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1 Croatia: basic facts Croatia has 21 counties. See below. I COUNTY OF ZAGREB XII COUNTY OF SL. BROD-POSAVINA

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Croatia: basic facts

Croatia has 21 counties. See below.

I COUNTY OF ZAGREB XII COUNTY OF SL. BROD-POSAVINA

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II COUNTY OF KRAPINA-ZAGORJE XIII COUNTY OF ZADAR

III COUNTY OF SISAK-MOSLAVINA XIV COUNTY OF OF OSIJEK-BARANJA

IV COUNTY OF KARLOVAC XV COUNTY OF ŠIBENIK-KNIN

V COUNTY OF VARAŽDIN XVI COUNTY OF VUKOVAR-SIRMIUM

VI COUNTY OF KOPRIVNICA-KRIŽEVCI XVII COUNTY OF SPLIT-DALMATIA

VII COUNTY OF BJELOVAR-BILOGORA XVIII COUNTY OF ISTRIA

VIII COUNTY OF PRIMORJE-GORSKI KOTAR XIX COUNTY OF DUBROVNIK-NERETVA

IX COUNTY OF LIKA-SENJ XX COUNTY OF MEĐIMURJE

X COUNTY OF VIROVITICA-PODRAVINA CITY OF ZAGREB

XI COUNTY OF POŽEGA-SLAVONIA

Larger cities in Croatia

1 ZAGREB 6 OSIJEK 11 SPLIT

2 DUBROVNIK 7 PULA 12 ŠIBENIK

3 GOSPIĆ 8 RIJEKA 13 VARAŽDIN

4 KARLOVAC 9 SISAK 14 VUKOVAR

5 KOPRIVNICA 10 SLAVONSKI BROD 15 ZADAR

National parks

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1 KORNATI 5 MLJET

2 PLITVIČKA JEZERA 6 RISNJAK

3 KRKA 7 BRIJUNI

4 PAKLENICA 8 VELEBIT

Traffic routes

State emlems

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Flag:

The flag of the Republic of Croatia consists of three bands of colour: red,

white and blue, with the Croatian Coat of arms in the centre. The length is

twice the width. It's colours are laid horizontally in the order red, white,

blue.

Each colour fills one third of the width of the flag. The Croatian Coat of arms

is placed in the centre of the flag, at the point where the diagonals cross.

During the Croatian national renaissance, the traditional Ilirian jacket was

made in three colours - red, white and blue, with the same three colours

forming the main part of the uniform of Viceroy Josip Jelačić at his official

inauguration in 1848.

The tri-coloured flag has been kept from those days with the order of red,

white, blue. The flag symbolises the wish of the Croatian revivers for the

uniting of Croatian lands.

Coat of arms:

The Coat of arms of the Republic of Croatia is a historical Croatian coat of

arms in the shape of a shield. The chequered pattern has twenty five

alternating red and white (silver) fields, so that the top left field is red.

Above the shield is a crown divided into five smaller shields with historical

coats of arms in the following order, left to right: the oldest known Croatian

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coat of arms, then the coats of arms of the Dubrovnik Republic, Dalmatia,

Istria and Slavonia. The height of the smaller fields in the crown is 2.5 times

smaller than the height of the fields in the main shield, whilst the width of

the fields is the same.

The oldest known Croatian Coat of arms has a yellow (golden) six

pointed star and a white (silver) moon on a blue shield.

The Coat of arms of the Dubrovnik Republic consists of two red beams

on a navy blue shield.

The Dalmatian Coat of arms consists of three yellow (golden) crowned

leopard heads on a blue shield.

The Istrian Coat of arms consists of a yellow (golden) goat facing left with

red hoofs and horns, on a navy blue shield.

The Slavonian Coat of arms consists of two horizontal white (silver)

beams on a blue shield and a red field between the beams with a marten in

motion facing left. There is a yellow (golden) six pointed star in the upper

blue field.

The entire coat of arms is trimmed by a red line.

