Upload
melita-vidmar
View
219
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
CROATIA-BASIC FACTS
Citation preview
1
Croatia: basic facts
Croatia has 21 counties. See below.
I COUNTY OF ZAGREB XII COUNTY OF SL. BROD-POSAVINA
2
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
3
1 KORNATI 5 MLJET
2 PLITVIČKA JEZERA 6 RISNJAK
3 KRKA 7 BRIJUNI
4 PAKLENICA 8 VELEBIT
Traffic routes
State emlems
4
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
5
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:
6
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.
7
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
8
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
9
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
10
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.
11
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
12
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
13
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.
14
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.
15
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.
16
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
17
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.
18
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
19
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.
20
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
21
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
22
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.
23
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
24
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
25
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.
26
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
27
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
28
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,
29
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.