Croatia News - CroatiaPress.com

Zagreb, March 19 (CP) – At Wednesday morning’s session of the Croatian government a joint declaration was agreed with Hungary and Bulgaria announcing the formal recognition of Kosovo’s independence.

It is expected that the three countries will formally recognize Kosovo during the course of the day.

Croatia’s recognition should come at a session of its inner cabinet during Wednesday.

Zagreb, March 18 (CP) — Croatia is currently experiencing severe weather changes, as after 20 degrees temperatures inland, Tuesday has seen snowfall and temperatures dipping to just a few degrees above freezing point.

A lot of snow has fallen in Delnice, while a little less in Gospic, Zagreb, Karlovac, Ogulin, on Mt. Sljeme and at Zavizan.

Winter conditions have been declared on roads in Gorski Kotar and Lika. In low-lying areas the snow had melted until the afternoon hours.

The weather forecast for the coming days claims of the inclement weather remaining in place for at least another week with temperatures not rising above nine degrees in the Croatian capital Zagreb.

Zagreb, March 18 (CP) – President Stjepan Mesic has refused to say whether Croatia would recognize Kosovo on Wednesday, but said the recognition would come about soon.

Mesic said that Kosovo recognition by Croatia was a logical move, as Croatia was in the same position as Kosovo a while ago.

Mesic said that Croatia was waging steady politics adding that small countries can only be credible if they stick to principles.

There are speculations that Croatia will formally recognize Kosovo on Wednesday, a move that may spark a government crisis, as the Independent Serb Democratic Party (SSDS) may leave the government coalition ranks if this were to happen.

Zagreb, March 18 (CP) — Several Slovene fishermen equipped with open sea fishing equipment are demanding of their government to pay up damages for the lost profit due to not being able to fish in the Croatian Protected Ecology and Fisheries Zone (ZERP) since January 1.
Allegedly they were told by the Slovene Agriculture Ministry officials that the tab for the suffered losses may be submitted to Croatia.

Zagreb, March 18 (CP) — In three months since it’s been displayed, the Chagall works’ exhibition was seen by 80,000 visitors in Zagreb.

On Valentine’s Day alone, when entrance was free, some 1,200 people saw the exhibition, while during the Night of Museums some 3,500 had visited the exhibit.

Zagreb, March 18 (CP) — If the government formally recognizes Kosovo on Wednesday, which is being discussed unofficially, the Independent Democratic Serb Party of the SDSS will not support such a decision, said the deputy president of the Party Milorad Pupovac after meeting PM Ivo Sanader.

Pupovac explained following the meeting with PM Sanader that it was not a matter whether Croatia should recognize Kosovo, but rather whether the time was right for such a move, which SDSS believes it is not.

Pupovac went on to say that the SDSS bodies and those of the Serb National Council as the Serb self-rule body in Croatia would surely look into the situation if a decision on Kosovo’s recognition is made on Wednesday and then it will be possible to talk about SDSS’ next moves.

Pupovac also said that his party’s stance was that Croatia needs to wait with making a decision on the recognition of Kosovo due to the pre-election activities in Serbia, the situation in Kosovo and should deal very carefully with this delicate regarding the ongoing processes in the region which are very delicate and serious.

If the SDSS decides to step out of the coalition, this will bring on a serious crisis in the Croatian government.

Zagreb, March 18 (CP) — On the fringes of the entrepreneur’s day gathering on Monday, president Mesic and Prime Minister Sanader told the assembled media they would soon meet to discuss Croatia’s position on recognizing the indepdence of Kosovo.

Mesic said recognizing Kosovo was a decision of national interest, therefore, it would be made the moment right moment for Croatia.

So far Kosovo has been formally recognized by 28 countries, the latest to make the move is Japan.

Zagreb, March 18 (CP) – The latest Puls polling agency survey shows that 51 percent of those polled are in favour of Croatia recognizing Kosovo at a time most favourable for Croatia.

The poll, which included 600 Croatian citizens showed that 79 percent of them support Croatia’s recognition of Kosovo, but 51 are in favour of this being done at the right time.

However, some 12 percent of the surveyed don’t believe Croatia should recognize Kosovo until an agreement between Serbia and Kosovo is reached on the independence of the former Serbian region.

Many of those surveyed have expressed concern over instability in the region due to the situation in Kosovo.

However, as many as 56 percent of those polled do not feel that armed clashes would result in the region as a result of Kosovo declaring its independence, as opposed to 11 percent who believe so.

Zagreb, March 18 (CP) – A 51-year-old man sustained injuries to the head when his fridge exploded in his face.

The accident happened in Gornji Muc not far from the coastal city of Split on Monday, as the man was trying to fix the refrigerator and the appliance simply exploded.

The man was rushed to the Split clinical hospital where he has been diagnosed with scull fracture and has been operated on.

The victim is now in a stable condition, conscious and closely monitored by doctors.

Zagreb, March 18 (CP) – The Zagreb Stock Exchange index Crobex has experienced a drop of 5.22 percent on Monday, as a result of a drop in prices on world markets.

This has been the lowest Crobex has ever been since the establishment of the Zagreb Stock Exchange.

Although the Bourse recorded good turnover of about 138 million kuna, Crobex ended the day at 3793,31 points, a drop of  as much as 5.22 percent.

The best traded was the Ericsson stock with a turnover of 22.5 million kuna and a drop in value of 2.28 percent.

Also well traded were HT shares with a turnover of 18.9 million kuna and a drop in value of 1.55 percent.

One of the shares of good liquidity that had experienced the largest drop in value was that of Atlantska Plovidba, which fell by 11.95 percent.