Government of the Republic of Croatia
Prime Minister
Zagreb, November 3, 2004
H. E. George W. Bush
President of the
United States of America
The White House
Washington, DC
Dear Mr. President,
On behalf of my government, the Croatian people and on my own behalf I wish to congratulate you on receiving the mandate from the American people to continue serving as President of the United States of America. We look forward to cooperating with the United States, and you as its President, in developing and expanding the new opportunities that await us.
Stability and security are critical ingredients for democracy to flourish. Croatia is vigilant to the dangers of chaos and violence that thwart a country’s attempts to promote the common good. Now in its 13th year as a sovereign state, Croatia is a stable and thriving nation with strong democratic institutions and effective working relations with its neighbors. As a candidate for entry into the European Union, we are working confidently to meet the social, economic and political goals of membership.
For these reasons and also because of our strategic location on the Adriatic, we are ready and able to expand our cooperation wit the Euro-Atlantic Community, NATO and the United States. NATO for Croatians represents an indispensable and indivisible link between Europe and the United States, especially in these troubled times when terrorists and terrorist groups are doing everything within their power to foster turmoil and disunity. The transatlantic community must stand firm to meet this challenge and promote the values for which it was established – the defense of liberty and the promotion and protection of democracy and human rights.
Mr. President, I want you to know how much my government and our people appreciate the warm welcome that America has given to so many Croatian immigrants over the centuries. Recently, I visited several Croatian-American communities in the United States and I was impressed with how they have benefited from the excellent educational system and the free market economy that America offered them. They love the United States and have remained faithful to their Croatian heritage. Building upon their efforts, we have an obligation to seek ways to deepen the bi-lateral relations between the U.S. and Croatia.
Your country has always been an inspiration for Croatia. It is a symbol of a nation where freedom, democracy, and the common good are not only written in principles but are practiced in everyday life. On behalf of the Croatian government and its people, I extend my warmest best wishes to you on your reelection. May God guide you and the United States of America.
Respectfully yours,
Prime Minister
Dr. Ivo Sanader