CROATIA MARKS DIPLOMACY DAY ON JUNE 7TH

ZAGREB, June 6 (Hina) - June 7th is celebrated as Croatian Diplomacy Day in memory of a letter Pope John VIII sent to Croatia's ruler 11 centuries ago. This year it will be marked with the traditional round table on the achievements and goals of Croatia's foreign policy and diplomacy, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. Pope John VIII on 7 June 879 wrote a letter to "dear son Branimir, the Croatian bishop Theodosius, Croatian priests and Croats (blessing) the prince, the Croatian people and the Croatian state." According to international law of the time, as well as the concept of the Pope's all-round rule and his right to recognise legal governments and rulers, the letter recognises Branimir as the lawful ruler of the independent Croatian state. The letter was a diplomatic note of the highest order which represented the first international recognition of Croatia. For that reason, June 7th was chosen as Croatian Diplomacy Day. The event will be marked at the Foreign Ministry with the aforementioned round table. Representatives of the legislative and executive authority are expected to attend, as are scholars in international affairs, foreign policy and diplomacy, and the diplomatic corps accredited in Croatia. Foreign Minister Tonino Picula should make an introduction. (hina) ha sb