CONTENT
NATO/EU membership will solidify Croatia's historic
links with the West
President
Stjepan Mesic:
Signaling a maturation of Croatian democracy
Zagreb
as a destination:
Croatia's capital should not be overlooked
A
nation resolved to overcomeits tough heritage
Privatized
tourism industry will become engine of growth for Croatia
Croatia's
best lobbyist: its US Ambassador
Croatia's
resilient economy continues to grow
Ron
Brown credited for introducing US business to Croatia
Chemical
warfare conventions changed over fertilizer plant attacks
Film
and television producer Vladimir Kraljevic symbolizes worldwide success
of Croatian-Americans
What's
it like to visit Croatia?
State
of Minnesota develops close relationship with Croatia
Esplanade
hotel captures history and spirit of Zagreb
Spread
the word:
Croatia is an extraordinarily safe place to visit
Mega-Yachts:
the biggest status symbols in the world
Croatia
Airlines:
Creating a national identity during war and peace
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Chemical warfare conventions changed over fertilizer plant attacks
During Croatia’s
war for independence the Petrokemija fertilizer company at Kutina, located
on the fertile plains about fifty miles east of Zagreb, was attacked several
times. Given the nature of the industry, these attacks were extremely
dangerous for the surrounding community.
"It could have
been possible to make a great ecological disaster out of these attacks,"
said Petrokemija’s Chairman of the Board Boris Mesaric. "That
is one reason why I can sympathize with the terrorist attacks that took
place in the United States, and would like to express my great sympathy
to the American people."
Fortunately for Petrokemija
and the surrounding area, between the war years of 1992-1995, the looming
ecological disaster that was possible from these military strikes never
took place. In 1995, especially, missiles were targeted on Petrokemija
by Serbian forces operating in Bosnia- a mere thirty kilometers away.
"The intended target was an ammonia tank which at that time had 10,000
tones of liquid," says Mr. Mesaric. "With such a disaster, surely
nobody in Kutina, and the surrounding area, would have survived."
At other times the
plant was attacked by Serbian aircraft as well as by ground based "Orkan"
rockets fired from a multiple-rocket launching system.
As part of a symposium
on eco-terrorism a mock attack on the Petrokemija facility was staged
in 1998, incorporating local area special forces units, fire and paramedic
personnel. "The term itself- ‘eco-terrorism,’ originated
from the attacks upon this company," said Chairman Mesaric. The lessons
that were learned from this exercise are now considered as essential reading
for crisis management, emergency management and civil protection organizations
worldwide. The Croatian Deputy Minister of Defense at that time said that
it was a great honor for his country to be the host of such an important
event.
From these attacks upon the Petrokemija fertilizer plant a landmark initiative was put forth with the goal of changing the United Nations convention on chemical and biological warfare. This initiative, which was later was adopted, declared that acts of terrorism on chemical facilities will be considered the same as using weapons of mass destruction.
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