Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman attended the international Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC 2023), held on 21-22 June 2023 in London.
Addressing the first day of URC 2023, which had brought together the leaders and ministers of more than 60 states, as well as representatives of international organisations, 400 global companies, with more than 1000 participants, Grlić Radman underscored Croatia’s contribution to aid to Ukraine. Croatia has to date donated more that 230 million euros, of which more than 50 million went to urgent, humanitarian and technical assistance. “With its own experience and expertise in humanitarian demining, Croatia is already assisting our Ukrainian partners, both bilaterally and in cooperation with the EU and other multilateral organizations, and we are certain to continue doing so,” Grlić Radman emphasized.
As a country that itself faced war and a gruelling fight for independence, the minister added, Croatia will continue to support Ukraine in defending its people as well as its territorial unity, independence and sovereignty within its internationally recognised borders. “Having faced aggression ourselves, Croatia has gained a unique experience in post-war transition and recovery, which we are more than willing to share with our Ukrainian partners,” he underlined.
“Ukraine’s reconstruction will require finances that no international institution or country could provide by itself. Public and private funds, from various sources, will need to be used efficiently and sustainably. In that context, laying ahead of us is one of the greatest challenges in modern history,” said Grlić Radman, adding that responding to these challenges would require a harmonized, operative mechanism to ensure that our assistance and support is coordinated, consistent and mutually empowering.
“That is why it is extremely important to ensure the determination of international financial and development institutions, as well as the private sector, to advance the financial tools and mechanisms for the support of Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction. Croatia is ready to play its part in these joint international efforts,” he concluded.
On the first day of URC 2023, the minister held a series of bilateral talks, including Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States Paul Gallagher, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and UNICEF Deputy Executive Director for Partnerships Karin Hulshof.
Ahead of URC 2023, Grlić Radman attended the official receptions for participants hosted by King Charles III and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.
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