Welcome NoteWelcome NoteWelcome Note

Dear Readers,

Welcome to the new edition of “Croatia

Monthly”!

The period behind us has been marked

by efforts to further deepen economic ties

between Croatia and the U.S. We had an

important visit by two Croatian ministerial

delegations to the U.S. and third edition of

the Brown Economic Forum kept advancing

entrepreneurial spirit both in Croatia and in

the region of Southeast Europe. These

efforts speak of a dynamic nature of our

bilateral economic cooperation and promis-

ing business prospects, especially in relation

to energy related projects in Croatia.

It is now less than a month until Croa-

tia’s accession to the EU, with all of the

Member States having approved our Acces-

sion Treaty. Zagreb and Europe will be

celebrating on July 1 and the Embassy in

Washington has been busy putting together

a program of celebration in D.C. We will

feature a special issue of “Croatia Monthly”

on this soon.

In the meantime, I invite you to explore

the stories which will take your to world’s

top waterfall hikes, fastest electric car,

parties along the coast and a solitary excur-

sion to a lighthouse. All of these are there

for you to discover in Croatia.

Joško Paro

Ambassador

NEWSLETTER OF THE EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC

OF CROATIA TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

CroatiaCroatiaCroatia

monthly monthly monthly

NO. 21/2013 NO. 21/2013 NO. 21/2013

CROATIAN MINISTERS VISIT THE UNITED STATES

THIRD BROWN ECONOMIC FORUM HELD IN CROATIA

CROATIA’S ACCESSION TREATY RATIFIED BY ALL EU MEMBER STATES’ PARLIAMENTS

THE EU OPEN HOUSE ATTRACTS LARGE CROWD

THE EMBASSY HOSTED HARVARD DC CLUB

CROATIAN-AMERICAN DAY HELD IN CHICAGO

CROATIAN AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION’S 2012 VINODOL CODE AWARD PRESENTED

CONVERSATIONS IN CULTURE: PERSIST TO SURRENDER

CROATIAN AT THE CHICAGOLAND ENTREPRENEURIAL CENTER INTERVIEW: AN ENGLISHMAN ON HVAR

PLITIVICE LAKES AMONG TOP 5 WATERFALL HIKES WORLDWIDE

CROATIA TRAVEL NEWS ROUNDUP

YOUR PARTY HOLLIDAY IN CROATIA

NEW INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP MOBILITY PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN CROATIA

THE WORLD'S FASTEST ELECTRIC SUPERCAR COMES FROM CROATIA

TAKE 'GAME OF THRONES' WALKING TOUR OF DUBROVNIK

DISCOVER “DINARIC ARC PARKS”

AND CROATIA IS...

SPEAKING OF FACTS

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

Croatian Ministers visit the United StatesCroatian Ministers visit the United StatesCroatian Ministers visit the United States

Croatian Economy Minister Ivan Vrdoljak and Minister of Entrepreneurship

and Crafts Ivan Maras paid working visits to the U.S. in April aimed at strength-

ening economic relations between Croatia and United States

U.S. oil companies have shown an

interest in investing in Croatia, notably in

oil and gas explorations in the Adriatic,

Croatian Economy Minister Ivan Vrdoljak

said during an official visit to the United

States where he met with representatives

o f E x x o n

Mobile, Noble

Energy, Conoco

Phillips, Ana-

darco, General

E lect r ic and

Chenier.

"When we

presented to

them our inten-

tions and our

s t e p s , t h e y

s h o w e d a n

i n t e r e s t i n

c o m i n g t o

Croatia, in gas

and oil explora-

tions in our part

of the Adri-

atic," Minister

Vrdoljak said after the meetings held in

Houston, Texas.

Croatia first needs to meet the neces-

sary preconditions, including adopting a

new law on hydrocarbon exploration and

exploitation, after which a tender will be

issued.

Minister Vrdoljak said that participa-

tion of U.S. companies such as Exxon in

such a project would be of great impor-

tance, because they could hire local

workers, industries and even shipyards. It

would also be a message to other U.S.

investors that Croatia is a developing

country that uses its resources wisely and

that security of their investment is guar-

anteed.

The Minis-

ter said that

t he govern-

m e n t w a s

i n t e n s i v e l y

working on a

new bill on

hyd r o car bo ns

and that it

w o u l d b e

introduced into

p a r l i a m e n t

s o o n a n d

passed under

f a s t - t r a c k

procedure so

that the tender

c o u l d b e

issued as soon

as possible.

―The use of the full potential of oil and

gas explorations in the Adriatic would

bring Croatia long-term security of supply

from domestic sources and ensure lower

prices of energy‖, the Minister said.

The Minister said that it was crucial

that major global players responded to the

tender, adding that they believed that they

had managed to ensure that American

companies would be among them.

Minister Vrdoljak and Croatian delegation during talks in the

U.S. © MINGO

2

During his stay in Washington, D.C., Minister Vrdoljak also met with the

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Diplomacy, Amos Hochstein,

and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe, Asia and the Americas,

Phyllis Yoshida, to present Croatia's energy potential.

Minister Vrdoljak singled out two important projects: construction of an

LNG terminal, and oil and gas exploration and exploitation, both in continental

Croatia and in the Adriatic. "We received full support at the State Department.

