Croatian Foreign Minister Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic to Speak on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006, 10 a.m., at the Library of Congress in Washington

This is a free event open to the public.

Web link:
http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2006/06-030.html

Croatian Foreign Minister Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic to
Speak on Feb. 14

Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, Croatian minister for
foreign affairs and European integration, will give a
speech titled “Croatia: Partnerships, Priorities and
Progress” at the Library of Congress at 10 a.m. on
Tuesday, Feb. 14, in Room 119 of the Thomas Jefferson
Building, 10 First St. S.E., Washington, D.C.

The event, which is sponsored by the Library’s John W.
Kluge Center, is free and open to the public; no
tickets or reservations are required.

Grabar-Kitarovic became foreign minister in 2005, and
her main task in that role is to guide Croatia into
the European Union and NATO. In October 2005, the
European Union opened membership talks with Croatia.
Grabar-Kitarovic’s speech will address Croatia’s
desire to join the European Union and the country’s
relationship to Europe.

A native of Rijeka, Croatia, Grabar-Kitarovic lived
for a while in the United States, where she attended
Los Alamos High School in Los Alamos, N.M. Soon after
her graduation from the University of Zagreb in
Croatia, she began her diplomatic career as adviser to
the International Cooperation Department of the
Ministry of Science and Technology of Croatia. She
later became head of the North American Department of
the Foreign Ministry and was assigned to the Croatian
Embassy in Canada. In 2003, Grabar-Kitarovic was
elected to the Croatian parliament.

Through a generous endowment from John W. Kluge, the
Library of Congress established the Kluge Center in
2000. The center brings leading scholars together with
key Washington policymakers to discuss important world
issues, drawing on the Library’s incomparable national
and international collections. For information about
the fellowships, grants and programs offered by the
Kluge Center, visit www.loc.gov/kluge .
 

Elektricna energija obnovljivim izvorima, posebice vjetroelektranama

Hrvatska - HEP - Upravni komitet - UCTE

OTS: Sastanak Upravnog komiteta UCTE-a
Zagreb (ots) - Hrvatska elektroprivreda d.d. i HEP - Operator prijenosnog sustava d.o.o. domacini su tri vazna medjunarodna sastanka u Zagrebu od 18. do 20. sijecnja 2006. Dana 19. sijecnja, u cetvrtak, odrzat ce se sastanak Upravnog odbora UCTE-a, najviseg medjunarodnog tijela za koordinaciju pogona i razvoja elektroenergetskih sustava kontinentalne Europe, na kojem ce se medju ostalim razmatrati pitanja sigurnosti opskrbe elektricnom energijom, problematika obnovljivih izvora, posebice vjetroelektrana i njihovog utjecaja na
sigurnost pogona UCTE sustava, buduci razvoj i sirenje UCTE sustava itd. Kako se ove godine obiljezava 150 - ta obljetnica rodjenja Nikole Tesle, velikog izumitelja u podrucju elektrotehnike, sudionicima ce biti
organiziran prigodni posjet demonstracijskom kabinetu Tehnickog muzeja u Zagrebu. Sa ovim sastankom Upravnog odbora UCTE pocinje dvogodisnji mandat novog predsjednistva UCTE u kojem je jedini novi clan u svojstvu njegovog predsjednika g. Jose Penedos iz Portugala. Ovom prigodom g. Penedos ce predstaviti prioritete svojeg programa. G. Penedos je predsjednik REN-a, portugalskog operatora prijenosnog sustava, kao i portugalski predstavnik u vise medjunarodnih elektroenergetskih organizacija: ETSO, EURELECTRIC i CIGRE. Iza sebe ima i zavidnu politicku karijeru, gdje je izmedju ostalog u vise mandata obnasao funkcije drzavnog tajnika za industriju i energetiku te obranu, a bio je i na celu nekoliko radnih tijela portugalskog parlamenta. Prije cetiri godine HEP je bio prvi put domacin sastanka Upravnog odbora UCTE -a, kada su prioritet UCTE-a predstavljale aktivnosti na pripremi sigurne rekonekcije u ono vrijeme razdvojenih UCTE sinkronih sustava. Obnova TS 400/110 kV Ernestinovo i izgradnje nove TS 400/220/110 kV zerjavinec s pripadajucim dalekovodima znacila je kljucni doprinos uspostavi cjelovitog UCTE sinkronog sustava, sto je bilo
prepoznato i u cinjenici da je HEP koordinirao iz nacionalnog dispecerskog centra u Zagrebu tehnicku realizaciju procesa rekonekcije. UCTE rekonekcijom su se osim tehnicko-komercijalnih koristi za hrvatski elektroenergetski sustav stvorile tehnicke pretpostavke za jedinstveno trziste elektricnom energijom u Europskoj Uniji i jugoistocno Europi. Dan nakon sastanka Upravnog odbora UCTE 20. sijecnja 2006. u petak odrzati ce se sastanak UCTE radne grupe "Pogon i sigurnost" (UCTE WG "Operation and Security") i sastanak ETSO radne grupe SETSO za jugoistocnu Europu (Southeast European Transmission System Operators).

