CROWN - Croatian World Network

Croatia wins S&M in Handball

Croatia's Denis Buntic (R) fights for the ball against Serbia's Ratko Nikolic during their Men's Handball World Championship second round match in Nabeul, Tunisia, February 3, 2005. REUTERS/Jean Paul Pelissier
Reuters - Feb 03 10:14 AM

Croatia's handball players Niska Kaleb, left, and his compatriots Blazenko Lackovic, 2nd right, and Igor Vori, right, stop handball player Vladica Stojanovic, 3th left, beside his compatriot Ratko Nikolic, 3th right, during the main round match between Croatia and Serbia Montenegro at the 19th World Handball Championship in Nabeul, Tunisia, on Thursday, Feb. 3, 2005. Serbia and Montenegro lost the match 24-23. (AP Photo/Christof Stache)

Croatia's Ivano Balic (R) and Igor Vori celebrates after their victory against Serbia during their Men's Handball World Championship second round match in Nabeul, Tunisia, February 3, 2005. Croatia defeated Serbia 24-23 and is qualified for the semi-finals in Tunis. REUTERS/Jean Paul Pelissier

Janica Kostelic claims historic downhill title for Croatia

Janica Kostelic of Croatia takes a curve to win women's downhill race at the Alpine Ski World Championship in the northern Italian resort of Santa Caterina, February 6, 2005. Kostelic won ahead of Elena Fanchini of Italy and Renate Goetschl of Austria. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini

52
Croatia's Janica Kostelic celebrates on the podium after winning the gold medal in the Women's Downhill at the World Alpine Ski Championships in Santa Caterina Valfurva, Italy, Sunday Feb. 6, 2005. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

The women's downhill event three medalists L-R silver medal Elena Fanchini of Italy, gold medal Janica Kostelic of Croatia and bronze medal Renate Goetschl of Austria pose on the podium at the Alpine skiing World Championship in Santa Caterina, February 6, 2005. REUTERS/Andreas Meier

Kostelic claims historic downhill title for Croatia
02-06-2005, 13h23

Thomas Coex - (AFP)
SANTA CATERINA, Italy (AFP) - Triple Olympic champion Janica Kostelic claimed her second crown of the world ski championships when she won the women's downhill.

Kostelic, the winner of the women's combined a few days ago, hit speeds of over 122 km/h to dislodge early leader Elena Fanchini of Italy from the leaderboard with a winning time of 1min 39.90sec.

Fanchini, with a time of 1:40.16, eventually finished in second having led the race for nearly an hour having started with bib number eight.

The 19-year-old Italian did however pick up what will be a valuable silver medal after Austria's former world downhill champion Renate Gotschl could only finish in third.

Kostelic, who has been more of a slalom/combined specialist, exploded with joy upon realising that she had won the title, her fourth world title overall and the first world downhill title won by a Croatian

"It's fantastic, it is incredible, I just never expected a result like this. It is just so nice," she said.

"When I saw Fanchini's time I thought we might as well go home, I thought no one could catch that time.

"But I was relaxed and had a smooth run and to win a downhill gold medal is simply incredible for me," added Kostelic, who has also won the slalom world title, in 2003, and two combined titles.

Sweden's reigning World Cup champion Anja Paerson, the winner of the women's super-G title here and a runner-up in the combined behind Kostelic, could only finish in seventh place after losing time on the second half of her run during which she had led her Croatian rival.

The 23-year-old Kostelic's victory was all the more special as she has only returned to World Cup skiing this season having spent the whole of the 2003/04 season sidelined, nursing knee injuries and having thyroid surgery.

Kostelic made history at the Salt Lake City Games in 2002 when she became the first women to win three gold medals in alpine Olympic events.

Michaela Dorfmeister, one of the co-favourites for the title, crashed out shortly after landing from the main jump after her left ski pulled away from her.

The Austrian sustained no serious injuries in the crash.

