Croatia

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The Republic of Croatia is a country in Europe bordering the Mediterranean, Central Europe and the Balkans. Its capital is Zagreb, and it is a former republic of Yugoslavia.

Republika Hrvatska

(Details) (Details)
National motto: None
Official language	Croatian
Capital	Zagreb
President	Stjepan Mesić
Prime Minister	Ivo Sanader
Area  - Total  - % water	Ranked 123rd 56,542 km² 0.01%
Population  - Total (2003)  - Density	Ranked 119th 4,422,248 83/km²
Independence	1991
Currency	kuna
Time zone	UTC +1
National anthem	Lijepa naša domovino
Internet TLD	.hr
Calling Code	385

Table of contents

1 History 2 Politics 3 Counties 4 Geography 5 Economy 6 Demographics 7 Culture 8 Miscellaneous topics 9 External links

History

Main article: History of Croatia Croats are a Slavic people probably with origins in ancient Persia, who migrated from areas of what is today's Galicia and settled in present-day Croatia during the 7th century. It became one of the most powerful kingdoms in the region. In 1102 the Croatians ended a civil war by agreeing to submit themselves to Hungarian authority. By the mid-1400s, the Hungarian kingdom was gravely impacted by the Ottoman expansion which led the Croatian Parliament to invite the Habsburgs, under Ferdinand I, to assume control over Croatia. Habsburg rule eventually did prove to be successful in thwarting the Ottomans, and by the 18th century, much of Croatia was free of Turkish control, while Dalmatia was under Venice.

In 1868, Croatia gained domestic autonomy while remaining under Hungarian authority. Following World War I and the demise of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Croatia joined the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (which became Yugoslavia in 1929). Yugoslavia was invaded during World War II and Croatia was made into a fascist puppet-state named the Independent State of Croatia. After the defeat of the Axis powers, Yugoslavia became a federal independent socialist state under the strong hand of Josip Broz Tito.

Although Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, it took four years of sporadic and often bitter fighting with the Serbs before the end of the war in 1995. Peaceful reintegration of all rebel territories in was completed in 1998 under UN supervision.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Croatia Since the adoption of the 1990 Constitution, Croatia has been a parliamentary democracy.

The President of the Republic (Predsjednik Republike) is head of state and elected for a five-year term. In addition to being the commander in chief of the armed forces, the president appoints the Prime minister with the consent of the Parliament.

The Croatian Parliament (Hrvatski Sabor) is a unicameral legislative body of up to 160 representatives, all elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms. The Sabor meets twice a year--from January 15 to July 15 and from September 15 to December 15.

The Government (Vlada) is headed by the Prime minister who has 2 deputy prime ministers and 14 ministers in charge of particular sectors of activity. The executive branch is responsible for proposing legislation and a budget, executing the laws, and guiding the foreign and internal policies of the republic.

Croatia has a three-tiered judicial system, consisting of the Supreme Court, county courts, and municipal courts. The Constitutional Court rules on matters regarding the Constitution.

Counties

Main article: Counties of Croatia Croatia is divided into 20 counties and one city*:

1. Zagrebačka
2. Krapinsko-zagorska
3. Sisačko-moslavačka
4. Karlovačka
5. Varaždinska
6. Koprivničko-križevačka
7. Bjelovarsko-bilogorska
8. Primorsko-goranska
9. Ličko-senjska
10. Virovitičko-podravska
11. Požeško-slavonska
12. Brodsko-posavska
13. Zadarska
14. Osječko-baranjska
15. Šibensko-kninska
16. Vukovarsko-srijemska
17. Splitsko-dalmatinska
18. Istarska
19. Dubrovačko-neretvanska
20. Međimurska
21. Grad Zagreb*

See also: List of cities in Croatia

Geography

Main article: Geography of Croatia Croatia is situated between central, southern and eastern Europe, because it has a rather peculiar shape that resembles a crescent or a horseshoe. This accounts for its many neighbours: Slovenia, Hungary, Serbian part of Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegrin part of Serbia and Montenegro, and Italy across the Adriatic.

Its terrain is diverse, containing:

• plains, lakes and rolling hills in the continental north and northeast (Central Croatia and Slavonia, part of the Pannonian plain);
• densely wooded mountains in Lika and Gorski Kotar, part of the Dinaric Alps;
• rocky coastlines on the Adriatic Sea (Istria, Northern Seacoast and Dalmatia).

Croatia has a mixture of climates. In the north and east it is continental, Mediterranean along the coast and a semi-highland and highland climate in the south-central region.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Croatia Croatia has a post-communist economy based mostly on various services and some, mostly light industry. Tourism is a notable source of income.

Main problems include massive structural unemployment followed by the lack of economic reforms, deterred by public resistance. Of particular concern is the gravely backlogged judiciary system combined with inefficient public administration, especially involving land ownership. These and other factors reduce the investment competitiveness and prevent faster economic growth towards the favourable conditions of the late 1980s.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Croatia Croatia is inhabited mostly by Croats. Minority groups include Serbs, Bosniaks, Hungarians and others. The demographic transition is completed -- the natural growth rate is minute. Life expectancy and literacy rates are reasonably high.

The predominate religion is Catholicism, with some Orthodox and Sunni Muslim minorities.

The official and common language, Croatian, is a South Slavic language, using the Roman script.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Croatia Croatian culture is based on thirteen century long history during which the country has attained many monuments and cities, which gave birth to a fair number of brilliant individuals. The country includes six World Heritage sites and eight national parks. Three Nobel prize winners came from Croatia, as did numerous important inventors and other notable people.

Interestingly enough, Croatia also has an place in the history of neckwear as the origin of the necktie (cravat). The country has a long artistic, literary and musical tradition.

Miscellaneous topics

• Communications in Croatia
• Transportation in Croatia
• Foreign relations of Croatia
• Military of Croatia
• Holidays in Croatia
• Reporters without borders' press freedom index rankings: 33 (2002), 69 (2003)

External links

• General information about Croatia
• Croatian Homepage
• Map of Croatia showing cities
• Maps & Weather * Telephone * Post & Stamps * Money * Language * Castles