They said we were on the right track, both in law making and in energy policy,"

Minister Vrdoljak concluded.

Minister Gor-

dan Maras and his associates during their visit to Washington, D.C. met

with Senator Mark Begich (D-AL). They exchanged views on the

bilateral relat ions

between Croatia and

the U.S., with special

emphasis on eco-

nomic relations. The Minister pointed out broadened business and investment

possibilit ies in Croatia as a result of the new legal investment framework adopted

recently by the Croatian government as well as the future plans of Ministry of

Entrepreneurship and Crafts aimed at providing stronger incentives for companies

following Croatia's accession to the European Union on July 1 this year. Minister

Maras used this opportunity to present to Senator Begich accents from this year's

Ron Brown Forum which was held in early April in Zadar, with the aim of strength-

ening business and investment potentials in Croatia and the region of South East

Europe. During his stay in the U.S., Minister Maras also met with State Depart-

ment‘s Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs Lorraine

Hariton and had meetings at the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Minister Maras also met with representatives of the Croatian diaspora in Wash-

ington and in Cleveland.

Minister Vrdoljak and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy

Diplomacy Amos Hochstein during talks in Washington, D.C.

© MINGO

Minister

Maras and

U.S. Senator

Mark Begich

(D-AL)

© MINPO

The Brown Economic Forum held in CroatiaThe Brown Economic Forum held in CroatiaThe Brown Economic Forum held in Croatia

The 3rd Brown Forum was held in Petrcane near Zadar April 8-9, bringing together about 200 entrepreneurs, investors and

representatives of investment funds from Southeast Europe and the United States

The economic conference was

organized by the Minist ry of

Foreign and European Affairs,

Ministry of Entrepreneurship and

Trade, Economy Ministry, U.S.

Embassy in Zagreb the

Croatian Chamber of

Co mmerce and the

Croat ian E mplo yer s '

Association. The topic

of the two-day event was "Entrepreneurship and

Venture Capital - Deepening Ties Between U.S. Firms

and Entrepreneurs in the Southeast Region".

Opening the forum, Croatian Entrepreneurship and

Crafts Minister Gordan Maras said the goal in Croatia

was to have 40 enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants by

2020 instead of the current 22. He underlined the

importance of the attendance of investment fund

representatives, saying banks in Croatia were "quite conservative

and often not sympathetic to projects that perhaps should be

supported first. Unfortunately, we don't have many funds invest-

ing in projects, which is a form of financing especially valuable

in the world," Maras said, adding that equity funds would facili-

tate the realisation of projects.

U.S. Ambassador Kenneth Merten said American investors

felt welcome in Croatia, and that the 18 months after Croatia's

accession to the European Union, scheduled for July 1, would be

important to attract investors and that Croatia must use it well.

Ambassador Merten also added that the embassy was participat-

ing in several projects by the Croatian government and nongov-

ernmental organisations to help businesses and in 2012 had

donated US$150,000 to help found a start -up camp.

Krishna Kolluri, representative of one of the biggest U.S.

investment funds, New Enterprise Associates, said the most

important resource of a country was not the national wealth but

human resources and education. Croatia and the countries in the

region are at an advantage because 30 per cent of Croatia's

population have a college degree, and history shows that the

countries which manage to make use of that manage to achieve

growth, he said. Debates on the role of entre-

preneurs in economic growth and the public

sector's support to enterprise were also in the

focus of the conference. Julia Spicer, director

of Mid - Atlantic Venture Capitalist Associa-

tion from the US which represents the inter-

ests of more than 500 investment funds and

investors, underlined the role of the Croatian

government which must facilitate entry into

the enterprise sector as launching a business is

difficult as it is, even without administrative

and legal obstacles.

Minister Maras giving a presentation at the Embassy of

Croatia for the members of Croatian diaspora in Washing-

ton, D.C. © Embassy of Croatia

The Brown Forum is

organized each year in

honor of U.S. Secretary

of Commerce Ron

Brown who died in an

airplane accident near

Dubrovnik in 1996 while

heading a U.S. trade

mission to Croatia

A week before the conference, commemoration was held in

the Ronald Brown Memorial House in Dubrovnik marking the

17th anniversary of the death of U.S. Secretary of Commerce

Ronald H. Brown and 35 other passengers aboard the airplane

which crashed on 3 April 1996 en route from Tuzla to Dubrov-

nik. Addressing those present, Croatian Transport Minister

Sinisa Hajdas Doncic stressed that the U.S. had always been

Croatia's strategic partner, notably in the economy. The com-

memorative event was also addressed by Dubrovnik-Neretva

County Prefect Nikola Dobroslavic, Dubrovnik Mayor Andro

Vlahusic and Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in

Croatia Hoyt Yee who said that peace and stability in this region

would be guaranteed only by the economic development of the

countries which had achieved great progress since 1996.

3

Croatia’s Accession Treaty Croatia’s Accession Treaty Croatia’s Accession Treaty

ratified by all EU Member ratified by all EU Member ratified by all EU Member

States’ ParliamentsStates’ ParliamentsStates’ Parliaments

The Slovenian, Danish and German parlia-

ments ratified Croatia‘s EU Treaty in the last

period, with the document now being ratified in

all of the EU Member States‘ parliaments.

