Croatian Secret Service is checking profiles of in

[Anja]

Some of you might remember Malta example I posted some time ago.
Well, looks like someone in Croatian government is having the same path of thoughts.

Croatian diplomats are now trying to secure deals with EU where in future (similar to Malta's example) it wouldn't be very easy for foreign buyers to purchase a property in Croatia.

The article also mentions that Croatian Secret Service is checking the sources of investments and profiles of potential buyers.www.slobodnadalmacija.hr/20040929/novosti02.asp

[Mirko]

This is stupid and probably not true. This newspaper is not very reputable.

[alsdoubles]

The Croatian Secret Service.....
There is no Croatian Secret Service checking anything that doesn't need to be checked.
Their system is pretty tight without an extra service.
Croatia is not anti anything other than what is quite normal to be anti.
If you are prepared to ride the system you will get there. Cretainly if your intentions are honourable.

[Anja]

Mirko said:

This is stupid and probably not true. This newspaper is not very reputable.

Firstly, Slobodna Dalmacija is a daily newspaper from Split therefore it is NOT a tabloid.

Secondary, it might sound stupid to you but I just got a confirmation from a solicitor in Zagreb that CRO government is in talks wit EU on this matter and IS trying to stop the current possibility of foreign owned companies buying the property in Croatia without the government control, similar to Malta's example.

[Graham - Bosmere]

also appeared in these newpapers as well:- DNEVNIK, JUTARNJI LIST

There is a massive pressure being put on a lot of countries to control money laundering, and the property market in Croatia is ripe for such activity. Anyone remember when the Costa del Crime became the description of the Spanish coastline because of the number of criminals living there.

[lysa1]

They even used secret service to install bugs in your apartment to control you.
They are not believing foreigners.If you are German then you are OK. Otherwise they will always control you, because they are in fear that you are of Serb or italian origin and you want to control their country.

[sweetpea]

Frankly, I think it's a very good thing if Croatia does take steps to control foreign companies. Worldwide there are far too many examples of foreign companies moving in to a country and committing ecological and economic rape, then moving on to fresh resources and leaving a gutted corpse behind them. Not to mention slapping patents on stuff like Madagascar periwinkle and neem seed! Money laundering is another serious issue, as Graham pointed out. But to me it's far more important that Croatia maintains ownership and control of its agricultural and business assets.

As Alsdoubles said, if your intentions are honourable, there's no problem. Anybody can plant any number of bugs in your hotel room and check your record from here till eternity, but does it matter if you have nothing to hide?

[alsdoubles]

Anja. Respectfully, I would suggest, you talk more than I talk intentionally, to spice up this boring message board. Are you an American-Croat?
What is the Croatian secret service? And which Yugo do they drive, with a white stripe down the centre? I have SEEN it! It has bumps where Starsky bounced off the bonnet. He now walks with crutches! Many people do....Give it a break Anja. Go back to the UK, Tony Blair needs you more than ever before! Anja, PS. Are you enjoying BB1 Hrvatska? Eh?

[lysa1]

Mirko said:

This is stupid and probably not true. This newspaper is not very reputable.

This newspaper are main daily in Dalmatia and it is very serious( among top 3 serious newspapers in Croatia).
There exist problem with secret service in croatia.
It is full of elements that had been in war and could be even dangerous.
They are very suspicious.
Many people ask my husband is he Jew. They like only Germans.