics, high-precision steering and superior braking performance. Overall, the new BMW 3 Series Sedan weighs up to

55 kilograms less than the corresponding predecessor model. The standard-fitted suspension and optional M Sport suspension both include lift-related dampers, which are making their debut in a BMW model. They make a major contribution to the balance between sportiness and comfort – unmatched by any rival. Continuously variable control allows them to adjust the damper firmness progressively according to changing spring travel, which reduces body movement perceptibly when evening out vibrations caused by bumpy road surfaces and dynamic cornering. Premium ambience and highquality equipment The premium characteristics of the new BMW 3 Series Sedan can be further enhanced with an

tional legroom, seat comfort and ease of entry and exit all contribute to the generous feeling of space. The optional Comfort Access, which now has a new sensor system, allows the car to be locked and unlocked automatically and includes hands-free opening of the boot lid. Leading the way to automated driving The new BMW 3 Series Sedan uses a significantly expanded selection of innovative assistance systems to likewise take a leading role on the road to automated driving. Standard equipment includes Lane Departure Warning and Collision and Pedestrian Warning with City Braking function, the latest version of which also alerts the driver when a cyclist is detected. Options include Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function

ENHANCED DRIVING DYNAMICS, AGILE HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS, HIGHPRECISION STEERING AND SUPERIOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE ARE THE MAJOR CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW BMW 3 SERIES SEDAN array of high-quality and innovative options. The Advantage, Sport Line, Luxury Line and M Sport equipment lines help to provide targeted individualisation. Added to which, newly designed steering wheels and interior trim elements, three-zone automatic climate control and the optional telephony with wireless charging, offer scope for increased comfort and exclusive style. The windscreen is fitted as standard with acoustic glass. The optional glass roof has a 100-millimetre longer transparent surface while the Harman Kardon surround sound system delivers exceptional listening pleasure. Extended shoulder and elbow room in the front seats and addi-

and the Driving Assistant with Lane Change Warning, Rear Collision Prevention and CrossTraffic Alert. Also offered is the Driving Assistant Professional, a complete comfort and safety-enhancing package. One of the features of the Driving Assistant Professional is the Steering and lane control assistant, which works together with the driver to help keep the vehicle in the detected lane through narrow channels and includes the Lane Keeping Assistant with active side collision protection and the evasion aid. The new BMW HeadUp Display offers a larger projection surface, new graphics and additional display content. Park Distance Control and the

rear view camera assist the driver with manoeuvring and entering/ exiting parking spaces. Also available is the Parking Assistant, which takes over steering, acceleration, braking and gear changes with the Steptronic transmission when driving into and out of a space. The Reversing Assistant, which can reverse the vehicle for distances of up to 50 metres by steering it along exactly the same line it has just taken when moving forward. BMW Operating System 7.0 and BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant The new BMW Operating System 7.0 plays a leading role in optimising the control and display system, with digital functions geared precisely to the needs of the driver. The optional BMW Live Cockpit Professional comprises consistently designed, situation-linked and customisable displays on the fully-digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster and 10.25-inch Control Display. For intuitive operation, the driver can choose from the Control Display’s touch control, the iDrive Controller, the steering wheel buttons, gesture control and voice control. Making its debut in the new BMW 3 Series Sedan, the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant is an intelligent and digital character that responds to the prompt “Hey BMW”. Its arrival ensures there is always a genuine BMW professional on board who is able to explain all sorts of different functions, provide current status information and help answer questions. The BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant is, in short, the ideal co-driver. BMW TOMIĆ CITY STORE Diplomatic Sales Rooseveltov trg 4, Zagreb Tel.: 01 6470 895 www.bmw.hr/DiplomaticSales

INTERVIEW

Klis Has its Herbal Secrets Too

Guided by the desire to help every visitor of the Klis Fortress to awaken the child-like curiosity for the colourful wildlife that surrounds us, Vedran Šegota and Ivan Limić have prepared a book that immediately transforms readers into true botanists, well-equipped to recognize the rare examples of "sea" and "mountain" flora and discover the mystery that is ascribed to them

VEDRAN ŠEGOTA Writter

Convinced that both local and foreign visitors can enjoy Klis, aside from the sunshine, parties and cocktails, while looking for new, innovative content, Vedran Šegota and Ivan Limić offer readers a close encounter with the plants the visitors to the Klis Fortress don't know much about and which surround them everywhere they go. Klis has recently been declared one of the most interesting destinations in Croatia that unite the history of Uskoks (a term used for a type of Croatian militia-

men) and The Game of Thrones. You have now added another interesting dimension thanks to the book you devoted to plant species. What do nature lovers need to know about this place?

— The Klis Fortress was built in the early Middle Ages on the inaccessible rock in the gap between the two mountains, Mosor and Kozjak, where for centuries, it had exceptional strategic importance for the defence of the

city of Split and Central Dalmatia. Due to this specific position between the sea and the mainland, the fortress "hides" an extremely abundant and interesting flora with numerous endemic species. In this place, we can encounter the typical Mediterranean plants as well as the plants usually found in high mountains. By observing the plants that surround them, the Fortress' visitors, at one point, will be under the impression that they

IN ORDER TO BRING THIS ABUNDANCE CLOSER TO AS MANY READERS AS POSSIBLE, THE BOOK WAS WRITTEN IN FIVE LANGUAGES - CROATIAN, ENGLISH, GERMAN, ITALIAN AND FRENCH

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are sitting on a beach, while the plants growing in other corners of the fortress are bringing to them the fresh mountain air. The idea behind the book 'The Plants of the Klis Fortress' was to bring this cultural and historical monument closer to nature lovers and thus expand the Fortress' tourist offer. I personally come from the town of Senj, while the book's co-author, Ivan Limić from the Uskok town of Klis, so this book is, in a way, a link between the two towns that share a common history. How much time did you need to investigate the flora of the fortress and the town of Klis, as well as document the existence of such plant diversity?

— We researched the Fortress' flo-

ra for a whole year in order to make sure that we covered every single species. Namely, some plants grow only at certain times of the year, and we wanted to "capture" them in all their stages, from leafing and flowering to the emergence of fruits and seeds. Ivan Limić, the co-author of this publication, contributed most to the research by tirelessly collecting the plants and bringing them to the Herbarium Collection of the Botanical Institute in Zagreb, which I am curating. There, we determined the plant species, wrote the text and selected the photos for the book. We found more than 300 plant species on the Fortress and the rocks surrounding it. In the book, we presented the 92 most interesting ones. We particularly highlighted endemic species, which grow only along the eastern coast of the Adriatic or, for instance, only in Central Dalmatia. These species will probably be most appealing to foreign readers because they cannot be found in other parts of Europe. For example, in the book, we presented Adriatic Fibigia and tiny-sepaled toadflax, the two species that were discovered in the 19th century in the Klis region. Does your book cater more to experts or the people who are just interested in rare plant species but have no extensive knowledge about them? Is the book good material for tourists to us?