Croatia is scheduled to join the EU on July

1, 2013, making it the 28th Member State.

@ the Embassy@ the Embassy@ the Embassy The Embassy hosted The Embassy hosted The Embassy hosted

Harvard D.C. Club Harvard D.C. Club Harvard D.C. Club

Croatian Ambassador Joško Paro welcomed Harvard D.C. Club on March 27

at the Croatian Embassy. The Ambassador briefly introduced Croatia and its

foreign policy goals and spoke about the implications of Croatia's European

Union accession for the Trans-Atlantic and regional relations. The event was

attended by 90 Harvard alumni with graduation years ranging from 1960s to

2012, and the group also included several DC based Croatian Harvard alumni.

The very lively questions and answer session, as is appropriate for the alumni

of one of the world‘s most prestigious universities, was followed by a reception at which many whom have previously visited C roatia

had a chance to recall pleasant moments from their previous stays.

@ the Embassy@ the Embassy@ the Embassy

The EU Open House attracts large The EU Open House attracts large The EU Open House attracts large

crowd at the Embassycrowd at the Embassycrowd at the Embassy

Approximately five thousand visitors toured the Embassy in what has

become one of the best attended and popular social events in the D.C.

area

On May 11th the European Union Embassies and the EU Delegation

organized the EU Embassies‘ Open House during which each embassy

opened their doors to the public and offered a rare look inside the build-

ings. This annual event was the highlight of the Washington May calendar

and was celebrated during Europe Week.

The Croatian Embassy participated for the second time in the event,

displaying cultural and tourist potentials of Croatia as the new member

state of the EU. A wine tasting and video shows were organized and the

visitors had a chance to plan a trip or learn more about the country‘s

history, geography, economy and other aspects of cultural and social life

in Croatia.

CroatianCroatianCroatian---American Day held in Chicago American Day held in Chicago American Day held in Chicago

It is believed that more than 250 000 people of Croatian descent live today in the Chicagoland area and there are more than

thirty five different Croatian cultural and civic organizations in existence there

The 2013 Croatian-American Day took

place on Friday, May 10 th, at the Daley

Plaza in Chicago. The event, organized for

the ninth time on an annual basis by the

Croatian Consulate General in Chicago

and the Croatian

- A m e r i c a n

community of

Chicago has become increasingly

popular. Last year, on the occasion of

the 20th anniversary of the establish-

ment of diplomatic ties between Croa-

tia and the United States, the Chicago

City Council passed a resolution which

officially recognized the Croatian

American Day in Chicago.

It is believed that more than 250 000

people of Croatian descent live today

in the Chicagoland area and there are more than thirty five

different Croatian cultural and civic organizations in existence

here. Therefore, in order to celebrate Croatian heritage and

culture, the annual event is held at Daley Plaza, the main square

in Chicago. There are booths set up on the Plaza showcasing

tastes, sounds and sights of Croatia. Offerings include traditional

foods and pastries and other items from Croatia, like souvenirs

and tourist brochures. Large panels throughout Daley Plaza

display Croatia‘s natural beauty, as well as the information about

its culture and heritage, the most promi-

nent Croatians and some fun facts.

The program kicked off with the

American and Croatian National Anthems

and the raising of the Flags. After greet-

ings by dignitaries and guests, including

Croatian Ambassador to the U.S. Joško

Paro and Consul General in Chicago

Jelena Grčić Polić, there were various

performances by Croatian School‘s

Folklore groups and a hand printed

fashion art show ―PASSION FASSION‖,

by a local Croatian-American artist Ana

Buzancic Petercic. Furthermore, this year the visitors were

treated to a wonderful exhibition of photographs ―Amazing

Croatia‖ by award-winning artist Marko Vrdoljak in the adjacent

lobby of the Daley Center.

4

At an event host ed by the Chicago Con-

su l Genera l o f t he Republ ic o f Croat ia on

May 10, 2013, t he Croat ian Amer ican Bar

Assoc iat ion presented the 2012 Vinodo l

Code Award to Luka S. Miset ic and

Tomis lav Z. Kuzmanovic, as t he jo int

rec ip ient s, in recognit ion o f t he ir d ist in-

gu ished lega l career s and out st anding

cont r ibut ions to t he Croat ian- Amer ican

communit y.

Mr . Miset ic and Mr. Kuzmanovic represented Genera l Ante

Gotovina and Genera l Mladen Markač befo re t he Int ernat iona l

Cr imina l Tr ibuna l fo r t he fo r mer Yugos lavia‘s ( ICTY‘s) Ap-

pea ls Chamber , where, on November 16, 2012, t he Appea ls

Chamber reversed Gen. Gotovina and Gen. Markač‘s convic-

t ions fo r cr imes aga inst humanit y and vio lat ions o f t he laws o r

customs o f war and entered verd ict s o f acqu it t al.

