FOREIGN
RELATIONS
Croatia is in the midst of pursuing a policy of greater Euro-Atlantic integration. In October 2001, Croatia and the European Union (EU) signed a Stabilization and Association Agreement. In February 2003 Croatia formally presented its EU membership application, and in April 2004 the European Commission agreed to open EU accession negotiations with Croatia. The opening of talks was delayed in March 2005 when the EU decided that Croatia was not fully cooperating with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), but talks finally got underway in October 2005, after the ICTY’s Chief Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte confirmed that Croatia was fully cooperating.
In December 2005 General Ante Gotovina, indicted by the ICTY for war crimes and a fugitive since 2002, was arrested by Spanish authorities in the Canary Islands, partially as a result of intelligence information provided by the Croatian Government. Since the arrest and transfer of Gotovina to The Hague in late 2005, Croatia continues to cooperate fully with the ICTY.
Croatia was admitted on May 25, 2000 into the Partnership for Peace program--which was designed by North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member states in 1994 to strengthen Euro-Atlantic security--and, in May 2002, was welcomed into NATO’s Membership Action Program, a key step toward NATO membership. On May 2, 2003, the United States joined Croatia, Albania, and Macedonia to sign the Adriatic Charter, in which the three NATO aspirants pledged their commitment to NATO values and their cooperative efforts to further their collective NATO aspirations. The United States continues to work with the aspirants, collectively as well as bilaterally, as they continue with their necessary reforms for eventual consideration for NATO membership. Croatia hopes for an invitation to join NATO at the NATO Summit scheduled to be held in Bucharest, Romania in April 2008.
Croatia has been a member of the United Nations since 1992, and contributes troops to 10 UN operations including those in Haiti, Cyprus, Georgia, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and Eritrea, and Kashmir. In January 2008, Croatia began a two-year term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Since 2003, Croatia has contributed troops to support the International Stabilization Assistance Force in Afghanistan. Croatia's contribution to ISAF is planned to rise from 200 individuals to 300 personnel in 2008. Croatia is a member of the World Trade Organization and the Central European Free Trade Organization.
While Croatia has made progress on dealing with a number of post-conflict issues, the status of refugees displaced during the 1991-95 war and resolution of border disputes with Slovenia remain key issues influencing Croatia's relations with its neighbors and the international community.
U.S.-CROATIAN
RELATIONS
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.
Principal U.S. Embassy Officials
Ambassador--Robert A. Bradtke
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 at Ul. Thomasa Jeffersona 2, 10010 Zagreb; telephone: [385] (1) 661-2200.
