(Hina) - Work of quality diplomats will always be recognised and their efforts and advocacy will be rewarded, Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miro Kovač said on Tuesday presenting diplomas to the 16th generation of graduates from the Diplomatic Academy.
The ceremony was held on the occasion of Croatian Diplomacy Day, which is observed on June 7.
Minister Kovač underscored that for the first time Croatia has an integrated foreign and European policy aimed at positioning Croatia as an active and self-conscious member of the European Union, NATO and the Western world.
President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović stressed that "today we have to become more decisive within the framework of the European Union and NATO and we need to determine a new strategy to respond to all the challenges of a globalised world," Grabar-Kitarović concluded. She added that it was necessary to review the network of diplomatic and consular offices as "some embassies are unnecessary whereas on the other hand, Croatia doesn't have embassies in some G20 countries or some important centres in Africa."
She outlined an idea of setting up a think tank in the ministry which would comprise experienced diplomats who would exchange their ideas with younger diplomats.
Croatian Diplomacy Day is observed on June 7 to commemorate the oldest document in Croatia's diplomatic history, a letter Pope John VIII sent to Croatian Prince Branimir on 7 June 879, recognising his rule over Croatia, when Croatia was internationally recognised for the first time as a sovereign and independent country.