Luka Misetic and Tomislav Kuzmanovic Presented with theLuka Misetic and Tomislav Kuzmanovic Presented with theLuka Misetic and Tomislav Kuzmanovic Presented with the

Croatian American Bar Association’s 2012 Vinodol Code AwardCroatian American Bar Association’s 2012 Vinodol Code AwardCroatian American Bar Association’s 2012 Vinodol Code Award

From left to right: Josko Paro, Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to the

United States of America, Luka Misetic, 2012 Vinodol Code Award Honoree,

Mauro Viskovic, President of Croatian American Bar Association, Sanja

Kutnjak Ivkovich, Ph.D., S.J.D., Chair of Vinodol Code Award Nominations

Committee, Tomislav Z. Kuzmanovic, 2012 Vinodol Code Award Honoree,

Jelena Grcic Polic, Ph.D., Consul General of Croatia

Croatian at the 1871 Chicagoland Entrepreneurial CenterCroatian at the 1871 Chicagoland Entrepreneurial CenterCroatian at the 1871 Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center

Meet Una Pipić, a Croatian who makes sure American ideas translate into an American Dream

The Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center (CEC) is a non-profit organization that supports entrepreneurs on their

path to building high-growth, sustainable businesses that serve as platforms for economic development and civic

leadership. Its flagship project, 1871, fulfills CEC‘s vision of a central address for entrepreneurs in Chicago. 1871

is a co-working space for digital tech startups and currently serves over 200 startups and 350 entrepreneurs who are

building their companies in Chicago.

In her role as the Chief Operating Offices, Una makes sure that 1871‘s daily operations run smoothly and effec-

tively, and that 1871 is a strong launch pad for amazing content, ideas exchanges and relationship building. On the

front end, this includes regularly connecting hundreds of startups with mentors,

advisors and investors, and collaborating with partners to launch init iatives that grow and promote the

startup community. On the back end, this means building a strong operational and managerial platform

that supports hundreds of members having an amazing place to work and learn each day.

As a business advisor, Una works with high-growth startups on financial models, investment presen-

tations, strategic decisions and financing strategies to achieve targeted business results. Una holds MBA

degree from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business with a concentration in entrepreneur-

ship and finance. She also lived in France where she graduated from the American University of Paris

and fell in love with her husband. Born and raised in Croatia, she spends her precious summer vacations

on the Adriatic coast.

Conversations in Culture: Persist to surrender Conversations in Culture: Persist to surrender Conversations in Culture: Persist to surrender

The Delegation of the European Union celebrates Croatia's entry into the European Union. Get an inside look at the

Delegation of the European Union while enjoying an evocative performance by Croatian-American artists Gita Blak and

Lana Is.

Conversations in Culture offers diverse programs on culture from Europe, including music, visual art, theater,

culinary art and literature – with an educational twist. In informal discussions leading and emerging experts provide

insights about their art form, in combination with a demonstration or performance. Programs provide an informal and

entertaining forum to catch up on new and ‗old‘ cultural gems.

In this remarkable multi media performance, Croatian artists Lana Is and Gita (Željka) Blak combine Lana‘s songs

and Gita‘s movies to create a connection between the audio and visual senses—commenting, expressing and developing

reflections of their journey to surrendering.

Željka Blakšić aka Gita Blak is a visual artist who currently lives and works between New York and Zagreb.

Focusing on an obligation of the female artist within a larger socio-political constellation she observes history and

questions the society we live in, transforming her observations and developing them using a variety of media. Often

combining sound, 16mm film, direct-on-film techniques, video and performance; her works translate into complex

audio-visual systems. www.gitablak.com

Lana Is aka Lana Cenčić is a musician and actress who currently lives and works in New York. After 29 years of

internationally acclaimed work as an actress, dancer and singer she now mostly focuses on to emphasizing her musical

creative work. Her Solo Debut Album ―In Your Head‖ is being released in the Fall of 2013 in the USA and Europe.

www.lanaismusic.com

Delegation of the European Union to the United States, Thursday June 27, 6:00-7:30 PM (Doors open at 5:30pm and

close promptly at 6:00pm), Reception Following, 2175 K Street NW | Entrance on 22nd St. Event is Free, but Reserva-

tions are Required. Register Now! Credits: EUintheUSA

The fusion of Lana’s

music and Željka’s

video installations

create an interdiscipli-

nary performance to

show the correlation of

their work.

5

Interview: An Englishman on HvarInterview: An Englishman on HvarInterview: An Englishman on Hvar

This is a story of one British guy, one Croatian island and a fair amount of happiness

Q: First and the most obvious question – how did an Eng-

lishman end up living on Hvar and why? You have the excellent marketing of the Croatia Tourist Board

to thank for that! In 2002, I was an aid worker in Somaliland. I

had just sold my house in the UK and was thinking of moving

abroad permanently. There was a commercial break on CNN, and

then I saw it - Croatia: The Mediterranean as it Once Was. I

decided to buy in Croatia that evening.

Q: Why Hvar of all places/islands?

I knew little about Croatia

and so travelled to see a friend

in Sarajevo who had been an

aid worker in the region. She

gave me a list of ten cool

places to live, I closed my

eyes and pointed to number 6 -

Hvar. Not only could I not

pronounce it, I had no idea it

was an island. My friends told

me Jelsa was the best place

(they were right). As there

was only one house for sale,

the choice was not difficult. I

signed a pre-contract 48 hours

after arriving.

