Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman on Friday and Saturday attended the 60th Munich Security Conference as a member of the prime minister’s delegation.
The first day of the conference, the minister participated in a panel on the Three Seas Initiative’s support for the reconstruction of Ukraine. He underscored the importance of international assistance, where Central and East European countries can assume a key role. He added that Croatia’s experience in demining can greatly help Ukraine. “Clearing mines and other explosive devices is a precondition for Ukraine’s economic recovery and reconstruction. World’s economy also hinges on that, as Ukraine is a major grain producer,” Grlić Radman said.
The minister also participated in a panel on challenges in the Western Balkans. He underlined the importance of Euro-Atlantic integration for the security and stability of the region, emphasizing the need to build democratic and resilient societies that can resist the influence of third countries. “The only sustainable path to long-term stability and the only cure for systemic destabilization is joining the Euro-Atlantic family,” Grlić Radman emphasized.
“We want to avoid war with Russia, but it is difficult to say how long the war in Ukraine will last until we see signs of Russia’s withdrawal and a readiness for compromise,” the minister told the press. He added that NATO and the EU should strengthen their defence capacity and be ready for any type of crisis.
Asked about the fragile security architecture of the Western Balkans, Grlić Radman said that the region was described as safe due to EU’s presence. “Croatia in particular was highlighted as a success story, a country that has achieved its foreign policy goals. What’s left is of strategic interest to the stability and security of the Western Balkans. I’ve underscored Zagreb’s engagement around Bosnia and Herzegovina, and we sincerely hope that the accession negotiation will start in March, as failure to do so could be catastrophic for BiH and the stability of the region,” the minister said.
The second day of the conference, Grlić Radman held a series of bilateral talks, including ones with Albanian counterpart Igli Hasani, Iraqi counterpart Fuad Mohammed Hussein, Argentinian counterpart Diana Mondino, Kosovar counterpart Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz, CEO of American Jewish Committee Ted Deutch, Jordanian counterpart Ayman Al-Safadi, and Moldovan counterpart Mihai Popșoi.
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