— The book is primarily written for the visitors of the Klis Fortress, who don't need to have any previous botanical knowledge. The combination of short texts and photography for each species ensures that every reader can easily find and recognize different types of plants just by walking through the fort. We have also included the information on the size and time of flowering of these plants. This is not just a botanist's book; it is actually written to help tourists to awaken the child-like curiosity for the colourful wildlife that surrounds us. It is important to mention that most of the species described in the book are growing along the entire Adriatic coast and on the islands, so the book can also be used as a guide on the journey through Dalmatia. What can plants tell us about the traditions of Dalmatia, particularly when used for cooking, in medical purposes and even in terms of the beliefs of that time?

WE FOUND MORE THAN 300 PLANT SPECIES ON THE FORTRESS AND THE ROCKS SURROUNDING IT. IN THE BOOK, WE PRESENTED THE 92 MOST INTERESTING ONES — Throughout history, people have been exceptionally connected to the plant life that surrounds them but unfortunately, such knowledge is rapidly disappearing in today's day and age. In this book, we wanted to preserve at least one small part of that ethnobotanical wealth. That is why we particularly highlight the plants that are still used today in Dalmatia and the Mediterranean, such as figs, almonds, olives and asparagus. There is also information about

aromatic and healing plants such as sage, field marigold, curry plant and St. John's-wort. The readers can also find out after which plant the city of Split was named, which tree was used to build Noah's Ark, which plant grows only in places that were struck by lightning, and which ones have aphrodisiac properties. Perhaps the most interesting story is the one about the endemic Dalmatian pyrethrum, which was used as a natural insecticide, which is the reason why its

NEW DIALOGUE WITH NATURE After Klis and the revelation of its secrets, what's next for you? — I have many ideas for presenting another tourist destination in Croatia, perhaps in a similar manner. Apart from the sunshine, parties and cocktails, I am confident that an increasing number of tourists are looking for new, innovative content. As plants surround us wherever we go, I would like to develop the idea of man's return to nature, even if it happens only on holiday.

cultivation and export in the first half of the 20th century was one of the most important economic activities in Dalmatia. This suddenly ended with the invention of synthetic insecticides. Maguey is today a symbol of the Mediterranean, but many people do not know that it is native to Mexico and came to Europe only after the discovery of the New World. It takes up to 15 years for this plant to flourish, and right after it bears the first flowers, this plant dies. Its fibres are traditionally used on some Adriatic islands to make lace. Ancient Balkan beliefs say that hawthorn is an effective means of fighting vampires. I'll leave it to the readers to discover other interesting stories in the book by themselves. How important is your book for studying Croatia's plant abundance and is the book available to readers in other languages?

— In terms of plant abundance, Croatia ranks 3rd in Europe, just after Albania and Slovenia, and bosts over 5,500 species growing on its territory. Every research of flora, including this one, represents a significant contribution to our knowledge of Croatia's biodiversity and beyond. In order to bring this abundance closer to as many readers as possible, the book was written in five languages Croatian, English, German, Italian and French, and, hopefully, it was made accessible to the majority of tourists on the Adriatic. A great number of translators and proofreaders worked on the book. How difficult is it to write and proof check such book? Was it easy to find a publisher for such a demanding endeavour?

— A total of nine translators and proofreaders worked on the book. This was the most demanding segment of the entire process because we had to harmonize professional terminology in different languages. But we have been fortunate enough to cooperate with patient translators and excellent proofreaders who, apart from being native speakers, are also botanists. The book has been reviewed by several university professors and can be found in the specialized library of the Croatian Botanical Society, which is a validation of the book's high quality. We found the publisher rather easy because the local community (the Klis Municipality) has shown great interest and has supported us during all stages of the book's creation.

PEOPLE & EVENTS

06 ROLEX AND MAMIC 1970 MAY

PRESENTATION OF THE WATCHES

Independent Swiss watchmaker Rolex and Mamic 1970, an established Croatian watch retailer and a proud member of the Rolex family for over 40 years, held an exclusive presentation of the watches unveiled in 2019 at

06 THE PROMOTION OF MAY

CATALOGUE OF MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF ITALIAN ENTREPRENEURS IN CROATIA

Baselworld, the world’s largest watch fair, which takes place in Switzerland every year. The timepieces were also showcased at the Mamic 1970 boutique at 7, Frane Petrić Street in Zagreb, from 30th April to 20th May 2019.

The first edition of the Catalogue was promoted at the Academia Hotel in Zagreb. In his welcome speech, the Association's Presidet, Francesco Ruffoli, underlined to the members of the Association of Italian Entrepreneurs in

Croatia the importance of this publication, which represents the cross-section of everything that the Association offers and does for its members, and highlighted the strength of the Italian entrepreneurial network in Croatia.

President of the Association of Italian Entreprenuers in Croatia Francesco Ruffoli

07 MÖBEL LAND OPENED MAY

- TOP DESTINATION FOR LUXURY YACHT FURNISHINGS

Möbel Land, the premier destination for luxurious interior furnishings, was officially opened at the West Gate Shopping Mall in the company of media representatives and VIP guests. The modernly designed ambience, located on two

Ecija Ojdanic actress, Goran Fric director Mobel Land, actress Jelena Percin, actress Ornela Vistica

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floors and spanning 6,000 square meters, exudes elegance and showcases the best collections of world renowned brands, some of which are available in Croatia for the first time ever. Now, you can find them all in one place - at the Möbel Land Salon.

Goran Fric, Director of Mobel Land

11 COSCO SHIPPING / MAY

The celebration of the 10th anniversary of COSCO Shipping / Dragon Maritime Adria's operations in Croatia was held from 11th to 12th May, 2019 at the Brijuni National Park. The main celebration was held in Pula on May 11th at the House of Croatian Defenders in Pula. The events were attended by numerous partners and distinguished

DRAGON MARITIME ADRIA, THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY IN CROATIA

guests from the headquarters of COSCO Shipping in Shanghai and the Embassy of the People's Republic of China from Zagreb. Dragon Maritime Adria was established in 2009 as an agent of Cosco Shipping Lines Co. Ltd, specializing in shipping agency services with the focus on Central Europe and the Balkan region.

