Croatia parties for 20th anniversary

Diplomatic pouch | Mike Peters

Croatia's Ambassador Ante Simonic unleashed a feast of sound and color in Beijing this week as his country celebrated the 20th anniversary of modern Croatia and its Armed Forces Day. A Tuesday night concert by the female a capella vocal group Luka wowed the invited crowd at the Chinese People's Association for Friendship With Foreign Countries. Even the gods approved: As a coda to each of the final three songs, a thunderstorm outside provided a roll of thunder to the enchanting harmonies of the 10 women.

Then came a reception at the Guocuiyuan National Treasure Park in the capital's southeast quarter. The ambassador, his wife, Visnja Simonic, and the Defense Attache and his wife, Colonel Drago and Sanja Horvat, hosted a dinner, a military ceremony and an encore concert by Luka.