Croatia–United States relations
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 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.
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[edit] Embassy
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.
[edit] History
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The Republic of Ragusa, a merchant republic centered at the city of Dubrovnik, was one of the first foreign countries de iure to recognize the independence of the United States. Sources differ on when the recognition took place: some travel guides and tourist portals claim that Ragusa was the very first country to recognize the United States as early as 1776,[1][2] a document whose copy was presented to U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney in 2006 reportedly puts the date at 1783,[3] while the Council of American Ambassadors claims that the recognition was extended during the term of the second President of the United States, John Adams, thus between 1797 and 1801.[4]
[edit] Visits of U.S. Presidents to Croatia
The first U.S. President to visit Croatia was Richard Nixon, who came to Zagreb on 2 October 1970 during his state visit to Yugoslavia. The choice to visit Zagreb during political and cultural developments in SR Croatia that would culminate in the Croatian Spring, along with Nixon's praise for the "spirit of Croatia" and his exclamation "Long live Croatia! Long live Yugoslavia!", has been interpreted as a statement of support for Croatian identity and greater autonomy within the federal framework of Yugoslavia.[5][6][7]
The first U.S. President to visit independent Croatia was Bill Clinton on 13 January 1996. Clinton spent a few hours on the Zagreb Airport while returning from visiting IFOR troops in Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegovina. During the brief visit he met with Croatian President Franjo Tuđman.[8][9]
On 4 April 2008, U.S. President George W. Bush arrived in Zagreb on an official 2-day state visit. The visit immediately followed the 2008 Bucharest summit of NATO countries where Croatia and Albania received invitations to join the alliance. Bush met with President of Croatia Stipe Mesić and Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, and gave a speech in St. Mark's Square in downtown Zagreb. Peaceful rallies were held during the visit to protest U.S. foreign policy and impending Croatian NATO membership.[9][10]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Department of State (Background Notes).[1]
- ^ "History of Dubrovnik". Via Balkans. 2010-11-18. http://www.viabalkans.com/en/historic-sites/fortresses-and-fortified-towns/history-of-dubrovnik/. Retrieved 2011-12-03.
- ^ Steves, Rick; Hewitt, Cameron (2010). Rick Steves' Snapshot Dubrovnik. Avalon Travel. p. 10. http://books.google.com/books?id=HfGJSV1Qu4QC&dq=bibliogroup%3A%22RICK+STEVES%27+BEST+OF+EASTERN+EUROPE%22&q=united+states#v=snippet&q=united%20states&f=false. Retrieved 2011-12-03.
- ^ "06. svibnja 2006. – Susret gradonačelnice Dubravke Šuice s potpredsjednikom SAD Richardom Cheneyem [6 May 2006 – The meeting of Mayor Dubravka Šuica with U.S. Vice President Richard Cheney]" (in Croatian). The city of Dubrovnik. 2006-05-06. http://www.dubrovnik.hr/novost_clanak.php?id=1308. Retrieved 2011-12-03.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Jakovina, Tvrtko (1999). "What Did Nixon’s Exclamation "Long Live Croatia" Mean?". Društvena istraživanja Zagreb 8 (2-3): 347–371. http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/31939. Retrieved 2011-12-03.
- ^ Stanković, Slobodan (1970-10-08). "President Nixon's Successful Visit to Yugoslavia". Radio Free Europe. http://www.osaarchivum.org/files/holdings/300/8/3/text/98-3-205.shtml. Retrieved 2011-12-03.
- ^ Banac, Ivo (2011-11-20). "Kako su Rusi lomili Tita i slomili Hrvatsku [How the Russians pressured Tito and broke Croatia]" (in Croatian). Večernji list. http://www.vecernji.hr/vijesti/kako-su-rusi-lomili-tita-slomili-hrvatsku-clanak-347999. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
- ^ "Bill Clinton i Air Force 1 u Zagrebu 1. dio [Bill Clinton and Air Force One in Zagreb, Part 1]" (in Croatian). Croatian Radiotelevision. 1996-01-13. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtn108blTvM. Retrieved 2011-12-03.
- ^ a b "Bush visits Croatia amid protests". Xinhua News Agency. 2008-04-05. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-04/05/content_7922378.htm. Retrieved 2011-12-03.
- ^ "Bush Gets Warm Welcome in Croatia Amid Anti-U.S. Protests". Associated Press. Fox News. 2008-04-04. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,346548,00.html. Retrieved 2011-12-03.
[edit] External links
Media related to Croatia – United States relations at Wikimedia Commons
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