Full Coverage: Croatia

31.03.2004 The Croatian Mine Action Centre (HCR) and “Hrvatska bez Mina” Charity (Mine-Free Croatia), in the presence of Jadranka Kosor, the Vice President of the Government, presented the new video clip designed to educate and warn school children about the danger of mines. They also presented to the public the new dedicated phone line 060 888 400, which can be used by the citizens to make a donation of 3,96 Kuna per phone call, which will go to the fund for de-mining of Croatia.

29.03.2004 On Friday, March 26, the high-school students from Croatia started the district competitions under the EUQUIZ campaign. They will test their knowledge about the structure and organization of the European Union.

29.03.2004 Can you imagine a place where the “Day of the Frogs” is declared open at the Ivan Generalic Gallery? Where a seminar on frogs and their protection from dying on the roads is held at the Municipal Building? A place where the City Council provides 50 bicycles to the citizens and visitors alike, to use them for free, with the goal to promote the healthy life-styles and reduction of traffic density? It might be hard to believe it, but there is such a place in Croatia: Virovitica.

26.03.2004 The new draft-Law on Culture Councils proposes to terminate the Council for Media Culture, the only body that represented the interests of the independent sector, paying special attention to the culture of youth and to the new media. The Coordination of Independent Cultural Initiatives demands that the Draft-Law on Cultural Councils is pulled back from the urgent procedure, and it demands for a public debate to be organized before the Law is debated in the Sabor.

25.03.2004 Miomir Žužul, Minister of Foreign Affairs, said in his interview for “Nedeljom u dva” (Every Sunday at Two p.m) program on Croatian State TV (Sunday, March 21), that Croatia won’t sign the bilateral agreement for non-extradition of US citizens to the International Criminal Court in The Hague (ICC). In spite of the fact that his political party (HDZ) supported the signing of the bilateral agreement while in opposition, Žužul repeated that European Union integration remains a priority for the Government, and the EU clearly expressed its opposition to the US initiative.

25.03.2004 ZAGREB, 24 March 2004 - Croatian Television (HTV) will air this week an independent documentary series on the return of refugees to the country.

“Somebody's Land” was filmed and produced by the Serb Democratic Forum (SDF) and financed by the OSCE Mission to Croatia.

22.03.2004 On Saturday mourning, March 20, the “Not In My Name” gathering was held on the central square in Zagreb. The event was organized by the “Enough Wars!” Civic Initiative, on the occasion of the first anniversary of the coalition’s invasion on Iraq.

17.03.2004 On Sunday, March 21, 2004, Zelena Akcija Environmental NGO and the Drava League will organize the First European Competition in stone skipping, under the motto “Take the Gravel Back to Drava!” The competition will be organized under the auspices of the celebration of the International Water Day, March 22.

16.03.2004 Croatian generals Ivan Cermak and Mladen Markac pleaded “not guilty” before the Hague tribunal on 12 March to a litany of charges spelled out in an indictment that shocked the Croatian government and forced it to walk a fine line between alienating hard-line nationalists or jeopardising its chances of joining the European Union.

16.03.2004 "Posidonija" Exhibition opened in the City Palace in Rovinj, in Istria.

After Medulin and Banjole, the "Meadows of Posidonija - Treasures of Biodiversity in the Adriatic" exhibition of underwater photography moved to Rovinj, where it will be staged in the Palace of the City of Rovinj.

16.03.2004 The Government of Croatia defined the list of 15 genetically modified organisms that may be included in the food products in Croatian markets. The same GMOs are also allowed in the European Union, and they can be found in soy-beans, some types of maize, oil beet root and cotton.

16.03.2004 The Government of Croatia defined the list of 15 genetically modified organisms that may be included in the food products in Croatian markets. The same GMOs are also allowed in the European Union, and they can be found in soy-beans, some types of maize, oil beet root and cotton.

12.03.2004 Couple of days ago, the Zagreb Skinheads published the second issue of their fanzine “SH-ZG”. The fanzine continues to shock with its racist, nationalist and xenophobic contents, and its back cover carries a detailed map of all businesses owned by foreigners, the Jewish Community and the Orthodox Church in downtown Zagreb. With their scandalous “multicultural guide”, the editors of the fanzine openly call for a street war against foreigners in the centre of the City. The “black list” also marks the cafes, bars and parks frequented by the gay population, Chinese restaurants and Albanian owned pastry shops.

11.03.2004 Transparency International Croatia (TIC) held a press conference yesterday, in which they warned that the Government should include funds for the operation of the Committee on Conflict of Interest in this year’s Budget, in order to secure its continued work and existence. Currently, the Committee is funded from the Budget reserves. This situation is unacceptable to Transparency International, having in mind that the Committee was established as an independent body.