The reception saw 150 or so Croatian emigrants from Washington and surrounding areas and was organised in the honour of high Croatian officials by the Croatian Ambassador to the US Ivan Grdešić.
The meeting of Croatian emigrants with Šeks, Žužul and their colleagues was an opportunity to exchange information and experiences, as well as a chance to remember the distinguished “King Legacy Award for Outstanding National and International Service”, granted to Minister Žužul 4 years ago, while he was the Ambassador to Washington. The same day, 16 January 2000, that award was also granted to General Colin Powell, now American Secretary of State. This award expresses the recognition of the contribution to understanding of the life and work of Martin Luther King and his messages of peace and justice.
Tonight, the President of Croatian Parliament Vladimir
Šeks and Croatia’s Foreign Minister Miomir Žužul will be joining the
joint session of the Congress and the Senate, to which they have been
invited by congressmen and senators, and at which the President of the
United States George W. Bush will deliver his “State of the Union” address
to the nation. Today, Šeks and Žužul have already had a number of working
meetings and talks with the American congressmen and senators.