Zuzul thanked Sanader for his confidence and underlined the excellent results of the government and his ministry in implementing Croatia's foreign policy, citing reasons for his decision to leave his post of his own accord.
He added that his decision did not mean that he was giving in to pressure related to allegations against him.
"Quite the contrary! All competent institutions and bodies of the law-based state have confirmed my innocence and they have done so in a media atmosphere in which is was difficult to remain objective," Zuzul said.
"The ministry that is achieving the best results is headed by a minister whose image in the country considerably differs from the assessment of his performance," Zuzul said, adding that he could not ignore the discrepancy between his achievements and his public image.
"With this decision I want to ease the government's way towards full integration into the EU: I don't want to be a weight on the successful path which we have paved together and for which I claim, without false modesty, some credit," Zuzul said.
At the end of 2004, Zuzul came under the spotlight after the media and many opposition politicians accused him of several cases of conflict of interest and demanded his immediate resignation.