Regarding the news of Croatian Ambassador to the Republic of Slovenia, Mr Celestin Sardelić....

Regarding the news of Croatian Ambassador to the Republic of Slovenia, Mr Celestin Sardelić, resigning from his post and the statements he gave to the press that unfounded judgements had been passed of his work, that he had been excluded from normal communication with his home Ministry of Foreign Affairs and had not been invited to the meeting between ministers Žužul and Rupel on 16 January 2004 in Zagreb.

The Ministry wishes to state: Ambassador Sardelić took part in the preparations for the meeting between Croatian and Slovenian Foreign Ministers in Zagreb and was a member of the Croatian delegation for talks with the Slovenian delegation. The Ministry has passed no judgements of Ambassador Sardelić’s work and the communication was particularly intensive in regard to tomorrow’s meeting.

As regards his resignation, Mr Sardelić can only ask to be relieved of duty and cannot resign unilaterally. Ministry does not consider Ambassador Sardelić’s behaviour a day before the important meeting between Croatian and Slovenian Foreign Ministers to be justified or responsible and cannot be held responsible for his decision.

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