State Secretary Andreja Metelko Zgombić on 3 November 2020 participated in the OSCE Mediterranean Conference on promoting security in the Mediterranean region through sustainable development and economic growth in face of COVID-19 pandemic. The conference saw representatives of the 57 OSCE participating states and the six OSCE Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation – Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia.
In her keynote address, Metelko-Zgombić strongly condemned yesterday’s terrorist attack in Austria and the recent attack in France, and expressed condolences and solidarity to Greece and Turkey over the devastating earthquake that had struck the two countries.
The state secretary stressed that the Mediterranean region is unique in its political importance and economic prospects. As a hub of different geostrategic and geopolitical interests, it is unstable and marked by crises. The COVID-19 pandemic has only further upset this delicate situation. Metelko Zgombić underlined that multilateralism and international cooperation were the only roads that needed to be followed and highlighted the role of the OSCE.
In addition, the state secretary reflected on the measures Croatia had adopted to strengthen its healthcare system, help the economy and protect the most vulnerable groups. She underscored that Croatia as a tourist country had managed to strike a balance during the summer months between heath protection and open borders, achieving positive tourist results and preserving jobs.
Concluding her address, Metelko Zgombić said that the present crisis should be used as an opportunity to additionally modernize and strengthen the resilience of the Mediterranean countries’ economies in a sustainable way.