UNITED NATIONS, July 18 (Hina) - Croatian Ambassador Vladimir Drobnjak handed credentials to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan in New York on Friday, thus officially taking over the post of Croatia's permanent representative to the
world body.
UNITED NATIONS, July 18 (Hina) - Croatian Ambassador Vladimir
Drobnjak handed credentials to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan
in New York on Friday, thus officially taking over the post of
Croatia's permanent representative to the world body. #L#
Until now, Drobnjak headed Croatia's Mission to the European
Union.
This year, Croatia ended a successful mandate at the United Nations
Economic and Social Council and has officially applied for non-
standing membership in the Security Council. In bids to take its
international position, Croatia wishes to participate in decision-
making on global peace and security as a member of the Council.
The Eastern Europe group at the U.N. has already nominated Croatia,
as well as the Czech Republic and Georgia, for Security Council
membership starting from 2008.
Croatia has an advantage over Georgia because the latter has
security issues, while the Czech Republic has already been a
Security Council member.
Croatian diplomats believe that with strong lobbying, the country
stands a good chance of joining the Council.
This year Croatia has also applied for membership in the EU and its
ambitions in this respect will reflect on its activity in the U.N.
It is expected Croatia will actively participate with the Union in
voting on U.N. General Assembly resolutions and that it will agree
with EU positions after clearly articulating Croatian interests
and standpoints.
President Stjepan Mesic will head a Croatian delegation attending
the General Assembly's autumn conference which starts on Sept. 23,
when he will deliver a speech.
(hina) ha