American Lindsey Kildow, a bronze medal winner from the super-G, just missed out on the bronze this time, coming fourth at 0.62 adrift of Kostelic.

http://www.turkishpress.com/sports/news.asp?id=050206132334.j25jh36y.xml

Croatia Takes Silver - Second in the World

Sun Jan 23,12:40 PM ET

Mirza Dzomba of Croatia is embraced by goalkeeper Venio Losert following their victory over France in their men's World Handball Championships semi-final match, in Rades stadium near Tunis, February 5, 2005. Croatia won 35- 32. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier
Reuters - Feb 05 10:30 AM

Argentina's Eric Gull (R) shoots to score a goal against Croatia's Denis Spoljaric during their men's Handball World Championship Group C match in Sfax, Tunisia, January 23, 2005. Croatia defeated Argentina 36-23. REUTERS/Jean Paul Pelissier

Australia's Bevan Calvert (C) breaks through Croatia's defender Goran Sprem (L) to score a goal against Croatia's goalkeeper Ognjen Latinovic (L) during their Men's Handball World Championship Group C match in Sfax, Tunisia, January 26, 2005. REUTERS/Jean Paul Pelissier

Croatian player Ivano Balic, right, competes for the ball with French player Gueric Kervadec, during the semifinal of the World Handball Championship between France and Croatia in the Rades stadium in Tunis, Tunisia, Saturday Feb. 5, 2005. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere)
AP - Feb 05 9:48 AM

Spain clinches World Handball title after beating Croatia in Tunisia

El Pais Spain | STAFF REPORTER

Madrid

In an overwhelming show of power, Spain's national handball team beat Sunday World and Olympic champions Croatia in the final of the Handball World Championships, held in Tunisia. This is the first time the Spanish team has clinched victory in the World Championship.

Spain, which had gained a major confidence boost after beating host team Tunisia in the semi-finals, appeared undaunted Sunday before Croatia's impressive track record of recent years, and beat the Olympic gold medalists 40-34.

After pulling ahead by one point in the 10th minute, Juan Carlos Pastor's men held on to their lead for the rest of the game. The Spaniards reached half-time eight points ahead, quashing with their effective defense several powerful attacks by Ivano Balic, the star of the Croatian team.

"This has been an incredible final. Spanish handball deserved this title. This is a great way to start the sporting year for Spain," Jaime Lissavetzky, secretary of state for sports, said after the game.

Lissavetzky traveled to Tunisia to witness the finals along with royal princess Cristina de BorbĂłn and her husband, IĂąaki UrdangarĂn, a former member of the national handball team.

France, the 2003 World Champions, took third place after a tight game in which they beat Tunisia 26-25.

The Croatian unit of Dutch brewer Heineken has raised its stake in Croatian brewer Karlovacka Pivovara

CROATIA: Heineken raises stake in local brewer
04 Feb 2005
Source: just-drinks.com editorial team

The Croatian unit of Dutch brewer Heineken has raised its stake in Croatian brewer Karlovacka Pivovara to 96.83% by acquiring 2.41% from minor shareholders, according to a local report. See News said Heineken Adria launched its buyout offer to minor shareholders in December. Karlovacka Pivovara is Croatia’s second largest brewery, with an 18.7% share of the domestic market, in 2003.

http://www.just-drinks.com/news_detail.asp?art=26080

Consumers and Investors Protection in Croatian Law

State Legal Minds Go International
Posted 2/3/2005 10:32 AM

A Kanawha County judge and lawyer take their experiences overseas to Croatia and London.
Story by Juliet A. Terry Email | Bio

West Virginia is exporting some of its judicial and legal talent this month, but only temporarily.

Kanawha County Circuit Judge Tod J. Kaufman has been invited to speak to an international law conference in Croatia this week. And Erica Mani, general counsel for former Gov. Bob Wise, is one of just two lawyers in the nation to participate in a six-week program in England.

Kaufman to Croatia
In early January, Kaufman got word that a Croatian law school was organizing an international conference, "Consumers and Investors Protection in European and Croatian Law -- Challenges of Global Sales and Capital Market."
The University of Rijeka Faculty of Law was expecting more than 100 participants from throughout Europe's business, economic, legal, government and academic communities -- and the university wanted Kaufman to speak about class actions and consumers in America's legal system.

"I've never been asked to speak to any conference before, so this comes as a real honor to be asked to speak at an international conference," Kaufman told The State Journal.

Kaufman said he believes his experience overseeing class-action litigation is what got the attention of the Croatian conference organizers, particularly the five years he has spent presiding over the consumer class-action Community Health Association, et. al. v. Lucent Technologies, et. al. That case garnered national headlines after a $110 million settlement was reached in May 2004.

