Croatian Minister of Foreign Affairs Visited Washington and held talks with members of U.S. Congress

Washington, March 25 - Croatia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Miomir Zuzul on held talks with members of the U.S. Congress in Washington on strengthening US-Croatian ties, the support for Croatia in the U.S. Congress and the U.S. support to Croatia's efforts to enter NATO.

During his stay in Washington, Minister Zuzul talked with Dana Rohrabacher (R-California), George Radanovich (R-California), Candice Miller (R-Michigan), Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), Thaddeus McCotter (R-Michigan), Melissa Hart (R-Pennsylvania), Eliot Engel (D-New York) and Christopher Smith (R-New Jersey).

Congressman Engel said that he supported Croatia's entry into NATO and the European Union and that he would continue working on strengthening the ties between U.S. and Croatia. Croatia has proved that it is a good ally of the United States and we welcome all forms of cooperation between the United States and Croatia, he added.

Engel, a member of the committee on international relations, is one of those who moved a resolution of the House of Representatives on support to the admission of Croatia, Albania and Macedonia to the alliance, which should soon be adopted.

Congressman Smith said that he, in his capacity as the co-chairman of Congress' Helsinki Committee, would advocate Croatia's admission to NATO. We are friends and we would like to be good partners and the sooner Croatia becomes a part of NATO the better, Smith said.

The purpose of the visit is to enhance the relations between Croatia and the United States, said Minister Zuzul commenting on his visit to Washington.

Croatian minister of foreign affairs also launched an initiative for the establishment of Croatian Caucus at the U.S. Congress, and this topic was also discussed at his talks with members of U.S. Congress.

During his stay in Washington, Minister Zuzul held talks with U.S. Senator Rick Santorum on the US support to Croatia.

Minister Zuzul and the President of Croatian parliament, Vladimir Seks, were in the U.S. in January this year lobbying for Croatia's entry into NATO.