The Croatian Coat of arms was shown for the first time on a genealogy of

the Habsburgs around 1512/1518. It is believed that this coat of arms

appeared even earlier. It is also found on a remembrance thaler from 1525

and in the official seal of the Croatian Parliament elected in Cetin, from 1

January 1527 when Ferdinand I was elected King of Croatia.

National anthem:

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The National anthem of the Republic of Croatia is "Our Beautiful

Homeland". It was written by Antun Mihanović. It was printed for the first

time as "Croatian Homeland" in the 'Danica' newspaper in 1835. Under the

name "Our Beautiful" it became the Croatian anthem. A cadet named Josip

Runjanin set Mihanović's lyrics to music, with V. Lichtenegger noting and

harmonising the piece in 1891.

In 1891, during the exhibition of the Croatian-Slavonian Economic

Association in Zagreb, it was sung for the first time as the Croatian anthem

under the title "Our Beautiful".

Our Beautiful Homeland

Our beautiful homeland,

O so fearless and gracious.

Our fathers' ancient glory,

May you be blessed forever.

Dear, you are our only glory,

Dear, you are our only one,

Dear, we love your plains,

Dear, we love your mountains.

Sava, Drava, keep on flowing,

Danube, do not lose your vigour,

Deep blue sea, tell the world,

That a Croat loves his homeland.

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Whilst his fields are kissed by sunshine,

Whilst his oaks are whipped by wild winds,

Whilst his dear ones go to heaven,

Whilst his live heart beats.

A short history of the Croatian national anthem

The song "Our Beautiful Homeland" was written in the late 40s of the 19th

century. The actual year of origin has never been determined but 1848 has

been frequently mentioned in this context. The author of music has not

been indisputably determined although the late 19th century tradition

suggests that it might have been the music amateur Josip Runjanin (1821 -

1878). At the time when the song was supposedly written he served as a

cadet in the 10th border infantry regiment in Glina, which is commonly

designated as the place of origin.

The song was composed to the verses of "Horvatska domovina" (Croatian

Homeland) by Antun Mihanović (1796 - 1861), a predecessor and

contemporary of the Croatian national and literary reformation movement,

which was published in 1835 in the tenth issue of the literary paper

"Danica". The poem has 14 stanzas, but the melody contains only two of

them thus belonging to the form structured on the model of a small two-

part song, which contains sixteen bars (a a1 b a1). Such a melody normally

included singing of the first and second as well as the penultimate and

ultimate stanzas of the poem.

It has not been known what was the original form of the melody because

the first copy has not been recovered to this day. The melody has been

identified according to the record allegedly jotted down by the music

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educator Vatroslav Lichtenegger in 1861 and based on the singing of his

students, trainee teachers. He "set the melody to music according to

trainees' singing" (F.Ks.Kuhač). Lichtenegger harmonised the melody and

arranged it for men's four-part singing. In 1862 the song was published in

"Sbirka različitih četveropjevah mužkoga zbora" - svezak II, broj 9 ("A

Collection of Various Four-Part Songs for Men's Choir" - volume II, no. 9) of

the National State Music Institute in Zagreb. Subsequently, it was published

in some other collections of the same type under the title of "Hrvatska

Domovina" (Croatian Homeland). The title "Liepa naša" (Our Beautiful) was

mentioned for the first time in 1864 in the collection of "various four-part

songs published by the Music Society of Zagreb Spiritual Youth". The

subsequent issues featured both titles, but in the late 19th century the title

of the song became the first line of "Lijepa naša domovino" (Our Beautiful

Homeland), which has been retained to this day.

A few decades later Lichtenegger's harmonisation was followed by other

harmonisations, arrangements for men's, women's, children's and mixed

choirs, piano and organ, tamburitza and brass bands as well as symphony

orchestra.

The text of the poem has undergone certain changes. The first stanza words

"domovino" and "djedovino" have been changed to "domovina" and

"djedovina", "junačka" used to be replaced with "hrvatska", "vazda" with

"svagda" and "čestna" with "častna", "časna" and "sretna". Even the fourth

line has been rendered poetically to "Daj, o Bože, sretna bila". Some major

changes have been implemented in the penultimate and ultimate stanzas -

"Drava" was inserted in the first line of the penultimate stanza, "Sava"

stopped being "swift" ("hitra") whereas "Dunaj" became "Dunav". The word

"Drina" was inserted into the first line during the Second World War and

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there were several attempts at inserting "sea" ("more") into the poem,

which actually does not exist in the original.