Q: Two most similar and

most different aspects of life

in the UK and Croatia? I am struggling with the

first part of this question, as

even the air is much better on

Hvar. Differences: Hvar is an

astonishing place to bring up

children, a healthy, safe,

natural start to life away from

the commercial pressures of the West. Secondly, doing business

here is frustrating with the bureaucracy, but fits into the Dalma-

tian lifestyle. A cafe culture, where business is done over a

coffee. Weddings apart, I have not worn a suit for a decade.

Thirdly, the freshness of local produce. While it was init ially a

shock to find that tomatoes do not grow all year as they do in

supermarkets in the UK, the seasonal goodness more than makes

up for it. And fourthly, time. There is always time in Dalmatia.

Whatever job you are doing, a spontaneous coffee break is always

an option. There are different stresses here, but I could never

return to the pressure of the Western rat race.

Q: What puzzles you in Croatia even today?

The bureaucracy! A country where you have to produce an

original birth certificate no more than 6 months old, produce fire -

resistant ashtrays for a rental licence, and where one cannot buy

alcohol before 8am.

Q: Have you learned Croatian? My kids would say no, but I am confident enough to speak the

language (with an appalling accent) on television. Despite its

reputation as a difficult language, it is actually the most logical I

have come across. What kills me are the dialects, and having

learned my Croatian on Hvar, I have no idea if a new word if

Jesonski, Forski or Croatian.

Q. How do you rate tourist sector on Hvar and in general?

What are the strong points and the things that need to be

improved?

Nobody argues that it is a stunning island, but I think that it

needs to define what kind of island it is, and whether it is Hvar

Town or Hvar Island. There are five different tourist boards for

the island, which is a little strange, and one reason why Total

Hvar has been so successful, as we cover everything.

It is a party island, a gastronomic destination, a natural paradise,

a beach destination, filled

with heritage, but there is no

defin ing message which

brands the island. There is

SO much more potential in

Hvar, and it is exciting to be

part of its development.

Q: How to best present

Hvar and Croatia to the

American audience?

There are so many hooks

to attract American tourists

(who, by the way, were the

second biggest visitors to

Hvar Town in 2012). For

those attracted by celebrities,

this is where Tom Cruise

went walkabout on the main

s qu ar e , w her e Be yo nce

revealed her baby bump to

the world, and where Prince

Harry went for a nightclub

swim; for heritage lovers,

Hvar has the oldest public

theatre in Europe, is the only

island in the world with three

UNESCO heritages, is home to both the oldest town in Croatia

and the birth of organized tourism in Europe in 1868; for wine

lovers, the stunning Plavac Mali wines compare very favorably

with those of their better-known relative, Zinfandel; and for

lovers of stunning nature, this is the island of natural goodness,

whose festivals include lavender, honey and olive oil. It is an

island which has it all, an embarrassment of riches, which pro-

vides something for every American visitor. You are very wel-

come!

Q: Future plans?

I have two major plans for the future. I am a big fan of the

vision of the regional Central Dalmatia Tourist Board, and we

will be expanding our information service beyond Total Hvar and

Total Split in 2014, bringing some of the lesser known destina-

tions in inland Dalmatia into the international spotlight, with

some exciting projects throughout Dalmatia. But Hvar - and Jelsa

- is in my heart. This is a region of phenomenal wine potential,

and a major thrust of Total Hvar in the coming 12 months will be

to establish Svirce and Jelsa as the village and town of Hvar

wine. We have excellent cooperation with the Hvar Wine Asso-

ciation and several international agencies to establish central

Hvar as a fascinating wine and gastro destination, where we

guarantee not only quality wine, but an unforgettable Dalmatian

experience.

Paul Bradbury, originally from Manchester, has lived on Hvar

since 2002, and is author of Hvar: An Insider's Guide, owner of

the island's biggest information portal www.total-hvar.com and

official blogger for the Central Dalmatia Tourist Board

Plitivice Lakes Among Top 5 Waterfall Plitivice Lakes Among Top 5 Waterfall Plitivice Lakes Among Top 5 Waterfall

Hikes WorldwideHikes WorldwideHikes Worldwide

According to members of VirtualTourist.com, Plitvice Lakes National

Park are among Top 5 Waterfall Hikes Worldwide. Located in moun-

tainous central Croatia, this park features 16 interconnected lakes

between two mountains. Veliki Slap (the Big Waterfall) is a favorite

tourist hike, falling 255 feet with stairs climbing to the top and viewing

platforms at the bottom.

6

Croatia Travel News RoundupCroatia Travel News RoundupCroatia Travel News Roundup by Jeanne Oliverby Jeanne Oliverby Jeanne Oliver

The strong first trimester has given

tourism officials reason to be highly

optimistic about the summer season which

is expected to break new records. And why not? With Ryanair's

new base in Zadar, 60 direct routes to Dubrovnik Airport and an

exciting schedule of festivals and events this should be a great

summer to visit the EU's newest member. Here are some of the

most recent developments:

TRANSPORT

Local summer ferry schedules are online now which makes it

much easier to plan an itinerary. Croatia's national ferry line,

Jadrolinija, has retained the same routes and frequencies as last

year without raising prices. Other operators, such as Krilo, GV

Lines and LNP will soon relaunch their more frequent summer

services. It remains to be seen whether Krilo will again run

their popular catamaran from Split to Hvar that allowed a day

trip to Hvar town last year.

