A delegation of Zagreb County led by Mr. Stjepan Kožić, the County Head, visited Bratislava Local Authority on 5 and 6 June. Mr. Kožić and the delegation met his counterpart from Bratislava Lubo Roman, the leadership of the Croatian Cultural Union in Slovakia, and the mayors of Rača and Malacke. They attended the reception at the Croatian Embassy, where there were Slovakian guests and representatives of Croatian firms in Slovakia. Both sides emphasised close relations between the two countries. The Bratislava County head pointed out Slovakian readiness to help Croatia on its way to the EU. The delegation of Zagreb County met the representatives of Croatian cultural societies from several Slovakian places. All the participants of two-day talks were invited to the Croatian Embassy to visit the exhibition “Croatian aristocracy in Slovakia” and taste the vines from Zagreb County.

In the Ethnographic Museum of the city of Voss there is an exhibition of Croatian ethnographic treasure – traditional toys and gingerbread hearts – from the holdings of the Ethnographic Museum in Zagreb, which will stay open until 4 September. At the opening of the exhibition an inspired speech was made by Mr. Dag Saeverud, the Museum director and the Head of the Department for Culture and Environment of Hargaland County. Mrs. Iris Biškupić, the curator of the Ethnographic Museum Zagreb, introduced the exhibition to the guests. The exhibition was opened by Mrs. Jagoda Vukušić, Croatian Ambassador to Norway. Lots of people came to the opening of the exhibition, and later on numerous groups on schooltrip groups, tourists and ethnographic heritage fans visited the exhibition.

The representative exhibition “Art of Croatia” first shown with great success in Sofia in May and June 2001 and then in Varna, Dobrič and Stara Zagora, has been opened in the Art Gallery in Plovdiv on 16 June 2003-09-30 The exhibition consists of paintings and statues created by old masters and owned by the National Gallery for Foreign Art in Sofia; the works of contemporary Croatian artists and finally the art jewellry of Stjepan Balja. The works presented include Vlaho Bukovac, Bela Čikoš-Sesija, Klement Menci-Crnčić, Robert Frangeš-Mihanović, Oton Iveković, Celestin Medović, Ivan Meštrović, Vasilije Jordan, Dragica Cvek-Jordan, Dimitrije Popović, Miroslav Šutej etc. The audience at the opening was addressed by the Croatian Ambassador Tonči Staničić.

On the occasion of the end of academic year on College d’Europe in Brugge, the “Central European Summer Ball” took place on 17 June 2003. It was organized by the attendants of College d’Europe from Central Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Hungary and Croatia) under the auspices of Mr. Otto von Habsburg and the five ambassadors of the countries mentioned, accredited in Belgium, i.e. to the EU. The guests were addressed by the Croatian Ambassador Ljerka Alajbeg and the Austrian Ambassador Thomas Mayr-Harting. Sponsors provided national gastronomic specials from their respective countries. Croatia was represented by a selection of wines. About 30 Croatian students have attended this elite institution.

In the central premises of Alexandrian library the exhibition of photographs “Unseen Croatia”, by Mr. Ivo Pervan, the distinguished Croatian photograph, was staged. The exhibition was opened by Mr. Ivica Tomić, Ph. D., Croatian ambassador to Egypt, and Mr. Taher Kalifa, director at the Alexandrian library. At the opening there were members of the diplomatic corps, cultural and scientific experts from Alexandria, and media representatives. With the photographer Mr. Ivo Pervan, the exhibition was organised by the Ministry of Culture of the two countries, the Alexandrian library and the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Cairo. The exhibition was staged in honour of the Croatian national holiday and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of mutual diplomatic relations.

At the 3rd Festival of young opera singers “Opera Stars of Tomorrow” in Prague on 18th June three Croatian artists performed – Martina Zadro, soprano, Renata Pokupić, mezzosoprano with Lana Bradić at the piano. The young artists peformed arias from the operas by Mozart, Puccini, Dvoŕak, Verdi and Offenbach.

On the occasion of the first journey of the seasonal train “Jadran Express” from Prague to Split there was a ceremonial send-off of the train and a press conference at the main railway station in Prague on 20 June. Together with the hosts at the send-off and the press conference there were representatives of the Croatian Embassy and the Croatian National Tourist Board in Prague. A group of 30 Czech journalists and touroperators went on the first journey by train from Prague to Split.

