Golf development in Croatia is closely related to the second privatization drive since the country’s independence. This time it is the land in the hands of the government that is being privatized. Many governors and mayors, and especially those from regions and municipalities along the Adriatic coast, have jumped at this opportunity in connection with tourism. Although the economic crisis has stalled the development, which very much depended on the global property boom, it may come back in earnest when the economic conditions improve. At around seventy-million euros per golf course and more than sixty courses planned across the country, at least four-billion euros are involved.

Golf development is marred by corruption and organized crime, though. As you may be aware, I wrote about this to the former president Stjepan Mesić in August 2009. From sources close to the highest officials of the Croatian government I learned that a British investor in tourist development in Istria and Dalmatia was only a front for money laundering by highest government officials in this country. Through funds illegally taken abroad, they intended to appear as foreign investors in Croatia. I became aware of the alleged connections through my involvement in environmental protection of Motovun and its surroundings, where this particular British investor was engaged in golf development. However, money-laundering schemes of this kind must have been in place in many other golf courses in Croatia.

There are strong indications that the former prime minister of Croatia, who is now in jail in Austria, was at the helm of corruption and organized crime connected with golf development in the country. He personally promoted the golf law empowering developers with expropriation rights usually reserved for highways and ports. Also involved were the ministers closely engaged in golf development. And so were the governors and mayors of regions and municipalities that were supposed to be blessed with golf courses. Thousands upon thousands of apartments, houses, and villas were to be built on private land adjoining the government land that was to be leased to developers over the long term.

Now, president Mesić did not respond to my letter even after several reminders. Only when I contacted Olli Rehn, the former European Union’s commissioner for enlargement, did I get a cursory answer. Most important, it was Rehn who suggested to me to report what I knew to the highest Croatian office dealing with corruption and organized crime, which is what I did in October 2009. I have been in touch concerning this issue with the current commissioner for enlargement, Stefan Füle, as well. To this day, though, the golf development scam is not out in the open. It appears that powerful interests are involved, which is why I am writing to you at this point.

Let me mention in this connection that I am being persecuted for my resistance to questionable golf development in Motovun. In particular, the mayor of the municipality has taken me to court for libel and insult in November 2008 and March 2009, both of which charges are only politically motivated. The governor of Istria, where more than twenty golf courses are planned, is firmly behind golf development in Motovun. He is also firmly behind the mayor of this medieval town of extraordinary beauty. As there are serious doubts about political independence of Istrian courts, where lawsuits for libel and insult are currently pending appeal, I intend to go all the way to the highest Croatian court. But, if my appeals fail there, as well, I intend to go to Strasbourg. Political repression of the sort I have experienced in Istria must be tolerated no longer. The penal law that regulates libel and insult is used all too often only to stifle political opposition.

Returning to golf development in Croatia, I would hope that you will do whatever is in your power to ensure that it is freed from the clutches of corruption and organized crime. As such, golf development may indeed be an asset for tourist development in the country. As tourism is one of the main economic sectors of Croatia, golf could play an important rôle in the country’s economic development. Corruption and organized crime threaten golf development, though. Those who stand to gain from it are few and far between. In addition, they are likely to take much of their returns to their safe havens abroad. The four-billion euros I mentioned at the outset need to reach as wide a base in the country as possible.

Addendum (February 22, 2011)

“Has the president responded?” my beloved teases me gently almost every day. “Ah,” I tease her in turn, “he will never respond!” But I still believe that the president of Croatia is a man to be trusted. “What can he possibly tell me, though?” I continue while she smiles devilishly at me. Indeed, that is the only question. But he knows that this letter has gone to a few other lofty electronic-mail addresses. And he knows that it is available on the World Wide Web. My heart thus goes to the poor president. What can he possibly tell me, us, everyone who follows my writings? That Croatia is finally shedding its inglorious past and that the future is forever bright, bright, bright?