NAPOMENA O IZVORU:
Hrvatska elektroprivreda d. d.
Radomir Milisic, glasnogovornik
Ulica grada Vukovara 37
10000 Zagreb
tel: +385 1 63 22 111
fax: +385 1 61 70 430
web: http://www.hep.hr
 

Uspio probni rad vjetroelektrane na Pagu

Utorak, 9. studenog 2004.

Uspio probni rad vjetroelektrane na Pagu
RIJEKA - Probni rad vjetroelektrane koju je na Pagu izgradila tvrtka Adria Wind Power, prema dosadaĹĄnjim uÄ?incima, u skladu je s planiranom godiĹĄnjom proizvodnom od 15 milijuna kilovatsati elektriÄ?ne energije, istaknuo je direktor te tvrtke TonÄ?i Panza.
Za nekoliko dana bit će obavljen tehniÄ?ki pregled vjetroelektrane radi ishodovanja uporabne dozvole, a nakon toga bit će zavrĹĄen probni rad, te bi trebala poÄ?eti redovna proizvodnja i distribucija elektriÄ?ne energije u skladu s ugovorom, rekao je Panza. Dnevna proizvodnja ovisi o vjetru, a u proĹĄla dva dana vjetroelektrana je radila maksimalnom snagom od 5,95 megavata, kazao je Panza.
U probni rad puĹĄtena je sredinom listopada. Tvrtka Adria Wind Power sklopila je s HEP-om ugovor o otkupu i distribuciji proizvedene energije na rok od 15 godina. (Hina)
 

Where the sea meets the mountains,

wind has been leaving its imprint since time immemorial.

THE RAVNA WIND FARM ON THE ISLAND OF PAG

Ever since the earliest days of humankind, the forces of nature have been harnessed to cater for man’s needs. A mighty wind, "heaven's breath", has been revered throughout civilizations and ascribed divine attributes. After catching the wind in sails, people reached the New World and made the greatest nautical discoveries.
 

Thanks to technological advances, modern civilization has harnessed wind power, using it as a driving force and converting it into the noblest form of energy – electricity. This is the story of the first Croatian experience in harnessing the power of the wind to generate electricity.

www.adriawindpower.hr

The story takes us to the island of Pag – an island famous for lace making. Owing to its ornamental karst formation, the island itself looks like lacework  in the open sea. The bora, a north-easterly wind whose name in pre-Slavic means "cruel wind", constantly erodes its eastern coast, facing the Velebit Mountain.
Exposed to the fury of the "cruel wind" for eons and hammered by salt-laden waves, this part of the island was stripped bare. The bora structured its topography into a Moon-like landscape. This is the very place where the Adriatic winds, bora, sirocco, the north tramontana wind, the mistral, land breezes and levanter will drive the turbine blades of the first commercial wind farm in Croatia.

Embracing the initiative of Hrvatska Elektroprivreda, which continuously encourages private investment in small-scale power projects – small hydro and thermo and wind farms, the Croatian company Adria Wind Power constructed a wind farm rated at 5,950 kilowatts at the Ravna site on the island of Pag. Ravna is only one of the potential locations along the Adriatic coast suitable for wind-generation.