At the International philatelist exhibition in Locarno, Switzerland, with accomplishments and philatelist offer by many countries, Croatian appearance was very noticed, whereby the stand of Croatian Post Ltd., although more modestly equipped, was in line with other exhibits and exhibitors. Croatian Ambassador to Switzerland Mr. Mladen Andrlić and his associates visited the exhibition on 21 June, and talked to Mrs. Sela Prislan-Fujs, whereby it was agreed to try starting other types of philatelist promotion of the Republic of Croatia in Switzerland.

In Devinsko Novo Selo near Bratislava the 15th Croatian Culture Festival was organised by the Croatian Cultural Union of the Republic of Slovakia. The programme consisted of an exhibition of photographs and documents, preparation of traditional Croatian meals and drinks, performance of folk dancers from Slovakia, Austria, Hungary and Croatia, a reception at the mayor’s office, a mass celebrated by the Jesuite, Mr. Ferdinand Takač, Ph. D., and of a march-past of the festival procession. At the festival Croatia was represented by HKUD Nova zora from Donja Lomnica near Zagreb. At the Festival opening Croatian Ambassador Andrea Gustović-Ercegovac welcomed all the guests and emphasised that this and similar events have a full support of the Croatian Embassy and the Republic of Croatia. Mrs. Gustović-Ercegovac handed in a special award for merits in preservation and cultivation of Croatian culture in this area to Jesuite Mr. Takač, Ph. D., the author of Croatian-Slovakian dictionary.

The Embassy of the Republic of Croatia organised Days of Croatian Culture a few days before Croatian National holiday, and presented six programmes to the b-h audience at eight events in Sarajevo, Kiseljak and Zenica in just ten days. The latest achievements in Croatian culture were shown – three plays, two exhibitions and poetry reading. At the opening Mr. Ivan Šimonović, Ph. D., Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Josip Vrbošić, Ph. D., the Croatian Ambassador to Bosnia-Herzegovina addressed the audience. The following plays were shown – Đuka Begović, by Ivan Kozarac as a monodrama by Ivo Gregurević, The Tree was Happy by Rene Medvešek, performed by Teatar Exit, Zagreb, and Antigona in New York by Janusz Glowacki, performed by Teatar Rugantino. At three poetry readings the book by Drago Štambuk was presented – The Bats are Birds in a Tuneless Country. Mislav Kukoč, Ph. D., minister plenipotentiary, spoke about the author. In the gallery “Kameni teatar 55” in Sarajevo the multimedial exhibition “Split Round of Love” was opened, which is an exhibition of photographs by Feđa Klarić with the film “1700 years of Split” by Mladen Mateljan. A day before the Croatian National holiday, 24 June, in the foyer of the National Theatre in Sarajevo, a representative exhibition of contemporary Croatian painting “Croatian Painting Now and Then” was opened. The interest for Croatian cultural events was high, both by citizens and media. Namely, during Days of Croatian Culture about 60 articles with pictures came out in daily newspapers from Sarajevo, Mostar, Banja Luka, Zagreb and Split, and numerous reports on TV and radio.

Minister of Science and Technology Gvozden Flego, Ph. D., visited Berlin at the end of June and talked to the President of the Rector Conference of Germany Mr. Gaehtgens, Ph. D., and with the vicepresident of the Humboldt University Mrs. Ischinger, Ph. D., about the future of Croatian studies at the Slavic Institute of the University, and about the possible co-operation in the project of testing the quality of Croatian universities, financed by the EU. During her last visit to the Slavic Institute of the Humboldt University Berlin Croatian ambassador Mrs. Vesna Cvjetković Kurelec learned that, due to economising, there is a possibility of dissolving the department for Croatian studies and other Slavic languages at the University, and informed the Croatian Ministry of Science and Technology and other colleagues, ambassadors from the respective countries about that. Thus Berlin would lose its special place as a bridge between East and West. Minister Flego said to Mr. Gaehtgens and Mrs. Ischinger that the Croatian Ministry of Science and Technology was ready to send to Berlin a Croatian language instructor, to support financially his work, send more books and textbooks, and help in the implementation of the students’ and teachers’ exchange programme. Mr. Flego also talked to the President of the Rector Conference about the intention to realise the necessary quality check of Croatian universities, with the means approved by the EU, in a co-operation with the Conference of German Universities, and asked him to work together when choosing university-partner. The Croatian minister is coming to Berlin again in September, to the meeting of European ministers of science, when he will discuss the plan and programme of the bilateral co-operation for the following three years at the German Ministry of Science.