"I think class actions are a positive vehicle for case management of large cases," Kaufman said. "Mass litigation, really, is another word for case management of complex cases, and it is an important field of law. It's always a challenge to me because of the social implications that go along with cases involving large numbers of people."

The lawyers involved in class actions and other mass litigation are "at the top of their field," are highly specialized and "they tend to be the best in the country," he said.

"This area of law really gives me opportunity for growth, and it's a really changing area," Kaufman said. "(This) really fascinates Europeans because countries like Italy and Croatia do not have class actions. Our ability to manage complex civil litigation through class actions is what prompted (my invitation to) the conference."

He said the American system of justice is the "envy of the world." Class actions help consumers seek redress in the courts. While one consumer may not have the resources to bring a case, an entire class does.

"It's my understanding that Europe wants to know how to do this," Kaufman said. "I'm just so honored to be included, and I'm also fascinated by the opportunity to be part of the interchange of ideas from legal scholars from around the world."

Kaufman has been a judge at the Kanawha County Circuit Court for 16 years and served in the West Virginia Senate from 1982-1988.

http://www.wtrf.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=518

An Englishman's second home in the sun may have long been his casa,

but in the 21st century it is more likely to be his dom or kucÂ´a.

Second home seekers look further afield

By Josephine Cumbo
Published: February 4 2005 16:44 | Last updated: February 4 2005 16:44

An Englishman's second home in the sun may have long been his casa, but in the 21st century it is more likely to be his dom or kucÂ´a. This is the prediction of overseas property experts, who are seeing a gradual switch in demand for second homes from the traditional sunspots of southern Spain and France to the emerging markets of central Europe, including Croatia, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.

Affordability is largely driving the change in demand, for both investment and retirement property. In January, France and Spain, which account for nearly two thirds of English households owning second homes abroad pushed the UK off its perch for house price inflation growth. This was good news for the estimated 200,000 Britons who own properties overseas, but disheartening for the thousands more wanting to get a foothold in southern Europe.

What has been driving the boom in parts of Europe has been a combination of low interest rates in the euro zone and the flight to bricks and mortar as investors shy away from the stockmarket.

In the UK, many first time buyers also have turned to Europe as an investment option, having been squeezed out of the market in the UK. A recent YouGov poll found that some young Britons were turning to buy-to-lets overseas having been priced out of their own backyards. In a recent report, international property agents Knight Frank provided evidence of the shifting appeal of the European market and new opportunities for investors. It found a typical €250,000 (£170,000) apartment in south west France did not go up in value over a 12 month period from 2003 to 2004, bucking the national trend, although it had 4 per cent rise in rental yields over the period. This compared with a €300,000 apartment in Croatia which grew 20 per cent in value over the same 12 months and produced a 20 per cent rise in rental yields.

“The attraction of the emerging markets is the low capital entry costs and considerably higher yields,” says James Price, associate with the International Residential Department at Frank Knight. “As the more mature markets have become increasingly popular and expensive, buyers have sought new locations offering greater value for money and which are less developed.” Recent figures released by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors made sober reading for those still dreaming of getting a foothold in high demand areas such as southern France or Spain. The report said a three-speed Europe was emerging with France, Spain, Ireland and the UK all occupying the fast lane with double-digit house price inflation. Countries in the middle had growth of 5 per cent, while those at the bottom, including the Netherlands, Germany and Greece had 0-2 per cent growth.

“Some countries have clearly unsustainable house price growth rates while others are still weak,” says Michael Ball, professor of urban and property economics at the University of Reading. “What is interesting is that there is no sign that the markets are converging.” Financial advisers say those hoping to take advantage of bargains in emerging areas, or even further a field such as South Africa or Thailand, should be aware of the risks of becoming overweight in property. The lessons of taking on too much could be coming home to roost for those who extended their mortgages in the UK at the top of the market to buy homes outright overseas. “People could potentially find themselves in negative equity if they are mortgaged to the hilt,” says Justin Modray, investment adviser with IFA Bestinvest. “Our general advice to people is to consider property as part of a balanced portfolio.” Modray also extends caution to those eagerly waiting to take advantage of changes to pension laws which take effect in April 2006, which will allow investment in residential property through a Self Invested Personal Pension or Sipp (see below).

