Development and investment |
Moving into the new building
The new building of the Ministry was a great gain in 2009, bringing almost all its services and organisational units under the same roof. By moving into the new building, the Ministry abandoned its offices in Savska (the Zagrepčanka tower), Petrićeva, Medulićeva and Mesnička streets. This has naturally led to a reduction in costs and to more efficient organisational and working processes.
The four-year reconstruction and building of annexes to the building located in Đorđićeva 4 and Petrinjska 18, which leans up against the existing building of the Ministry on Nikola Šubić Zrinski Square 7-8, was carried out in co-operation with the Zagreb City Institute for the Conservation of Cultural and Natural Heritage. It was one of the most complex reconstruction projects in town. Given that the building is a protected architectural monument of cultural heritage, some parts of it dating back to the 17th century, architects had a very difficult task, having to observe characteristic features of the existing building while
at the same time meeting the standards of modern office space and specific requirements of the Ministry. During excavations for a parking lot in the basement area it was discovered that the old building had no foundations, thus additional excavation was conducted to lay down new foundations in order to stabilise the whole building. A part of the building in Petrinjska 18 that had been originally intended for offices, was redesigned into a multimedia hall, in order to preserve the authentic vaulting of the room.
A total of 8,020 square meters have been reconstructed. Office space takes up 3,780 square meters and is equipped with 300 desks The remaining space is intended for supporting facilities, such as archives, multimedia teleconference hall, multifunctional area, protocol space, entry area and parking spaces in the garage.
In co-operation with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, the multimedia hall and multifunctional area have been equipped with state-of-the-art audio-video and conference systems, as well as an interpreting system and computer-communication equipment. The multimedia hall is also equipped with special cabins for simultaneous interpretation.
On the front wall of the building in Petrinjska, under layers of plaster, a cast iron plate was discovered dating back to 1830, which is so far
the oldest inscription in the Croatian language on the front of an official building in Zagreb. The plate was restored to be donated to the Zagreb City Museum, and a copy of it has been placed on the renewed front of the building in Petrinjska.
Excavations under the new multimedia hall revealed that 150-180 years ago Petrinjska street lay more than two meters below today's level.
32 new Diplomatic Academy graduates
The 12th generation of students who attended the Diplomatic Academy from November 2008 to May 2009 comprised 36 participants, of whom 32 were from the Ministry and four from other state administration bodies. The One-Year Professional Diplomatic Study Programme, covering about 250 teaching hours, continues to offer the following courses: Croatian Studies, International Relations and International Politics, European Integration and NATO, Diplomacy and Diplomatic Skills, International Law, Diplomatic and Consular Law. The Programme also included special lectures,
workshops and study visits to Croatian institutions. The participants are mostly members of lower and middle-ranking diplomatic and consular staff, and those expecting to receive their first posting.
In 2009, ten Ministry employees successfully completed their diplomatic advisor examination, having met all the requirements set out in the Ordinance on the Diplomatic Academy and the Diplomatic Advisor Examination.
A total of 26 members of Ministry staff were sent for professional diplomatic training through scholarship programmes to diplomatic academies in Vienna, Berlin, Moscow and Madrid, to the International Institute of Public Administration in Paris, to the Foreign Service Institute in India, to the Marshall Centre in Garmisch, to the Netherlands Institute of International Relations Clingendael and elsewhere.
The Ministry continued to organise foreign language courses. On the basis of the European Language Portfolio, a series of courses in English, French, German, Spanish and Italian, and specialised courses aimed at teaching standard diplomatic terminology were organised. Individual language courses adapted to the specific work requirements of officials and civil servants were also held.
In co-operation with state bodies, public institutions and businesses in the Republic of Croatia, the Ministry carried out preparation of newly appointed chiefs of diplomatic and consular missions before they assumed their duties in the receiving countries. Members of diplomatic and administrative staff sent to work abroad also received professional training. The training was adapted to the officials' future duties, as well as their previous knowledge and experience, and the specifics of the receiving country.
Overview of important events in 2009