President of the Dragon Maritime Group Erich Cossutta and the director of the Croatian branch Marko Škraljsky

14 POLAND’S MAY

This year’s celebrations of Poland’s National Day, which were organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in the Republic of Croatia, were held at the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall in Zagreb. In his welcome speech at the beginning of the commemorations, the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to

NATIONAL DAY – CONSTITUTION DAY

Croatia, H.E. Andrzej Jasionowski underlined the significance of the 3rd of May Constitution as the first modern constitution in Europe and the second in the world. The Ambassador also added that, for many generations, that document was the last will and testament of the Fatherland.

Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Croatia, H.E. Andrzej Jasionowski

14 INDEPENDENCE MAY

DAY OF ISRAEL

The Embassy of Israel held a reception at the Westin Hotel in Zagreb on the occasion of the Independence Day of the State of Israel. The host was the new Israeli ambassador, H.E. Ilan Mor. The reception was

Israeli ambassador, H.E. Ilan Mor with his wife and colleagues

attended by the Vice-Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, Professor Željko Reiner, Mayor of Zagreb, Milan Bandić, Envoy of the Prime Minister, Frka Petešić, members of the diplomatic corps and Croatian public and cultural figures.

British Ambassador, H.E. Andrew Stuart Dalgleish with his colleagues

Israeli ambassador, H.E. Ilan Mor with former Prime Minister Jandranka Kosor

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PEOPLE & EVENTS

17 KRONA PRESENTS A MAY

NEW COLLECTION OF TOMMY HILFIGER WATCHES

In the delightful ambience of the Istrian landscape in Barban, Krona presented a new collection of Tommy Hilfiger watches, one of the world’s leading designer lifestyle brands. The brand is associated with famous ambassadors from the world of sports and entertainment, from Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Beyonce Knowles, Rolling Stones, Rafael Nadal, Lewis Hamilton and others. This year, the collection is dedicated to Zendaya – a famous actress and singer.

Andrej Plesko, Managing Director of KRUNA 2011 d.o.o. with business associates

23 NEW PORSCHE 911 – MAY

Hrvoje Lapić, brand manager

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OFFICIAL PRESENTATION OF THE DESIGN ICON

The 8th generation of the iconic Porsche 911 was presented at the Plaza Event Centre. Over 400 guests enjoyed a varied programme organized by Porsche Inter Auto - Porsche Centre Zagreb. Apart from indulging in culinary delicacies, VIP guests, buyers, enthusiasts and the media were also able to see 3D mapping with two projectors, the first of its kind in Croatia. In addition to the music performance of the Gelato Sisters, this exclusive exhibition of the seven generations of the historic Porsche 911 cars has demonstrated the superior design that makes this model timeless.

COLUMN

COMMUNICATING FEEDBACK WITHIN PEOPLE MANAGEMENT People management skills can include communication, leadership, delegation, motivation, training and performance feedback. With a lot that have been told about first five skills, how to give people feedback is one of the hottest topics in business today, therefore deserves our attention JAGODA POROPAT DARRER Business Communications Professional

Feedback is essential in communication so as to know whether the recipient has understood the message in the same terms as intended by the sender and whether he agrees to that message or not. Business communication involves constant flow of information and feedback is integral part of business communication. There are various levels of hierarchy in an organization. Greater the number of levels, the more difficult is the job of managing the organization. Communication here plays a very important role in process of directing and controlling the people in the organization. Immediate feedback can be obtained and misunderstandings if any can be avoided. There should be effective communication between superiors and subordinated in an organization, between organization and society at large. It is essential for success and growth of an organization. Communication gaps should not occur in any organization (managementstudy guide.com). Before we talk about how to give positive feedback at work, we need to first understand what actually feedback in workplace environment exactly means. Feedback is a way of communicating ones observations about the behavior, attitude and performance of another person. It is a way to express ones desires and expectations to the other. It is also a system to initiate an interaction about how to improve the current situation, resolve problems, and enhance the performance of an organization and its

work force. Positive feedback not only improves the performance of the organization, its work force; but also helps the organization to grow. Providing regular positive feedback is essential. In an organization feedback is very important and plays a vital role in the overall success of the organization (educba.com). Giving feedback to your colleagues and employees provides them with an observer's insight into how their performance is progressing, as well as advice to solve any problems, and it is a real skill. Giving your audience a chance to provide feedback is crucial for maintaining an open communication climate (managementstudyguide.com). Pro-

communicates frequently with staff and leaves little room for ambiguity among the employees who report to him. Effective leaders also delegate responsibilities to their subordinates according to their employees' skill levels, attitude and interests. Giving a manager performance feedback on leadership, therefore, requires an introspective look at how the manager's employees interact with him, whether employees believe he's an effective leader and if his employees are capable of producing the quantity and quality of work required by business needs (entrepreneur. com). As Marcus Buckingham in Harvard Business Review stated

POSITIVE FEEDBACK NOT ONLY IMPROVES THE PERFORMANCE OF THE ORGANIZATION, ITS WORK FORCE; BUT ALSO HELPS THE ORGANIZATION TO GROW. PROVIDING REGULAR POSITIVE FEEDBACK IS ESSENTIAL viding a manager with feedback on his/her leadership skills may be difficult, based on the subjectivity of leadership skills and how they vary from one manager to another. One way to assess a manager's leadership skills is to measure the various functions that comprise leadership. For example, an effective leader

“We humans do not do well when someone whose intentions are unclear tells us where we stand, how good we “really” are, and what we must do to fix ourselves. We excel only when people who know us and care about us tell us what they experience and what they feel, and in particular when they see something within us

that really works.” Forbes columnist Victor Lipman offers some solutions how to communicate a candid but direct feedback. He says that most managers dislike conflict, and giving candid feedback, especially the negative kind, isn't easy either. He divides things into two areas: the operational side and mental side. Operational preparation consists in doing the right pre-work to help make the discussion a rational not emotional one. A conversation based on facts more than opinions. The key word here is metrics. Ideally, you want your main managerial points about an employee's performance to be as metrically based, or measurable as possible. The key here is going into any performance discussion with the right mindset. Namely, being thoroughly prepared and knowing the key points you want to make (both positive and negative but above all candid), in a fair, balanced and unemotional manner. Constructive, not scolding. It also can be helpful to try to anticipate in advance any employee pushback you might receive and any points that might be disputed, so you're ready to continue a calm, effective dialogue. “Again, you want to keep the review fact-based and avoid getting drawn into any "he said / she said" drama. Logic not emotion should carry the day. Remember, you're the "adult in the room," so to speak, you're management with data on your side. Performance reviews can easily become heated; after all, you're discussing a very personal subject (job performance), with real implications for compensation and possibly even future employment. You’ll never regret keeping your cool in a contentious meeting, but you will regret losing it.”