Until the late 19th century the song belonged to the group of songs

performed at various national ceremonies, so F. Ks. Kuhač mentioned it in

1889 as one of national anthems (Mnogaja ljeta, Carevka/Kraljevka, Još

Hrvatska nij' propala, Mi smo, braćo ilirskog, Bože živi). Subsequently, it

was performed quite frequently and denoted as the national anthem. So, in

1907 the Association of Croatian Singing Clubs submitted to the Croatian

Parliament a petition "regarding the enactment, i.e. official proclamation,

which would introduce the song 'Our Beautiful Homeland' as the Croatian

national anthem". The Parliament did not issue any declaration regarding

the petition.

Nevertheless, the song was officially considered the Croatian national

anthem and performed at ceremonies after the song Carevka. It was

performed on various occasions - in the Croatian Parliament on 29th

October 1918 when Croatia solved legislative relations with Hungary and

Austria, in the period between the two wars when the first part of the

anthem was included in the unofficial national anthem of the time, during

the Second World War on the warring sides and in the period succeeding

the War (after Hej, Slaveni). It was officially proclaimed the Croatian

national anthem in the subsection 4 of the first constitutional amendment

of 29th February 1972 and the formulation used was as follows: "The

national anthem of the Socialist Republic of Croatia (...), 'Our Beautiful

Homeland' ". The given formulation was literally written in the Constitution

of the Socialist Republic of Croatia in 1974. The status and function of the

Croatian national anthem was further established in the Constitution of the

Republic of Croatia in 1990. The official lyrics of the anthem have been cited

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in the Article 16 of the Law on the Coat of Arms, the Flag and the National

Anthem of the Republic of Croatia, and the Article 17 of the same law brings

the score. Thereby both constituent parts of the anthem were established

and defined as obligatory components.

Currency: kuna – lipa

History of the Croatian kuna

Back in the Roman times, in provinces of upper and lower Pannonia (today

Hungary and Slavonia) taxes were collected in the then highly valued

marten skins. Hence the Croatian word 'marturina' or tax, derived from

Latin word 'martus' (Croatian: 'kuna'). In the Middle Ages many foreign

monies were used in Croatia, but since at least 1018 a home currency was

in use. Between 1260 and 1380 the Croatian Viceroys were making a

marten-adorned silver coin. However, the diminishing autonomy of Croatia

within the Croatia-Hungarian Kingdom led to gradual disappearance of that

currency.

The marten currency, Kuna, reappeared in 1939 when the Banate Croatia,

established within the Yugoslav Monarchy, considered issuing its own

money. Kuna was launched in 1941 by the Croatian collaborationist

government, abolished with the end of World War II.

Finally, following Croatia's declaration of independence in 1991, Kuna

currency was introduced as of 30 May 1994.

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Description of kuna banknotes

5 kuna

Motif: Obverse: Portrait of the Croatian Duke Fran Krsto Frankopan (1643-

1671) and the Croatian Ban Petar Zrinski (1621-1671); Croatian aristocrats

and leaders of the movement for emancipation from Vienna

Reverse: Keep of Varaždin Castle (12th-16th) century, built within the

fortification along the border of Vojna krajina (Military Border). Also a

ground plan of the Castle

10 kuna

Motif: Obverse: Portrait of JURAJ DOBRILA (1812-1882), Bishop of Poreč

and Trieste, promoter of the Croatian Revival Movement in Istria

Reverse: Arena in Pula, Istria (1st century), one of the six still preserved

Roman amphitheaters and a ground plan of the small city Motovun in Istria

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20 kuna

Motif: Obverse: Portrait of the Croatian Ban and general Josip Jelačić (1801-

1859). He abolished serfdom and defended Croatian autonomy.

Reverse: Motif of the castle of Count Eltz in Vukovar and the motif of the

dove of Vucedol, an eneolithic ceramic cult vessel in the form of a bird (3rd

century b.C.)

