Southeastern Europe.

GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Saturday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

56,542 sq km (21,831 sq miles).

4.43 million (official estimate 2004).

78.4 per sq km.

Zagreb. Population: 779,145 (official estimate 2004).

Croatia stretches along the Adriatic coast, narrowing north–south; the major ports being Rijeka, Pula, Zadar, Sibenik, Split and Dubrovnik, with a larger inland area running west–east from Zagreb to the border with Serbia & Montenegro. The northern two-thirds of this border are formed by the River Danube. The country borders Slovenia and Hungary to the north, Serbia & Montenegro to the east and Bosnia & Herzegovina (southeast from Zagreb; northeast from the Adriatic coastline).

The Croatian Parliament is vested with the legislative power in the Republic of Croatia. After the first democratic elections in 1990, the first multiparty Parliament (Sabor) consisted of two chambers: the Chamber of Representatives (Zastupnicki Dom) and the Chamber of Districts (Zupanijski Dom). In 2000, the constitution was changed and the semi-presidential system became a parliamentary system. After the elimination of the Chamber of Districts under the constitutional amendment enacted in 2001, the Croatian Parliament became unicameral. Currently, it has 152 members who were elected in 2003. Executive power is held by the President, elected for five years, who appoints a cabinet of ministers.

Republic. Independence from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia proclaimed in 1991. Head of State: President Stjepan Mesic since 2000. Head of Government: Prime Minister Ivo Sanader since 2003. Recent history: The Croatian Parliament is vested with the legislative power. After the first democratic elections in 1990, the first multiparty Parliament (Sabor) consisted of two chambers: the Chamber of Representatives (Zastupnicki Dom) and the Chamber of Districts (Zupanijski Dom). In 2000, the constitution was changed and the semi-Presidential system became a Parliamentary system. After the elimination of the Chamber of Districts under the constitutional amendment enacted in 2001, the Croatian Parliament became unicameral. Currently, it has 152 members who were elected in 2003. Executive power is held by the President, elected for five years, who appoints a Cabinet of Ministers.
The death of President Franjo Tudjman in December 1999 ushered in a new era of Croatian politics. The following month, the Hrvatska Demokratska Zajednica was ousted from control of the Sabor, by a five-party centre-left alliance led by the Social Democratic Party. Then, in February 2000, the Presidential election was won by Stipe Mesic, representing the Hrvatska Narodna Stranka, a member of the governing coalition. Along with a new Prime Minister, social democrat Ivica Racan, Croatia has since adopted a more conciliatory approach both at home and abroad. Treating with the Hague tribunal remains a delicate issue: even limited cooperation has sparked ministerial resignations. The military officers concerned are considered war heroes at home and the issue always has the potential to destabilise the coalition Government. Nonetheless, the broad approach of the Mesic/Racan Government has paid dividends, including membership of the World Trade Organisation and membership of post-NATO security organisation ‘Partnership for Peace’. Croatia also has a place on the fast track to EU membership. A formal application was submitted and accepted in February 2003. Croatia may therefore be able to join with the batch of candidate countries scheduled for entry around 2007/8, which includes Bulgaria and Romania: Croatia’s economy is in better condition than either of these, but the Hague tribunal problem has to be resolved once and for all. Within the Balkans, steady progress has been made in improving relations with both Bosnia and Serbia & Montenegro.

Croatian, Serbian, Italian, Slovene, Slovak and German.

Roman Catholic Croats (76.5 per cent of the total population) and Eastern Orthodox Serbs (11 per cent), as well as small communities of Protestants, Jews and Muslims.

People normally shake hands upon meeting and leaving. Smoking is generally acceptable but there are restrictions in public buildings and on public transport. Photography: Certain restrictions exist.

220 volts AC, 50Hz.