BUSINESS NEWS

Renault and Fiat Chrysler

Budvanska Rivijera

BEGINNING OF PRIVATIZATION

Restructuring with separation plus inception of a new company (probably called Sveti Stefan Hotels) and equal distribution of its shares is the suggested new privatization model for Budvanska Rivijera, providing the Montengrin Government and the Council for Privatization and Capital Projects agrees to it. If Budvanska Rivijera is

restructured through separation and inception of a new company, the existing relations between the creditors and Budvanska Rivijera will remain the same. Namely, even after the completed restructuring process the Budvanska Rivijera Hotel Group will still be the guarantor that the obligations towards the creditors will be settled.

Google

INVESTING 600 MILLION EURO IN FINLAND

Google said it planned to invest about 600 million euro in a new data center in Hamina, Finland. Google, which is owned by Alphabet Inc., already has a data center in Hamina, where it invested 800 million euro to convert an old paper mill. Paper firm Stora Enso sold the site, which is close to the Russian border, to Google in 2009. Google said the existing Hamina facility was one of its most advanced and efficient data centers. Its cooling system uses seawater from the Gulf of Finland to reduce energy use.

POLITICALLY SUPPORTED MERGER

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has proposed merging its business with Renault that, if accepted, would create the third largest global automaker with 8.7 million in annual vehicle sales. FCA delivered a non-binding letter to Renault’s board that proposes combining the business as a 50-50 merger. The combined companies would realize more than 5 billion euro in estimated annual run rate savings on top of the one stemming from Renault’s partnership with Nissan and Mitsubishi. Under the proposal, the combined businesses would be split equally between FCA and Renault shareholders. The board would be a combined entity of 11 members, FCA said. The majority would be independent. The merged brand portfolio of the two groups would be "broad and mutually complementary, would guarantee a full market coverage, from luxury to standard models," Fiat Chrysler says.

Jadrolinija

TRANSPORTED 12.3 MILLION PASSENGERS LAST YEAR

Podravka

REWARDS FOR WORKERS

Management of Podravka d.d. decided to reward its employees for the achieved excellent business results in the past year and exceeding the planned results this year. The reward will be paid to the employees in accordance with the

decision of the Managing Board in the net amount of 1,000 kuna. In 2018, Podravka achieved its business objectives, and further improved the material rights of its workers on which the company spent 30 million kuna.

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Last year was successful for the Jadrolinija, the national ferry company, as it increased its revenue and maintained its leading position in the Adriatic, which it also plans for this year. According to the company, in 2018, the company transported 12.3 million passengers and 3 million vehicles which is an increase of 1.2% in passenger numbers and 4.4% in the number of vehicles. Total company revenue grew by 3.2%, and expenditures fell by 3.2%. In 2018, collective bargaining was intensified that resulted in a 5% salary increase for the company’s workers. Jadrolinija also established cooperation with scientific institutions on the implementation of EU projects. As part of its modernization, the company has introduced a mobile application - mJadrolinija - facilitating ticket purchases. The application presents data of ferry schedules and information on ferry traffic. During the summer season, the company provides 600 departures a day and the most frequent routes provide a 24-hour service.

Alibaba

$13.6 BILLION REVENUE IN THE Q1 OF 2019 Alibaba reported strong earnings in the first quarter of 2019 thanks to steady growth in its core commerce and cloud business. The company reported $13.6 billion in revenue in the March quarter, beating analysts’ expectation. Revenue growth hit 51%, a sharp acceleration from last quarter’s growth rate of 41%. The revenue was up more than three-fold compared to the same period a year earlier. Revenue in the Hangzhou-based company's core e-commerce segment, which accounts for the vast majority of its business, jumped 54 percent, while the smaller but fast-growing cloud computing unit surged 76 percent. "Our cloud and data technology and tremendous traction in new retail have enabled us to continuously transform the way businesses operate in China and other emerging markets, which will contribute to our long-term growth," Chief Executive Officer Daniel Zhang said in the statement.

Petrokov

TAKES OVER SOME OF THE BUSINESS OF TERMAG D.O.O. FROM RIJEKA By doing so, Petrokov d.o.o. is expanding its business activities and at the same time, increasing the market share as well as the range of customers, suppliers and employees. PETROKOV d.o.o. took over of the part of the business related to the HVAC (heating and air conditioning) and black piping system. By taking over this part of the business, Termag's employees, who work with the aforementioned product range, will now be employed by Petrokov. For over a quarter of the century, Petrokov d.o.o. offers the best central heating, plumbing, gas and sanitary equipment and air conditioning of renowned Croatian and European manufacturers.

Sirela

OPENS NEW PLANT

JYSK

BEST YEAR YET

The international retail chain, JYSK generated a turnover of over 490 million kuna in Croatia last year, which is an 18.1 percent increase relative to the year before. YSK Country Manager for Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, Vesna Kukić Lončarić pointed out that 2018 was the best year so far for JYSK Croatia. The strong growth was recorded for the fourth year in a row and is the result of investments in employee training, she said. Turnover at JYSK Nordic increased by 10 percent and in 2018, it amounted to 16.1 billion kuna, while the number of customers grew by 6.7 million. These results, as the company says, made it possible for JYSK to further expand its operations to other European and global markets, the first of which was Russia's market. Last financial year, the company opened 82 new stores, and in early April, it opened its first store in Ireland where it plans to open another 15.

Dukat's director, Alen Fontana pointed out that the company has invested 500 billion kuna in the last 12 years. The company opened a modernized and expanded production Sirela plant in Bjelovar, valued at 43.5 million kuna. The opening was attended by the Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.

About half of the value of the investment in the new production line and the newly constructed warehouse for finished goods, totalling 22.3 million kuna, was provided by Dukat, while the grant from the budget of the European Agricultural Fund amounted to 18.16 million kuna and the state allocated 3.2 million kuna.

Porsche

MEDJIMURJE COMPANY TO BUILD THE MOST DEMANDING COMPONENTS

Cutting Edge Technologies d.o.o.m which has been operating successfully in the business incubator of the Technological Innovation Center in Međimurje (TICM) in Čakovec for five years now, was acquired by German CETITEC GmbH and thus changed its name to CETITEC Ltd. The company was initiated in 2014 by Bojan Kolmanić, a development engineer with a lot of experience in developing embedded software and electronic components for automotive industry. Kolmanić is also one of the co-founders of CET.