Property experts are predicting an explosion in demand for buy-to-lets in places like France on the back of the law changes. “It is very important to appreciate the risks if you are investing the bulk of your retirement income [in property],” says Modray. Another key, but little publicised area, which could influence purchase decisions in the short term is the outcome of Inland Revenue deliberations on the tax status of those who have bought second homes through corporate entities. Using a corporate structure was a popular way for UK tax residents owning holiday homes abroad to legally by-pass local inheritance laws, specifically in France, which would dictate who the property would be passed on to, when the owner died.

But the Revenue has previously viewed these companies in UK tax terms and is deciding whether to tax the individuals as employees. “At present, taxpayers who have fully funded the purchase of their properties, but who happen to have used a corporate structure, are looking at substantial potential tax bills,” says Simon Rees, senior manager, private clients at PwC. “This is not, I believe, a remotely academic issue and people should be seriously concerned.”

This tax issue exposes the potential heartache for those wishing to buy property in areas where legal and tax interactions are complex. This will be a greater issue to those thinking of picking up a bargain in Croatia or Warsaw where local authorities may be unaccustomed to dealing with foreign investors.

Those not wishing to take the plunge directly and buy overseas but still wanting to ride a property boom in emerging markets are having more options opened to them. Development Capital Management, a Jersey incorporated investment company listed on Aim, the junior market, is seeking funds for a Black Sea Property Fund which will invest in properties to be built in prime coastal areas of Bulgaria's coast and ski resorts.

The fund managers have bought options on 1,300 properties and are offering a choice between property shares and capital protected units. DCM is estimating its property shares will have an internal rate of return of 41.2 per cent a year and its CPUs, 12.2 per cent a year. The property shares offer significant potential for growth, but significant gearing on the fund means losses could be high if the Bulgarian property market enters a downturn.

Financial advisers say the arrival of the fund shows that investing in overseas property is starting to move towards the mainstream. “This is a specialist area of the market,” says Modray. “But I can see them playing an increasing role in the future.”

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/ddcfe44a-7604-11d9-8833-00000e2511c8.html

Petar Radielovic

Petar Radielovic, a pillar of the Los AngelesCroatian community,

passed away on Sunday, January 23, 2005.

Croatian National Association – Croatian National Foundation
Hrvatska Narodna Udruga – Hrvatska Narodna Zaklada
P.O. Box 6591, Woodland Hills, CA 91365 USA
Tel: (818) 610-3388 Fax: (818) 610-1023

Funeral services will be held 10 AM Friday, January 28, 2005 at St. Anthony Croatian Catholic Church, 712 N. Grand Ave., Los
Angeles, CA 90012.

We will forward more information as we receive it.

Our sincerest condolences to the Radielovic family.

Holocaust Remembrance Events in Opatija and Rijeka

Today at 6:00 p.m. at the Juraj Sporer Art Pavilion in Opatija, an exhibit entitled "The Black Night Whispered (Victims of Fascism and Nazism in Liburnia)," will open, while only 2 hours later the Museum of the City of Rijeka will open two exhibits entitled "Italian Concentration Camps in the Croatian Littoral from 1941 to 1943" and "The Warsaw Ghetto." Both events are taking place within the scope of the "Days of Remembrance - Days of Warning" project and the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the inmates of Auschwitz. The projects are being co-sponsored by the Association of Anti-Fascist Veterans (UABA) of Rijeka and Opatija and the Eugen Kumicic Opatija Gymnasium as well as Primorje-Goranski County and the cities of Rijeka and Opatija.

In connection with the exhibits, a press conference was held yesterday in the Museum of the City of Rijeka where representatives of the sponsors discussed the project which began seven months ago with the goal to remember the Holocaust and to prevent crimes against humanity.
"Along with the exhibits, a number of related events will take place on this important anniversary, among them a round table on the theme of violence, presentations of the books "The Holocaust in Zagreb" and "The Jews of Rijeka and Opatija," the presentation of a thematic cycle of books published by the Adamic Publishing House in Rijeka, lectures on Nazi "medical" experiments and the camps in Kraljevica and Auschwitz, a thematic evening of films, student debates, and other events," said the head of the project, Oleg Mandic [himself a survivor of Aushwitz - JPK].