50 kuna

Motif: Obverse: Portrait of Ivan Gundulić (1589-1638), the greatest poet of

the Croatian Renaissance literature, author of the ode to independence of

the Dubrovnik Republic "Oh, beautiful, oh dear, oh sweet freedom!"

Reverse: Motif of the old center of the city of Dubrovnik, until 1808 the

capital of the independent Republic, today on the UNESCO's World Heritage

List. At the bottom is the front elevation of the Prince's Palace, a building of

the 15th century.

100 kuna

Motif: Obverse: Portrait of Ivan Mažuranić (1814-1890), Croatian Ban and

poet, who declared Croatian language official and imposed obligatory

education. Furter, there is a fragment of the Baška Inscription from the

Convent of St. Lucy in Baška on the island of Krk.

Reverse: Motif and a ground plan of the church of St. Vid in Rijeka, patron of

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the city. The church is typical for its octagon ground plan

(early 17th century)

200 kuna

Motif: Obverse: Portrait of Stjepan Radić (1871-1928), a charismatic

Croatian political leader between the two world wars, who was

assassinated 1928 in the Yugoslav parliament for acting against the Great-

Serbian hegemony

Reverse: Motif of the building of the general headquarters in Osijek, the

command for borders of Vojna krajina, as well as the ground plan of the old

fortress in Osijek

500 kuna

Motif: Obverse: Portrait of Marko Marulić (1450-1524), writer and

humanist, the father of Croatian literature. In 1501 he wrote the first

Croatian epic "Judita".

Reverse: Motif of Diocletian's Palace, Split, a late Roman building from the

3rd century, also on the UNSECO's World Heritage List. Today it is a heart of

the Dalmatia's capital and the second largest Croatian town Split.

Furthermore, there is the figure of a Croatian ruler from the 11th century.

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1000 kuna

Motif: Obverse: Portrait of Ante Stračević (1823-1896), a politician and the

foremost advocate of his time for the idea of the Croatian nation.

Reverse: Monument to the first Croatian king Tomislav (925) and a motif of

the front elevation of Zagreb's cathedral of St. Stephan, which has been

renewed in neo-gothic style after a strong earthquake in 1880 on

foundations of the first cathedral from 1217.

Political structure

Respecting the will of the Croatian nation and all its citizens, resolutely

expressed in free elections, the Republic of Croatia is formed and is

developing as a sovereign and democratic state in which the equality,

freedoms and rights of man and citizen are guaranteed and ensured, and

their economic and cultural progress, and social welfare promoted.

Freedom, equal rights, national and gender equality, love of peace, social

justice, respect of human rights, inviolability of ownership, conservation of

nature and the human environment, the rule of law and a democratic

multiparty system are the highest values of the constitutional order of the

Republic of Croatia and form the basis for interpreting the Constitution.

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The Republic of Croatia is a unitary, indivisible, democratic and social state.

Power in the Republic of Croatia derives from the people and belongs to the

people as a community of free and equal citizens.

Separation of powers

Government in the Republic of Croatia is organised on the principle of the

separation of powers into:

legislative,

executive and

judicial.

The principle of the separation of power includes levels of mutual co-

operation and reciprocal control of the holder of power prescribed by the

Constitution and law.

In the Republic of Croatia, laws must conform with the Constitution, whilst

other rules and regulations must conform with the Constitution and law.

Everyone must abide by the Constitution and law, and respect the legal

order of the Republic of Croatia.

Legislative power

The Croatian Parliament (Sabor) is the body of elected representatives of

the people and is vested with the legislative power in the Republic of

Croatia.

The Parliament also performs the function of control over the executive

power.

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Representatives in the Croatian Parliament are elected for a term of four

years.

The Croatian Parliament can have no less than 100 and no more than 160

representatives, elected on the basis of direct universal and equal suffrage

by secret ballot. The Croatian Parliament currently has 151 representatives.

Elections for representatives in the Croatian Parliament are held not later

than 60 days after the expiry of a mandate or the dissolution of the Croatian

Parliament. The Croatian Parliament is a one house Parliament, with the

Chamber of Counties ceasing to exist on 28 March 2002.