VA-VA-GROOM

In a First for Asia, Taiwan Legalises Gay Marriage But gay couples will not be entirely equal

Jubilant cheers erupted from tens of thousands of demonstrators packed in rainy streets surrounding Taiwan’s parliament, the Legislative Yuan, followed by more than a few tearful hugs. The news had just arrived that the lawmakers inside had voted to legalise gay marriage. Taiwan is the first country in Asia to do so, unless you count Australia and New Zealand. Lawmakers had been rushing to finalise the bill ahead of a deadline imposed by the constitutional court, the Council of Grand Justices. In 2017, the council ruled that barring same-sex couples from marrying violated their constitutional right to be treated equally and ordered the government to adopt legislation permitting samesex marriage within two years. The deadline was May 24th; the new law was approved on May 17th. Not all were convinced that the Legislative Yuan would meet the deadline. To put pressure on lawmakers, crowds of gay-rights activists and their supporters converged on the legislature as three bills on the subject were being debated. They waved rainbow placards that read, “The vote must pass. No concessions in negotiations” and “Not one country, two marriage systems”. In Asia, Taiwan has long stood out as a bastion of gay rights. The annual gay pride parade in Taipei, the capital, draws tens of thousands, many from overseas. In contrast, sex between men is punishable by death in Afghanistan. Brunei this year also put into effect a criminal code that prescribes execution by stoning for gay sex (although the country’s sultan says it will not be implemented). Gay sex only became legal in India in September, thanks to a court ruling. In mainland China, same-sex marriage is illegal and gay people are often regarded as deviants. Despite having dragged her feet about implementing the court ruling, Tsai Ing-wen, the president,

pointed to the new law as proof of the strength of Taiwan’s democracy. “Today is a proud day for Taiwan,” she declared. “We have let the world see our values of goodness and tolerance in our land.” Before she took office in 2016, Ms Tsai had declared herself a supporter of same-sex marriage. “In the face of love, everyone is equal,” she simpered. But in the face of a backlash from opponents of gay marriage, including Christian groups, she crumbled. On the defensive after adopting a controversial pension reform, and fearful of a pummelling in municipal

nicipal elections implied that voters were not enthusiastic. Opponents of gay marriage came up with two of the three bills that lawmakers debated this week. They would have accorded second-class status to gay marriage— in fact, they did not even use the word “marriage”, speaking instead about “same-sex unions” and “same-sex family relationships”. But Ms Tsai used the DPP’s majority to push through the most progressive bill. Even this bill does not give gay couples exactly the same rights as heterosexual ones. It does not al-

IN ASIA, TAIWAN HAS LONG STOOD OUT AS A BASTION OF GAY RIGHTS. THE ANNUAL GAY PRIDE PARADE IN TAIPEI, THE CAPITAL, DRAWS TENS OF THOUSANDS, MANY FROM OVERSEAS elections in 2018, she dropped gay marriage. Her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was pummelled anyway. In the end, the courts took the decision out of Ms Tsai’s hands. But she still hesitated to fulfill the Supreme Court’s ruling, in part because the results of referendums held at the same time as the mu-

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low gay couples to adopt children to whom they are not related. Nor does it permit marriages with foreigners, unless they come from countries that have also legalised gay marriage. And it contains a woolly clause that implies that gay marriages will not create legal ties with in-laws. That may cre-

ate problems for same-sex spouses who want to adopt their partner’s surname, for example, or argue that they should not be obliged to testify against their partner’s relatives in court. Despite these sops, conservatives are still angry. Sammy Yu, an opponent of gay marriage, points out that voters approved a referendum demanding that the civil code restrict the definition of marriage to a union involving a man and a woman. He says the new law is “really damaging to democracy”. But ignoring the Supreme Court would have been damaging too, and would not have achieved anything. It had ruled that, if parliament did not act, gay couples should be allowed to register their marriages with local authorities from May 24th anyway. By May 7th more than 250 gay couples had applied, according to the Ministry of Interior. Ms Tsai, meanwhile, has fallen back on platitudes. “We need to learn about understanding and coexistence,” she avers. From The Economist, published under licence. The original article, in English, can be found on www. economist.com

CORPORATE

Ayurveda – Ancient Knowledge in the Service of the Modern Age Resolve chronic health problems and aesthetic imperfections through completely natural methods

AYURVEDA – THE SCIENCE OF LIFE

The Sanskrit word 'ayurveda' is translated as 'science of life' or 'art of longevity'. This traditional way of treatment is becoming increasingly present in developed countries where both doctors and patients advocate it. Thanks to the pulse diagnosis method, it can help by giving a timely diagnosis of many unmanifested illnesses and can eliminate them with its preventive approach.

AYURVEDA BALANCE HEALTH CENTER

Ayurveda Balance Health Center is located in the very heart of Zagreb and assembles a group of experts on Ayurvedic and allopathic medicine, nutrition and yoga, whose comprehensive approach to health is based on years of experience and tailored to the individual needs of each customer. The center is the culmination of its owner, Tina Carić's life path, who has been engaged in Ayurveda for 20 years. The Center is a successor of the Ganesh Ayurvedic Center (2000-2015) and the New Earth Ayurvedic Clinic (2016 - 2018), which catered to thousands of customers who have been using Ayurvedic knowledge in everyday life to solve long-term health problems and prevent the emergence of new ones.

PANCHAKARMA AYURVEDIC DETOX

Ayurvedic detox, known as Panchakarma, intelligently utilizes the synergic power of numerous medicinal herbs used in nutrition,

supplements, or applied to the body, in order to completely purify the body from toxins. Panchakarma is a combination of a variety of therapies and treatments that deeply cleans body tissues and establishes the normal functioning of the body. The Panchakarma detoxification enhances the body's response to Ayurvedic herbal supplements and activates a natural, innate, self-healing mechanism in human beings. Healthy people should go through it 1-2 times a year for preventive purposes, while

could afford back in the day. Pizichilli is a gentle and coordinated body massage that is performed under a continuous flow of warm medicinal oil. Pizhichili activates diaphoresis, i.e. deep sweating. Through sweat, the body ejects harmful substances and thus cleans itself. It has been proven that Pizichilli secretes even heavy metals that are otherwise believed to be irretrievably deposited in the body. It also boosts immunity and resistance to disease. It helps in prolonging life as it preserves and

AYURVEDA HIGHLIGHTS THE PREVENTION OF DISEASES AND REJUVENATION OF THE BODY WITH THE HELP OF NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS, WHILE PAYING PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO NUTRITION AND A BALANCED LIFESTYLE ill people should use it as they need it. The Panchakarma process is the most important part of the Ayurvedic therapy plan in cases of acute and chronic illnesses. Panchakarma can be used to cure or keep under control numerous chronic problems such as blood pressure, sugar level, arthritis, chronic problems, nerve problems and others.