SIGHTS

Sokol Grad

In the Konavle region near Dubrovnik, Sokol Grad is an ancient

fortress that has recently been restored and opened to the pub-

lic. Part of the fort has been turned into a museum exhibiting

rare artifacts, plus it affords a sweeping view of the rugged

coastline of the Dubrovnik Riviera.

Ferdinand Budicki Car Museum

Croatia‘s first car museum will open this June in Zagreb with

more than 50 classic cars and motorcycles. Until its opening,

classic cars from its collection are being displayed on Zagreb‘s

squares.

HOTELS

Villa Orsula

After a six-month overhaul, this five-star hotel in Dubrovnik is

now open for business. Chic enough for a sheik, Villa Orsula is

an exclusive 11-room hotel with gardens stretching down to the

sea. The magnificently decorated rooms have been upgraded to

include state-of-the-art technology.

EXHIBITIONS

Robert Farber

This legendary New York City photographer is being featured at

Dubrovnik's Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. From

female nudes to landscapes, interiors, fashion and New York

City themes, the exhibition includes 92 images taken from the

1960s to the present.

FESTIVALS & EVENTS

Echo Festival

From June 6 to 9 in Kanegra Istria, this electronic music festi-

val showcases both established and emerging talent with an

emphasis on UK artists.

World Art Games

Zagreb, Umag, Vukovar and Ludbreg will be hosting the ―Art

Olympics‖, a festival of alternative art, theater, music and

dance running from June 29 to July 10.

For more Croatia travel information, see Jeanne's website:

www.croatiatraveller.com

Your Party Holliday in CroatiaYour Party Holliday in CroatiaYour Party Holliday in Croatia

If you want more than beach and the sun, browse through the Croatian coast impressive party list below

Croatia‘s founding festival is back as The Garden Festival reaches its 8th season. In its new

location of Tisno and running from 3 to 10 July, The Garden is keeping the failsafe formula of

distinguished acts in a picturesque locale. The 2013 line -up is led by Floating Points, Eats Every-

thing, Maurice Fulton, Bicep, Soul Clap and Theo Parrish, with club and boat parties offering

unique experience of Croatian Adriatic.

The one that‘s already sold out in a flash – Hideout Festival has become the staple choice for

electronic music lovers worldwide. Set in a picturesque beachside location on the Isle of Pag, guests

have returned year after year for their electronic festival experience by the stunning mountainous backdrop in Croatia. Runni ng from

30 June to 5 July on the Island of Pag, off the shore of Croatia, the Hideout line -up covers house, disco, techno and all things bass-

heavy. Four Tet, SBTRKT, Marco Carola, Skream and Benga, Loco Dice,Chase & Status, Jamie Jones, Modeselektor and a Pendulum

DJ set are among the confirmed headliners. Artists will be performing from sunrise to sunset at special Hide-

out Daytime events on the beach, numerous daily boat parties, as well as at the main festival site every night.

‗Underground Music in an Abandoned Fort‘?, that‘s the slogan of Dimensions, an underground electronic

music festival held at Fort Punta Christo, perhaps one of the most amazing festival locations ever imagined.

With a higher technical specification of sound systems than you will find at any other festival of its size,

Dimensions is the perfect place to enjoy the deep end of electronica, the finest in techno, house, deep dubstep,

drum & bass and other electronic sounds. With chilled beats playing during the daytime beach sessions so you

can relax and rejuvenate, and daily boat parties taking off from the harbour there is plenty to see and do. It‘s back in Sept ember 2013

and a line-up to match. Caribou leader Dan Snaith will bring his Daphni side -project alongside Pantha Du Prince, Dixon,Omar S,

Three Chairs, Model 500,Dave Clarke, Surgeon and many more.

Taking place shortly after is the Electric Elephant Festival that runs from 11 to 15 July. Nestled

by shimmering Adriatic waters, Electric Elephant is a boutique escape, with 5 days and 5 nights of

sun, sea and brilliant music in a truly idyllic location in Croatia. Entering its 6th season in 2013,

the festival is one of the original founding events, a gathering of like -minded souls united from

across Europe and beyond.

For the dedicated bass-heads, you can‘t go past Outlook Festival, the largest Bass music and

Soundsystem Culture festival in Europe, featuring the biggest names from the most vibrant and

cutting edge dance scenes around. Running from Thursday 29 August to Monday 2 September at Fort

Punta Christo (same place as Dimensions), its line-up includes Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) / Capleton / Talib

Kweli / Anthony B / Jay Electronica / Alborosie & The Shengen Clan / The Pharcyde and many more.

The European expansion of Miami‘s Ultra Music Festival now includes a stop in Croatia. The three-

day Ultra Music festival Croatia 2013, which is expected to attract some 60,000 fans at the Poljud

stadium in Split for the first two days, then moves to Croatia‘s premier island of Hvar, where leading

hotel group Suncani Hvar will be hosting a VIP event on the waterfront at Hotel Amfora in Hvar Town

on July 14.

A little later in the same month is the INmusic Festival in Zagreb, an open -air rock and urban music festival which attracts mor e

than 20,000 people every year. This year‘s lie up includes Arctic Monkeys, Iggy Pop & The Stooges, Basement Jaxx and Bloc Par ty.

