Croatia–United States relations

Croatia – United States relations

Croatia	United States

U.S. engagement in Croatia is aimed at fostering a democratic, secure, and market-oriented society that will be a strong partner in Euro-Atlantic institutions. The United States opened its Embassy in Zagreb in 1992, and has continued to work with Croatia to overcome the legacies of communism, war, ethnic division, and authoritarian government.

In an effort to promote regional stability through refugee returns, the United States has given more than $13.4 million since 1998 in humanitarian demining assistance. Croatia hopes to remove an estimated one million remaining mines by 2010. The United States also has provided additional financial assistance to Croatia through the Southeastern European Economic Development Program (SEED) to facilitate democratization and restructuring of Croatia's financial sector, largely through programs managed by USAID. Most SEED funding and USAID programs in Croatia are scheduled to conclude in 2008.

Embassy

U.S. Embassy in Zagreb

Principal U.S. officials include:

• Ambassador - James B. Foley
• Deputy Chief of Mission — Vivian Walker
• Consular Officer — Ruta Elvikis
• Public Affairs Officer — Conrad Turner
• Commercial Officer — Thomas Kelsey
• Agency for International Development — Rebecca Latorraca
• Management Officer — Thomas Favret

The U.S. Embassy in Croatia is located in Zagreb, southwest of Buzin.

The first U.S. President to visit Croatia was Richard Nixon, who came to Zagreb in 1971.^[1]

On April 4, 2008, U.S. President George W. Bush landed in Zagreb on an official visit to Croatia. He met with President of Croatia Stipe Mesić and Prime Minister Ivo Sanader. Bush gave a very positive speech from St. Mark's Square in downtown Zagreb. This is the second official visit to Croatia by a U.S. President; the first was by Bill Clinton in 1996.

History

George W. Bush giving a speech on St. Mark's Square

In the final days of its sovereignty, the Croatian city state of Dubrovnik (then known as Ragusa) in the early 19th century played a special role in the first few years of U.S. history by recognizing American Independence.^[2] In so doing, the Dubrovnik Republic was the first, de iure to recognize the United States of America.^[3] The diplomatic recognition of the United States occurred during the term of the second President of the United States, John Adams.^[2]

See also

• Foreign relations of the United States
• Foreign relations of Croatia

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Department of State (Background Notes).[1]

1. ^ Tvrtko Jakovina, What Did Nixon’s Exclamation “Long Live Croatia” Mean?.
2. ^ ^{a b} Council of American Ambassadors (2008). "The United States and Croatia: The Bilateral Relationship Since 1991". http://www.americanambassadors.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Publications.article&articleid=141. Retrieved April 19, 2009. 
3. ^ "MAYOR DUBRAVKA ŠUICA MET WITH RICHARD CHENEY, THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA". May 6, 2006. http://www.dubrovnik.hr/vijestEng.php?id=1&newsid=29. Retrieved April 19, 2009. ^{[dead link]}

External links

• History of Croatia - U.S. relations

Media related to Croatia – United States relations at Wikimedia Commons