Minister Krstičević attends ambassadors conference

The Conference session of 25 August was attended by the President of the Republic of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Gordan Jandroković, the Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and the Croatian diplomats, who were briefed on the guidelines of the foreign policy.
“A prerequisite for the more successful work of our diplomacy is a reform of our diplomatic network and filling gaps on the geopolitical map of the world. We should not allow some destinations being neglected, falling behind the interests of our economy“, said the President.
Croatia needs to draw maximum benefit from the membership in the EU, without neglecting the  incredible potential of economic and political cooperation with other parts of the world, particularly Africa, the Asian-Pacific region and Latin America, in order to open new markets for our exporters.
Addressing the goals and domains of the diplomatic activity,  the President referred to  the  Croatian Diaspora, whose role and contribution to the establishment of the Croatian state must never be neglected
 Croatia’s lasting responsibility is to promote stability and progress of the SE Europe neighborhood, as well as confirmation of its euro-integration and euro-atlantic perspective, emphasized the President.
“My  message to all is that there are no small states – Croatia and our diplomacy will be as large as we ourselves make them“, concluded the President.
The Prime Mnister Plenković told the ambassadors that their duty was“ to promote Croatia as it is in 2017, such as we desired it to be since 1990 with regard to the values we belong to, the standards we aspire to and the interests we advocate.”
“As diplomats you are an extended arm of the state of Croatia abroad, which you have to bear in mind with respect to the positions taken on the crucial matters of state“
The Prime Minister underlined the advantage of the top state officials with the diplomatic experience in politics and stated he wished to see Croatia recognised as a country that values its  independence and its institutions and as an attractive European country, young yet assertive when it comes to its interests.
The Prime Minister said he expected from the Croatian diplomats to act as ambassadors of Croatia but warned of the sindrome associated with the post, constisting in the interpretation of the receiving country’s definition of the politicy.
The Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krstičević emphasised the current security threats and risks faced by the Croatian society and the world: “I spent a lot of time at the firesites in Dalmatia, where the Croatian Armed Forces have been engaged in co-operation with other responsible government administration bodies, civil associations and the local population, projecting a model of partnership for security we proposed, which entails an comprehensive national security concept ensuring better co-ordination, strategic planning, resources pooling and more balanced development of capabilities. Diplomacy is the primary subject of the foreign politics, but the armed forces reinforce it.  
The Minister reminded that the Croatian Parliament in July adopted the new National Security Strategy as the starting point in reassessing the ability to respond to current threats, and the drafting of the Homeland Security System Act, which received the first reading in the Croatian Parliament, and adoption is due for adoption during its autumn session. 
Minister Krstičević  expressed satisfaction over the growth of the Croatian military industry (20% at the annual level) as a strategic branch of the economy and over the increased investing into the Croatian Armed Forces by 9% in 2017.
 ‘Increased investment into defence implies increased capabilities of the Croatian Armed Forces as well. The focus is now placed on human factor, and the Croatian military is returning to Croatian towns. The Croatian soldiers are equipped with the weapons and equipment made in Croatia, presenting the country the best though the participation in  the EU-, NATO- and UN-led missions and operations“, concluded the Minister. 
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