Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Grabar-Kitarovic visiting the US, 14 February 2006
Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, who is on a visit to the US, held today, 14 February 2006, a lecture at the Congress Library entitled Croatia: Partnership, Priorities, and Development, took part at a round table organised by the German Marshall Fund, and met with the President of the American Jewish Committee. In her lecture at the Congress Library, Minister Grabar-Kitarovic looked back upon the historical ties between the US and Croatia, and presented Croatia's main foreign policy goals – full EU and NATO membership. Minister Grabar-Kitarovic took part, along with the foreign ministers of Albania and Macedonia, at the round table organised by the German Marshall Fund. Minister Grabar-Kitarovic held a speech on the integration of the SEE countries into NATO and the EU, and Croatia's plans and achievements, particularly in the light of its role as the region's leader in the reform processes. Minister Grabar-Kitarovic pointed out the especially successful process of the return of refugees and their property. As regards the negotiations on Kosovo's status, she pointed out that Croatia supports any solution achieved in peace and through political negotiations, a solution that will ensure a full respect of human rights for all of the Kosovo communities. During her visit to the US, Minister Grabar-Kitarovic met with President of the American Jewish Committee Robert Goodkind, Rabi Andrew Baker, State Department's Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues Edward O'Donnell, and B'nai B'rith Executive Vice-President B'nai B'rith Daniel Mariaschin. They talked about the restitution, whereby Minister Grabar-Kitarovic reiterated the Croatian Government's determination to solve the property return issue. The Minister also announced the international OSCE conference, to be held this autumn in Dubrovnik, entitled Tolerance, Non-discrimination, and Fighting Hate Crime.
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