Years-long wind speed measurements at Ravna have confirmed that an average speed of 6.4 meters per second justifies the construction of the future wind farm, since such a site must have a minimum annual average wind speed of 5.5 meters per second to be considered economically viable.

19th of August 2004, Ravna site, on the island of Pag. The first commercial wind farm for electricity generation is being installed in Croatia above the Pag salt plains. Due to strong and frequent bora gusts exceeding 40 meters per second, a robust wind generator design was chosen. Generator manufacturer is the Danish company, Vestas. Since all equipment is prefabricated, on-site erection will take only three days. Two days will suffice for mechanical erection, one day will be enough to connect power cables and control cables.

Two point four meter-deep foundations measuring 11.5 x 11.5 meters were excavated, leveled, and reinforced by 19 tons of steel. Thirty concrete mixers continuously cast a total of 170 cubic meters of concrete to reinforce the foundations. A 4.5-ton heavy ring is embedded in a concrete foundation plate for tower connection. The reinforced steel foundations weigh 483 tons, 850 tons together with backfill material.

A transformer house was constructed adjacent to the tower foundations to transform the V 52 Vestas wind generator voltage to a higher, distribution level. At the point of wind farm's connection, electricity will be fed into the distribution grid in accordance with the Interconnect Agreement with the Distribution Service Area "Elektra Zadar".

Cable ducts are being excavated here on rocky ground to accommodate 4,500 meters of cables with a cross-section of 3 x 185 square millimeters, and 3,800 meters of fiber optic cables.

A 5,500 meter-long and 4.5 meter-wide access road was constructed to enable the delivery of large equipment by heavy trucks. Now, nothing stands in the way of equipment acceptance.

Two construction cranes, one weighing 400 tons and the other 60 tons, are erecting the tower.

While the larger crane hoists a segment of the tower, the smaller one supports the segment in order to mount it without touching the ground. The tower consists of two segments, the first segment being 23 meters long and the second 24 meters long. It weights a total of 51 tons, with a 3.3-meter bottom diameter and 2.2-meter top diameter.

Tower erection is completed and now the mounting of the wind generator head is in progress.

Blades are assembled to the rotor hub on the ground. Glass fibre reinforced plastic blades are
25.3 meters long and weigh 1.9 tons, without bearings. A 52-meter diameter rotor weighs 10 tons.

The swept rotor area is 2,124 square meters, and its rotation speed ranges from 14 to 31.4 revolutions per minute. Blades are connected to the hub containing three flanges and encased in a plastic shield that improves its aerodynamic properties. The crane lifts the rotor, which is then attached to the main shaft, and the mechanical assembly is completed.

The site houses seven wind generators, each of 850 kilowatts.

The company Adria Wind Power will sell all the generated electricity to Hrvatska Elektroprivreda, except for those quantities required for auxiliary on-site supply. When the wind farm is inoperative, Hrvatska Elektroprivreda will supply electricity for the plant's needs under effective tariff rates.

There is no doubt that the wind farm prospect will become a new symbol of the island of Pag – the island of winds, salt, lace and stone. Although wind power was used as early as three thousand years ago to grind grain and to pump water, it seems that its power has now been rediscovered. The past decade witnessed an explosive growth in wind farm construction, especially of those feeding generated electricity into the power grid. And no wonder. Global climate change and a disturbed natural balance are real causes for concern. Efforts are being intensified to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, primarily oil. Wind power has bright future prospects. Global onshore wind potential has been
estimated at between 20,000 and 50,000 terawatt hours a year. Offshore wind energy is a promising application of wind power, considering the great wind potential in open seas. In view of total worldwide electricity consumption, which in 2000 amounted to 13,200 terawatt hours, it is evident that wind power is gaining in importance as an emission-free, locally available and inexhaustible source of energy, which reduces the country's reliance on energy imports.

On the other hand, wind energy is unpredictable. This is a limiting factor from the point of view of power system management, and represents an obstacle to wider exploitation of wind power for electricity generation purposes. Since adequate reserve capacities should be made available in the system beforehand, wind-generated electricity is relatively more expensive compared to traditional electricity generation technologies. A number of developed countries have recognized the long-term benefits from wind-generation - Germany, Spain and Denmark in particular. However, in those countries wind energy receives large government subsidies that offset the higher purchasing price of wind-generated power and which stimulate such generation.