PIZICHILLI – ROYAL TREATMENT FOR ROYAL HEALTH

This is, by far, the most luxurious Ayurvedic treatment that is rightfully called 'royal'. In order to do it properly, the therapist uses at least 7 litres of the purest sesame oil, which only wealthy maharajas

improves the overall physical and mental health, and contributes to a better quality of life. Pizichilli reduces stress, anxiety and nervousness, relaxes the muscles, calms the mind and relieves. It helps the development of muscle and strengthens weakened muscles. Furthermore, it rejuvenates the skin and improves complexion.

AYURVEDA & WEIGHT LOSS

A body that suffers under excess weight is most likely to fall ill and experience health problems. Although sometimes it seems almost impossible to eliminate extra kilogrammes, the Ayurvedic approach to treating obesity is very simple. Ayurveda believes that

being overweight is not only due to increased food intake (calories) but also because of the wrong approach to the eating process itself. The Ayurveda Balance Health Center offers its customers an all-encompassing Panchakarma process which provides nutrition guidelines and lifestyle counselling, an Ayurvedic kitchen workshop, as well as a combination of supplements and treatments that will speed up the metabolism, reduce fat deposits, and naturally make the body leaner.

UDVARTHANA – THE HEALTHIEST WAY TO LOSE WEIGHT

The four-hands-peelingAyurvedic massage called Udvarthana is the best and healthiest way to lose weight and eliminate cellulite. Udvarthana stimulates the lymphatic system and circulation, and the specific movements that are being performed help break the fat deposits beneath the skin. This is one of the few treatments that have a dual effect - it relaxes while it also stimulates the body. The treatment is traditionally used in obesity, cellulite, poor circulation and similar disorders because it strengthens the muscle tone, revitalizes the body and replenishes its energy, removes stress, improves the complexion and helps with certain skin disorders. Ayurveda Balance Health Center 20, Preradovićeva Street HR - 10000 Zagreb +385 1 4638 993 www.ayurveda-balance.hr

INTERVIEW

Has Tito Finally Been Sussed Out? You knew nothing about Tito and what you thought you knew was mostly inaccurate. In the book titled "Tito’s Secret Empire," we give answers to questions about his career. Perhaps all the answers are not correct, but they are thoroughly investigated - says Denis Kuljiš, who wrote his second book on the enigma that is Tito DENIS KULJIŠ Writer and journalist

Once you start talking with Denis Kuljiš you cannot stop. And it seems that the talk about the former Yugoslav president, Josip Broz Tito never ceases, so much so that Kuljiš has written his second book, called “Tito’s Secret Empire” about him, in collaboration with his tragically deceased writing partner, William Klinger. We started our interview with Tito’s body of political work and later switched over to talking about his successors in the ex-Yugoslav republics. What new things about Tito are we going to find out from your new book that are not classified as conspiracy theories?

— The conspiracy theories, that were disseminated by the domestic journalistic feuilletonists, are based on the fact that nobody could even answer the basic questions about Tito. For example, where was he born and where did he grow up, how he got his nickname – the cryptonym Tito - when he was admitted to the Communist Party and what did he really do in his career until 1944 when he emerged publicly at the age of 52? All in all, nobody knew much about him, despite numerous biographies written about the man. Probably the best books on Tito – Dedijer’s ”Tito speaks: His self-portrait and struggle with Stalin”, published in 1953, the year when Stalin died, and ”The Heretic: The life and times of Josip

Broz-Tito” from 1957 - are fantastically written while their writers knew the character that was Tito and participated in his profiling. But these were literary pamphlets designed to create desirable perceptions with the global public. Subsequent biographers took this data and re-told and expanded the story, more or less. There was no new research whatsoever, except for Dedijer's "New Contributions to the Biography of Josip Broz Tito". This is a thick compendium, or rather a mishmash from 1980, that was attacked by all the media outlets close to the regime, although it was not a biographical synthesis, but rather an extensive bulk material.

they were fictionalized which, in turn, created a conjuncture for the journalistic feuilletonists, various idlers from the capital city, the people who tried to make history by writing fake autobiographies, and the like. The academic community completely fell short. The only valuable discoveries were those by journalistic publicists like Milomir Marić ("Children of Communism") and Pera Simić (countless books), though these were not historiographies, but live sensational pieces from that era. Professor Jože Pirjevec from Trieste scrupulously compiled the sources for his book "Tito and Comrades", which was quite popular among

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A DEBATE ABOUT THE CREATION OF BOSNIA TAKE PLACE AND I WOULD GLADLY PARTICIPATE IN IT – NOT AS A CROAT, BUT AS AN EX-YUGOSLAV However, by then, Tito had become a saint and we all know too well what kind of reactions one would get if they published a book called “Saint Franjo through the eyes of psychiatrists and his real relationship with Saint Klara”. While Tito was alive, the regime kept his secrets while superpowers created a programmed perception of him because they deemed him as an important instrument of international policy. When everything collapsed – both the Yugoslav state and communism – the time came to answer all the questions but there were no materials to provide the answers so

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readers, but he didn’t write anything new in it, apart from stating his original idea of the alleged super-importance of Tito’s deputy from Slovenia, Edvard Kardelj, who was actually a pencil pusher and unevolved teacher. The book that we had been writing for six years, and that is now finally released after the earlier one "Tito: Untold Stories" from 2013, which contained undiscovered material with commentary, provides answers to all the questions concerning his career. I am not saying that all of it is true, but it had been meticulously researched from the various sourc-

es with the bibliographic body of work that contains around 1,000 footnotes and a critical overview of the sources spread over 150 typed pages. In short, everything you did not know about Tito and what you thought you knew about him was wrong for the most part. William Klinger, the book’s co-author, was killed in New York City at the age of 42. What exactly happened because there have been various speculations about his murder?

— My friend William Klinger, a young historian from Rijeka who possessed multicultural identities and knowledge and studied in Trieste, Klagenfurt, Budapest and Florence, lived in the provincial town of Gradisca di Isonzo and worked as a freelance historian in Rovinj's Centro di Ricerche Storiche. Despite his youth, he was one of the most quoted authors in scientific databases. At the age of 42, he decided to go to America and give a lecture there, on invitation of his collegue, an interpreter, whom he met at the Dante Alighieri High School in Rijeka. This colleague had promised to sell his apartment in Queens, New York, to William, and then killed him and took his money. The highly decorated New York detectives were swift to react, the killer was arrested in 48 hours after the murder and following three years of the trial, he was sentenced to life imprisonment, with the right to seek parole only after spending 25 years in prison. In conclusion, the judge said that “he robbed his victim of the American dream.”

You are perceived as one of the best experts on political relations in the region. Shall we start with Serbia? What is the biggest mistake that Vučić and the Serbian opposition have made?

