Croatian Minister of European Integration Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic in Washington

Washington, D.C., November 17-20, 2004 – Croatian Minister of European Integration Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic held talks at the U.S. Congress and the State Department during her visit to Washington. In addition, Minister Grabar-Kitarovic participated in an international conference focusing on the alliance between Europe and the United States, which was organized by the Dutch Government and the Nexus Institute.

On Capitol Hill, Minister Grabar-Kitarovic met with Rep. Melissa Hart and Rep. Dana Rohrabacher. She also held talks with Deputy Assistant Secretaries for European, Eurasian and EU Affairs, Ms. Kathleen Stephens and Mr. Glyn Davies, respectively; Mr. John Burgess, Europe Editor for The Washington Post, Mr. Radek Sikorski of the New Atlantic Initiative, and Ms. Patricia Ellis, Director of the Women’s Foreign Policy Group.   

At a press conference held at the Croatian Embassy, Minister Grabar-Kitarovic spoke about her meetings with members of Congress and State Department officials, with whom she discussed the process of Croatia's integration into the European Union, as well as relations of her country with the UN War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague.

The Croatian Minister of European Integration also discussed talks on initiatives on the implementation of ecological projects in Croatia, which are being undertaken as part of Croatia's integration into the European Union.

Minister Grabar-Kitarovic met with Massachusetts University Professor Anamarija Frankic, with whom she discussed projects aimed at the protection of the environment and sustainable development. The talks centered on the COAST project, that will provide protection to ecosystems in communities along the Croatian coast, and the Neretva river.

Minister Grabar-Kitarovic said that following the meetings with U.S. officials she received assurances of the United States’ clear and full support for Croatia’s bid to join the EU, and added that the United States and Croatia share a mutual interest in achieving long-term stability in Southeast Europe. Minister Grabar-Kitarovic noted that both the U.S. and Croatia recognize that this goal will be promoted by Croatia’s entrance into the EU.