TRIP TO SISAK-MOSLAVINA COUNTY AND THE LONJSKO POLJE NATURE PARK WITH THE PRESIDENT OF CROATIA

At the invitation of H.E. President Mesic, Heads of Missions accredited to Croatia including the Ambassador of Malaysia, her spouse and family participated in a trip to the Sisak-Moslavina County and the Lonjsko Polje nature park on 16 April 2009. The purpose of this trip was to give the diplomatic community exposure to the inland areas of Croatia and to introduce the country’s diverse nature parks, environmental programme and cultural heritage.  The programme was designed to allow informal and free interaction with the President and his advisers as well as to build a rapport between the President’s office and the diplomatic community.

From the town of Sisak, participants took a boat tour along the Kupa River, downstream to the Sisak fortress “Stari Grad” from the 16th century. Participants then visited the ?igo? village, where storks return to nest on rooftops of traditional villages houses and were entertained with traditional songs by the Cultural Art Association ''Hrvatsko srce''. Accompanied by park rangers, the group were then taken on a guided tour of the Lonja Field and subsequently to Krapje village by horse carriages to view the European Architectural Heritage Village. The project to protect Lonja Park and preserve the heritage of the village is funded by the World Bank. Participants also had an opportunity to sample traditional local cuisine during the trip.