— Mr Vučić inherited a state ruled by predatory elites created during Milošević’s era. His general direction of action is correct – focusing on Serbia becoming an EU member, establishing an entrepreneurial, liberal economy, and creating a new Serbia – Serbia 2.0., if you will – that could live beyond its mythomaniacs and cargo cults. One would think that this is very difficult but not impossible to conceive, but, in actuality, it is - Belgrade was and is a European metropolis, and the Serbs, the Serbian elite, are actually Westerners, while the future of their country is in the West. Serbia is not in Kosovo but in Belgrade. Modalities, or rather political means to achieve these goals, are a different ball game. This is what the opposition is focusing on and judging by street protests, is something that people reject. The people’s dissatisfaction, that the opposition has failed to properly direct, is a very bad thing, both in Serbia and in France. Historically speaking, the Serbian opposition fell short again in failing to accept a liberal project and instead has been focusing only on bringing down what they perceive as unworthy leadership. What is your view of the current power struggle on the Croatian political scene?

— Back in the day, Ivo Sanader “deTudjman-ized” the biggest political party – the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ, abbreviated in Croatian) and created an opportunity for a European future. However, his government broke down due to endless kleptocracy which was a transnational, middle-European, “joint criminal endeavour”. Milanović’s left government then

proceeded to destroy the Croatian economy, while Karamarko’s right government destroyed the society and hence the state. Plenković is now rebuilding the state and trying to “de-HDZ-ize” HDZ, but, by the same token, he is also “re-Tudjman-izing” it, putting himself in the position of the omnipotent chancellor. This does bring stability, but it also pools all the flaws of the previous three governments.

but not Bosnia. On the contrary, he was against the “ethnicization” of this composite state (which he advocated in Dayton as the main building principle). I share his views on this. Bosnia should be transformed into a federation, with one parliament, one prime minister and one state president (who would hold only a ceremonial role), but also with a Senate (the current Council of Nations) where

IN CROATIA, THE STATE HAS MANAGED TO IMPLEMENT A JUDICIAL TERROR, IN SERBIA IT USES OTHER MEANS, AND IN SLOVENIA, IT RELIES ON PROVINCIAL SELF-CENSORSHIP WHILE IN BOSNIA, FOREIGN EMBASSIES RUN RAMPANT IN THE MEDIA Is Bosnia and Herzegovina a sustainable union after all, or should it fall apart as Yugoslavia or collapse like Iraq, as Peter Galbraith claims in his book “The End of Iraq”?

— I’ve known Peter for many years and I even made an hour-long documentary about him in which we tried to sum up his entire career and not only the years he spent in the Zagreb and Balkan adventures. Galbraith was a US ambassador both in Croatia and Bosnia and is actually a diplomat appointed by the US administration for the territory of the ex-Yugoslavia. Together with his friend, Richard Holbrooke, he managed to bring peace here and create the Dayton Agreement. He was also in favour of both Iraq and Yugoslavia being divided,

the Senate members would be chosen from real, municipal election units. Is this possible? I couldn’t tell you. I would like to see a debate about this topic and I would gladly participate in it – not as a Croat, mind you, but as an ex-Yugoslav who feels he has a certain debt to pay to the unfinished business of democratic transformation. You spent your whole adult life in the media. What is your view of the media scene in Serbia and Croatia today?

— They have never been stronger, right? So many TV stations, mobile platforms for sporting, entertainment and news content, portals, the whole lot… A lot of money is being spent on that but most of it the money earned goes to big

corporations, just like everywhere else in the world. I would be perfectly happy with this progress if we could somehow stop the state from meddle into media so much. The state meddles both as a ruling authority and as a judge. In Croatia, it has managed to implement judicial terror, in Serbia, it uses other means, and in Slovenia, it relies on provincial self-censorship. In Bosnia, foreign embassies run rampant in the media because they are the real power there. Journalistic profession is in jeopardy, but then again, it always has been. You are also an expert on airline scene. What do you think of the changes in that segment in the region? What do you think of Air Serbia, in the context of its sixyear-long business ‘marriage’ with Etihad, Air Croatia, the new airport in Zagreb, Vinci taking over Belgrade airport, the Serbian government now running the airport in Niš and such?

— In collaboration with Etihad, Air Serbia has managed to substantially increase traffic at Belgrade airport and thus regain its dominant position in the region. However, Etihad is not doing so well, particularly when it comes to its expansion format in Europe. Croatia Airlines has to find a strategic partner in order to prevent a complete collapse, and the transfer of concession of the airport to the European consortia is a bad thing. We should have picked a Korean or an American partner that had also competed. But once you enter the immediate European orbit, your hands are bound. Large German and French companies are a disaster for aviation. We should now do business with the Poles, and you should do it with the Hungarians. As for Niš Airport, I really don’t know what to tell you. I would not give airports to cities to run. They are always seen as a job opportunity rather than a development chance.

EUROPEAN CRISES ARE THE ONLY WORTHWHILE THING IN EUROPE This year, we are marking centenary of the Paris Peace Conference, 80 years since the beginning of the Second World War and 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. What do you think, in which direction is Europe heading? — Europe is being re-feudalized. They succeeded in getting rid of the British, the EU's best country, while ethatism now dominates over liberalism, and is accompanied by left-wing and leftist populism, which, at its margins, is trans-

forming itself into neo-Communist fascism, that is, right-wing pro-Russian Nazism. I would say that, ideologically speaking, this is not such a major problem, but that the biggest problem lies in the sclerotic economy, which cannot function because of the double terror from the Brussels bureaucratic regulation and the oligopolistic collision of large European corporations which are very successful and which are, actually, keeping Europe alive. If you lack medium-sized capitalists, well, at least you have

the big ones. In fact, what is most worrying is the composition and average values of the European governments. It’s been a long time since we witnessed such mediocrity. Countries are run by former teachers, third-grade pencil pushers from regional governments, and nerds devoid of charisma. Incompetent governments lead to economic crises, but as my friend, an economist, says, European crises are the only good thing in Europe at the moment, as they are a sort of a stress test for their institutions.

CULTURE NEWS

Jeff Koons' Sculpture Sold for $91 Million A silver bunny just set an art world record. The sculpture called Rabbit, made by the controversial artist Jeff Koons, sold for more than $91 million at Christie's Auction House — the most for work by a living artist at auction. Robert Mnuchin, an art

dealer and the father of the Treasury secretary, had the winning bid on behalf of a client. The rabbit sculpture is the most expensive work by a living artist ever to sell at auction, breaking the previous record that was set just 6 months ago

by David Hockney’s “Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)” which sold for $90.3 million. Koons reclaimed the record which he held when “Balloon Dog (Orange)” sculpture went for $58.4 million in 2013.