The Croatian Parliament has a President and one or more Vice-Presidents.

The Croatian Parliament decides on the enactment and amendment of the

Constitution, passes laws, adopts the state budget, decides on war and

peace, passes acts which expresses the politics of the Croatian Parliament,

decides on the strategy of national security and the strategy of Defence for

the Republic of Croatia, carries out civil control of the armed forces and

security services of the Republic of Croatia, calls referendums, carries out

elections, appointments and relief of office in conformity with the

Constitution and law, supervises the work of the Government of the

Republic of Croatia and other holders of public powers responsible to the

Croatian Parliament in conformity with the Constitution and law, grants

amnesty for penal offences and conducts other affairs as specified by the

Constitution.

Executive power

1. The President of the Republic of Croatia

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The President of the Republic of Croatia presents and represents the

Republic of Croatia at home and abroad.

The President of the Republic cares for the regular and conformed

operation, and stability of state power.

The President of the Republic is responsible for the defence of the

independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Croatia.

The President of the Republic is elected on the basis of direct universal and

equal suffrage by secret ballot for a term of five years.

Nobody can be elected President of the Republic more than two times.

2. The Government of the Republic of Croatia

The Government of the Republic of Croatia exercises executive power in

conformity with the Constitution and law, with the organisation, operation

and decision making regulated by the Law on the Government of the

Republic of Croatia and its rule of procedures.

The Government of the Republic of Croatia: proposes laws and other acts to

the Croatian Parliament, proposes the state budget and final account,

implements laws and other decisions of the Croatian Parliament, passes

regulations for the implementation of laws, conducts foreign and internal

politics, directs and controls the work of state administration, works on the

economic growth of the country, directs the activities and expansion of

public services, conducts other affairs as specified by the Constitution and

law.

The Government is responsible to the Croatian Parliament.

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The Government shall consist of the Prime Minister, one or more Deputy

Prime Ministers and Ministers.

Pursuant to the decision of the Croatian Sabor which expressed confidence

in the Government of the Republic of Croatia, the President of the Republic

shall issue an order appointing the Prime Minister, counter-signed by the

Chairman of the Croatian Sabor; the order appointing the members of the

Government shall be issued by the Prime Minister and counter-signed by

the Chairman of the Croatian Sabor.

Judicial power (Constitutional, Supreme and other courts)

Judicial power is exercised by courts.

Judicial power is autonomous and independent.

Courts administer justice on the basis of the Constitution and law.

The Supreme Court of the Republic of Croatia, as the highest court,

ensures the uniform application of laws and the equality of all citizens.

The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Croatia

The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Croatia consists of thirteen

judges, selected by the Croatian Parliament for a term eight years from

among outstanding jurists, especially judges, public prosecutors, lawyers

and university professors of law.

The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Croatia:

decides on the conformity of laws with the Constitution

decides on the conformity of other regulations with the Constitution

and law, can assess the constitutionality of a law and the

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constitutionality and legality of other regulations which have expired

if less than a year has passed between the date of expiry and the date

of the application

decides on constitutional applications against individual decisions of

state, administration and regional self-government bodies and other

public authority bodies when the decisions interfere with human

rights and basic freedom, as well as the rights of local self-

government and administration bodies guaranteed by the

Constitution of the Republic of Croatia

follows the realisation of constitutionality and legality, informing the

Croatian Parliament of any signs of unconstitutionality or illegality

decides on jurisdictional disputes between the legislative, executive

and judicial branches

decides, in conformity with the Constitution, on the impeachability of

the President of the Republic

supervises the constitutionality of the programs and activities of

political parties and can, in conformity with the Constitution, ban

their work

supervises the constitutionality and legality of elections and national

referendums, and decides on electoral disputes which do not fall

within the jurisdiction of courts

performs other duties specified by the Constitution..

Political Parties

The formation of political parties is free.

The internal organisation of political parties must conform to the basic

constitutional democratic principles.

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Parties must publicly account for the origin of its funds and properties.

