Recalling the long history of Croatia-US relations, from the Republic of Ragusa which was the first to recognise the United States, to Croats emigrating to the USA in the 19th and 20th centuries and the USA's support to Croatia's struggle for independence and membership in the UN, NATO and the EU.
Today we face new political and security challenges and I want to stress that Croatia, as a reliable partner and ally to the USA, highly values the transatlantic alliance and sees its own international engagement in stronger central European cooperation as a vital part of Europe's eventual consolidation, said Grabar-Kitarovic.
Croatia is strongly committed to contributing to making this part of Europe, marked by wars for centuries, an area of lasting peace and cooperation, the Croatian president said in her address to those attending the event, including the first US Ambassador to Croatia, Peter Galbraith, Defence Minister Damir Krsticevic and Foreign Minister Davor Ivo Stier.
Grabar-Kitarovic expressed confidence that the US would use its authority to help find a political agreement that would secure lasting peace and progress in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the continuation of its Euro-Atlantic journey.
Commenting on the Three Seas Initiative, she said it offered huge potential for cooperation to the benefit of the transatlantic and European communities.
I am confident that US policymakers see in Croatia an anchor of stability in this part of Europe, she said.
Addressing the event, US Ambassador Julieta Valls Noyes said that the two countries today worked on the common security, prosperity and values and that not every ambassador was privileged to work with a partner like Croatia in the promotion of such positive policies.
The event marking the 25th anniversary of the establishment of Croatia-US diplomatic relations also included concerts by the Croatian Navy Dalmatian harmony-singing group "Sv. Juraj" and the US Navy band Flagship.