Man Booker Goes to Female Arab Writer for the First Time Ever

HT Contemporary Art Awards Ceremony Becoming the first Arabic author to win the Man Booker International Prize—and the first Omani woman to have a novel translated into English—Jokha Alharthi has become, with translator Marilyn Booth, the winner of the 2019 honour at the ceremony at London’s Roundhouse. The book tells the story of three sisters who witness the slow pace of development in Omani society during the 20th century. „This is a great honor. I would like to thank the judges, Marilyn on a beautiful translation, publishers and, finally, my family. Thank you to all my sisters, brothers and friends who supported me during my work of the novel,“ Alharthi said.

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286 young artists submitted their work at the 12th contest for the Croatian Contemporary Art Awards. Although, 34 pieces of artwork were showcased in an exhibition, only four received awards - Damir Oko, Andreja Kulunčić, Sven Klobučar and Nives Žarković. The first prize, worth 75,000 kuna, went to Damir Oko for the video clip 'DICTA II (safewords)'. The award was given to him at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MSU) in Zagreb. The second prize, worth 45,000 kuna, was given to Andreja Kulunčić for her piece 'ART-ACTBOX: Performance of the Exhibition', while the third prize of 40,000 kuna went to Sven Klobučar for the series of coloured drawings called 'The Deceased'.

Cannes Film Festival Ends Bong Joon Ho became the first South Korean director to win the Golden Palm in Cannes for directing the movie 'Parasite', a black comedy that deals with classical issues in modern-day Korea. The second prize, the Grand Prix, was given to the film "Atlantique", directed by 37-yearold French director of the Senegalese origin, Mati Diop. Belgian filmmakers, brothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, won the award for the movie "Young Ahmed", a story about a radicalized adolescent. Antonio Banderas and Emily Beecham won awards for the Best Male and Female Role.

American Writer Herman Monet’s ‘Meules’ Painting Sells for Record Wouk Dies at the Age of 103 $110.7 Million

Claude Monet’s famous “Meules” painting sold for $110.7 million. According to Sotheby’s, that’s a world record for any impressionist painting. “New world auction record for Claude Monet and for any work of Impressionist Art. An undisputed masterpiece from his acclaimed Haystacks Series, ‘Meules’ from 1890, sells for $110.7 million at Sotheby’s New York,” Sotheby’s said. In his haystack series, with Meules, Monet started to explore “varying effects of light and atmosphere on a single subject over the course of time,” said Brooke Lampley, vice chairman of Sotheby’s fine art division.Monet, the founding father of the French impressionism, died in 1936, age 86.

Author Herman Wouk, whose World War Two experiences provided the foundation of his bestseller “The Caine Mutiny” and two epic novels about the war, died on Friday at the age of 103, his literary agent said. Wouk, whose “War and Remembrance” and “The Winds of War” were turned into popular television miniseries in the 1980s, died in his sleep at his home in Palm Springs, California, Amy Rennert said. He died 10 days before what would have been his 104th birthday, Rennert said. Wouk was 100 years old when his final book “Sailor and Fiddler,” a memoir about his career as a writer and his Jewish faith, was published in December 2015.

The Galbiani Palace in Sibenik restored In the centre of the old town of Šibenik, the medieval Galbiani Palace has been restored and converted into a cathedral museum, in St. James's Cathedral Interpretation Center. Historical facts and curiosities related to the construction and life of this valuable UNESCO-protected monument are also told with the help of modern technology. It took 32 months for the ruined palace to become an Interpretation Center. A project worth 36 million kuna will additionally revive the square in the historic core, known for heritage hotels. A multimedia center with a museum display, a souvenir shop and a restaurant with a terrace on the top floor stretches across 5 floors. The new Interpretation Center is a new addition to Šibenik's tourist offer. The Center is also fulfills the special goal of the entire project which is preserving the status of the UNESCO-protected cultural heritage.

CORPORATE

MÖBEL LAND

Renowned International Brands in One Place Interior decoration showroom Möbel Land is located on two floors and 6000 square meters inside the Westgate Shopping City Ambient with a modern design exudes elegance and exhibits the best pieces from collections of renowned global brands, some of which are available in Croatia for the first time, and they can all be found in one place from now on – at the Möbel Land showroom. Among them is the Danish Umage, a brand known for its flawlessly designed lighting fixtures, and Austrian Ewe kitchens whose over 50 years of experience and tradition and a filigree precision of craftsmanship are the best guarantee for quality. Italian Loiudice&D brand specializes in high-quality handmade sofas, while attractiveness, individuality and innovation are the main assets of the cult furniture brand of the Dutch company Richmond Interiors. If you are in search for furniture with character, there is the Italian Selva brand, which has offered timeless beauty, elegance and sophistication for over 50 years. Austrian Hefel is one of the world's most successful and most innovative textile manufacturers, i.e. manufacturer of equipment

for quality and healthy sleeping, and they come to Möbel Land with an offer of top quality pillows and duvets. Vossen towels merely complete the wide range of textile products offered at Möbel Land.

leather, the name of Italian Camel Group brand is known ever since 1983, and Italian Samoa specializes in the making of exceptional sofas and beds. Among the hopes of Möbel Land is the German Himolla,

WE PLAN TO OPEN BRANCHES ACROSS CROATIA, IN RIJEKA AND SPLIT, IN SLOVENIA AND AUSTRIA, AS WELL AS IN COUNTRIES OF SOUTHEAST EUROPE Also, the newly-opened first branch of Möbel Land brand will provide an exclusive offer of models from ADA Company, the biggest Austrian furniture manufacturer, as well as the models from Hülsta – the most famous German furniture brand. In the world of bedrooms, living rooms and furniture made of top quality

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manufacturer of exclusive living room sets that exists for over 70 years. The Nobillia brand, also a company with several decades of tradition, is the symbol of European-quality kitchens. German company Schüller is one of the leading kitchen manufacturers in Europe, and the German brand Fissler – one of the

leading global manufacturers of high-quality cookware, without which supreme quality cooking cannot be imagined, will fit perfectly with Schüller. Timeless elegance, innovative design and exceptional quality – this is what the name of German, European and global brand Villeroy & Boch stands for ever since 1748, and the exclusive models from their Vivo line are available at Möbel Land. Of course, with the flawless Rosenthal, a brand with experience gathered over 130 years which is an icon in the manufacture of perfect china. Möbel Land, a land of luxury furniture, is a joint venture of Croatian and German capital, knowhow and years of experience. This investment came from the buyers’ needs for quality and renowned brands, some of which are now for the first time available in Croatia, exclusively at Möbel Land. We plan to open branches across Croatia, in Rijeka and Split, in Slovenia and Austria, as well as in countries of Southeast Europe. More information on website: www.mobel-land.hr