So, book a plane ticket and get ready to party in Croatia this summer!

7

U n v e i l e d a t 2 0 1 1

Frankfur t Auto Show,

the Concept_One is an

e x c e p t io n a l s u p e r c a r

with a new propuls ion

co ncept pro duced by

C r o a t a i n c o m p a n y

Rimac Automobil i. With a cur b weight

o f 1650 kg, and 1088 HP, t he Con-

cept_One can reach 100 km/h fro m a

st andst il l in 2 .8 seconds and cont inue to

acce lerat e to t he limit o f 305 km/h.

92kWh of energy in t he Bat t ery Modu les de livers enough

ju ice― fo r up to 600 km of range.

R imac Automobil i deve loped a unique power t rain whic h

is d iv ided into four sub-syst ems, each cons ist ing

o f one moto r, inver t er and reduct ion gearbox.

Each o f t hose syst ems dr ives one whee l , working

complet e ly independent one fro m the other . It 's

ca lled All Whee l Torque Vector ing and it allows

a new approach to vehic le dynamics. Mate Rimac,

t he CEO of Rimac Automobil i says: ―I be lieve

t hat t he e lect r ic motor is a much bet t er machine

compared to t he ICE, in a lmo st all aspect s, espe-

c ia l ly fo r a sport s car .―

The car bon- fibre body is des igned by Adr iano

Mudr i: „E xp lo r ing the labyr int h o f creat ivit y, it

was obvious at an ear ly st age that t he des ign had

to be s imple and c lear with a lo t o f sporty e legance to

eas i ly cat ch up with it s compet it o rs in this power & exc lu-

s ivit y c lass.― The int er io r is des igned by a t eam of fo r mer

P ininfar ina emplo yees, led by Mr. Goran Popović. Aft er

t he Rimac Automobil i eng ineer ing t eam f inished the deve l-

opment and prototyp ing o f t he int er io r part s, t he leather -

spec ia l ist V ilner st epped - in. The resu lt is a high- t ech-

supercar int er io r which can be bo th appea ling and p leasant

to int eract with, at t he same t ime. Spec ia l at t ent ion has

been pa id to t he info t ainment syst em

and gadget s like head-up-d isp lays and

so ft -c lose doors which had to match

the propuls io n t echno logy in it s ad-

vancement .

R imac Automobili is a young com-

pany which deve lops and produces

high per fo r mance e lect r ic vehic les,

dr ive t rains and bat t ery syst em. This

a ll began when the founder o f Rimac

Automobil i, Mate Rimac, conver t ed

his o ld BMW to a race EV. He ex-

p lo red the t echno logy by improving ever y par t and began

to t eam-up with exper t s from d if ferent fie lds in o rder to

deve lop the next generat ion supercar . The o ld BMW is now

offic ia l ly ho mo logated as a ―Rimac Automo-

bi l i e-M3―and is used as a t est mule fo r bat -

t ery t echno log ies, bat t ery management , pro-

pu ls io n syst ems and lat est in- house deve lop-

ment s. Descr ibing the ir beg innings Mate

Rimac po int s out : ―Our first car evo lved in a

shor t per iod o f t ime into a pro ject t hat d idn‘t

g ive a fina l resu lt - inst ead it was a st ar t , t he

st art o f t he wor ld‘s fir st elect r ic hyper car –

t he Concept _One‖. The product ion o f t he

f ir st mode l, t he Concept_One, is l imit ed to 88

unit s, st art ing wit h de liver ies in 2013.

New International Fellowship Mobility Program for Experienced New International Fellowship Mobility Program for Experienced New International Fellowship Mobility Program for Experienced

Researchers Launched in CroatiaResearchers Launched in CroatiaResearchers Launched in Croatia NEWFELPRO is a fellowship program of the Government of the

Republic of Croatia and the Ministry of Science, Education and Sport

(MSES). The project is co-financed through the

Marie Curie FP7-PEOPLE-2011-COFUND

program. Its total value is 7 million euros, out

of which 60% is financed from national

sources. Project duration is from 2013 until

2017.

Long-term Objective

The long-term objective of the NEWFELPRO fellowship program is

to raise the presence of research-qualified individuals by providing them

with new opportunities to gain relevant international experience, and thus

contribute to the further development of international scientific networks.

Target groups

Two categories of researchers are eligible to apply: a) experienced

researchers, who must at the time of the call deadline at least possess a

doctoral degree or have at least four years of full-time equivalent research

experience; and b) senior researchers who must have a doctoral degree

and more than ten years of full-time equivalent research experience.

Strategic Objectives

Provide new impulse to national research programs for foreign

researchers, encouraging incoming mobility of experienced researchers

from abroad to Croatia (new incoming fellowship scheme, duration 12-24

months);

Facilitate additional mobility of the Croatian research

community by increasing outgoing mobility of Croatian

scientists abroad (new outgoing fellowship scheme,

duration 12-36 months); Reverse the ―brain drain‖

process by encouraging outstanding Croatian research-

ers to develop their careers in Croatia and also inviting

them to return to Croatia (new reintegration fellowship scheme, duration

24 months).

