Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman, together with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, participated in the presentation of the book "The Architecture of Presidency" by Academician Velimir Neidhardt. The book is dedicated to the spaces of the National and University Library (NSK) in Zagreb, used during Croatia's presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2020. The presentation took place in the atrium of the National and University Library in Zagreb.
In addition to Prime Minister Plenković and Minister Grlić Radman, speakers included the Chief Director of NSK, Ivanka Stričević, the Secretary of the Department of Fine Arts of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts (HAZU), Mladen Obad Šćitaroci, and the author of the book and President of HAZU, Velimir Neidhardt.
Grlić Radman highlighted the significance of the book, which details how NSK, adapted for the needs of the Croatian presidency, became a symbol of the international reputation and experience of Croatia. The book was published in Croatian and English by the Croatian Museum of Architecture of HAZU and represents a valuable contribution to a better understanding of Croatia's diplomatic history and the collaboration between architecture and diplomacy.
The minister also emphasized that Croatia's 2020 presidency was the first to take place in a national library that continued to carry out its regular activities. The presidency's slogan, "A Strong Europe in a World of Challenges," proved prophetic as they faced the COVID-19 pandemic and an earthquake that struck Zagreb during the presidency.
Finally, the minister expressed gratitude to Neidhardt for his contribution to Croatia's architectural heritage, highlighting his projects such as Franjo Tuđman Airport, the INA corporate headquarters, and the extension of the Croatia Insurance headquarters in Zagreb.
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