DOS Issues Notice for Croatia UPDATED
On March 7, 2014, USDOS issued the following Notice: http://adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_alerts_notices.php?alert_notice_type=notices&alert_notice_file=croatia_1
“Notice: Authorization of Adoption Service Providers in Croatia
The U.S. Embassy in Zagreb has received reports that prospective adoptive parents are receiving misleading information about which children are eligible for intercountry adoption and who is authorized to provide adoption services in Croatia from individuals representing themselves as authorized service providers. The Ministry of Social Policy and Youth (Ministry), which is the Croatian Central Authority has confirmed that it has not authorized any adoption service providers to provide intercountry adoption services in Croatia.
U.S. prospective adoptive parents and adoption service providers are reminded that adoption services in Croatia can only be completed through direct contact with the Ministry. Please note that all questions about the applicable laws and procedures for intercountry adoptions from Croatia should be directed to the Ministry.
Contact information for the Ministry is listed below:
The Ministry of Social Policy and Youth
Savska cesta 66,
10 000 Zagreb
Croatia
Tel: +385 1 555 7111
Internet: mspm.hr/
The Department of State will provide updated information on adoption.state.gov as it becomes available. If you have any questions about this notice, please contact the Office of Children’s Issues at 1-888-407-4747 within the United States, or 202-501-4444 from outside the United States. Email inquiries may be directed to AskCI@state.gov.”
REFORM Puzzle Piece
Update: DOS issues another notice:”Notice: Croatia Ready to Implement the Hague Adoption Convention
The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Convention) enters into force in Croatia on April 1, 2014. The United States will be able to process Convention adoptions from Croatia that are initiated on or after April 1, 2014.
Croatian law generally restricts intercountry adoptions to Croatian prospective adoptive parents. Croatia permits foreigners to adopt a Croatian child only under exceptional circumstances, with prior approval of the Ministry of Social Policy and Youth, and when that placement is particularly beneficial for the child. The Government of Croatia notified the U.S. Embassy in Zagreb that U.S. adoption service providers are not authorized to independently provide services in Convention adoptions from Croatia. Adoption services in Croatia can only be completed through contact with the Croatian Central Adoption Authority, the Ministry of Social Policy and Youth. The Ministry can be reached at: mspm.hr/ or by calling +385 1 555 7111.
The Department of State will provide updated information on adoption.state.gov as it becomes available. If you have any questions about this notice, please contact the Office of Children’s Issues at 1-888-407-4747 within the United States, or 202-501-4444 from outside the United States. Email inquiries may be directed to AdoptionUSCA@state.gov. “
Shouldn’t this be under ‘Corruption’? After all, the individuals representing themselves as “authorized service providers” are attempting (and perhaps succeeding) in scamming PAPs out of money under the pretext of securing a Croatian orphan for them.