Open Calls for Proposals

NEWFELPRO will launch three open calls for proposals. The first

call is expected by the beginning of the third trimester, in July 2013, and

will be open for a period of 90 days, until October 2013. Calls will be

published on the project web pages http://public.mzos.hr/Default.aspx?

sec=3479

Project Added Value

NEWFELPRO allows applicants to freely apply within any scientific

area of their choice and fellows/grants are assigned only on the basis of

excellence and quality of research projects.

Contact Information

E-mail: newfelpro@mzos.hr

The World's Fastest Electric Supercar Comes From CroatiaThe World's Fastest Electric Supercar Comes From CroatiaThe World's Fastest Electric Supercar Comes From Croatia

The One Super Electric Car To Rule Them All

A group of 20

mult i - ta lented

engineers and

des igners se t t led

in Croat ia near

Zagreb are mak-

ing something

new and revolu-

t ionary

8

Take 'Game Of Thrones' Take 'Game Of Thrones' Take 'Game Of Thrones'

Walking Tour of Walking Tour of Walking Tour of

DubrovnikDubrovnikDubrovnik

The filming of the fourth season of the mega

popular HBO series will once again take place

in Croatia

The Game of Thrones fans can now visit famil-

iar filming locations on new walking tours in

Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Four-hour walking tours in Dubrovnik take fans

to the setting of King's Landing, the capital of the

Seven Kingdoms in the series. Visitors will check

out Lovrijenac Fortress and climb the city walls

that were attacked by the Baratheons in the first

series, from which point they can look out over

Blackwater Bay.

According to the travel site Viator, a guide will

also take visitors to several city parks used to film

countryside scenes in the series.

And Croat ia is…

. . . the land of a thousand l ighthouses

The lighthouses are the most important aids to navigation which

enable a safe day and night navigation through determined sea

regions. But more than that, lighthouses located along the Adriatic

coast from Istria to Dubrovnik, in difficult to access secluded areas,

in an oasis of peace and tranquility, guarantee a unique and uninter-

rupted summer holiday.

T h e e a r ly 1 9 t h

century saw the con-

st ruct ion o f many

lighthouses on the

Adriatic, scattered on

many rocks, islets and

islands. Close to each

other, and yet distant,

they marked the navigation routes that made the Adriatic outstand-

ingly safe for navigation. The lamps used to

be fueled by acetylene; today they are

powered by solar energy, self-sustaining as

such remote outposts ought to be.

There are total of

45 lighthouses along

Croatian Adriatic

coast, built at the

most prominent or distant points of the

Croatian territorial sea. All lighthouses are

automated and supervised by means of re-

mote control system. However, because of the

importance of lighthouses for safety of navi-

gation and in order to protect lighthouse

buildings from degradation, 17 lighthouses

still have personnel (1 or 2 light keepers in a

shift).

Lighthouses on the

Croatian Adriatic coast act as historical and

cultural monuments of a bygone era, and at

the same time

beacons of beauty

a n d s t a b i l i t y .

Whether your visit

is on a calm day of tranquil sea and sun-

shine, or during one of the many days that

t h e s e a

shows its

strength and

d e s t r u c t i v e

power as it relentlessly crashes against

the sheltering walls, these lighthouses

will grip your heart and imagination.

Book your unique lighthouse excursion at:

The largest canyon in the world after the Colo-

rado Canyon in the United States, the oldest and

largest European virgin forest where people still

have not set their feet, a meadow with more breeds

of orchids than the entire Great Britain, the largest

underground vertical in the world, the largest and

longest gorge in the world... All of these treasures

are hidden and can be found in the Dinaric Arc

region!

By recognizing an incredible beauty of the

region, cultural diversity and at the same time an

incredible similarity, WWF, world organization for

nature protection, has connected the nature parks

and national parks from Slovenia, through Croatia

to Albania in a regional network Dinaric Parks.

Take a look and visit them!

Discover “Dinaric Arc Discover “Dinaric Arc Discover “Dinaric Arc

Parks”Parks”Parks”

Through ''Dinaric Arc Parks“ project and the

website www.discoverdinarides.com WWF

invites the region and the world to discover ''an

undiscovered world of the Dinarides''

9

Photo of the MonthPhoto of the MonthPhoto of the Month

Each month we will publish a photo of

Croatia taken by one of the millions of

foreign tourist that discover “The Medi-

terranean as it once was” every year.

For more of these, check out the offi-

cial Facebook page of Croatia “Love

Croatia” or visit www.croatia.hr

This month’s photo features sunset

somewhere along the Adriatic coast.

Courtesy of Adam Sołtysiak.

Enjoy!

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of America, 2343 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20008-2803. Tel:+(202) 588 5899; Fax:+(202) 588 8937. Pub-

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in its content.

Visit Croatia!Visit Croatia!Visit Croatia!

Croatian National Tourist Board onlineCroatian National Tourist Board onlineCroatian National Tourist Board online

www.croatia.hr

Speaking of FactsSpeaking of FactsSpeaking of Facts

Zlatni Rat (Golden Cape) is a

narrow white pebble beach on the

southern coast of the island of

Brač

The shape of the beach shifts with

the changes in tide, currents and

wind, veering out into the sea 634

meters (0,4 miles) long