The President of the UABA for the city of Rijeka, Dinko Tamurat, added that preparations are under way for a number of events connected with the upcoming anniversary of the liberation of Rijeka from fascism [May 3 - JPK]. Tamurat noted that this project is the only one of its kind in Croatia. He emphasized both elementary and high schools as well as colleges will participate as the goal is to introduce young people to an issue which has until now been somewhat ignored.
The custos of the Museum of the City of Rijeka and the editor of the book "Italian Concentration Camps in the Croatian Littoral," Mladen Grguric, stated that the exhibit opening in the Museum will include original documents, photographs and items which evidence the repression and terror carried out by Italian occupational authorities in the area of the Croatian Littoral and Gorski kotar which had been annexed by Italy. The exhibit concerning the Warsaw Ghetto will feature 16 photographs, secretly taken by a German soldier, Joe Heydecker, which show all of the suffering and anguish which Jews went through in a portion of Warsaw surrounded by a 3 meter high wall. Grguric added that four camps were located in the area of the Croatian Littoral and Gorski kotar: Lovran, Bakar, Kraljevica and Kampor on Rab Island. The latter was the worst of the four. The greatest crime against civilians in the area committed by the Italians took place in the village of Podhum where on 12 July 1942 Italian troops executed 91 men and boys ranging in age from 15 to 55, while the remaining 889 inhabitants of the village were imprisoned and the village was looted and burned.

Speaking of the Opatija exhibit, professor Tatjana Matetic stated that visitors will be able to learn of these terrible historical events through four authentic individual stories of survivors of the camps as well as films and photographs.

Rudimir Rudolf Roter - A Righteous Among Nations

The following is a translation of an article which appeared in the January 27, 2005 edition of Slobodna Dalmacija, a Split daily. John Peter Kraljic, Esq.

One of the latest decisions taken by Yad Vashem, an Israeli state institution which preserves the memory of the Holocaust and the tragic deaths of millions of Jews, was to posthumously name Rudimir Rudolf Roter as a "Righteous Among Nations."

This is a special recognition granted to non-Jews who during the time of terrible Nazi persecutions provided help to Jews without any kind of material gain. The recognition is granted on the basis of documents and statements of witnesses given before a commission at Yad Vashem. This also means that this person from the Peljesac Peninsula and a later inhabitant of Dubrovnik will have his name carved on a wall at the memorial center in Israel as a testament to the bravery and morals of a this special man and humanist, which Roter (1897-1959) undoubtedly was.
This important recognition will be presented to his younger daughter, Jasneka Roter-Petrovic, otherwise a well known pianist who performed in venues throughout the world. Today she is a retiree living in Dubrovnik, while her older sister, Zrinka, lives in Canada.

It is interesting to note that the people of Potumje on Peljesac even today remember how "our Rudi" was a well known carpenter who always had been hungry for knowledge. It was fate that led him to wrap some nails in an old newspaper in the village store where he happened to read about the possibility of getting an education through correspondence classes. He jumped at the opportunity and finished high school in Split in only two years and later graduated from the Philosophical College in Zagreb.

His life as a journalist brought him to Sarajevo where he found himself at the beginning of World War II. He and his family along with his colleague, Abraham Koen, and Koen's family left for Peljesac. Putting his life and that of his family in danger, Roter as well as the other inhabitants of Potumje hid Koen and his family for a long time, until Koen and his family were forced to leave Peljesac in 1942 as a result of increasing danger. Koen later became a reporter for Vjesnik [today a Zagreb daily - JPK] and was killed in 1944 during an enemy offensive near Korenica.

The decision to give Roter this recognition was based on statements made by Nevenka Poljanic (87) and Kate Fabijanovic of Potumje and on material which was collected by Stipe Anticevic. Koen's daughter, Mira Solic (66), who today lives in Belgrade, confirmed the story in an account given to Yad Vashem.

Roter was an important supporter of the Croatian Peasant Party prior to the War. After the War, he was one of the founders of Radio Dubrovnik, the Dubrovnik Summer Festival and the weekly Dubravacki vjesnik. For a time, he was also a correspondent for Slobodna Dalmacija. It is important to emphasize that he is the first Croatian journalist to be named a Righteous Among Nations and indeed is one of the few journalists in all of Europe to be so honored.

http://www.seattleweekly.com/features/0504/050126_arts_performpick.php