The costs of wind energy are expected to fall in the future, as a result of further commercialization of high capacity wind generators. By the year 2010, EU member states will have to increase the share of renewables in their overall power balances.

Hrvatska Elektroprivreda, a national power company, meets the requirements to adjust itself to EU practices. A more than fifty percent share of hydro in her power system is an advantage in meeting this end. In cooperation with private investors, Hrvatska Elektroprivreda has contributed to the construction of the small Čabranka and RoĹĄki Slap hydro plants, and the small Pliva and JakuĹĄevac thermo facilities, burning natural and landfill gas. Adria Wind Power accepted the challenge of the wind. Soon, other companies developing wind power projects in Croatia will be traveling the same road. There will be other prospects resembling that of the island of Pag. Wind power engineering in Croatia is a new field of activity that can build upon domestic knowledge, expertise and engineering. Where the sea meets the mountains, wind has been leaving its imprint since time immemorial. And there is sufficient wind here to drive all future wind farms.

www.adriawindpower.hr
 

Croatian Photographer looking for a Book Publisher

My name is Zoran Orlic, I am a Chicago based music photographer.
I have been photographing a band called The Frames for 10 years now, and am very anxious to release a photo book from the library I have accumulated, with hopes to be published this year.

The Frames are only second to U2 in their native Ireland.

Now is time to publish their first book through my eyes and words.
This book must be a high-end finished product similar to:
Anton Corbijn’s “U2&Iâ€?: http://www.u2-corbijn.com/start.html
Hard cover, coated images, fine paper etc…

The book’s written portion is finalized and edited, along with important contributing authors from the Chicago music scene. The images are finalized, organized and chaptered. My designers can either complete the design or I can work with a publisher’s designers.

More information regarding publicity and book release party information is available upon request. Links to images will also be available to serious candidates.

Any leads, ideas or contacts would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers and thanks for your time,

Zoran Orlic
ZeroStudio : Photography
www.zerostudio.net 
1. 630. 452. 2663

Zoran Orlic 2002

Synopsis:
2006 is the year of The Frames.

This is a document of one fan's experience with a band so beloved in its native Ireland that the world will have no choice but to stand up and take notice. Photographer Zoran Orlic traveled to Ireland 10 years ago to meet the then-fledging band after months of playing pen pal with frontman Glen Hansard. Since then Orlic has been allowed unfettered access to the band on tour and in the studio. While traditional concert photos can be taken by anyone with a digital camera and uploaded onto the Internet, Orlic's camera has been the so-called fourth wall in the areas where fans are off limits.

Orlic was tour manager for The Frames' first headlining tour of the U.S. in the fall of 2002. With 29 gigs scheduled in 33 days, the band zigzagged the country in a small van with Orlic snapping photos of a serious musical force in action, a road weary band in need of a bed, just being themselves.

The connection between The Frames and Chicago was cemented when they recorded "For the Birds" with legendary producer Steve Albini at his Electrical Audio studio. Those sessions yielded a critically acclaimed album and an unbreakable bond with Albini. In never-before-seen photos, readers will see a side of The Frames previously kept under wraps and rare shots of an enigmatic producer in action. Fans have heard the fruits of those recordings and now they will have a chance to see The Frames sweat and bleed their way through the creative process. The Frames returned to Electrical Audio to record part of "Burn the Maps" again with Orlic in tow.

Pictures from the early years and personal glimpses provide the book with comedic relief as the lads in turn pose with horn-rimmed glasses and show off their mid-90s fashions. Orlic's anecdotes and memories from these events accompany the photos giving readers a true sense of what life is like as a member of this band.

This book will appeal to the same range of people who purchase concert tickets, wearable band merchandise and magazines with The Frames on the cover. It's no secret that The Frames have a fiercely loyal, somewhat obsessive following that travel from county to county to see them perform live. This book not only gives an unadulterated look into the heart of the band, but the soul as well. All of Ireland can get an inside look at The Frames in the States. A must-have addition to any serious Frames fan's collection, this book will also be marketed to the uninitiated curious as to what all the fuss is about.

