The event is organised by the Mikhail Gorbachev foundation and the International Centre for Democratic Transition, under the auspices of the U.S. Senate and Vitezy's comapny Adriatiq Islands Group, which owns the Zora hotel in Primosten, the venue of the event.
Our intention is not to turn that event into a political gathering but to gather in one place the participants in great historic developments: the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc, Tamas said adding that Gorbachev gladly accepted the idea that the celebration of his 75th birthday be organised in Croatia's central Adriatic town of Primosten.
According to Vitezy, incumbent Croatian President Stjepan Mesic and several ministers have confirmed their arrival in Primosten.
Other guests will be Israeli Defence Minister Simon Peres, former Polish President Lech Walesa, former U.S. State Secretary James Baker, former French Foreign Minister Roland Dumas, CNN CEO Ted Turner and other celebrities and top officials.
Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, ex-German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, and former State Secretary of the Vatican, Angelo Sodano, cancelled their attendance for health reasons. George Bush Senior excused himself with a busy schedule.
The security of the guests will be provided by Croatian services and private security companies. Most guests will arrive in Primosten with their personal minders.
The Adriatiq Island Group owns hotels in Primosten, Jelsa, Gradac and Tribunka, with about 500 employees.
The company has invested 45-55 million US dollars in those facilities, plus the price of their purchase.
Gorbachev was the leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991. His attempts at reform helped to end the Cold War, but also ended the political supremacy of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) and dissolved the Soviet Union. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990. In 1985, Gorbachev announced that the Soviet economy was stalled and that reorganization was needed. Initially, his reforms were called "uskoreniye" (acceleration) but later the term "perestroika" (reconstruction) became much more popular. Gorbachev was largely hailed in the West for his 'New Thinking' in foreign affairs. During his tenure, he sought to improve relations and trade with the West by reducing Cold War tensions, and he established close relationships with several Western leaders,