Political parties who with their program or violent activity tend towards

undermining the democratic constitutional order or threaten the survival of

the Republic of Croatia are non-constitutional. The Constitutional Court of

the Republic of Croatia decides on the non-constitutionality of a political

party.

The position and financing of political parties is regulated by law.

Representatives of political parties in the Croatian Parliament:

Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), 66 mandates

Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP) - 56 mandates

Croatian Peasant Party (HSS), 6 mandates

Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), 2 mandates

Croatian People's Party (HNS), 7 mandates

Croatian Democratic Alliance of Slavonia and Baranja (HDSSB), 3

mandates

Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS), 3 mandates

Croatian Party of Rights (HSP), 1 mandates

Croatian Party of Pensioners (HSU), 1 mandates

Representatives of National Minorities, 8 mandates

The Constitution

The first Constitution of the Republic of Croatia was proclaimed on 22

December 1990.

Croatian economy

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Listed as the basic features of Croatia's economy are industry, agriculture,

forestry, fishing industry and food, drink, and tobacco production,

construction, transport and communication, and trade.

In describing basic macroeconomic indicators, a special emphasis was paid

to gross domestic product, balance of payments, inflation, foreign exchange

reserves, foreign debt, unemployment, credit rating, and trade with the rest

of the world.

In terms of primary goals of economic policy of the Republic of Croatia, a

special position is given to foreign investments which are very important

for the future development of the country and further restructuring and

modernization of the economy. In this context, areas of investment

environment, legal framework for investments and investment prospects in

Croatia’s economy are described.

Croatia is included in the group of countries with small and open

economies, which are largely connected to other foreign markets. The

priority of Croatia’s economic policy is the continuation of making a stabile

and strong market-oriented economy which is competitive in the global

market, constant reinforcement of macroeconomic stability and the

continuation of structural reforms for the purpose of securing stabile and

sustainable economic growth, increase in production, especially import and

increase in employment. The particular emphasis is on creating a

favourable business environment harmonized with the business

environment prevalent in the European Union, further development of

market economy, stimulation of private investments, promotion of

international competitiveness, and entrepreneurial and market freedom.

HITRO.HR service was introduced in 2005 as a means of strengthening

entrepreneurship with the specific goal of simplifying administrative

procedures, and in January 2006 Croatia's Tax Administration activated e-

PDV, a service which allows all the users who are in the VAT system to file

their VAT tax return in electronic format. Also, the Government started the

e-Hrvatska programme, using which they plan to introduce information

systems into the entire education system as well as the programme to

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introduce on-line access to health service, which enables better medical

service. During 2006 an initiative was started together with the science

community in Croatia in order to advance the cooperation between

Croatia’s economy and science.

Creating conditions for sustaining high economic growth rates was also

initiated, especially through enhancing competitiveness and flexibility of

the market, which will help in tacking the problem of unemployment.

Through the growth in production and export and through stimulating

export activities, restructuring large Croatian companies owned by the

state and increase of competitiveness of Croatian products on the global

market will have a positive effect on Croatia’s foreign debt and balance of

payments deficit.

Basic economic goals include export growth, quality standards introduction,

meeting ecology requirements and achieving expenditure efficiency.

Climate, relief, and soil diversity enables a wide agricultural range of

products, while low level of pollution is good for the development of

ecological production. Croatia, as one of the significant tourist destinations

in the Mediterranean, has a long tourist tradition and big development

prospects. During the past couple of years Croatia is classified as one of the

European destinations with the highest growth rate. Construction

restructuring trend in Croatia, relevant during recent years, is in

accordance with modern European trends, where it is easier for small and

medium companies to adapt to modern market requirements. An

advantageous geographical position provides opportunities for the

development of transport infrastructure and activities as one of the

important factors of the entire economic and social development of the

country.

One of the primary goals of the economic policy of Croatia’s government is

to create a stimulating business environment, harmonized with the

standards used in the EU and countries with developed market economies.

The Government plans to achieve its dedication to reforming national

economy, with the goal of attracting foreign investors to Croatia, on

domestic, as well as on international level.

