- Published: 22.11.2021.
Minister Grlić Radman attends marking of 25th anniversary of Croatia’s CoE membership
Minister Grlić Radman attends marking of 25th anniversary of Croatia’s CoE membership
Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman on Monday visited Strasbourg, where he attended a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of Croatia’s accession to the Council of Europe and met with Secretary-General of the CoE Parliamentary Assembly Despina Chatzivassiliou-Tsovilis and European Court for Human Rights President Robert Spano.
Addressing the event, Grlić Radman said that Croatia was proud to have joined CoE 25 years ago. “We consider the Council of Europe one of the most important institutions in Europe and the world – a true keeper and advocate of democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Europe and beyond,” the minister said. He added that Croatia’s CoE membership had significantly contributed to the development of democracy in the country, as well as to a quicker and more efficient political, institutional and legislative adaptation to European standards, which had opened the door for Croatia’s Euro-Atlantic accession.
Grlić Radman underscored the importance of ECHR, describing it as the most efficient human rights court in the world and adding that Croatia strongly supported its work and mission.
The minister also reflected on Croatia’s contribution to CoE. “Croatia is especially visible for its protection of national minority rights, Roma rights, the fight against all forms of discrimination, human trafficking, corruption and violence against women, as well as in other areas such as human rights, the rule of law and promotion of democracy,” he said.
In addition, the minister reflected on Croatia’s 2018 Committee of Ministers presidency and the 2019 election of then-foreign minister Marija Pejčinović Burić as CoE Secretary-General.
Concluding his address, Grlić Radman stressed that Croatia would continue to actively participate in CoE activities while advocating the country’s priority areas, in line with European values and standards.
At the end of his stay in Strasbourg, the minister delivered a lecture to high CoE officials, diplomatic corps and ISEG students on Croatia’s contribution to CoE and the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans.