President Milanović Presents Charter of the Republic of Croatia to Croatian Diplomatic Club
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović presented the Charter of the Republic of Croatia to the Croatian Diplomatic Club for its extraordinary and longstanding contribution to the promotion of Croatian diplomacy, the study of international relations and the foreign policy of the Republic of Croatia, and the establishment of cooperation and friendly relations with diplomats of foreign states on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of its foundation and activities.
In presenting the Charter of the Republic of Croatia during a ceremony in the Office of the President of the Republic, President Milanović stated that he is pleased to have the opportunity to present this small token of appreciation. “I’m glad that so many people, after so many years, are still together. I wasn’t even aware of it. I assumed that some form of gathering existed, but Ambassador Pelicarić told me what it’s all about”, the President noted.
He also recalled his work in diplomacy. “I was swept by the current, at other times by my own will and choice, in some other direction. I left the diplomatic service in late 2003 early 2004, I cannot say without the intention of returning. But once you leave, you’re a renegade, and that’s the end. I always considered it a service, isolated as much as possible from daily and partisan politics. I’m aware that it isn’t always completely possible, but the more the better”, President Milanović stated.
“In these thirty years the diplomatic service has made strides, it has become routine, perhaps a little boring, but that’s how it’s supposed to be. Those times will never return. I came to the Ministry as a young man, in Visoka Street, a year or less on Zrinjevac. Those are twelve years that have completely determined my life. Nothing would be as it was had it not been for the diplomatic service, it was not just an opportunity to serve my state, my country, but to learn in those dramatic, as some say heroic times of diplomacy, from the best by trial and error. Therefore, at times it took bargaining chips, underestimating the other side, or recognizing. All this is part of the learning process that can’t be bought, and there are no courses that will teach you these things”, President Milanović remarked.
“Once again I say it’s a great honour that this is happening today, and that I’m doing it on the Minister’s proposal, which is even better. I could have presented it directly, but this way it’s proper. Thank you and all the best!”, the President said in concluding his address.
The president of the Croatian Diplomatic Club Smiljan Šimac accepted the Charter of the Republic of Croatia and in his thank you speech said that this recognition is not only for current Club members, but also for the thirty-two Club members who are no longer with us. He underlined that the Croatian Diplomatic Club was founded with the purpose of preserving the knowledge and experience acquired by Croatian ambassadors and consuls general in the diplomatic service in the first decade of the Republic of Croatia’s independence. He added that the Club was founded by a group of about twenty Croatian diplomats as a non-governmental and nonpartisan association of Croatian diplomats based on ethical principles of promoting the diplomatic profession and the protection of national interests.
Alongside President Milanović at the Charter of the Republic of Croatia presentation ceremony to the Croatian Diplomatic Club were the Adviser to the President for Foreign and European Policy Neven Pelicarić, the State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs Andrea Metelko Zgombić and the Secretary General of the Office of the President of the Republic Mirjam Katulić.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas