Pusić opened conference of Croatian ambassadors, presented guidelines of Croatia’s foreign policy

The conference will discuss the guidelines of Croatia’s diplomacy and their implementation in 2012, economic and cultural diplomacy, as well as the organizational aspects of diplomatic service

In the opening part of the conference, a speech was also delivered by Croatian President Ivo Josipović.

The three-day conference is being held 7-9 March at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs under the title “New Challenges, Goals and Roles of Croatia’s Foreign Policy”. The conference will discuss the guidelines of Croatia’s diplomacy and their implementation in 2012, economic and cultural diplomacy, as well as the organizational aspects of diplomatic service.

Pusić expressed satisfaction with the conference, the first of the kind, which had brought together 46 bilateral and 6 multilateral ambassadors whose selection in the future would depend exclusively on their quality. Those who were good enough should have the ministry's full support and represent Croatia in every sense of the word, Pusić said.

Josipović agreed with Pusić both with regard to the global and the specific goals of Croatia's foreign policy. Croatia can make a transition from the status of a small country to the status of a small, benevolent power, capable of actively fighting for its position, he said. Pointing out the potentials of Croatia’s ambassador network, he voiced full support for the work of the ministry.

Pusić also announced her official visit to the U.S., as part of which she is to meet with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton 21 March in Washington namely to discuss the situation in Southeast Europe.

The first day of the conference, a speech about the guidelines of Croatia's foreign policy was also delivered by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Radimir Čačić, while Minister of Culture Andreja Zlatar Violić spoke about cultural diplomacy.

The second day of the conference the ambassadors are to meet with Prime Minister Zoran Milanović. The conference will end with individual consultations with the relevant directorates, sectors, services and departments.

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