Washington DC: The President of the Republic of Croatia, Zoran Milanovic, visited Washington DC together with all the heads of State and Government of NATO member nations for the 75th Anniversary Celebration for the NATO Alliance. His visit to Washington focuses on the 2024 NATO Summit set for July 9-11.
Evening at the Embassy
During his first day of his official visit to Washington, President Milanovic and his wife Sanja Music Milanovic attended an evening reception for the Croatian American community and colleagues of Croatia organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia to the USA. The Embassy invited many prominent Croatian American Community members of various organizations, journalists, and embassy colleagues throughout the country who had the chance to meet with President Milanovic and members of his staff.
He and his wife were accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Ivan Anusic, Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Lieutenant General Tihomir Kundid and Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandrokovic.
The American Croatian Association for Professionals, board members of the National Federation of the Croatian Americans Cultural Foundation (NFCA), the Croatian American Society, and friends of the Croatian community were present. Fr Maurus Dolcic, priest of the Croatian Catholic Mission in DC also made an appearance in the reception as well as several parishioners.
NFCA board members: Vesna Tomazic-Jezic (far left), Mario Spalatin (back), Mark Plavetic (left) and Joe Foley – Public Relations Specialist for NFCA (right) with President Milanovic – photo from the Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia/ Filip Glas
There were also prominent Americans who attended the Embassy, including Former U.S. Ambassador to Croatia Robert Kohorst, Senior Fellow at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) Ed Joseph, and Foreign Service Officer of the U.S. Department of State, Fred Bolageer.
NFCA board members: Mario Spalatin (far- left) and Mark Plavetic (mid-right), President of NFCA Steve Rukavina (middle), and Public Affairs Specialist Joe Foley (far-right) with Foreign Service Officer of the U.S. Department of State, Fred Bolageer
President Milanovic delivered an address to the large audience and shared his insights about the importance of the Croatian community in America and reputation it has in maintaining its close ties between the United States and Croatia.
“I will not go into Croatia’s internal political issues because they mainly serve to divide and disunite. There are things we agree on and there are things we disagree on. However, when I see in front of me such a progressive and successful community of people who gather here just for the simple opportunity to get together and think about Croatia, it fills my heart with optimism and the conviction that everything I have been doing for years has not been in vain,” said President Milanovic.
He also extended a greeting to Mayor of Biloxi, Mississippi, Andrew Gilich, who expressed his gratitude for coming to the reception and embracing the importance in strengthening ties between the two countries.
President Milanovic with Ambassador of Croatia to the U.S. Pjer Simunovic
The president even commented on his thoughts about the Croatian Americans in the country with a member of the Croatians Online. “They are wonderful, all of them from across the country, from California, Illinois, Mississippi, Philadelphia, etc.” He was impressed by the dedication in strengthening ties and deepened love that the Croatian Americans from across the country have for their country and Croatian cultural roots.
The NATO Summit
Early on Thursday, President Milanovic and the heads of State engaged with government officials from NATO member nations at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium on the eve of the NATO Summit and engage in celebratory remarks and discussions regarding the history of the alliance. Along the leaders that joined these events were President of the US, Joe Biden and NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg delivered remarks about their commitments to the alliance.
During the event, President Milanovic met with President of the Republic of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani and discussed Kosovo’s efforts in Euro-Atlantic integration and pathways to NATO membership. According to the Office of the President of Croatia, they also discussed current issues in Southeastern Europe and the Western Balkans and solidified their mutual commitments to continue deepening relations between the two nations and recognition of Kosovo’s national sovereignty.
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