HUNGARY: Croatia has been asked to explain the razing of Hungarian homes on its idyllic coastline, writes Daniel McLaughlin.
Hungary has summoned Croatia's ambassador to Budapest for talks over his country's decision to demolish dozens of villas on an Adriatic island, some of which are owned by powerful Hungarian officials.
Bulldozers have begun knocking down 50 buildings on the Croatian island of Vir, which local authorities allege were built without permission and breach a law limiting construction along the country's idyllic coastline.
Eighteen of the condemned properties belong to Hungarians, some of whom are secretaries of state, ministry officials and mayors, say the Hungarian and Croatian media.
Croatia's ambassador to Budapest, Stanko Nick, was called to the Hungarian foreign ministry to discuss the matter, while Hungary's ambassador to Zagreb, Laszlo Mohai, has reportedly lobbied Croatian prime minister Ivo Sanader to intervene in the planned destruction of 28 completed villas and 22 under construction.
The start of demolition work suggests that Mr Mohai - formerly Hungary's ambassador to Ireland - failed in his mission, to the fury of Hungarian villa owners who demanded to know why their properties were the first to be razed.
"During construction, it was promised to us that everything would be sorted out, but now our buildings are being pulled down," Krisztina Vass, a representative of the Hungarian investors, was quoted as saying.
She warned that the move could have "serious, even tragic, consequences", and claimed that the properties were built before Croatia passed a law demanding special permission for construction within 70 metres of the coast - prime real estate in recent years.
A large police contingent was on hand as property owners protested at the arrival of the bulldozers, but the demonstration passed off without incident.
Zagreb enhanced its control over construction on its Adriatic coast in March, when it adopted a law giving the state the right to buy land for sale on 746 islands ahead of any private buyer.