The traditional picnic of the Society of Croats from Međimurje Region in Switzerland was organised in Frauenfeld, in Armbrust Schuetzenverein shooting range, on 29 June. Among numerous guests, Croatian and Swiss, on behalf of the Croatian Embassy came Mr. Josip Špoljarić, First Secretary. The picnic is regularly organised at the end of every school year before summer vacation, which most of the members of the biggest Croatian society in Switzerland spend in homeland. Mr. Špoljarić thanked to the President of the Society of Croats from Međimurje Region for a good co-operation and engagement in collecting humanitarian aid for the poor in Croatia.

Three Croatian trainees on parliamentary training in Berlin – Marijana Tomičić, Lidija Lacko Vidulić and Marko Tomičić – organised a reception for their 70 colleagues from other countries at the Croatian Embassy Berlin on 28 June. On that occasion they presented tourist potentials of our country, and introduced interesting data about Croatian culture, history and current situation, through video clips and pictures. Croatian ambassador Mrs. Vesna Cvjetković Kurelec, Ph. D., welcomed young trainees. In her address to the parliamentary trainees from European countries and the USA, Mrs. Ambassador spoke about Croatian way to the EU and wished them to successfully implement everything they learn at the training in Germany in the parliamentary and social life in their countries.

The Culture and Sports Society “Duvanjska Rosa” organised its traditional summer picnic in Niederwagen. About 200 Croats took part, mostly from Posavina region, but also from other parts of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Croatian Ambassador to Switzerland, Mr. Mladen Andrlić also visited the picnic. This summer event is regularly organised at the end of every school year. There were tournaments in football, bowling, badminton and cards game belot. The leadership of the Society and numerous participants thanked the Croatian ambassador for the visit and for the lasting care and readiness to co-operate, shown by the employees of the Croatian Embassy in Switzerland.

Days of Culture of nine Slavic countries (Russia, Czech Republic, Croatia, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Srbija and Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia) were organised from 18-28 June in Villa Piccolomini in Rome, by the Cultural Association Centro Dionysia together with the diplomatic missions of the Slavic countries, who presented successfully to the Italian public a part of its rich cultural opus. The cultural event was sponsored by the Roman city government. Croatia had a very noticeable place, since it was the only country with two evenings at disposal. Croatia could present several cultural projects due to a substantial financial help by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia. The first day was marked by the exhibition of photographs of the young photographers – members of the Croatian Photographers’ Association. The exhibition was staged in a hall of Villa Piccollomini, according to the ideas of the cultural advisor from the MFA. Croatian ambassador Kraljević and other Croatian diplomats came to the exhibition, as well as other numerous guests and journalists. At the same evening the theatre group ZKM performed a very interesting and original play “Maiden Leap”. The second day of Croatian culture (21 june) was opened by an expert lecture of the distinguished university professor, Mr. Neven Budak, historian, who gave a brief overview of Croatian history, based on historical facts. Croatian Days of Culture ended with a concert by a famous etno-jazz musician, Mrs. Tamara Obrovac, and of Trans-Histrian Ensamble. It should be pointed out that the organiser invited professor Matvejević, Ph. D., a distinguished Croatian intellectual, a professor at La Sapienza University Rome, and since recently advisor to Mr. Prodi, to give a lecture. On 23 June Mr. Matvejević gave an interesting lecture “L’Europa e l’altra Europa” (Europe and other Europe) in the hall of Villa.

On the premises of the Croatian Catholic Mission Luzern a reunion assembly of the Croatian Football Club Zrinski was organised on 29 June. About 70 members, players and Club fans came to the assembly, as well as the president of the Society of Croatian Football Clubs, Mr. Josip Fotak, the Head of the Croatian Catholic Mission, father Stanko Banožić, Mr. Ivan Bulaja, consul I at the Consulate General Zurich, and Mr. Josip Špoljarić, First Secretary at the Croatian Embassy in Switzerland. The assembly unanimously chose 17 members of the management board, and Mr. Baraban for the president of the Club, who pointed out that the Croatian Football Club Zrinski is a Croatian, not a regional club, and that their aim is to gather Croatian youth all over Switzerland.