Press Release regarding the baseless and untruthful articles published in Rijeka-based newspaper Novi List

The Ministry does indeed intend to, in co-operation with the city of Ogulin and the Croatian Olympic Centre Bjelolasica, entertain foreign diplomats to Croatia, led by ambassadors, in the sports and hotel centre on Bjelolasica, for the purposes of promoting Croatian sports tourism, especially winter tourism. The Croatian Olympic Centre Bjelolasica, in accordance with its schedule and capacity, offered Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th of February 2005, and the Ministry then sent invitation to members of the Diplomatic Corps.

The Ministry has to this day received neither oral nor written announcement as regards the city of Rijeka’s invitation to foreign ambassadors to attend the diplomatic ball on 5 and 6 February 2005. It is customary in the entire world for the protocol services of the foreign ministries to be informed of the events to which members of the diplomatic corps are being invited.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aware of the importance of the Rijeka carnival and the promotion of Croatia, especially as regards members of the Diplomatic Corps, and wishing to avoid the collision, has asked of the co-organisers, the city of Ogulin and the Croatian Olympic Centre Bjelolasica, to reschedule the event. The diplomatic weekend on Bjelolasica will now be held a week later, on Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th of February 2005.

One of the goals of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to promote Croatia, its tourism, natural beauties and national customs. In that regard, it is equally important that members of the Diplomatic Corps take part at both events, about which minister Žužul has spoken today over the phone with Rijeka’s mayor Vojko Obersnel.

As regards the articles in today’s edition of Novi List, what is surprising is the decision to publish Branko Mijić’s comment entitled “Let’s Burn Žužul!”, which can be interpreted as his wish for a physical elimination of a member of the Croatian government. The same author published an article last year entitled “Žužul, Rabbi of All Rabbis”, in which he showed religious and international intolerance and discrimination. We have informed about this the Croatian Journalists’ Association and the Council Media of the Croatian Helsinki Board.