ZAGREB, June 21 (Hina) - Foreign Minister Tonino Picula made an address on the occasion of Croatian Diplomacy Day, June 7, in Zagreb on Friday.
ZAGREB, June 21 (Hina) - Foreign Minister Tonino Picula made an
address on the occasion of Croatian Diplomacy Day, June 7, in Zagreb
on Friday. #L#
In attendance were representatives of the diplomatic corps,
Croatian ministries, eminent public and cultural figures, and
graduates of the diplomatic academy.
Picula said the past ten years of independence had been an important
time in which Croatia appeared on the international scene for the
first time, acquired international subjectivity, fought for truth
about the war which had been waged against it, and came closer to the
realisation of its strategic goals - admission to the European
Union and NATO.
Past achievements entail further commitments on the path towards
full democratic progress and development, Picula said. He pointed
to the importance of implementing the Stabilisation and
Association Agreement with the EU, which was signed last October
and institutionalised dialogue between Croatia and the EU for the
first time.
The foreign minister said these were commitments which had to be
fulfilled to make Croatia a country of stable and sustainable
development benefiting all of its citizens.
Picula also recalled the successful development of relations with
NATO, particularly the recent inclusion into the Membership Action
Plan.
The minister also recalled that relations with neighbouring
countries in connection with the settlement of open issues were
improving. This will be Croatia's priority in the future as well,
alongside active participation in regional cooperation, he said.
Croatia should be proud of chairing the Stability Pact for South
Eastern Europe's security working table and the UN Economic-Social
Council, Picula said.
"That is an indisputable contribution to our country's reputation
and its constructive foreign policy," he stressed.
The apostolic nuncio in Croatia, Giulio Einaudi, thanked Picula on
behalf of the diplomatic corps.
Picula presented the graduates of the one-year diplomatic course
with diplomas.
Croatian Diplomacy Day is marked after June 7, 879, when Pope John
VIII confirmed in a letter to Prince Branimir that he adopted,
supported and protected the new Croatian political orientation,
which at the time was tantamount to international recognition.
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