Competition is non-existent since Orlic is the only photographer to cover the band in the U.S. and from an early starting period in the mid-90s. The band is anxious for the public to have a chance to see behind the scenes and is supportive of the endeavor, although they are adamant that this be an independent project.
 

Promocija Klapske Glazbe

13. veljaca 06. TV Z1 - video - Nenad Bach na TV Z1 13.09.2005

Conference on Cultural Heritage as a Generator of Economic Development

click on the photo for pdf file.

VILLAS_Cro-conference.pdf

Vegeti urucena nagrada "Superbrand Russia" u Moskvi

U samom glavnom gradu Moskvi, Vegeta ima u svojoj kategoriji trzisni udjel od 65,5 %

Koprivnica (ots) - Na prigodnoj svecanosti u Moskvi Podravka je primila priznanje za svoju najpoznatiju marku Vegetu. Naime, nakon statusa Superbranda u Madjarskoj i Poljskoj, Vegeta je primila i priznanje za "Superbrand Russia" za 2005. godinu u Rusiji. Ocjenu i klasifikaciju marki provodila je, na osnovi podataka istrazivackih kuca ACNielsen i COMCON, nezavisna ekspertna komisija sastavljena od
meritornih strucnjaka s podrucja marketinga, brandinga te samih potrosaca. Ukupno su za nagradu i pravo nosenja znaka kandidirale 1033 robne marke, koje drze vodece pozicije na trzistu po obujmu prodaje te
prepoznatljivosti branda na trzistu Rusije. Vegeta se nalazi u uskom krugu brandova koji su dobili pravo nosenja znaka Superbrand na vrlo zahtjevnom ruskom trzistu. Medju dobitnicima znaka prevladavaju brandovi poznatih multinacionalnih kompanija (Kodak, Goodyear, Knauf, Duracell, DHL, MasterCard...) te domacih ruskih (Aeroflot, Ruska gazeta...), tako da je Vegeta jedan od vrlo rijetkih brandova s podrucja
ovog dijela Europe koji ima pravo nosenja statusa Superbrand. Inace, Superbrands International ima sjediste u Londonu, a Rusija je jedna od 45 zemalja u kojima dosad ima svoje filijale. U Podravkinoj delegaciji su bili clanovi Uprave Sasa Romac i Goran Markulin, direktor trzista istocne Europe Danko Martincevic, i category
menadzer za Vegetu Marcel Janekovic koji je primivsi nagradu rekao: "Zahvaljujem ruskim potrosacima koji su prepoznali prave vrijednosti. To je jedno povijesno nasljedje nastalo tijekom cetrdesetak godina prisustva na ruskom trzistu. Puno nam znaci ovo priznanje jer simbolizira snagu i potencijal za daljnji razvoj marki i inovacija. Medjutim, s druge strane, Superbrand predstavlja i veliku odgovornost za kompaniju da
novim proizvodima i marketinskim konceptima zaista opravdamo tako visoko povjerenje ruskih potrosaca. Naime, s obzirom na velicinu i zahtjevnost tog trzista, upravo je Rusija oznacena kao jedna od zemalja u kojima ce Podravka ubrzano razvijati i povecavati svoje poslovanje." Inace, Podravka je cetrdesetak godina na ruskom trzistu, a osime Vegete izvoze se i juhe, te djecja hrana. U kategoriji dodataka jelima u
Rusiji je Vegeta lider i najjaca marka, a prodaje se na vise od 100 tisuca prodajnih mjesta diljem cijele Rusije, pa primjerice ima znacajan trzisni udjel i na udaljenim podrucjima poput Sibira ili Kamcatke. U samom glavnom gradu Moskvi, Vegeta ima u svojoj kategoriji trzisni udjel od 65,5 %, a slijede je Knorr s 18 %, te Maggi s 10 %.

NAPOMENA O IZVORU:
Podravka d.d.
Sektor za korporativne komunikacije
A. Starcevica 32
48000 Koprivnica
tel. 048/651-845
Mailto: mario.pintar@podravka.hr
web: www.podravka.com 
 

AHOY CROATIAN SAILORS!