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A Directorate called Investment Promotion and Export Directorate at the

Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship is responsible for the

implementation of the Law on incentives for investments and for the

granting incentives, tax and customs benefits to domestic, as well as to

foreign investors.

Since 2002 Trade and Investment Promotion Agency has been active and its

basic activities are directed towards proactive searching, informing,

attracting and realization of qualified investment projects which include

production of goods and services with high added value intended for

export, as well as projects which will generate new jobs.

Export orientation is necessary for a successful economy, higher GDP

growth, higher standard of living, and more jobs. In January 2007 Ministry

of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship in cooperation with the

association called Croatian Exporters, Croatian Chamber of Economy,

Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts, Croatian Employers’ Association

and Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development presented the

“Croatian Export Offensive” (Hrvatska izvozna ofenziva - HIO). The main

objectives of the strategy are directed towards solving crucial issues for

export growth, such as small capacities, production fragmentation, and

insufficient competitiveness. The strategy gets a special meaning from the

founding of six export clusters, namely: water, small shipbuilding, textile

and clothing, ICT solutions, wood and furniture, and mariculture and

Croatian fish.

It can be expected that the EU accession negotiations will have a positive

effect on a larger inflow of foreign capital, especially into greenfield

investment projects, which should eventually increase the economic growth

and global competitiveness of the Croatian economy.

Croatia achieved its greatest accomplishment on the international level on

October 4, 2005 by starting the EU accession negotiations, after a positive

avis from the Council of the European Union. Croatia is also, as a member of

the WTO, in the process of active harmonization of its legislation in

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accordance with the standards of the WTO. Croatia has signed the

Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU, and this agreement

came into force in 2005.

Tourism

Croatia can be classified as a Pannonian-Adriatic country due to its Central

European and Mediterranean position. In terms of International law, the

traditional heritage has moved from a Middle Age Princedom (791-924

A.D.) and Kingdom (925-1102) to its current standing as the Republic of

Croatia, declared on June 25, 1991. Croatia has 4.8 million citizens and the

capital city is Zagreb. The official language is Croatian. The national

currency is the kuna.

The surface area of Croatia totals 87,667 square kilometers, which is made

up of 56,538 square kilometers of mainland (65%) and the coastline - both

internal and territorial seas - of 31,139 square kilometers (35%). The

climate is mainly continental but at higher altitudes, there is also a

mountainous climate. In the coastal regions, slightly south of the island Rab,

the climate is classified as Mediterranean. The northern Adriatic (Istria,

Kvarner mainland and the islands) has a moderately continental climate,

excluding the interior parts of the region. Vegetation cover is very diverse.

Forests make up 36% of the surface area. In the continental regions, the

dominant forests are English oak, hornbeam, beech, and fir.

The coastal belt and islands are characterized by alpine pine, downy oak,

white and dark hornbeam and dense evergreen underbrush. Rivers belong

to the Black Sea (62%) and Adriatic (38%) drainage basins.

SEABATHING WATER QUALITY ON BEACHES IN THE REPUBLIC

OF CROATIA

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NAUTICAL TOURISM

DIVING

RURAL TOURISM

CONGRESS TOURISM

HUNTING TOURISM

YOUTH TOURISM

WINTER TOURISM

HEALTH TOURISM

SPORTS TOURISM

In Croatia there are approximately 500 travel agencies and representative

branches of foreign agencies. Offices are located in all larger towns and at

border crossings, and are equipped with tourism information and

materials. Agencies organize excursions, rent-a-car services, and other

activities, such as selling tickets for public transportation.

Hotels are divided into five categories: L, A, B, C, and D. In the first three

categories, each room has private bathroom facilities. Hotels in health care

centers and spring resorts have facilities required for medical

rehabilitation.

The price of hotel services is equivalent to European standards; the peak

season prices are higher and single rooms are one-third the price of other

rooms. In addition to the room fee there is also an accommodation tax.

Many hotels offer half board (breakfast and dinner) or full board (breakfast,

lunch and dinner). Prices for these packages are affordable.

Motels are most frequently located on major highways or near border

crossings. In certain cases, these hotels are B category.

