I just bought Richard Schneider’s Mjesto zločina: Hypo Alpe Adria (Zagreb: Jesenski & Turk, 2011). It first appeared in Austria last year, but it was quickly translated into Croatian. It appeared in bookstores only last Friday. The country figures prominently in the original. The key German word in the original title, Tatort, as well as its Croatian translation, stands for “crime scene” in English. On the front cover, Croatia is outlined in chalk on asphalt, and there is a big bloodstain within the outline. I went for the index at once. Jörg Haider is mentioned on twenty-six pages, Ivo Sanader on twenty-one page, and Ivan Jakovčić on six pages. Although I was a bit disappointed by the last figure, I took the book to the cashier’s at once. Schneider is an independent journalist concerned with economic affairs, and he has followed the development of the Austrian bank over the years. Also, he is well acquainted with Eastern Europe. At any rate, I am looking forward to my reading.

Addendum I (July 5, 2011)

Well, Stevo Zufić is mentioned on only four pages in Schneider’s book, but he is someone I have neglected so far. He was Jakovčić’s predecessor in the Istrian Democratic Assembly, the leading party in Istria. He was among its founders, too. Over the years, he has become one of the key real estate dealers in Poreč, but he has been involved in all sorts of projects throughout the peninsula. Most important, he was the first Istrian politician who got in touch with Jörg Haider and his bank. Hypo Alpe Adria Bank came to Istria through Zufić. Anyway, he is a man to follow a bit more closely in connection with real estate development in Istria, golf development included.

Addendum II (July 6, 2011)

I am not even half way through the book, but it is already clear that corruption and organized crime are at the very foundations of the Croatian state. These are at the cornerstones of the whole country. It all started with Franjo Tuđman and crooked arms imports that bypassed the United Nations’ ban. Austria and Germany were there to help since long before Yugoslavia fell apart. On top of this, Tuđman buttressed his autocratic rule by promoting his legendary two-hundred Croatian families into wealth and influence. Austria and Germany helped once again, their banks always on the ready with hidden accounts and money laundering facilities. And Tuđman’s successors have made sure that the foundations of the new state have been kept intact. Corruption and organized crime only blossomed during the real estate boom at the start of the millennium. This is where crooked golf came in, for large swaths of land in the hands of the state could be sold or leased at ever-higher prices. The control of the sale was in the hands of the state, anyhow. One more time, Austria and Germany were there to help, its banks going gaga over the luscious prospects. The real estate bust stopped all this at long last and the banks went into a spin. It is a depressing reading, to say the least. Lustration of any kind is simply impossible in Croatia. Everyone who is anyone has been involved in corruption and organized crime from the very first day. If not even earlier.

Addendum III (July 15, 2013)

I was reading at home when I heard knocks on the front door. When I opened the door, I found a tall man with a prominent nose and bushy eyebrows. “Ranko Bon?” he asked. I nodded. “Richard Schneider,” he grinned and gave me his hand. I invited him in, and we sat at the dining table. I realized who he was only when he mentioned his book. “Ah,” I gave him my hand this time, “congratulations!” As it turned out, he is working on a new book on Hypo Alpe Adria and its shenanigans in Croatia. Thus he came across my name. We had a wonderful talk about golf and polo development in Motovun. He is already familiar with most of the key players, and he is following them around Istria and beyond. When he got up to leave, we promised each other to stay in touch. “I’ll let you know if and when I learn anything of interest,” I beamed at him happily. “It’s wonderful to meet you,” I gave him my hand one more time, “and I wish you the best of luck with your new book!” Where would we be without independent journalists like Schneider?!