By Katarina Tepesh

A group of Americans, all members of an environmental group, are organizing to sail from the port of Split, Croatia on Saturday, June 24th and return the next Saturday, July 1st, 2006. We will visit the islands of Brac, Hvar, and Vis, spending one or two days in each port with some flexibility in our itinerary depending on weather and our whims.

The yacht we have chartered is a new 50 ft. Bavaria which is richly appointed. The vessel has 5 staterooms which will accommodate a maximum of 10 crew members. There is a roomy galley and gorgeous salon where we will prepare and take our meals together communally. The cabins with separate single berths are $995 PP, DO. The double berth staterooms which are a little larger are $1,050 PP, DO. A private double stateroom is $1,895, for seven nights with partial provisioning as outlined above.

We will have 7 nights aboard which will include all breakfasts and 3 lunches, 3 dinners. Other meals will be taken ashore in the quaint harbors that we visit. All crew members are invited to participate in the running of the boat. The Captain Michael Miller is a US sailing Association Certified Sail Instructor and enjoys teaching beginners. No sailing experience is required to join the crew.

Croatia has an incredibly diverse history from the many civilizations that have ruled it over thousands of years. Split has Diocletian's palace which was built for the Roman emperor. The city of Dubrovnik to the south was completely walled in for defense. The country is a historical treasure. Now that peace has been restored, it is just being rediscovered as amazing tourism destination. The islands are said to be majestically beautiful with each having its own unique personality.


If interested, you are welcome to call or write Michael Miller, to answer any further questions.

Captain Michael Miller, USCG Licensed Master
9 Court Ave
Greenwood Lake, New York 10925
Tel: 845 477 3497
Cell: 845 494 4083
 

ZADAR 2006: CROATIAN WORLD GAMES

BASKETBALLER DANIEL KRALJEVIC OUT TO IMPRESS AS WELL AS HAVE FUN

By: Tonci Prusac / Croatian Herald / 03.02.2006

MELBOURNE - Melbourne's Daniel Kraljevic will be keen to prove that Andrew Bogut isn't the only Australian Croat who can play basketball, when he takes to the court to represent the Australian Croatian community at the inaugural Croatian World Games 'Zadar 2006' (15-21 July) later this year. The friendly giant, who lives in the outer south-western suburb of Altona, has signed up with several friends to play basketball in the inaugural games, aimed at uniting Croats from all over the world through the ambitious week-long festival.

We caught up with Daniel earlier in the week to discover exactly what he plans to achieve in this exciting sporting/cultural event.

- CROATIAN HERALD (CH): How did you first get into basketball?

- DANIEL KRALJEVIC (DK): I used to play soccer up until 2003 when I was 19. Then I finally decided that I was too tall to play soccer so I changed over to basketball. A teacher from my old high school is involved with the Altona Gators, who compete in the BigV Division 1. He told me to start training with them.

At first I thought training at an elite level was going to be beyond me but hard work and determination has helped me get better and I am looking forward to the future.

- CH: How did you find out about Zadar 2006?

- DK: Last year I kept hearing from a lot of people that there was going to be an Olympics style competition held in Zadar. I found the website www.zadar2006.com while searching the internet and decided to apply from there.

- CH: Do you know anyone else from Melbourne that will be going?

- DK: I have managed to convince my friend Joe Pajic to come along and participate. We are both going to Croatia in July so I thought he might as well play in the games as well. I have heard on the Melbourne Croatia (youth) forum there might be some other people from Melbourne that will be going. The more people the better the experience will be.

- CH: What are you hoping to achieve at the games in the sporting sense?

- DK: I am hoping to have fun and play well. It is a chance to see how I compare to other players from around the world. It is a dream of mine to be good enough to play overseas and I see this as a great opportunity to show others what I can do.

- CH: What are you most looking forward to at Zadar 2006?

-         DK: Being able to meet other Croatians from around the world and to spend a week with them is going to be an experience I will never forget. I haven't been back to Croatia since 1998 so I am looking forward to this holiday. I can't imagine a better experience that playing basketball for a week and spending the rest of my holiday visiting the islands on our beloved coast.

www.zadar2006.com