President Stjepan Mesić on Monday gave credentials to Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, Croatia's new ambassador to the US, which he said was "the most powerful country in the world" and Croatia's "friend".
President Mesić said he was happy that Grabar-Kitarović, a former foreign minister, had become ambassador to the US because she knew Croatian politics and had taken part in creating it. Croatian president pointed out that Grabar-Kitarović knew how to think strategically and that he was happy Croatia would get an ambassador who would help the development of Croatian-US relations.
Grabar-Kitarović received credentials four days ahead of President George W. Bush's visit to Zagreb stating that she would pay special attention to the Croat American community.