The 28-year-old arrived in Zagreb from Istanbul. He was welcomed by his family and relatives, Government spokesman Dobroslav Silobrcic, and the chief of the Foreign Ministry's task force for developments in Iraq, Vinko Ljubicic.
"Thank you, everyone. I just want to be with my family... I feel great... I just want peace," Mikulic told the press.
He was released from the US camp for foreigners Bucca, near Umm Qasr in southern Iraq, on December 9. News of his arrest came only in late October, after reports of the death in Iraq of Croatian driver Dalibor Burazovic, who was killed in an attack on a convoy.
Mikulic said he could not get over his colleague's death. Burazovic's death focused media attention on the fate of numerous Croatian drivers risking their lives to make money by driving for the coalition troops in Iraq, without protection or insurance in the war-torn country.
Following Burazovic's death the Croatian Government contacted the US side. On October 30 it was revealed that Mikulic had been imprisoned for a month for espionage.
The US side greenlighted his release only last week, which was confirmed to the Croatian Government. However, upon being released Mikulic found himself in the middle of a street in Ramadi, where he said he was helped by Arab friends.
Asked by the press if it was true that the Croatian side had not been notified of his release, Mikulic replied, "Who was there to notify?".
Mukulic entered Turkey on Friday. He had been driven there by a colleague from Serbia and Montenegro, who had recognised him in a Ramadi street. In Ankara he was met by Croatian Embassy staff.
Asked if this had been his last trip to Iraq, he said he thought so but added, "Never say never".