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Overnight stays (accommodation) in specific rented rooms and apartments

(in private housing) are the most affordable accommodations available. In

some towns, this is the only type of accommodation available. The

registration of guests and room assignment is conducted by the local

tourism board and the rooms are divided into three categories. The first

category is rooms with private bathroom facilities, in the second the

bathroom facilities are separated from the room but used only by those

guests sleeping in the room. The prices of these rooms are approximately

between one-quarter and one-third the price of hotel accommodation.

Apartments are also categorized.

Inns located on major highways often do not have facilities for overnight

accommodation; some have rooms in the attic that are significantly less

expensive in comparison to hotel accommodation.

There are approximately 150 well-developed camps located along the

Adriatic coast. The most developed camps have stores, butcher shops, and

bathroom facilities with electric connections (220 V) that are for shared

use. During high season, the camps are often filled, and reservations are

recommended.

Casinos, intended primarily for foreign guests, are located in Zagreb and

other important tourism centers (Rovinj, Novigrad, Umag, Opatija).

Croatian gastronomy

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Croatian cuisine, due to its diversity, can be called cuisine of regions. The

modern roots come form the early Slavic and ancient times, and due to

historical and geographical influences, the most evident difference in

gastronomy between the coast and the mainland are the choice of

provisions and food preparation processes. The mainland has stronger

influences from the ancient early Slavic times, though more recent touches

have been added from famous Hungarian, Vienna and Turkish cuisines. On

the coast, the older influence comes from Greek, Roman and Illyrian styles,

and the more modern touch comes from Mediterranean countries such as

Italy and France.

Beverages

Croatia is famous for its excellent wine, which are a result of long held

winery traditions in the region. On the coast, the famous red wines are

Teran, Merlot, Cabernet, Opolo, Plavac (Zinfandel), Dingač, and Postup. The

most famous white wines are Malvazija, Pošip, Pinot, Kujundžuša, and

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Muškat (Muskat). In the mainland of Croatia, Riesling, Graševina (Grauer

Riesling), Burgundy, and Traminac (Gewurztraminer) are most noted. We

recommend plum, grass and grape brandies for hard alcohol choices. Desert

drinks are sherry and maraschino.

OLDEST CROATIAN WRITTEN MONUMENTS

Writings association with the literature of the Middle Ages was primarily

written in the Glagolitic script and the Old Slavic tongue, which was brought

to Croatia by pupils of Cyril and Methodius. The most significant document

from that period is the so-called ‘Annals of Father Dukljanin’ (end of 12th

century). At the same time, official documents arise, written in the Glagolitic

script (the Baška Plate, around 1100; ‘The Vinodol Law’ 1288) in which

elements of the national tongue are evident.

The Croatian written laws: Vinodol, Polje, Vrbani and to an extent the whole

of the island of Krk, Kastav, Veprinac and Trsat.

The most significant among them is the Vinodol Law from 1288, written in

the Croatian tongue and in the Glagolitic script. By the 13th century, the

Croatian society was economically and culturally developed, with its own

legal standards and traditional rights written for the first time in the native

tongue. Also important are the Trogir, Korčula, Poljice and other statues,

the Statute of Zagreb’s Kaptol, the first terriers, and in the mid 15th century,

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the Istrian Proclamation, which was written in the Croatian tongue and

Glagolitic script, though its origins stem back to 1325.

Among the loveliest and most richly decorated written monuments of the

Middle Ages are the missals, the church books written by hand on

parchment paper.

Missals from the 11th and 12th century have been preserved: the Zagreb

missal of Bishop Kažotić from the 14th century, the missal of Prince Hrvoje

Vukčič Hrvatinić from 1404, the Trogir, Vatican and Missal of Prince Novak.

The latter two, written in Glagolitic script, are considered among the most

beautiful missals of the Croatian cultural heritage. Also preserved is the

Missal by the Law of the Roman Court from 1483 and its reprint in Senj in

1494, the missal of Juraj from Topusko and Pavao Modrušanin, both from

the 15th century. The official Roman missal from 1570 was translated from

the Latin by Bartol Kašić.