Press Release following the cover story in the weekly magazine Nacional...

Following the cover story in the weekly magazine Nacional, "Who is the long-sought bully from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs", and for the sake of correct public information, we wish to give this statement: Ljubomir Čučić was the Croatian ambassador to Belgium from 8 January to 31 August 2001. During that period he had the status of a short-term employee of the Ministry, to the effect that his work contract was to expire with the end of his mandate.

At his personal request and by the decision of the President of the Republic Stjepan Mesić of 31 July 2001, he was relieved of his duty.

With 31 August 2001 Mr. Čučić's duties and rights ceased at the Ministry and he resumed his earlier work at the European Movement of Croatia where he had been employed before assuming the ambassadorial duty and where he had enjoyed the tenure of employment during his ambassadorial mandate.

Following the allegations by Mrs. Neva Tolle in November last year according to which persons with a record of violence from the high society circles also included MFA officials, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headed by Minister Tonino Picula initiated an investigation with a view to identifying the person or persons in question. However, in spite of an extensive effort and co-operation with the Autonomous Women's House, the Ministry has not managed to identify any such persons within the Ministry, as alleged by Mrs. Tolle.

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